The Shocking Plot Twist that Devastated Star Trek Fans: DS9's Biggest Regret

Summary

Killing off Jadzia Dax in DS9 season 6 was a huge mistake as she was a beloved character and her death devastated fans.

Terry Farrell's conflicts with Paramount resulted in Jadzia's departure from DS9 and her subsequent replacement by Nicole deBoer as Ezri Dax.

There are several potential avenues for Jadzia Dax to make a return in the current Star Trek era, such as animated series and a potential revival of DS9. Fans eagerly anticipate her comeback.

Killing off Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) in the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was a grave error for the series. Jadzia, a cherished member of the main cast since the show's beginning, met a shocking demise at the hands of Gul Dukat, the primary Cardassian antagonist, in the season finale titled "Tears of the Prophets." Her death was a poignant moment that amplified the complexity of DS9's dark and intricate Dominion War plotline. However, the decision to remove Jadzia from the show and introduce Nicole deBoer as Ezri Dax was primarily due to behind-the-scenes conflicts between Farrell and Paramount, the studio behind Star Trek.

Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax, Deep Space Nine's esteemed Science Officer and closest companion of Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), held a special place in the hearts of viewers. Although it took some time for DS9's writers to fully flesh out her character, Farrell gradually grew into the role, and Jadzia became a highly intelligent, vibrant, and quick-witted Starfleet Officer. When Worf (Michael Dorn) joined DS9 in the fourth season, the warrior Klingon and the Trill scientist quickly sparked a romance that uncovered intriguing facets of their personalities. Jadzia and Worf married at the beginning of the sixth season, with hopes of a joyful life together after the conclusion of the Dominion War. Regrettably, Jadzia's senseless murder prompted a significant transformation of the Dax character as DS9 approached its final season.

Why DS9 Killed Off Jadzia Dax

The details surrounding Terry Farrell's departure from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine have not been fully revealed. While Farrell has her own perspective on the situation, the producers and studios have their own version of events. According to The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, an oral history of Star Trek by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, Farrell requested a reduced role in the seventh season of DS9, potentially making her character a recurring one. However, Farrell claims that the producers and studio were attempting to pressure her into signing on for a full season. In the 2019 documentary What We Left Behind, Farrell emotionally placed blame on the studio and executive producer Rick Berman for her dismissal. In response, Berman strongly disputes Farrell's allegations.

The claim that this woman was fired is completely absurd. She did not get fired, but rather made a request to have a recurring role instead of appearing in every episode. However, the studio refused this request and insisted that she either be a regular character in all 26 episodes or not be involved at all. As a result, she ultimately decided to leave the show. I want to clarify that this was not my decision and it was truly unfortunate to lose such a valuable character.

In the meantime, Ira Steven Behr, the showrunner of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the writing staff were deliberately kept unaware of the intense negotiations. Behr was furious when he discovered that Farrell was leaving the show, as it meant he had to write off the beloved character of Jadzia Dax. Behr expressed his frustration, stating, "Let me put it this way, if I had been informed about what was happening, I would have put a stop to it."

How DS9 Replaced Jadzia With Ezri Dax

With Terry Farrell no longer on DS9, the writers saw an opportunity to introduce a fresh Trill character, Lt. Ezri Dax, who acquired the Dax symbiont and became the Counselor on the space station. While de Boer was excited to be part of DS9, even if only for one season, she was also aware that a portion of the fans might not accept her as Jadzia's replacement. The DS9 writing team quickly integrated Ezri into the series, but the shadows of Terry Farrell and Jadzia Dax proved difficult for de Boer's Ezri to overcome, and the constant comparisons between the two Daxes were unavoidable. Without Jadzia, Worf also found himself at a loss, although Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) entered the picture and concluded season 7 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in a romantic relationship with Ezri.

How Jadiza Dax Can Return To Star Trek & DS9

Terry Farrell expressed her interest in reprising the role of Jadzia Dax, and there are now more opportunities for this to happen in the contemporary era of Star Trek on Paramount+. One of the simplest approaches to bring back Jadzia would be through one of the animated series, like Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy. Both shows embrace Star Trek's rich history, making it effortless to reintroduce Jadzia as a hologram or through time travel, allowing Farrell to lend her voice to the character. This would also ensure that Jadzia remains the same age as when she passed away on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, preserving the way fans fondly remember her.

Another potential option for a live-action revival of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could involve reintroducing Jadzia Dax. This would require a more imaginative approach, such as having Ezri Dax find a way to access the Dax symbiont and connect with Jadzia, allowing them to appear together on screen. One possibility could involve a Bajoran orb bringing Jadzia back, or even Captain Benjamin Sisko using his powers as the Emissary of the Prophets to resurrect her. Despite Terry Farrell's departure from the show over 25 years ago, there is still a strong desire among fans to see Jadzia Dax make a return to Star Trek.