Summary
I love Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, but even I can agree with one major fan criticism of his role inDS9’s first two seasons. WhileDS9is now rightly regarded as a critical highpoint in theStar Trekfranchise, it took a while to bed in with viewers who preferred the action and adventure ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. As the lead member of theStar Trek: DS9cast, Brooks' Sisko followed in the footsteps ofTNG’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).However, while fans liked Sisko a lot, they felt he lacked Picard’s commanding presence and dramatic impact.
This negative feedback about Commander Sisko andStar Trek: Deep Space Ninemore generallywas shared with the production team at the end of season 2. TheStar Trek: Deep Space Nine Companionrevealed that fans effectively wantedDS9to be more likeTNG. To justify its existence,DS9had to establish itself as separate from otherStar TrekTV shows, so this criticism does miss the point of the show a little.However, as I recently looked back on Sisko’s impact onDS9season 1 and 2, I found myself agreeing with the criticism that he sometimes lacked presence.
Star Trek: Why Avery Brooks Changed Sisko’s Original DS9 Ending
Benjamin Sisko’s ending in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine finale was originally a lot less ambiguous until Avery Brooks asked for it to be changed.
Fans Criticized Sisko For Not Making An Impact In Star Trek: DS9’s First 2 Seasons
It’s unfair to say that Sisko makes no impact inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s first two seasons, but all too often he fades into the background. After immediately making an impression in “Emissary”, outlining his many differences from Captain Picard, Sisko starts to get lost amongDS9’s ensemble cast. It’s for this reason that few, if any, season 1 and 2 episodes make anyone’s list ofbest Sisko episodes ofDS9. There are some strong moments, such as Sisko’s insurrection against the Bajoran isolationists inDS9’s Circle trilogy, or his barnstorming “it’s easy to be a saint in paradise” speech from “The Maquis”.
According to a 2002 special feature on the season 7 DVD boxed set, Avery Brooks had apparently considered leavingStar Trek: Deep Space Ninein the show’s early years. A conversation with his son about never giving up changed his mind.
However, early period Sisko rarely got to be front and center in the way that Picard or Kirk were in theirStar Trekshows. That’s partly due to the fact thatStar Trek: Deep Space Nineisn’t set aboard a starship, and is instead set aboard a military space station and commercial hub. A lot of Sisko’s jobs inDS9seasons 1 and 2 were smaller-scale, like dealing with accusations of sexual impropriety against Quark (Armin Shimerman) or intervening in a rivalry between two businesses on the Promenade. After such small-fry concerns,DS9season 3 finally gave Sisko a proper challenge to sink his teeth into.
How Star Trek: DS9 Season 3 Fixed Sisko For The Better
Answering fan complaints about Sisko lacking impact, showrunner Ira Steven-Behr and his fellow writers immediately gave him more prominence inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3. Where in previous seasons, Sisko wouldn’t have much to do in an episode that wasn’t focused on him, the writers ensure thatDS9’s commanding officer is present throughout. For example,DS9season 3, episode 3, “The House of Quark” is a Ferengi comedy about Quark (Armin Shimerman) marrying a Klingon, but also features a great scene where Sisko givesChief O’Brien (Colm Meaney)advice and support on marital issues.
From securing the USS Defiant to leading a diplomatic mission to the Gamma Quadrant, Sisko is given a role of vital importance to the Federation
More broadly, the introduction of the Dominion inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s season 2 finale revitalizes Sisko as a character.From securing the USS Defiant to leading a diplomatic mission to the Gamma Quadrant, Sisko is given a role of vital importance to the Federation from season 3 onwards. From a real-world perspective, Avery Brooks is relaxing into the role, and by the end ofseason 3, is finally allowed to grow a beard and shave his head for season 4. This final touch completesStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3’s concerted effort to show Benjamin Sisko as the integral and impactful lead character he should have been from the start.
All episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+.
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.
