After "It's Only a Paper Moon" aired, Aron Eisenberg was contacted by a number of combat veterans who praised and commended his performance as the emotional and psychological turmoil that Nog dealt with throughout the episode mirrored exactly how they themselves have felt after being wounded and returning from battle.
My diagnosed ptsd doesn’t even come from being in the military but it was still really relatable. It’s probably one of my favorite Star Trek episodes of all time
Actually more specifically I relate to his anger, his fear, his obsession with the event (ie. Playing the same song he was listening to when he lost his leg on repeat), the desire to live in your own world so you don’t have to go outside and possibly face the same trauma again. I have maladaptive daydreaming and mild agoraphobia so the holodeck addiction really resonated with me The part that makes me cry every time? NOG: Don't you get it? I can't go out there. VIC: Why not? NOG: I'm scared, okay? I'm scared. When the war began, I wasn't happy or anything, but I was eager. I wanted to test myself. I wanted to prove I had what it took to be a soldier. And I saw a lot of combat. I saw a lot of people get hurt. I saw a lot of people die, but I didn't think anything was going to happen to me. And then suddenly Doctor Bashir is telling me he has to cut my leg off. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. If I can get shot, if I can lose my leg, anything could happen to me, Vic. I could die tomorrow. I don't know if I'm ready to face that. If I stay here, at least I know what the future is going to be like. VIC: You stay here, you're going to die. Not all at once, but little by little. Eventually you'll become as hollow as I am. NOG: You don't seem hollow to me. VIC: Compared to you, I'm hollow as a snare drum. Look, kid, I don't know what's going to happen to you out there. All I can tell you is that you've got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you're in the game. God I want some of this on a tattoo
OG 93 Niner here. This was my favorite Trek by far since I was a kid. I watch it at least once or twice a year and still find something new or that I never noticed in every episode.
Armin Shimerman was amazing as Quark. He did exactly what was needed to make the Ferengi into the race they should've always been. The scripts were written better, but he played into them so well. One of my favorite all time Star Trek characters.
Great review ... you missed one crucial exchange though, that I think is among the very best of Trek, not just writing and acting, but also in universe ... the "root beer" scene between Quark and Garak. Quark: I want you to try something for me. Take a sip of this. Garak: What is it? Quark: A human drink; it's called root beer. Garak: I dunno... Quark: Come on. Aren't you just a little bit curious? Garak takes a sip, wincing as he tastes it. Quark: What do you think? Garak: It's vile! Quark: I know. It's so bubbly, cloying...and happy. Garak: Just like the Federation. Quark: And you know what's really frightening? If you drink enough of it, you begin to like it. Garak: It's insidious. Quark: Just like the Federation. THAT, right there, is not only great writing and pitch-perfect performance from Shimmerman and Robinson, but it's a deep understanding of aspects of the Federation that Trek rarely explores. I'm pretty sure it's my absolute fave scene from any Trek made to date ...ua-cam.com/video/6VhSm6G7cVk/v-deo.html ... Peak Trek IMO ...
@@oldylad That's a big part of what makes it a great scene. We rarely get to see the "alien's" perspective on Star Fleet and the Federation ... Trek is about humans ...but this is a reminder that there are different perspectives in the Federation and larger galaxy. No other characters in the show, maybe in the entire franchise, could have this conversation IMO ... and it's a conversation that Trek needed to have in it, somewhere, IMO ...
@@Hartwig870 Unintentionally ... I think those are the most crucial lines in the exchange because they reinforce that life is a messy business where sometimes your best options are in places you, frankly, aren't all that fond of, or welcome in. If there are two "outisders" on the station who are, at best, "looking in" on the Federation, It's Garak and Quark, and that's why this exchange is so powerful ... It's essentially "Look, there are loads of things about them that suck, and neither of us really fit in here but we BOTH know it's still the best place in the universe for us." That's a level of nuance that the Federation RARELY gets, but one that, in a "real implementation" of a galactic Federation like it, would be common-place for the races that fell somewhere between members and enemies ... As I said, no other characters in perhaps ALL of Trek could have had this conversation. And the final bit is what makes it so good.
So glad Deep Space Nine is getting more and more recognition as the years go by. It stood the test of time as a sci-fi show and a character driven drama show.
In the original series movies, Admiral Cartwright was such a believable asshole. I understood from watching that performance that the man's wife didn't like him, his kids moved away long ago and didn't contact him. It was just absolutely convincing as a performance. In Deep Space Nine, we meet Joseph Sisko, and he is one of the most pleasant people that you could hope to meet. He's absolutely gregarious, a fantastic host, and a fantastic father and grandfather. The man can even cook. I say all this to say, this is what acting is all about.
Brock Peters was a wonderful actor. I remember him in "To Kill a Mockingbird," as Tom Robinson. But I don't seem to recall him being a "believable asshole" in either ST IV or VI. In "the one with the Whales" he was primarily a Starfleet Flag Officer, if that was it... then he wouldn't have been around long enough to be a Starfleet "Evil Admiral." I don't think anything in the theatrical releases of IV or VI ever suggested anything about his family life. Unless you are talking about Brock Peters personally, he was married for 38 years and had only one child, but I don't know about his relationship to her. I have no idea she moved away from him or if his wife didn't like him. Joseph Sisko was the longest we ever see him in any character, and I don't know if that was a huge stretch for him.
The entire DS9 cast is so, so good but I have an absolute infatuation with Avery Brooks' performance, the man plays the role with such sincerity. The way his voice cracks and breaks after his father accuses him of thinking he was a changeling and Benny's breakdown when he's told his story won't be published are to me, hands down two of the absolute, undisputed best performances in the franchise. Even saying that I feel like I'm not giving enough credit to the rest of the cast though, I tried to write out a big list of compliments for the entire cast but it was just too long and there's only so many ways I can express massive admiration I have for a HUGE group of INCREDIBLY talented actors. This series is the peak of Trek for a reason. RIP to Renee, it should've been him in that Fallout show.
Fun fact, my mom's babysitter growing up was Jack Blessings, one of the actors who played one of the temporal investigators in Trials and Tribble-ations.
