With its 10 best episodes, the first season ofStar Trek: Deep Space Ninesolidly sets up aStar Trekshow that’s very different from bothStar Trek: The Next GenerationandStar Trek: The Original Series. Superficial differences, like thecast ofStar Trek: Deep Space Ninehaving more non-Starfleet characters, or the space station setting, clearly setDS9apart from its starship-based predecessors. Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) was multifaceted from the jump, juggling Starfleet duties, lingering grief, and his teenage son Jake (Cirroc Lofton); while Brooks himself championed diversity asStar Trek’s first Black lead.
BeforeStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,Star Trekshowsrelegated faith and religion to concepts humanity had overcome in the future, butStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s first season is all about faith. Through the station’s melting pot of cultures,DS9explores how the stories that we tell ourselves—and each other—shape what we believe to be true. The best episodes ofDeep Space Nineseason 1 putStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s characters in unforeseen situations that will either challenge or reinforce their beliefs, while hinting at the serialization and deep character studies that would later defineDS9.
10Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 8 - “Dax”
DS9’s Trill Are Different, And Jadzia Is Not Curzon
The hearing inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1, episode 8, “Dax”, seeks to determinewhether Lieutenant Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) is actually responsible for a crime that Curzon Dax allegedly committed.It’s a clever way to use the courtroom as a narrative device that explains howDeep Space Nine’s Trill are differentfromStar Trek: The Next Generation’s Trill, whose symbionts buried the hosts' personalities completely. There are some solid moments for Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois), too, who does his best to absolve Jadzia of Curzon’s mistakes with a thorough investigation.
The Trill that were first introduced inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, episode 23, “The Host”, haven’t been seen since then, because newerStar Trekshows have only featured the spottedDS9-style Trill.
“Dax” may not be as tightly-woven as otherStar Trekcourtroom episodes, but its strength is in spotlighting Lieutenant Dax as a character. Even though Jadzia Dax hasn’t become the more boisterous version of herself that we’ll come to know later,other important aspects of Dax’s character are introduced here, like steadfast loyalty, integrity, and gender fluidity.Jadzia may not be legally bound to the things that Curzon did, but she will honor his promises from one life into the next, which is consistent with Dax’s promises to the Klingons inDS9’s 4th season.
9Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 17 - “The Forsaken”
Odo & Lwaxana Troi Drop Pretenses In A Turbolift
How you feel aboutStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1, episode 17, “The Forsaken” may depend on how you feel about Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry), but I think this episode does a fantastic job of recontextualizing Lwaxana as her own character.Lwaxana and Constable Odo are surprising, fantastic foils for one another throughout the episode, with Lwaxana advancing and Odo rebuffing, both true to form. But the real beauty of “The Forsaken” happens after Lwaxana and Odo get stuck in a turbolift together.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Changed My Mind About TNG’s Lwaxana Troi
After 6 appearances on TNG as Deanna Troi’s annoying mother, DS9 did something different with Lwaxana Troi that made her much better.
Yes, it’s a well-worn story trope, but “stuck in an elevator” actually works to reveal what’s hiding beneath both Odo and Lwaxana’s carefully crafted public guises. Between Odo’s shapeshifted form and Lwaxana’s favorite hair, both are able to admit that they’re putting on a show for the outside world.For someone who’s rarely honest with himself, being honest with another person is almost impossible for Odo.But the long, elapsed time in the turbolift means Odo has to revert to his gelatinous state, which is a great metaphor for broken barriers between these unlikely friends.
8Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 15 “Progress”
Kira Grapples With The Other Side Of Rebellion
InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1, episode 15, “Progress”, Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) has to force a farmer named Mullibok (Brian Keith) to move from his lifelong home on one of Bajor’s moons, which will be rendered uninhabitable by a new power plant.Major Kira’s past as a freedom fighterin the Bajoran Resistance made her rail against authority and the status quo,but now, as Deep Space Nine’s First Officer and liaison to Bajor, Kiraisthe authority. Kira isn’t supposed to just set fire to Mullibok’s house—but she does, because it seems like the only way.
Kira learns that actually governing is much harder than the ease of righteous anger.
