Why DS9's Non-Flagship Status Made it the Best Star Trek Series

Summary

The setting of a space station and the inclusion of non-Starfleet characters initially faced opposition from puritanical fans. However, these distinctive elements ultimately set Star Trek: Deep Space Nine apart and made it a remarkable addition to the Star Trek series.

DS9, although not the distinguished show of the franchise, revolutionized modern Star Trek by pushing storytelling boundaries, resulting in arc-based narratives that have heavily influenced shows such as Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Although the network's attention shifted to Star Trek: Voyager as the franchise's new leader, DS9's deviation from the conventional starship setting enabled it to liberate itself from the constraints of Roddenberry's original vision, thus providing greater freedom in storytelling.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, though not initially embraced by traditional Star Trek fans due to its unconventional setting and characters, ultimately became a highly regarded and complex series within the Star Trek franchise. Unlike the previous flagship show, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine emerged as a distinct and influential installment. Despite being the first of three spinoffs from The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine was not able to fully succeed its predecessor after its conclusion in 1994.

As Star Trek: The Next Generation continued its on-screen journey with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew, Deep Space Nine remained in its shadow. When plans were made for a third Star Trek show, efforts were made to replicate the format of The Next Generation, further setting Deep Space Nine apart as an exception. In 1995, Star Trek: Voyager was introduced, drawing inspiration from The Next Generation, particularly the episode "Q Who" where the USS Enterprise-D was transported to the Delta Quadrant by the all-powerful Q. While Deep Space Nine remains highly acclaimed, the intention of Rick Berman and Paramount was for Voyager to take on the mantle of the franchise's new flagship.

Deep Space Nine Was Never Star Trek's Flagship Show

Star Trek: The Next Generation featured the USS Enterprise, making it the flagship show of the franchise during its active production. Similarly, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine struggled to break free from the shadow of its predecessor. Unlike TNG, DS9 took place on a space station and often relied on the arrival of exploration and adventure, rather than actively seeking out new worlds. This change in format initially did not win over fans, but it ultimately helped DS9 establish its own unique identity.

When Star Trek: The Next Generation came to an end in 1994, there was speculation that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as the senior show, would take over as the flagship of the franchise. However, this was not the case, at least not according to the network. Instead, TNG's crew transitioned to a less successful movie franchise, while DS9 remained on television. To make matters worse, Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) was still without a promotion when TNG concluded. In the absence of TNG, the network clearly desired a more "traditional" Star Trek series, and they found that in Star Trek: Voyager.

Voyager Was TNG's Star Trek Successor, And Made DS9 Better

In A.J. Black's book Lost Federations: The Unmade History of Star Trek, Ira Steven Behr reflects on a conversation with Michael Piller regarding Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's position within the franchise. Piller mentioned that Voyager, with its ship, would become the flagship show, implying that it was considered the epitome of "proper" Star Trek by viewers and the network. This remark, however, did not discourage Behr and the DS9 writers; instead, it served as inspiration for them to aspire for greater heights.

Behr recalled feeling empowered by Piller's acknowledgment that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had its own unique identity. This led them to embark on the Dominion War arc in season 3, spearheaded by writers like Ronald D. Moore and René Echevarria, which would solidify DS9's reputation. Without the presence of Star Trek: Voyager, DS9 may have felt compelled to adhere strictly to Gene Roddenberry's vision of Star Trek. By allowing Voyager to carry the torch for Roddenberry's original concept, DS9 had the freedom to push the boundaries of the franchise and lay the groundwork for its current form.

DS9 Paved The Way For Modern Star Trek

Despite not being the flagship show of the franchise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had a significant influence on both the modern era and the direction of the Star Trek franchise in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The prequel series Enterprise, in particular, drew heavy inspiration from DS9's arc-based storytelling, especially in its final two seasons. Storylines such as the Temporal Cold War and the Xindi War clearly reflected DS9's Dominion War. Even the more traditional Star Trek: Voyager borrowed from DS9's focus on character growth and consequences, notably in the season 4 finale "Hope and Fear," where Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) deals with the personal aftermath of her decision to align with the Borg Collective.

The most significant impact of DS9 on the franchise lies in how modern Star Trek has embraced its arc-based storytelling. Whether in the grittier Star Trek: Discovery or the humorously inclined Star Trek: Lower Decks, elements of arc-based storytelling that made DS9 a pioneer can be seen. This can partly be attributed to the changing viewing habits of audiences with the rise of streaming platforms. However, more than a decade earlier, Captain Benjamin Sisko's crew and Ira Steven Behr's writers' room had already demonstrated that Star Trek could seamlessly adapt to the morally complex characters and longform storytelling of the new media landscape.