There are some odd details that you only notice in the first few episodes ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nineon a rewatch. LikeStar Trek: The Next Generationbefore it,Star Trek: Deep Space Ninetook some time to find its footing and establish its characters. DS9eventually embraced serialization in a way that was new for theStar Trekfranchise, so the differences betweenDeep Space Nine’s early episodes and its later stories are stark. More than any otherStar Trekshowof its era,Deep Space Nine’s characters and setting went through significant changes over its seven seasons.
Some differences in earlyDS9are just starting points forStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s characterarcs that were always intended to be part of the story. Commander Benjamin Sisko’s (Avery Brooks) journey from not accepting his role asEmissary of the Prophetsto embracing his status as a Bajoran spiritual figure is central toDeep Space Nine’s overall arc. The change from the benevolent Kai Opaka (Camille Saviola) to the viscerally terrible Kai Winn (Louise Fletcher) is also notable but planned.These weird details are things I noticed that probably weren’t supposed to change, but did.
5Star Trek: DS9’s Main Characters Look Different
Kira, Odo, And Quark Get Their Signature Looks After DS9’s Premiere
Some visual differences inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1are particularly striking. InDeep Space Nine’s premiere episode, “Emissary”,the hair and makeup looks forDS9’s series regulars haven’t quite been finalized. Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) sports a longer hairstyle inspired byStar Trek: The Next Generation’s Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes).
DS9used a new Starfleet uniform in its first four seasons before switching to the gray-shoulderedStar Trek: First Contact-style uniform in its second half.
Constable Odo’s (Rene Auberjonois) hair is different, and Quark (Armin Shimerman) lacks the dark red circles around his eyes. Avery Brooks' Commander Benjamin Sisko is clean-shaven, instead of the bald, goateed look Captain Sisko would adopt inDS9season 4.
4Lieutenant Jadzia Dax Is Unusually Reserved
Dax’s History With Klingons Hasn’t Been Invented Yet
Deep Space NinereferencesAmbassador Curzon Daxas a raucous carouser with a zest for life, but those qualities weren’t yet apparent in an unusually reserved Lieutenant Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). While this is likely becauseDax’s personality hadn’t been solidified in the writers' room, it also works in-universe.
Star Trek: DS9 Had A Totally Different Concept For Dax
Before creating DS9’s beloved Jadzia Dax, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine planned for a different alien species to fulfil the role of science officer.
Later, Lt. Ezri Dax (Nicole de Boer) takes a while to absorb the symbiont’s memories, so Jadzia being recently joined could mean Dax’s adventurous side just hasn’t taken hold yet. That doesn’t happen untilDS9season 2, episode 19, “Blood Oath”, when Dax reunites with 3Star Trek: The Original SeriesKlingons.
3Major Kira Hates Everyone
But Kira’s Anger Is Also Justified
Anger seems to be Major Kira Nerys' predominant emotion inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1, and it’s directed at anyone who gets in her way. Even Commander Sisko isn’t safe from the Major’s tirades. Of course,Kira’s anger is justified by her backstory in the Bajoran Resistance, the terrible state Bajor is in after 50 years of Cardassian Occupation, and the fact she didn’t ask the Federation to be there. Fortunately,Star Trek: Deep Space Ninetreats Kira’s thinned patience and hatred of nearly everyone as the starting point forKira’s entireDeep Space Ninecharacter arc.
2DS9’s Ferengi Characters Are Different
Quark, Rom, and Nog All Change Fairly Quickly
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Ferengi charactersare very different early inDS9’s run. Quark (Armin Shimerman) is a little more slimy, a lot more criminal, and just plain mean. Even Shimerman has gone on record saying Quark"should have gone to jail"for some of the dastardly deeds he committed inDS9season 1. There’snot much indication that Quark actually has a conscience untilDS9season 1, episode 10, “Move Along Home”, when Quark realizes that the game pieces in the Chula game are actually DS9’s senior staff, and Quark holds their lives in his hands.
Star Trek Actor Remembers The DS9 Episode That Changed Quark from TNG Ferengi
A playful Star Trek: DS9 episode gave Quark a chance to be more 3-dimensional than the one-note Ferengi on TNG, says Armin Shimerman.
It’s clear that one of the Ferengi waiters in the bar is, in fact, Rom (Max Grodénchik), but there’s no indication that he’s Quark’s brother. Grodénchik hasn’t yet developed Rom’s signature voice, andRom’s personality fits the mold of generic Ferengi instead of the lovable, independent goofball that he becomes. Nog (Aron Eisenberg), too, is far from thefirst Ferengi Starfleet officerthat he will become. Instead, Nog aims to follow in his uncle’s footsteps by causing mayhem on the Promenade, mistreating his date, and generally being a bad influence on Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton).
1Chief O’Brien Hates Doctor Bashir
And With Good Reason, Because Bashir Was Annoying At First
Chief Miles O’Brien and Doctor Julian Bashir may be thebest friendship inStar Trek,but whenStar Trek: Deep Space Ninestarted, O’Brien couldn’t stand Bashir—and Miles wasn’t alone. InDS9’s first season, Bashir is an over-eager, over-sharing, fresh-faced young doctor who insists on being called by his given name. Early Bashir is an incorrigible flirt whose crush on Dax borders on obsessive. Most ofDS9’s senior staff find Bashir’s enthusiasm hard to stomach, but it’s kind of funny that O’Brien is especially frustrated by Bashir, knowing how close they’ll be in the future.
In the early days of their friendship, O’Brien and Bashir bond over playing racquetball. Miles and Julian’s game of choice was later changed to darts in Quark’s Bar because the racquetball set was needlessly expensive.
O’Brien and Bashir’s friendship doesn’t really begin in earnest untilStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 2’s “Armageddon Game”. Their joint mission to tend to a dying village elder on Bajor inDS9season 1, episode 14, “The Storyteller”, hints that Miles might change his mind about Julian eventually. The fact that O’Brien and Bashir start off so rocky, before basically becoming chosen family, is really indicative of how willingStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewas to explore change.