While Kira learns that actually governing is much harder than the ease of righteous anger, “Progress” also has a fun B-story with Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) and Nog (Aron Eisenberg) forming the “Noh-Jay Consortium”. By bartering Cardassian yamok sauce,self-sealing stem bolts, and so on until they hit it big with a parcel of land, the boys' friendship grows even more than their latinum prospects.
7Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 13 - “Battle Lines”
Kira’s Fight Is Both Within And Without
Like most ofDeep Space Nine’s first season,Star Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1, episode 13, “Battle Lines”, is about faith. In very clear ways, it’s about Kira Nerys' faith in the Bajoran religion and in Kai Opaka (Camille Saviola).Kai Opaka’s deathlets us see, perhaps for the first time, the depths of Major Kira’s grief, instead of her hotheaded anger. Nana Visitor’s performance is raw and real, as it always is, and there’s a similar depth of emotion when Opaka is revived by the asteroid the away team lands on.
DS9’s Exploration Of Religion Was Revolutionary For Star Trek
Deep Space Nine really did go where no Star Trek had gone before by exploring the religious persecution and spiritual lives of the Bajoran people.
Less obviously, “Battle Lines” is about the faith of the two warring factions that call the asteroid home. While Kira tries to teach them guerrilla tactics, certain that it’s the only way to win, the soldiers prove they’re not interested in winning. They already know what the next day will bring: death, resurrection, and more death.The factions' neverending war with each other is just like Kira’s internal war in the wake of Bajoran victory; there is success, but at what cost?Kai Opaka stays behind on the asteroid to minister the soldiers, so Bajor will need a new Kai.
6Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 11 - “The Nagus”
DS9 Redefines The Ferengi In Ways TNG Couldn’t
Like so much ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s first season,“The Nagus” challenges our assumptions based on what we saw inStar Trek: The Next Generation.TNG’s Ferengi characters were starship officers, butDS9shows us thatStar Trek’s best Ferengi—as they define themselves—are the entrepreneurs. There’s no one better to show the archetypal Ferengi than their leader himself. Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn), but Zek’s faked death puts Quark (Armin Shimerman) directly in the paranoid, self-preservationist spotlight so we can see what makes Quark tick.
9 Ways DS9’s Ferengi Changed Star Trek History
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was the making of the Ferengi and Quark, Rom, Nog, and Ishka continue to make a huge impact on the Star Trek universe.
But it’s the B-story of “The Nagus” that exemplifies whatStar Trek: Deep Space Nineis really all about, especially in its first season. Sisko assumes he understands the Ferengi based on their reputation, the same way we assume we know them fromTNG. Jake and Nog, however, are determined to make their own decisions, andJake’s own Federation ideals won’t let him see Nog as anything other than a friend in need.So when it turns out Jake’s being evasive because he’s teaching Nog to read, that broken-down barrier will to true understanding.
5Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 3 - “Past Prologue”
DS9 Sets Itself Apart With A Slew Of Hidden Agendas
The first regular episode ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nineafter the premiere, “Past Prologue” dives right into a complex story with multiple perspectives, unreliable characters, and a peek into the station’s criminal underbelly.The arrival of Tahna Los (Jeffrey Nordling), a Bajoran Resistance fighter with extreme views, raises questions and exposes hidden agendas.Kira believes Bajor needs Tahna to achieve true independence, the Cardassians believe Tahna must be executed, and Tahna is just trying to smuggle some illicit weapons. And Sisko is the one who has to keep this from becoming an interplanetary incident.
“Past Prologue” was supposed to be the onlyStar Trek: Deep Space Nineepisode that featured plain, simple Garak (Andrew Robinson), but he proved so popular in this single outing that Garak became one ofDS9’s best recurring characters.
The themes that run throughoutDS9season 1 are everywhere in this episode.Each character is so committed to seeing what they want to see in those around them that they’re practically willing to overlook the truth.Kira wants to see Tahna as reformed, whereas Tahna sees Kira as a traitor to Bajor.Commander Sisko’s assignment on Deep Space Nineisn’t as simple as Benjamin wants it to be. And Bashir wants to see Garak as a spy, which at this point may or may not be true. (It’s all true, dear Doctor.)
4Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 6 - “Captive Pursuit”
Miles O’Brien Teaches The Value Of Friendship
Long beforeDeep Space Nineadopted the maxim"O’Brien must suffer,“Star Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1, episode 6, “Captive Pursuit” sees Miles O’Brien using his affable everyman energy to make a new friend. That friend is Tosk (Scott MacDonald), the station’s first visitor from the Gamma Quadrant. BecauseTosk’s version of the Prime Directive keeps him from offering information about himself besides “I am Tosk,“the episode has a great mystery that keeps us guessing, while Miles happily explains familiarTrektech and Starfleet’s mission.
Tosk’s predator overseers are never named, but their hunt-based culture shares a lot in common withStar Trek: Voyager’s Hirogen.
3Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2 - “Emissary”
Benjamin Sisko Begins A New Chapter
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s premiere episode, “Emissary,” has to accomplish multiple tasks, like introducingStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s main cast members and the general premise of the show, and setting up Benjamin Sisko’s series-long arc as theEmissary of the Prophets. The episode manages to do all of that successfully, while also tying in toStar Trek: The Next Generationwith the USS Enterprise-D dropping off Chief Miles O’Brien, and Sisko’sverytense exchange with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).
Star Trek: Deep Space Nineopens with a title card recappingTNG’s Battle of Wolf 359, because it’s the pivotal point in Benjamin Sisko’s life that the non-linear Prophets claim he still lives within. It’s a beautiful metaphor for Sisko’s trauma.
“Emissary” seems to have learned from the shortcomings ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’s premiere, “Encounter at Farpoint”, which was disjointed and artificially extended due to Gene Roddenberry’s executive meddling.“Emissary” weaves all its plot threads together capably, making it a genuinely enjoyableStar Trekseries premierethat doesn’t drag its feet, even with all the political setup it needs to do.
2Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 20 - “In the Hands of the Prophets”
A Clash Of Science, Faith, And Politics Closes Out DS9’s First Season
InStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s first season finale, “In the Hands of the Prophets”,the season’s ongoing storylines all come to an explosive head when Keiko O’Brien’s (Rosalind Chao) school is bombed.This episode has everything: a criminal investigation, Bajoran politics, the intersection of science and faith, the clash of cultural differences, and the introduction of one ofDS9’s most memorable villainsin Vedek Winn Adami (Louise Fletcher). Winn is viscerally, delightfully awful, in all her skin-crawling, two-faced glory; from the first “my child,” you know Winn will be a thorn in Sisko’s side for a very long time.
Winn is viscerally, delightfully awful, in all her skin-crawling, two-faced glory.
WhileStar Trek: Deep Space Ninehas hinted at serialization throughout its first season,“In the Hands of the Prophets” shows the real ramifications of aStar Trekshow where there’s no warping off to the next strange new world next week. Sisko, Kira, andDS9’s entire cast have to deal with situations that unfold in real-time, whether those are interpersonal relationships or political conflicts. That means there’s real depth toDS9’s character growth. Best of all, “In the Hands of the Prophets” does a great job setting up the whoppingthree-part episode openingDS9’s second season.
1Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 19 - “Duet”
Major Kira Confronts A Cardassian War Criminal & Comes Away Changed
By far, the best episode ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1 is episode 19, “Duet”. It’s a stunning character piece for Major Kira, who spends most of the hour in conversation with a Cardassian prisoner (Harris Yulin) who once served at a Bajoran labor camp. The man alternately claims to be the terrifying camp overseer Gul Darhe’el, or mild-mannered file clerk Aamon Marritza.“Duet” seeks to determine whether one is just as guilty as the other—or if it even matters, because to Kira,allCardassians are equally complicit in the horrors of Bajoran suffering, and deserve to die.
Quark Actor Armin Shimerman’s Favorite DS9 Episode Has Nothing To Do With Star Trek’s Ferengi
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has multiple classic Ferengi comedies, but Armin Shimerman’s favorite season 1 episode has nothing to do with Quark.
LikeStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s later seasons, “Duet” is a deeply layered study of atrocity from multiple perspectives that also acknowledges war is hell for everyone involved. Kira’s past with the Bajoran Resistance is riddled with violence, but it’s justified. Marritza’s file clerk job at the Gallitep labor camp was non-violent, but the guilt of being complicit in unspeakable torture is ruining him from inside. There’s no other single episode in all ofDeep Space Nine’s first season that so excellently sums up the brilliancethatStar Trek: Deep Space Nineis known for today.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Cast
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