They just have everything, great episodic stories while also having a deep and engaging overarching storyline (or storylines). No flat characters. No flat cultures. No flat lore for any culture. Stakes always feel real. Amazing acting, set pieces, and mask work. It's just all-around amazing SciFi.
By the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, I extend this precious package to you. In hopes that you also do the following series, in this order. Babylon 5, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise. Good show sir, may you find prosperity in all you do.
Oh and Jeffrey Combs becoming a recurring character was such a delight. Everyone should watch ReAnimator if you have even a touch of fondness for horror.
@@JoshuaDMaley id never given that any thought. i can see weyoun making a offhand dry remark on how brunt is more intelligent looking than the average ferengi.
Another minor correction: Martok was being held in a Jem Hadar prison camp in the gamma quadrant, not a Breen prison camp. There was actually a Breen prisoner that ended up helping them escape.
My headcanon says that the early version of Max Grodenchik's character, Rom, is Rom putting on airs and trying to act as if he's a typical Ferengi when we all come to find out he is not.
Right with you there. Rom was just talking the talk to fit in with his fellow Ferengi. The longer he stayed away, the less he felt to keep up appearances.
I never felt the need to manufacture a justification. It was the pilot where his credit was just Ferengi pit boss, and the school episode, where the writers realized Max was really good and started to write for him. Just like laughing Spock changed after the TOS pilot, it took time to dial him in, and that's ok. Nog, Rom, and even Garak, were products of a flexible writers room that wanted to reward good performances. The extent of those roles wasn't part of any series plan, and that's one of the best things about DS9
@@s.henrlllpoklookout5069 I'm Third Talak'talan of the Jem'Hadar. I am here to inform you that your commander has been detained for questioning by the Dominion." "Detained? For how long?" "Indefinitely. Commander Sisko will serve as an example of what happens to anyone who interferes with the Dominion." "What kind of interference are you talking about?" "Coming through the Anomaly is interference enough. Unless you wish to continue to offend the Dominion, I suggest you stay on your side of the Galaxy." "
I thought the show was better without Worf. The character of Worf needed DS9 more than DS9 needed Worf. MD got scripts and character development that infinitely went past anything he got in TNG, but in a lot of ways Worf upset the balance of the show that was established in the first three seasons.
When DS9 first aired, I only ever saw "Emissary" as I had grown out of Star Trek by then. Years later, I was able to bing-watch the series on Netflix, and it became one of my favorite series.
I showed a huge trekkie DS9 - that happens to have never seen it - and he literally burst out during the credits "Holy SHIT that was an awesome episode of trek!" Unfortunately he still hasnt gone further than the pilot
Yeah I didn't properly watch it til 2 years ago. Even though I saw episodes on TV back then. Epic series. Epic. Victory was in our grasp!!!! Bajor! The Federation! The alpha quadrant! ALL LOST
Behind B5 for me, but yeah. DS9 is definitely my favorite piece of Trek media, though Generations will always hold a special nostalgic place in my heart as I saw it in theaters as a kiddo.
@@dominictempleThat tracks we see that he sincerely believes in the tules of acquisition. While others use them either as a shield or for manipulation...In fact I would say that in that way Quark is alot like Worf. Just from thier own cultural traditions Worf holds to the teachings of Kahless no matter what and Quark holds to the rules.
The series debuted when I was 12. I watched with mild interest until “Move Along Home,” and then just stopped watching. Then, in college, a friend told me that it was good, actually. I gave it a shot, and damn, he was right. It’s my favorite. S1-2 are uneven, but still head and shoulders above S1-S2 of TNG.
It took me a long time to watch DS9. Didn't know what I was missing. It's the best of all the series, to me. It's one of the best examples of the right balance between episodic and serial storytelling.
Yep! You're right. He was exactly those things which made him condescending and therefore not as likable. Of course that was all scripted and intentional.
DS9 is such a great show..both it and Babylon 5 are excellent examples in world building, story telling, and character development. :) teenage me had the biggest crush on Julian Bashir. damn, Bashir really set the standard for what I look for in a guy
That one episode where Benjamin becomes a 20th century writer is one of the best acted episodes of all Star Trek and also one that directly addresses racism without alien make-up.
I remember finishing TNG during the Pandemic and some time had passed and I finally said, F it, I'll watch DS9 to see what all this is about Some of the best Trek out there, Under The Pale Moonlight had my jaw dropped at the end
@@jameslucas3161 Can't be good for Tyler's ego in the fact that most of his viewers don't second guess him humping a cardboard cutout of an animated character.
Well executed characters. Well defined motivations. Well fleshed out arks. Satisfying conclusions. DS9 is amazing at making you feel like you are living on a space station. What a show.
Tyler, you have produced the most comprehensive and thorough analysis of THE BEST, and my favorite Trek series ever, DS9. I applaud you for your efforts. If there were some kind of award for this endeavor, I would nominate you for it, and you would have my vote.
I do agree that it was not necessary but the fact taht they gave a story for the forehead cosmetic issue has always bee cool to me. Just makes the world feel a bit more connected.
29:20 Minor correction: The 100 infant changelings weren't "sent through the wormhole to gather information about the Alpha Quadrant" as you put it. The Founders didn't know about the wormhole until after it was discovered by Sisko and ships from the Alpha Quadrant started showing up in Dominion space. The 100 changelings were simply sent out to explore in random directions (I think it was hundreds of years ago, not sure). Odo happened to go through the wormhole by accident, where he was discovered near Bajor and studied. I think the Female Changeling said that Odo was the first to return, much sooner than expected, because going through the wormhole was such a shortcut. Anyway my point is that The Founders didn't know about the wormhole before, otherwise they probably would have invaded the Alpha Quadrant sooner.
@@OrangeRiver Well yeah obviously they knew the Alpha Quadrant was there, they just didn't try to extend their control over it because (not knowing about the wormhole) it's too far away (as in, all their military forces would have a Voyager-like journey just to get there).
