Reviving Star Trek's Trills: How DS9's Dax Breathed New Life into TNG's Universe
Dax's introduction in DS9 revolutionized the Trill species, elevating them to their rightful place in Star Trek lore A remarkable improvement over TNG's portrayal, Dax's character added depth and complexity, surpassing even the tragic love story of Doctor Crusher
Summary
Lt. Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine improved the Trill species by having a new personality, unlike Beverly's love interest in TNG.
The design of the Trill was altered in DS9 to accommodate Terry Farrell's appearance, opting for spots instead of a rigid prosthetic. Jadzia Dax in DS9 had a deeper symbiotic relationship with her symbiont, exploring the joining process and individual identity further.
Star Trek: The Next Generation brought the Trills into the spotlight, but it was Lt. Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine who truly brought out the species' full potential. In the TNG episode "The Host", Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) quickly fell in love with Ambassador Odan (Franc Luz), a Trill whose society and characteristics were still largely unknown at that point in the Star Trek timeline. To Beverly's surprise, she eventually discovered that her lover was actually a symbiont that transferred between different hosts to survive.
When Odan tragically died in a shuttle accident, Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) volunteered to become the new host. Riker became the first human Trill host and willingly surrendered his body to house the Odan symbiont. This was a distinct departure from the situation with Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who was an individual with her own identity but also retained the memories of the symbiont's previous hosts. This complex situation led to a legal ordeal in the first season episode of DS9, titled "Dax," where Jadzia stood trial for crimes that apparently occurred during her predecessor Curzon's time.
Why DS9 Changed The Trill From TNG
The Trill design underwent a significant change in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to better suit Terry Farrell's appearance. Paramount executives were concerned that the rigid forehead prosthetic worn by Franc Luz in "The Host" would limit Farrell's looks too much. As a result, the designers opted for a pattern of spots that extended from Farrell's forehead down to her neck and sides. This alteration was quite noticeable, but due to the episodic nature of television in the 1990s and the Trill species' limited appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the production team managed to make it work.
However, the changes in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine were not only limited to the Trill design. Lieutenant Jadzia Dax retained some of the magnetism and passion exhibited by Odan, suggesting it was a characteristic of the Trill species. However, Jadzia had a more developed personality compared to Will Riker when he hosted Odan. In "The Host," Captain Jean-Luc Picard could sense some of Riker's personality traits, but Odan effectively replaced Riker's original personality. On the other hand, Jadzia had a more symbiotic relationship with her symbiont, incorporating her own experiences with those of Dax.
DS9’s Dax Greatly Improved On TNG’s The Host
In "The Host," the character Odan remains unchanged even while inhabiting Will Riker's body, maintaining his relationship with Beverly. However, if Jadzia in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had been solely Curzon in a female form, the trial would have been resolved quickly. What sets "Dax" apart from "The Host" is its exploration of a classic Star Trek moral dilemma. The episode never definitively determines whether Jadzia is accountable for her predecessor's actions, but it does provide insight into the process of joining.
"The Host" implies that Trill hosts are blank vessels awaiting their symbiont, but Jadzia Dax and Benjamin Sisko demonstrate that they possess much more than that. This is why Sisko passionately advocates for Jadzia's innocence, not only because he believes Curzon was framed but also because he views her as an individual who should not be judged for her predecessor's wrongdoings. This storyline presents a more captivating narrative than Dr. Crusher's dilemma of whether to continue her romantic involvement with the Odan symbiont while inhabiting Will Riker's body.
Jadzia Dax Later Improved Upon Doctor Crusher’s Tragic Love Story
When the new Trill host of the Odan symbiont arrives, Beverly is taken aback to discover that the host is a woman. Despite Odan's desire to continue their relationship, Beverly declines, stating that "our capacity to love is not so limited." This comment signifies the challenge of maintaining a relationship with someone whose physical form constantly changes. It is notable that Star Trek, particularly in instances like Garak's queerness in DS9, seems to exhibit a hesitance towards LGBTQ+ themes, suggesting that it may have been the network executives rather than the supposed progressiveness of the 24th century that were limited in their ability to love.
One interesting aspect is that Odan, in their two separate host bodies, seeks to resume their relationship with Beverly. In the Deep Space Nine episode "Rejoined," it is revealed that it is forbidden for two Trills who were previously romantically involved to reconnect in new bodies. When Jadzia Dax encounters Lenara Kahn, they immediately develop feelings for each other as a result of their predecessors' past marriage. This serves as an allegory for the intolerance faced by LGBTQ+ communities, and represents a boundary that Star Trek: The Next Generation had previously prevented Beverly Crusher from crossing.
