Summary
The presence of Lursa and B'Etor, the Klingon sisters, in the "Past Prologue" episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine proved to be a disturbing diversion from the central narrative and compromised the show's endeavor to forge its distinct identity.
Including the Duras Sisters in order to attract The Next Generation fans did not enhance the intricate and captivating narratives portrayed in DS9. The incorporation of well-known TNG characters like the Duras Sisters underscores the dilemma faced by the DS9 writers in maintaining a delicate equilibrium between their original storytelling and integrating the show into the larger Star Trek universe.
The appearance of Star Trek: The Next Generation's Klingon sisters Lursa (Barbara March) and B'Etor (Gwynyth Walsh) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was a mistake that diverted the focus from the compelling plot of "Past Prologue". The Duras Sisters play a crucial role in providing Tahna Los (Jeffrey Nordling) with the necessary materials to seal the wormhole and secure Bajor's freedom from interference by the Federation. However, their reputation for deceit makes them plot to betray Tahna by selling him out to the Cardassians through Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson).
The decision to include the Duras Sisters in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 1, episode 2 was clearly made in an effort to attract fans of TNG. As the first spinoff of Star Trek in the 1990s, there was a desire to emphasize the connection between DS9 and Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek. However, this approach jeopardizes the establishment of DS9 as a more mature and morally complex show with a distinct purpose from TNG. The involvement of Lursa and B'Etor in "Past Prologue" serves as evidence of this particular drawback.
TNG's Lursa And B’Etor Didn’t Belong In DS9’s “Past Prologue”
"Past Prologue" focuses on Major Kira Nerys, her internal struggle between her past in the Bajoran Resistance and her future as a Federation liaison. The arrival of Bajoran terrorist Tahna Los intensifies this conflict as they disagree on the future of Bajor. This episode aims to challenge Kira's working relationship with Sisko and highlight the broader conflict surrounding Bajor's future. However, the presence of Lursa and B'Etor, the distraction that is not essential to "Past Prologue," disrupts the narrative. The storyline comes to a halt as Sisko is compelled to explain the plot of "Redemption," the Klingon Civil War epic from Star Trek: The Next Generation, to Constable Odo.
Considering that the subplot of "Past Prologue" revolves around determining if Garak is a Cardassian spy, it would have been more logical for Tahna's suppliers to be new characters connected to Garak. While suspicions towards the Duras Sisters do allow for the development of Garak and Bashir's relationship, this could easily have been achieved with fresh characters. Including the Duras Sisters may have been an attempt by the DS9 writers to establish the station's place within the wider Star Trek universe, but they do not contribute substantially to the intricate and captivating stories being told.
TNG’s Klingon Sisters Proved Deep Space Nine’s Showrunner Right
According to Ira Steven Behr, the main problem with the first season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was that the episodes were too similar to those of The Next Generation. "Past Prologue" stands out as a DS9-centric story, but the inclusion of Lursa and B'Etor highlights the larger issue of adapting episodes for the parent show. Behr wanted to focus on new characters like Kira and Garak, but co-creator Michael Piller suggested tying the show to the wider Star Trek continuity through the Duras Sisters.
This issue continued to arise throughout the first season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, particularly in the episode "Q-Less". Writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe admitted that he focused too much on Q's character and didn't give enough attention to how he impacted DS9's characters. While "Past Prologue" avoids this mistake, it serves as a strong example of the challenges that arose from being connected to TNG during the early days of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