Damn. I always get teary when I watch the final stretch arc and reach the end of What you leave behind. Not only that, merely watching the retrospect gets me teary by the time you recount the events of the series finale.
hooly fk I saw the title in my notifications and as a DS9 truther, i clicked very fast, then proceed to see ITS 92 MINUTES LONG YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH
As a 90's teens there was a period I am pretty sure that my entertainment in any given week could include the Carlin era Superman books coming out once a week then, prime X-Files seasons, Babylon 5 deep in The Shadow War, TNG and DS9, which kicked into high gear with the Dominion War arc. DS9's strengths were unfortunately not taken as lessons for Voyager. DS9 could be "Trek" of the TNG mold but it also could do compelling multi episode arcs, strange off the beaten path stories, and it proved character was and CONSEQUENCES were king for good dramatic storytelling.
As a fellow 90's teen, I fully agree. IMO that was the peak time for sci-fi nerdom. There's been great Sci-Fi since (Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse come to mind), but never so many options all at once. An all you could watch buffet!
DS9 was ahead of it's time, original and deceptively deep in it's content. It feels like it spins off a little too far from Star Trek to have the widespread love that it deserves, but that's not a bad thing necessarily.
Wonderful tribute to a wonderful show. I watched it from day one. I remember people hating DS9. Someone wrote: to boldly sit where no one has sat before! Another critic said: do you think anyone would ever be excitedly waiting for a “Deep Space Nine, the Movie “!? But another critic said that the show had potential. Watch what they do in years to come. And that DS9 would become a beloved show.
I’ve never been more attached to any cast of characters in any other show. DS9 does such a great job at storytelling and character development that I cried during the finale, knowing there was nothing more to come.
I love 'O'Brien Must Suffer' became a once a season tradition, much like the Mirror Universe eps. Except the O'Brien eps were more consistently entertaining. Poor Miles.
Keiko taken over by evil alien, Miles being sent to prison and going crazy, the time Molly goes thru that portal and ages a bunch. That one episode where Miles tells Julian how Molly, and Keiko, and Kira started laughing at him when he came in the room...
Another issue with Ezri was how many episodes they set aside for her in season 7. Had they not spent so many episodes on her perhaps the final season wouldn’t have felt so rushed.
I watched seasons 1 thru 6, (DVD score off eBay) probably at least 5 time, even avoiding the last episode of season 6 until I finally ordered season 7. I couldn't believe it, Ezri was fine but got way to much screen time imo
I would have preferred Ro, but I'm glad we got Kira; Visitor was amazing as that character. An overall wonderful show that I'm pleased to have had a part of my childhood.
56:16 to get nitpicky we learned Taim was Garak's father in The Wire, and the 2parter where Taim leads the Obsidian Order fleet to their doom, it was just buried in 37 layers of subtext until it was confirmed in the prison camp.
Honestly Worf and Dax relationship fucking amasing! And that wedding! My best moment of Worf is when Weyoun tried to roast Dex and he just immediatly snaps his neck just like that.
Wohoo I'm not alone! Only person I'd ever salute would be Admiral Patrick. Naturally after first asking permission to do so and being informed that in fact is a stupid question.
1:23:13 The one lingering question on a recent rewatch: Laas and Odo link before Odo knows he has the virus, and Laas doesn’t return to the Great Link. So Laas is just out there dying somewhere with no idea why.
Just like TNG, it took a couple seasons to really take off because the writers didnt have a good handle on the characters. But it got there, I'll always love DS9. Also a pretty good lesson for every aspiring TV producer, it's the writing that makes people care.
You know, I've watched DS9 I don't know how many times as well as video essays about it... And yours shows something I hadn't thought about: there's SO much that happens throughout the series! And also, another thing: I highly doubt the writers had everything planned out but it's amazing how they always tried to tied things up with past seasons as much as they could, e.g. the prophecy about the Fire Caves in season 3... Probably just a line they threw in without that much thought when producing that particular shoe but that they later gave huge meaning to in the finale. That's why DS9 is so awesome! ❤ Thanks for this essay!
I have met several Star Trek actors over the years, but my favorites are Max, Aron and Armin. Each was so funny and "instant friend" vibes rolled right off them. Nana and Dorn are very close seconds. What was also fun is that Dorn and the "Ferengi" each expressed the advantage of being able to go into public without being instantly recognized. I could tell you about how they pranked a few fans in front of me, but that would take pages to tell those stories.....
When DS9 premiered, I could very much take it or leave it. The darker, drabby tone hit me hard. (TV Guide's description of the series setting as 'a decaying space station in orbit of a stripped mining planet' didn't do much to build my anticipation, either.) But I'm so glad I stuck with it. During the third season premiere "The Search, Part 1," I remember thinking for the first time 'This is good!' (It was that tense scene where the Defiant crew were waiting to see if the cloaking device had successfully blocked them from Jem'Hadar sensors.) From that point on, DS9 became my favorite Trek series, and remains such to this day. No one is more surprised than me.
Indeed. And Picard would retire. He wouldn't want to be part of what starfleet became. He's an explorer diplomat. But Q warned them at the beginning of tng!!
Much as I love DS9, it must be mentioned that less than a year before DS9, J. Michael Straczynski had approached paramount with his idea for a Sci-fi Space Opera featuring a Space Station and an overarching 5 year story. This later became Babylon 5.
@@ThommyofThenn it was a joke. I don't really care if one ripped off the other cause they're both fantastic. Ripping stuff off is genuinely good sometimes
I've actually only watched through DS9 one time, but man, it did have several episodes that hit hard. I think one of the show's greatest strengths was that it did a great job overall balancing the episodic and serialized nature of its own storytelling. It never really felt too episodic or serialized; it had the charms of both. I also love how it developed the Ferengi as a race overall. Now I want to watch it again, lol. Thank you for the video. God be with you out there, everybody. ✝️ :)
Ahhh finally, ppl are waking up to this series. It was hated back in the day(u know why) but us die hards stuck with it and now smile at those just awakening to ds9s awesomeness 😊
Oh my goodness. I was going about my business on a Sunday (watching ST The Movie.) regular stuff then I was "I need to talk trek." And you lace my world with spoilers in DS9. **Rolls eyes**
They have different strengths. And styles. My favorite episodes are on tng. Some epic episodes. Like best of both worlds etc. But ds9 has the more epic story. Saga
@@darmok3420 Next to zero character development for the main cast, very little internecine conflict to generate drama, most episodes are middling, a good number are hilariously terrible, and many are just plain boring. I can only take so many rudderless spatial anomaly or temporal disturbance episodes to pad out a season-I just do not care about these things. Dry as hell. Again, TNG isn't a BAD show, it's just the weakest and most sterile of the bunch. It has a great cast that's frankly underserved by the material.
