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This series is a departure from the established Star Trek formula; it is the first series not to feature the Enterprise and her crew. Instead, the series chronicles the events surrounding the space station Deep Space Nine, a former Cardassian ore processing station which has recently been placed under joint Bajoran and Federation control. In the first episode, the crew discovers the presence of a nearby stable wormhole which provides immediate travel to and from the distant Gamma Quadrant; this immediately makes the station an important tactical asset, as well as a vital center of commerce with the largely-unexplored area of space.
Inside the wormhole live aliens who exist beyond time and do not understand the linear nature by which other lifeforms experience it. These aliens are the Bajoran Prophets which are worshipped as gods by the people of BajorThis article is about the fictional planet. For the small town of Bajor, New Jersey see Bajor, New Jersey. In the fictional Star Trek universe, Bajor is the homeworld of the Bajorans. It orbits the star Bajor-B'hava'el in the Bajoran sector. The politics, and the wormhole itself is the long-prophesied Celestial TempleIn the fictional Star Trek universe, the Bajoran wormhole is a wormhole located near the planet Bajor, in whose inhabitants' religion it is referred to as the Celestial Temple . The wormhole is discovered in the first episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Commander Benjamin SiskoSisko, Benjamin Benjamin Lafayette Sisko is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe, played by Avery Brooks. He was the commander, then captain of the space station Deep Space Nine and the starship USS Defiant in the science fiction television ser, who discovered the wormhole, becomes revered as the Emissary of the Prophets, a spiritual role with which he is not at all comfortable.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine inspires strong opinions from Star Trek fans. Some abandoned the series early on, dissatisfied by its grittier themes, while some contend that the series abandoned Trek creator Gene RoddenberryStar Trek Eugene Wesley Roddenberry ( August 19, 1921 October 24, 1991), was born in El Paso, Texas, USA, spent his boyhood in Los Angeles, California, and is best known as the creator of the science fiction television series Star Trek''. Life and work Ro's original concepts (though it has been reported that Roddenberry approved the concept of the series just before his death). Others hold that it is still the most solidly written of the Star Trek series produced. Fans of the series are known as "Niners" (after a baseball team of the same name which appeared in a later episode of the series) and are quite protective of their show against criticism.
The show was never the tremendous ratings success that its predecessor had been, and indeed Entertainment Weekly in a mid-1990s article suggested that Star Trek would soon end its voyage, but it remained the top rated first-run syndicated drama series throughout most of its run and was successful enough that Paramount launched two more Trek series.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine also differs from previous Star Trek series in that it contains story arcs which span several episodes. Other Star Trek series tend to largely restore the status quoFor the perennial British rock band, see Status Quo (band Status quo is a Latin term meaning the present current, existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep things the way they presently are. Arguing to preserve the "status quo" is u at the end of an episode so that the episodes can be seen out-of-order without compromising their plot. Here, however, not only are events in one episode often referenced and built on in later episodes, but sometimes several episodes in a row would be cliffhangerThis article is about the 'cliffhanger' plot device in works of fiction. For the movie of the same name, see Cliffhanger (movie). A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in which a movie or novel contains an abrupt ending, often leaving the ms. This trend is especially strong near the end of the series' run, by which time it has become very much a serialThis article is about serials in fiction . You might want, instead: Serial communications for information about computer communication technologies that use a single stream of data; Serialism (music) or Cliffhanger ( plot device). Serial in fiction is a t.
One such story arc is that of Benjamin Sisko's role as a religious icon. He initially faces it with open discomfort and skepticism, referring to the Bajoran Prophets simply as "wormhole aliens" and striving to keep his role as commander of the station distinct from any obligations which the Bajoran people try to place on him. Later he becomes more accepting of his role, and by the end of the series he appears to embrace it.
The episode " Rules of Acquisition" introduces the Dominion, a ruthless empire in the Gamma Quadrant. It is led by "the Founders," comprised of a race of shapeshifters known as Changelings (the same race as station security chief Odo). They were once persecuted by non-shapeshifters (whom they call "Solids") and they are now out to control any who are not like themselves. The Founders have created two races to serve them: the Vorta, sly and subversive diplomats; and the Jem'Hadar, strong and brave shock troops. These races worship the Founders as gods.
The Dominion invades the Alpha Quadrant, forms an uneasy alliance with Cardassia, and eventually goes to war with the other major races. Throughout the series, loyalties and alliances change repeatedly: alliances with the Cardassians are made, broken, and remade; a short conflict with the Klingons flares, and the Federation finds an alliance with the Romulans.
Another example of DS9's darker plot material is Section 31, a secret police division in Starfleet Intelligence. This undemocratic shadow organization justifies its unlawful, ethically questionable tactics by claiming that it is essential to the continued existence of the Federation. Section 31 is prominent in several episodes of the Dominion War plot.
The Ferengi in the series are no longer an enemy of the Federation, but rather an economic power whose political neutrality is mostly respected. Several episodes explore the capitalist nature of the Ferengi (usually with a comedic touch). They are guided in their lives and in their business transactions by the Rules of Acquisition.
The character of Jadzia Dax is a Trill; she is a young woman who has been joined with the Dax symbiont which is more than three hundred years old. This gives her the memories of seven previous lifetimes in which the symbiont was previously hosted by men and women. In the episode "Rejoined," Jadzia meets the wife of a previous male host, and the two women share a kiss.
Odo is a shapeshifter who handles station security with a strong sense of justice and fairness. He is driven by a desire to find other shapeshifters like himself and to find out where he came from. He eventually discovers that he is one of the Founders, and he is torn between a longing to reunite with his people and a love for Major Kira. Worf, a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, was added to the DS9 cast in the fourth season to help sagging ratings. Several episodes follow his efforts to balance his Klingon heritage with his Federation duty.