Star Trek: Deep Space Nineended in 1999, but was it canceled? The first spinoff ofStar Trek: The Next Generationfrom executive producer Rick Berman,Deep Space Nineaired for 7 seasons in syndication from 1993-1999.Deep Space Ninewas the firstStar Trekseries not to be set on a starship, but rather, a space station.DS9also made history by casting Avery Brooks as Commander (later Captain) Benjamin Sisko, the first Black lead of aStar Trekseries. As showrunner ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,Ira Steven Behr spearheadedheavily serialized storylines and character arcs, pioneering what would become a television standardin the modern streaming era.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s main cast was supported by a vast ensemble of fascinating ancillary characters who became immensely popular. These included the Cardassian tailor/spy Garak (Andrew Robinson), Nog (Aron Eisenberg), the first Ferengi in Starfleet,Klingon General Martok(J.G. Hertzler), and the holographic crooner Vic Fontaine (James Darren).DS9’s later seasons centered on the Dominion War story arc, a conflict between the United Federation of Planets and the Changelings of the Gamma Quadrant that threatened the galaxy, Melding tales of politics, religion, war, relationships, love, death, and baseball,Deep Space Nineredefined whatStar Trekcould be.
Deep Space Nine Ended After 7 Seasons On Its Own Terms, Following A Star Trek Pattern
DS9 finished its story
Star Trek: Deep Space Ninewas not canceled, but it concluded after its planned seven seasons.Star Trek: The Next Generationpreviously ended after seven seasons before making the jump to feature films. WhileDS9movies would not be in the cards, Captain Sisko’s series followedTNG’s precedent by also wrapping up after seven seasons.Star Trek: Voyagerlater joined the pattern by finishing up with season 7 on UPN in 2001.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had the biggest cast of characters of any Trek show, meaning that Captain Sisko had numerous allies in the Dominion War.
UnlikeStar Trek: The Next Generation, which was creatively struggling in season 7 before its spectacular series finale, “All Good Things…",Star Trek: Deep Space Ninebuilt towards its series finale, “What You Leave Behind.” The final ten episodes ofDS9were a tightly serialized saga that concluded the Dominion War story and confronted Captain Sisko with his ultimate destiny as theEmissary of the Prophets of Bajor.Star Trek: Deep Space Ninehad a poignant, bittersweet, and definitive ending, as beloved characters left the Deep Space Nine space station for good, leaving friends and loved ones to soldier on without Captain Sisko as their guiding light.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Ended At The Right Time
DS9 didn’t wear out its welcome
Star Trek: Deep Space Ninewrapping up after seven seasons was ultimately the right call.DS9’s seven seasons consisted of 26 episodes each, which was ample time to suitably explore every character, introduce myriad new faces, species, friends, and enemies, and tell stories with heady themes and rich character depth.Star Trek: Deep Space Ninenever wore out its welcome, and while it was never the ratings juggernautStar Trek: The Next Generationwas,DS9went out at the peak of its powers as aStar Trekseries.
Deep Space Nine’s episodes have aged wonderfully.
BecauseStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s serialized storytelling was so innovative in the 1990s, television has now caught up in the streaming era, whichmakesDS9feel prophetic.Deep Space Nine’s episodeshave aged wonderfully, and the show’s political themes and social commentary remain relevant 25 years after the series concluded.Star Trek: Deep Space Ninewas a product of the Rick BermanStar Trekera of the 1990s, and it ended right before TV began a seismic shift in the 2000s, which, in part, gaveStar Trek: Enterpriseproblems during its 4-season run on UPN from 2001-2005.
Will Star Trek: DS9 Get A Revival?
A DS9 reunion has serious hurdles
25 years afterStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended, the renaissance ofStar TrekTV series on Paramount+ madefans yearn for aDS9revival.After all,Star Trek: The Next Generationgot a sequel thanks to 3 seasons ofStar Trek: Picard, andStar Trek: Voyageralso got a continuation in two seasons ofStar Trek: Prodigy.However, despite Colonel Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor),Quark (Armin Shimerman), Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodenchik), and First Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson) making welcome appearances onStar Trek: Lower Decks, DS9hasn’t enjoyed its own rebirth.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast: Where Are DS9’s Actors Now?
Deep Space Nine had one of the most talented casts in Star Trek history, as proved by their impressive list of credits after DS9 ended.
Tragically, a full reunion like thecast ofStar Trek: The Next Generationhad onStar Trek: Picardisn’t possible forDeep Space Nine. Cast members like Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Aron Eisenberg (Nog), and James Darren (Vic Fontaine) have passed away. In addition, Avery Brooks has retired from acting and is seemingly finished withStar Trek. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s cast bench is deep, andthere are still enough actors who could return to make a revival worthwhile, but even if it happens,Star Trek: Deep Space Ninecan never again be what it was when it ended in 1999.