Fun bit of trivia: DS9 actually *was* the only Star Trek show on the air for a short while. From Episode 25 of season 2, "Tribunal" till episode 12 of season 3, "Past Tense Part II" DS9 was alone, as TNG had just ended. Only after that did Voyager premiere. But it's such a short period in the show's history that it's easy to overlook if you don't go and examine air dates in detail.
I had to look it up, was shocked that Shel-La was indeed the same Jonathan Banks as Mike the cleaner, lol. Was my favorite character on that show. I was like "no way", but that voice is unmistakable.
This was amazing work. I will donate for your hard work on this. I had a short trip and this was the perfect duration for the flight. Love me some DS9. And died laughing at 25:06 😂😂
Just found your channel, discovered Star Trek through hard times and have been down the rabbit hole ever since! Definitely checking out your other videos!
You know the biggest reason I think it's the best series - the character growth and the relationships. Not one character is the same at the beginning and ending of the series, and the way friendships have formed. It is absolutely rock solid a character driven series. And you have to admit, of all star Trek villains - Dukat truly takes the cake for best adversary of all series (Marc Alaimo's performance was nothing short of spectacular).
After "It's Only a Paper Moon" aired, Aron Eisenberg was contacted by a number of combat veterans who praised and commended his performance as the emotional and psychological turmoil that Nog dealt with throughout the episode mirrored exactly how they themselves have felt after being wounded and returning from battle.
My diagnosed ptsd doesn’t even come from being in the military but it was still really relatable. It’s probably one of my favorite Star Trek episodes of all time
Actually more specifically I relate to his anger, his fear, his obsession with the event (ie. Playing the same song he was listening to when he lost his leg on repeat), the desire to live in your own world so you don’t have to go outside and possibly face the same trauma again. I have maladaptive daydreaming and mild agoraphobia so the holodeck addiction really resonated with me
The part that makes me cry every time?
NOG: Don't you get it? I can't go out there. VIC: Why not? NOG: I'm scared, okay? I'm scared. When the war began, I wasn't happy or anything, but I was eager. I wanted to test myself. I wanted to prove I had what it took to be a soldier. And I saw a lot of combat. I saw a lot of people get hurt. I saw a lot of people die, but I didn't think anything was going to happen to me. And then suddenly Doctor Bashir is telling me he has to cut my leg off. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. If I can get shot, if I can lose my leg, anything could happen to me, Vic. I could die tomorrow. I don't know if I'm ready to face that. If I stay here, at least I know what the future is going to be like. VIC: You stay here, you're going to die. Not all at once, but little by little. Eventually you'll become as hollow as I am. NOG: You don't seem hollow to me. VIC: Compared to you, I'm hollow as a snare drum. Look, kid, I don't know what's going to happen to you out there. All I can tell you is that you've got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you're in the game.
God I want some of this on a tattoo
@@Jbs6187 it’s a fanatstic episode don’t be a troll about it
@@Jbs6187 ah. Okay very good trolling
@@The-worsei 110% troll.
OG 93 Niner here.
This was my favorite Trek by far since I was a kid.
I watch it at least once or twice a year and still find something new or that I never noticed in every episode.
I give it a yearly rewatch as well! :) DS9 and Babylon 5 once a year, it's a must!
time travel and hologram should be banned from star trek it makes the series too clouded
Armin Shimerman was amazing as Quark. He did exactly what was needed to make the Ferengi into the race they should've always been. The scripts were written better, but he played into them so well. One of my favorite all time Star Trek characters.
I call the first 2 seasons The Quark Show.
Being Jewish?
DS9 is a masterclass on character development in my opinion. By the end of the series you feel as if you know every character well.
@@kuunami Yes, Sisko is in quite a better place just a few seasons in. He was bitter, and honestly kinda .....zany at first
Ya appreciated how even the side characters got some pretty significant development
@@LiquidTang Damar💯
Agreed. Sadly, I don't think we'll ever get that degree of character development again, in view of modern Trek Series' pathetic episode counts.
@@kuunami
Bashir becomes a totally different person. tough and jaded. Kira softens. Nog becomes a hero.
Morn ingests Latinum.
Demar redeems himself
Great review ... you missed one crucial exchange though, that I think is among the very best of Trek, not just writing and acting, but also in universe ... the "root beer" scene between Quark and Garak.
Quark: I want you to try something for me. Take a sip of this.
Garak: What is it?
Quark: A human drink; it's called root beer.
Garak: I dunno...
Quark: Come on. Aren't you just a little bit curious?
Garak takes a sip, wincing as he tastes it.
Quark: What do you think?
Garak: It's vile!
Quark: I know. It's so bubbly, cloying...and happy.
Garak: Just like the Federation.
Quark: And you know what's really frightening? If you drink enough of it, you begin to like it.
Garak: It's insidious.
Quark: Just like the Federation.
THAT, right there, is not only great writing and pitch-perfect performance from Shimmerman and Robinson, but it's a deep understanding of aspects of the Federation that Trek rarely explores. I'm pretty sure it's my absolute fave scene from any Trek made to date ...ua-cam.com/video/6VhSm6G7cVk/v-deo.html ... Peak Trek IMO ...
It’s an interesting commentary coming from a hyper Capitalist and a lizard gestapo
@@oldylad That's a big part of what makes it a great scene. We rarely get to see the "alien's" perspective on Star Fleet and the Federation ... Trek is about humans ...but this is a reminder that there are different perspectives in the Federation and larger galaxy.
No other characters in the show, maybe in the entire franchise, could have this conversation IMO ... and it's a conversation that Trek needed to have in it, somewhere, IMO ...
