Picard Season 3: Unveiling a Spectacular Return to the Rich Legacy of DS9

Star Trek: Picard season 3 showcases the impeccable restoration of the renowned USS Enterprise-D bridge set, igniting hopes for a potential revival of the beloved cast and iconic location of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The thrilling conclusion of Picard's three-season journey sees Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and his Star Trek: The Next Generation comrades serving as the Federation's last defense against a catastrophic Borg attack, with the Borg controlling most of Starfleet's ships. To combat this, Picard and his team required a ship that was not networked with the rest of the fleet.

In the episode "Vox" of Star Trek: Picard season 3, it is revealed that Commodore Geordi La Forge dedicated nearly two decades to meticulously restoring the supposedly irreparable USS Enterprise-D, which had suffered severe damage in Star Trek Generations. A truly poignant moment arises when Picard and his crew step onto the refurbished bridge of the Enterprise-D, which faithfully replicates its appearance from three decades prior in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Not only is this restored bridge set a nostalgic masterpiece of design, but it also serves as convincing evidence that the possibility of revisiting Deep Space Nine is not as unattainable as it once seemed.

Picard's Enterprise-D Proved Star Trek Can Return To DS9

The level of detail used to ensure the USS Enterprise-D resembled its heyday is truly astonishing, especially considering the challenges faced during the production of Star Trek: Picard season 3 amid the pandemic and limited resources. If Picard production designer Dave Blass and his team accomplished such a feat, it seems plausible that they could reconstruct a majority of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine sets given a more typical television production cycle.

Although Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has become a highly acclaimed installment in the franchise, there are obstacles to a complete revival. Avery Brooks, who brilliantly portrayed Captain Benjamin Sisko, has not had an onscreen acting credit since 2001 and has distanced himself from the franchise in recent years. Additionally, the unfortunate passing of Rene Auberjonois and Aron Eisenberg means the show would be without two beloved characters, Odo and Nog, respectively. Rebuilding the show's intricate sets has always appeared to be a significant hurdle, but perhaps that barrier no longer exists.

Why Star Trek Must Return To DS9

The successful returns of Jean-Luc Picard and Kathryn Janeway, along with the nostalgic charm of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, have demonstrated fans' eagerness to revisit characters and stories from Star Trek's history. Although Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is now recognized for its innovative serialized storytelling and morally complex tone, its exceptional conclusion seemingly provided a definitive end for many characters. Additionally, the complexities surrounding Sisko's storyline make revisiting him more challenging compared to Picard or Janeway.

Nevertheless, there is a need for Star Trek to return to the beleaguered space station. In the Star Trek: Lower Decks episode "Hear All, Trust Nothing," fans were given an animated glimpse into life on DS9 a few years after the series concluded, showcasing a vibrant and unique corner of the Star Trek universe even without the weight of the Dominion War or Pah-wraiths. Fans would undoubtedly be thrilled to revisit Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in live action, especially after Star Trek: Picard's touching reference to the past, which shows the possibility of Kira Nerys roaming the Promenade once again.