@@Hartwig870 Unintentionally ... I think those are the most crucial lines in the exchange because they reinforce that life is a messy business where sometimes your best options are in places you, frankly, aren't all that fond of, or welcome in. If there are two "outisders" on the station who are, at best, "looking in" on the Federation, It's Garak and Quark, and that's why this exchange is so powerful ...
It's essentially "Look, there are loads of things about them that suck, and neither of us really fit in here but we BOTH know it's still the best place in the universe for us." That's a level of nuance that the Federation RARELY gets, but one that, in a "real implementation" of a galactic Federation like it, would be common-place for the races that fell somewhere between members and enemies ...
As I said, no other characters in perhaps ALL of Trek could have had this conversation. And the final bit is what makes it so good.
I love how Garak was spy and everyone knew it but he was a cool enough guy that nobody really tripped off of it
But he wasn’t a spy though. He USED to be a spy when he worked with cardasia.
@@joshuaashton1929 i would argue he was still a spy, he never stopped living like one.
@@joshuaashton1929 he did act as an informant for the cardassian government until Dukats regime though
Social engineering at its finest
@@ThommyofThenn dont let them fool you. sisko would have never talked about klingon attack plans in front of a spy. ridicoulus
So glad Deep Space Nine is getting more and more recognition as the years go by. It stood the test of time as a sci-fi show and a character driven drama show.
In the original series movies, Admiral Cartwright was such a believable asshole. I understood from watching that performance that the man's wife didn't like him, his kids moved away long ago and didn't contact him. It was just absolutely convincing as a performance. In Deep Space Nine, we meet Joseph Sisko, and he is one of the most pleasant people that you could hope to meet. He's absolutely gregarious, a fantastic host, and a fantastic father and grandfather. The man can even cook. I say all this to say, this is what acting is all about.
Brock Peters was a wonderful actor. I remember him in "To Kill a Mockingbird," as Tom Robinson. But I don't seem to recall him being a "believable asshole" in either ST IV or VI. In "the one with the Whales" he was primarily a Starfleet Flag Officer, if that was it... then he wouldn't have been around long enough to be a Starfleet "Evil Admiral." I don't think anything in the theatrical releases of IV or VI ever suggested anything about his family life. Unless you are talking about Brock Peters personally, he was married for 38 years and had only one child, but I don't know about his relationship to her. I have no idea she moved away from him or if his wife didn't like him. Joseph Sisko was the longest we ever see him in any character, and I don't know if that was a huge stretch for him.
The entire DS9 cast is so, so good but I have an absolute infatuation with Avery Brooks' performance, the man plays the role with such sincerity. The way his voice cracks and breaks after his father accuses him of thinking he was a changeling and Benny's breakdown when he's told his story won't be published are to me, hands down two of the absolute, undisputed best performances in the franchise.
Even saying that I feel like I'm not giving enough credit to the rest of the cast though, I tried to write out a big list of compliments for the entire cast but it was just too long and there's only so many ways I can express massive admiration I have for a HUGE group of INCREDIBLY talented actors. This series is the peak of Trek for a reason.
RIP to Renee, it should've been him in that Fallout show.
Fun fact, my mom's babysitter growing up was Jack Blessings, one of the actors who played one of the temporal investigators in Trials and Tribble-ations.
Awesome!
Or he was trapped in the 21st century on a mission gone wrong and blending in till he could find a way home.
CANON!! It is now official 😤
They just have everything, great episodic stories while also having a deep and engaging overarching storyline (or storylines). No flat characters. No flat cultures. No flat lore for any culture. Stakes always feel real. Amazing acting, set pieces, and mask work. It's just all-around amazing SciFi.
By the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, I extend this precious package to you. In hopes that you also do the following series, in this order. Babylon 5, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise. Good show sir, may you find prosperity in all you do.
Thank you so much for the super chat!
A review/comparison to B5 yes yes!
Oh and Jeffrey Combs becoming a recurring character was such a delight. Everyone should watch ReAnimator if you have even a touch of fondness for horror.
weyun was a fantastic character
I still would have loved an episode where Weyoun and Brunt come face to face. ReAnimator is a classic.
@@JoshuaDMaley id never given that any thought. i can see weyoun making a offhand dry remark on how brunt is more intelligent looking than the average ferengi.
Another minor correction: Martok was being held in a Jem Hadar prison camp in the gamma quadrant, not a Breen prison camp. There was actually a Breen prisoner that ended up helping them escape.
Never turn your back on a breen
Also Julian had been there for months not a couple weeks.
@@drakainen4555 I know it's crazy. Detained for ages
@@shamelessnjc yeah stood out he said it twice, no correction text.
My headcanon says that the early version of Max Grodenchik's character, Rom, is Rom putting on airs and trying to act as if he's a typical Ferengi when we all come to find out he is not.
Right with you there. Rom was just talking the talk to fit in with his fellow Ferengi. The longer he stayed away, the less he felt to keep up appearances.
I never felt the need to manufacture a justification. It was the pilot where his credit was just Ferengi pit boss, and the school episode, where the writers realized Max was really good and started to write for him. Just like laughing Spock changed after the TOS pilot, it took time to dial him in, and that's ok. Nog, Rom, and even Garak, were products of a flexible writers room that wanted to reward good performances. The extent of those roles wasn't part of any series plan, and that's one of the best things about DS9
I have come to the same conclusion. He is just so cartoonishly Ferengi so it just fits that it would be an act.
@@chrisblake4198That is why it is called head-cannon. It doesn't have to relate to the real world production flow.
@@commiecomrade2644idk I think it really did kinda play out like that, even if unintentionally.
Between the new music, the addition of Worf, and Sisko shaving his head, seasons 1-3 are almost a different show from 4-7
It all begins with Jem hedar episode
It also becomes more and more serialized as the show goes on
@@SpetalskBKHSBS yes it's awesome
@@s.henrlllpoklookout5069 I'm Third Talak'talan of the Jem'Hadar. I am here to inform you that your commander has been detained for questioning by the Dominion."
"Detained? For how long?"
"Indefinitely. Commander Sisko will serve as an example of what happens to anyone who interferes with the Dominion."
"What kind of interference are you talking about?"
"Coming through the Anomaly is interference enough. Unless you wish to continue to offend the Dominion, I suggest you stay on your side of the Galaxy."
"
I thought the show was better without Worf. The character of Worf needed DS9 more than DS9 needed Worf. MD got scripts and character development that infinitely went past anything he got in TNG, but in a lot of ways Worf upset the balance of the show that was established in the first three seasons.
When DS9 first aired, I only ever saw "Emissary" as I had grown out of Star Trek by then. Years later, I was able to bing-watch the series on Netflix, and it became one of my favorite series.
I showed a huge trekkie DS9 - that happens to have never seen it - and he literally burst out during the credits "Holy SHIT that was an awesome episode of trek!"
Unfortunately he still hasnt gone further than the pilot
Grown out of? Makes it sound like Star Trek was made for kids, which is a weird thing to say.
Yeah I didn't properly watch it til 2 years ago. Even though I saw episodes on TV back then.
Epic series. Epic.
Victory was in our grasp!!!! Bajor!
The Federation!
The alpha quadrant!
ALL LOST
@@Anubis7169 well thats bizarre.
Holy shit you're lucky you grew out of it before voyager. That show killed my love, haven't watched a trek series since
I'm a DSNiner for life, my favorite series of any kind of all time
Behind B5 for me, but yeah. DS9 is definitely my favorite piece of Trek media, though Generations will always hold a special nostalgic place in my heart as I saw it in theaters as a kiddo.
Same here. It had a solid plot and storyline. The best no doubt.
I prefer tiny Columbo
@@ThommyofThenn You are aware of the recent animated movie, yes?
My second favorite series.... Futurama takes first followed closely by DS9.
Quark is a principaled man and knowing this, you can appreciate what he is and what he stands for.
I read somewhere that Quark is a traditional conservative in a family of radicals, which describes him perfectly.
No appreciation for capitalists scum.
@@dominictempleThat tracks we see that he sincerely believes in the tules of acquisition. While others use them either as a shield or for manipulation...In fact I would say that in that way Quark is alot like Worf. Just from thier own cultural traditions Worf holds to the teachings of Kahless no matter what and Quark holds to the rules.
The series debuted when I was 12. I watched with mild interest until “Move Along Home,” and then just stopped watching.
Then, in college, a friend told me that it was good, actually. I gave it a shot, and damn, he was right. It’s my favorite. S1-2 are uneven, but still head and shoulders above S1-S2 of TNG.
You've always got to get through that "using rewritten unused scripts for the previous series" time period.
That episode is bad. But I genuinely feel it's the only bad 1.
yeah.. Hawk was a great Captain wasn't he
Oh HELL yes, a video that espouses an opinion I already have about my favorite scifi show that's over an hour and a half long? I'm in.
It took me a long time to watch DS9. Didn't know what I was missing. It's the best of all the series, to me. It's one of the best examples of the right balance between episodic and serial storytelling.
Julian was my favorite and I don't think he was a jerk in season 1, I just think he was young and naïve and needed to grow up a little.
Yep! You're right. He was exactly those things which made him condescending and therefore not as likable. Of course that was all scripted and intentional.
DS9 is such a great show..both it and Babylon 5 are excellent examples in world building, story telling, and character development.
:) teenage me had the biggest crush on Julian Bashir. damn, Bashir really set the standard for what I look for in a guy
That one episode where Benjamin becomes a 20th century writer is one of the best acted episodes of all Star Trek and also one that directly addresses racism without alien make-up.
best of the best episodes , if they had writerd like that in Disney ... cant imagine the quality of star wars etc
Far Beyond the Stars is my favorite episode of DS9. It really let Avery Brooks out of the Sisko mold and allowed him to stretch a bit.
Unpopular Opinion: "Move Along Home" is damn fun and unfairly maligned by a fandom that take itself WAY too seriously.
I recently realized Admiral Ross was Carl Winslow's silly Lt. in Family Matters.
HOLY HELL! Glass shattered, i was today years old! Lt. Murtaugh!
I remember finishing TNG during the Pandemic and some time had passed and I finally said, F it, I'll watch DS9 to see what all this is about
Some of the best Trek out there, Under The Pale Moonlight had my jaw dropped at the end
Garak is THE best character in all of Star Trek. Top to bottom.
Q
garak is great but dukat would like a word.....
@@michaelotoole1807 Dukat can talk all he wants be results matter. Lol
@@canis2020 dukat was a sick guy
Agreed
We need to DS9 MOVIE !!! StarTrek *Return to DS9*
25:02 Jesus this came out of nowhere lmao
I’m pretty sure something came out of somewhere…
I had to scroll far too far down to find this comment! 😂
@@jameslucas3161 Can't be good for Tyler's ego in the fact that most of his viewers don't second guess him humping a cardboard cutout of an animated character.
Had me weak 😂
Well executed characters. Well defined motivations. Well fleshed out arks. Satisfying conclusions. DS9 is amazing at making you feel like you are living on a space station. What a show.
Missed the opportunity for the meme:
"It's a Fake!"
"It's a Trap"
"FAKE!"
"TRAP"😅
We're smarter than u solids.
Better than u.
*Guess* how many shapeshifters are on earth, right now?
FOUR.
Only four.
And look at the havoc we've wrought!!
If Odo hadn't had years with the people on DS9 he would have been exactly like the rest of the Founders.
Tyler, you have produced the most comprehensive and thorough analysis of THE BEST, and my favorite Trek series ever, DS9. I applaud you for your efforts. If there were some kind of award for this endeavor, I would nominate you for it, and you would have my vote.
I do agree that it was not necessary but the fact taht they gave a story for the forehead cosmetic issue has always bee cool to me. Just makes the world feel a bit more connected.
29:20 Minor correction: The 100 infant changelings weren't "sent through the wormhole to gather information about the Alpha Quadrant" as you put it. The Founders didn't know about the wormhole until after it was discovered by Sisko and ships from the Alpha Quadrant started showing up in Dominion space. The 100 changelings were simply sent out to explore in random directions (I think it was hundreds of years ago, not sure). Odo happened to go through the wormhole by accident, where he was discovered near Bajor and studied. I think the Female Changeling said that Odo was the first to return, much sooner than expected, because going through the wormhole was such a shortcut.
Anyway my point is that The Founders didn't know about the wormhole before, otherwise they probably would have invaded the Alpha Quadrant sooner.
This distinction is fair, yeah. But the Founders DID know about the Alpha Quadrant a long time before the wormhole was discovered.
@@OrangeRiver Well yeah obviously they knew the Alpha Quadrant was there, they just didn't try to extend their control over it because (not knowing about the wormhole) it's too far away (as in, all their military forces would have a Voyager-like journey just to get there).
DS9 will always be peak Trek in my eyes.
Damn. I always get teary when I watch the final stretch arc and reach the end of What you leave behind. Not only that, merely watching the retrospect gets me teary by the time you recount the events of the series finale.
hooly fk I saw the title in my notifications and as a DS9 truther, i clicked very fast, then proceed to see ITS 92 MINUTES LONG YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH
In the Pale Moonlight is one of my favorites. The moral delema is so layered. " i can live with it'"
As a 90's teens there was a period I am pretty sure that my entertainment in any given week could include the Carlin era Superman books coming out once a week then, prime X-Files seasons, Babylon 5 deep in The Shadow War, TNG and DS9, which kicked into high gear with the Dominion War arc. DS9's strengths were unfortunately not taken as lessons for Voyager. DS9 could be "Trek" of the TNG mold but it also could do compelling multi episode arcs, strange off the beaten path stories, and it proved character was and CONSEQUENCES were king for good dramatic storytelling.
As a fellow 90's teen, I fully agree. IMO that was the peak time for sci-fi nerdom. There's been great Sci-Fi since (Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse come to mind), but never so many options all at once. An all you could watch buffet!
I, for one,think the occupation of Bajor was a BAD thing!!
Tyler's cutaway gags are🔥
I really wish they had brought Benjamin Maxwell back as the hidden leader of the Maquis. That whole arc felt shoved aside for the Dominion story line.
DS9 was ahead of it's time, original and deceptively deep in it's content. It feels like it spins off a little too far from Star Trek to have the widespread love that it deserves, but that's not a bad thing necessarily.
Deep space Nine might be my favourite tv show ever. I remember not ever wanting to watch it and now I call myself a fool for thinking that.
P.S. Glory to you, and your House for mentioning Star Trek: Enterprise.
Wonderful tribute to a wonderful show. I watched it from day one. I remember people hating DS9.
Someone wrote: to boldly sit where no one has sat before!
Another critic said: do you think anyone would ever be excitedly waiting for a “Deep Space Nine, the Movie “!?
But another critic said that the show had potential. Watch what they do in years to come. And that DS9 would become a beloved show.
I’ve never been more attached to any cast of characters in any other show. DS9 does such a great job at storytelling and character development that I cried during the finale, knowing there was nothing more to come.
Wolf 359 isnt in the sol system, its like 8 light years from sol
It was a stop on the way to the Sol system, where the Borg cube was finally stopped and destroyed by the crew of the enterprise
I love 'O'Brien Must Suffer' became a once a season tradition, much like the Mirror Universe eps. Except the O'Brien eps were more consistently entertaining.
Poor Miles.
Keiko taken over by evil alien, Miles being sent to prison and going crazy, the time Molly goes thru that portal and ages a bunch. That one episode where Miles tells Julian how Molly, and Keiko, and Kira started laughing at him when he came in the room...
Another issue with Ezri was how many episodes they set aside for her in season 7. Had they not spent so many episodes on her perhaps the final season wouldn’t have felt so rushed.
Ezri could have had one more season..
I watched seasons 1 thru 6, (DVD score off eBay) probably at least 5 time, even avoiding the last episode of season 6 until I finally ordered season 7. I couldn't believe it, Ezri was fine but got way to much screen time imo
I'm of the opinion that they simply should have kept Dax out of the show once Jadzia was gone. Ezri, at least to me, feels forced.
I would have preferred Ro, but I'm glad we got Kira; Visitor was amazing as that character. An overall wonderful show that I'm pleased to have had a part of my childhood.
You are a great narrator, great series overview ❤. Just loved the Vic Fontaine character.
settling in on a Friday for a movie-length video on my fav shows of all time. Quark! A Romulan ale, please.
I'll take a prune juice
"This show went off with a QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO" I feel so old....
"On a space station events cant be left behind each week. In other words, actions have consequences."
... Voyager: "Want a bet?"
56:16 to get nitpicky we learned Taim was Garak's father in The Wire, and the 2parter where Taim leads the Obsidian Order fleet to their doom, it was just buried in 37 layers of subtext until it was confirmed in the prison camp.
Honestly Worf and Dax relationship fucking amasing! And that wedding! My best moment of Worf is when Weyoun tried to roast Dex and he just immediatly snaps his neck just like that.
Yes!! I’ve been scratching at myself like an addict waiting for this.
Orange River, take me away!
Sisko is the best captain of all of Star Trek, and it's not close. Kira is also the best female character in all of Star Trek.
I enjoyed The Next Generation and Voyager more. But DS9 is still great.
Respectfully disagree with you about the Augment episodes. They were a couple of my favorites.
Wohoo I'm not alone! Only person I'd ever salute would be Admiral Patrick. Naturally after first asking permission to do so and being informed that in fact is a stupid question.
I agree. And I never saw them as autistic coded.
1:23:13 The one lingering question on a recent rewatch: Laas and Odo link before Odo knows he has the virus, and Laas doesn’t return to the Great Link. So Laas is just out there dying somewhere with no idea why.
Star Trek DS9 is as close to Star Wars as Star Trek will ever get! That's a good thing! The Best Trek Ever!
"I hate the mirror universe so much"...my thoughts exactly
There's nothing common about our favorite punching bag! 😂
DS9 is one of my all time favourite shows, and you've done it proud. Hats off... And thank you!
Just like TNG, it took a couple seasons to really take off because the writers didnt have a good handle on the characters. But it got there, I'll always love DS9. Also a pretty good lesson for every aspiring TV producer, it's the writing that makes people care.
You know, I've watched DS9 I don't know how many times as well as video essays about it... And yours shows something I hadn't thought about: there's SO much that happens throughout the series! And also, another thing: I highly doubt the writers had everything planned out but it's amazing how they always tried to tied things up with past seasons as much as they could, e.g. the prophecy about the Fire Caves in season 3... Probably just a line they threw in without that much thought when producing that particular shoe but that they later gave huge meaning to in the finale. That's why DS9 is so awesome! ❤ Thanks for this essay!
I have met several Star Trek actors over the years, but my favorites are Max, Aron and Armin. Each was so funny and "instant friend" vibes rolled right off them. Nana and Dorn are very close seconds. What was also fun is that Dorn and the "Ferengi" each expressed the advantage of being able to go into public without being instantly recognized. I could tell you about how they pranked a few fans in front of me, but that would take pages to tell those stories.....
When DS9 premiered, I could very much take it or leave it. The darker, drabby tone hit me hard. (TV Guide's description of the series setting as 'a decaying space station in orbit of a stripped mining planet' didn't do much to build my anticipation, either.) But I'm so glad I stuck with it. During the third season premiere "The Search, Part 1," I remember thinking for the first time 'This is good!' (It was that tense scene where the Defiant crew were waiting to see if the cloaking device had successfully blocked them from Jem'Hadar sensors.) From that point on, DS9 became my favorite Trek series, and remains such to this day. No one is more surprised than me.
Ol’ Gene wouldn’t be to happy that one of the best space wars ever created for TV was the Star Trek Dominion War….. it was cool and bloody
Indeed. And Picard would retire. He wouldn't want to be part of what starfleet became. He's an explorer diplomat.
But Q warned them at the beginning of tng!!
"The Best of" is ALWAYS a Strong claim but in this case...
Yes it's indeed True!
I find lack of "All the Way" clips in this video disturbing
I know, that's one of my biggest regrets about this video 😭
Much as I love DS9, it must be mentioned that less than a year before DS9, J. Michael Straczynski had approached paramount with his idea for a Sci-fi Space Opera featuring a Space Station and an overarching 5 year story.
This later became Babylon 5.
So we got 2 great shows? Dope
@@hagbardceline7118 Yup
@Cloudrunner62 plagiarism is good, people!
Omg who ccccaaaaaarrrreeesssss
@@ThommyofThenn it was a joke. I don't really care if one ripped off the other cause they're both fantastic. Ripping stuff off is genuinely good sometimes
I've actually only watched through DS9 one time, but man, it did have several episodes that hit hard. I think one of the show's greatest strengths was that it did a great job overall balancing the episodic and serialized nature of its own storytelling. It never really felt too episodic or serialized; it had the charms of both. I also love how it developed the Ferengi as a race overall. Now I want to watch it again, lol. Thank you for the video.
God be with you out there, everybody. ✝️ :)
One of the best casts in all Trek
Thank you for making all this great content!
Ahhh finally, ppl are waking up to this series. It was hated back in the day(u know why) but us die hards stuck with it and now smile at those just awakening to ds9s awesomeness 😊
DS9 for life. I always love seeing new videos DS9 4 lyfe. GUL DUKAT DID NOTHING WRONG.
WOOOOOOOO
YA BABY THATS WHAT WEA’VE BEEN WAITING FOR
I feel like DS9 deserved a longer video, you gave TNG so much time!
Odo should not be considered anything else than a fascist collaborator.
You may say he redeemed himself but that does not undo his actions.
Oh my goodness.
I was going about my business on a Sunday (watching ST The Movie.) regular stuff then I was "I need to talk trek." And you lace my world with spoilers in DS9.
**Rolls eyes**
TNG and DS9 are really close. Both great series.
They have different strengths. And styles. My favorite episodes are on tng. Some epic episodes. Like best of both worlds etc. But ds9 has the more epic story. Saga
TNG is honestly the worst of the Berman-era Trek shows.
@@LordExor edgy
@@darmok3420 Next to zero character development for the main cast, very little internecine conflict to generate drama, most episodes are middling, a good number are hilariously terrible, and many are just plain boring. I can only take so many rudderless spatial anomaly or temporal disturbance episodes to pad out a season-I just do not care about these things. Dry as hell.
Again, TNG isn't a BAD show, it's just the weakest and most sterile of the bunch. It has a great cast that's frankly underserved by the material.
"It's a faaaake!"
"I created it and IT'S REAL! Don't you understand?! IT IS REAL!"
Never thought about if before but Picard unalived both Crusher’s husband and Sisco’s wife… he really doesn’t like people being married 💀
I want to disagree with you because I love TNG.. But, DSN was just an incredible show when it got off the ground.
Fun bit of trivia: DS9 actually *was* the only Star Trek show on the air for a short while. From Episode 25 of season 2, "Tribunal" till episode 12 of season 3, "Past Tense Part II" DS9 was alone, as TNG had just ended. Only after that did Voyager premiere.
But it's such a short period in the show's history that it's easy to overlook if you don't go and examine air dates in detail.
I had to look it up, was shocked that Shel-La was indeed the same Jonathan Banks as Mike the cleaner, lol. Was my favorite character on that show.
I was like "no way", but that voice is unmistakable.
Ezri was always one of my favorites. The later seasons DS9 seasons are just so good. I love it so much.
This was amazing work. I will donate for your hard work on this. I had a short trip and this was the perfect duration for the flight. Love me some DS9. And died laughing at 25:06 😂😂
25:15 That caught me way off guard 🤣🤣🤣
Just found your channel, discovered Star Trek through hard times and have been down the rabbit hole ever since! Definitely checking out your other videos!
I can't -understate- overstate how much I enjoyed this great recap of one of the greatest sci-fi shows of mankind! Thanks!
You really downplayed the fact that the real Miles O'Brien sacrificed himself and died to save the station less than halfway through the show
So did the writers :(
You know the biggest reason I think it's the best series - the character growth and the relationships. Not one character is the same at the beginning and ending of the series, and the way friendships have formed. It is absolutely rock solid a character driven series. And you have to admit, of all star Trek villains - Dukat truly takes the cake for best adversary of all series (Marc Alaimo's performance was nothing short of spectacular).