Summary
Star Trek: Deep Space Nineshowrunner Ira Steven Behr identified a “breath of reality” that defined theStar Trek: The Next Generationspinoff from its parent show.Deep Space Ninewas specifically designed by Rick Berman and Michael Piller to stand out fromTNG;DS9’s cast of charactersincluded both Federation and non-Federation officers, and it was set on a space station instead of a starship. However, when Ira Steven Behr took over the running ofDS9in season 3, he made an effort to further establish a very different tone toStar Trek: The Next Generation.
Ira Steven Behr had cut his teeth onStar Trek: The Next Generation, supervising the writing team at the behest of Michael Piller during production of season 3. Behr was even offered the chance to showrunTNGseason 4, but he turned the opportunity down. When Ira Steven Behr was brought aboardStar Trek: Deep Space Nineas writer and producer, he had a good grasp of theTNGtropes that he wanted to avoid. Discussing this in theStar Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, Ira Steven Behr said:
“The Next Generation was very serious at times, and I understand that it did a lot of wonderful things, but it had a very self-important air to it. Finding things that work against that is very important to me, and has become more and more important to me as I’ve taken over the day-to-day aspects of running the show."
Star Trek: Deep Space 9’s 20 Best Episodes Ranked
Deep Space Nine is one of the most acclaimed Star Trek shows, thanks to its mature direction, and many of its best episodes reflect this darker tone.
How Ira Steven Behr Wanted To Make Star Trek: DS9 Different From TNG
One key scene inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3, episode 22, “Explorers”, was key to Ira Steven Behr’s attempts to make the show different fromTNG. The episode’s subplot involves Doctor Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) being “snubbed” by an old Starfleet Academy colleague who was top of their class. A dejected Bashir ends up getting drunk with Chief O’Brien (Colm Meaney), and Ira Steven Behr explained how it exemplified his more character-driven, realistic approach toStar Trek, saying “that scene [O’Brien and Bashir getting drunk] became really important. It was both entertaining and a breath of reality.”
DS9eschewed the formality ofTNG, and presented audiences with characters who spent their downtime hanging out and forming friendships.
TheO’Brien and Bashirscene is emblematic ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s more realistic approach to character. InStar Trek: The Next Generationit was often hard to define Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D beyond their rank and their uniform. The poker scenes were a wonderful glimpse into theTNGcrew’s downtime, a relaxed activity that felt more realistic than the Enterprise-D’s frequent amateur dramatics performances and orchestra recitals.DS9eschewed the formality ofTNG, and presented audiences with characters who spent their downtime hanging out and forming friendships.
The whisky that O’Brien and Bashir drink in “Explorers” is called Wee Bairns, a reference to Chief Montgomery Scott’s affectionate term for single malt in “The Trouble with Tribbles”.
Modern Star Trek Owes A Lot To Ira Steven Behr’s Deep Space Nine
Ira Steven Behr’s desire to present more realistic characters inDeep Space NinereflectedGene Roddenberry’s originalStar Trekvision. Roddenberry was very keen that the crew of the USS Enterprise inStar Trek: The Original Seriesshould be realistic and recognizable characters for the audiences at home.DS9delivered on that in spades, with an extensive ensemble cast, and an increased focus on how these characters interact with each other beyond their roles as Starfleet officers. That approach has influenced the modern franchise too, fromStar Trek: Discoveryonwards.
These informal moments show the real people behind the Starfleet uniforms, adding jeopardy to their adventures because we care about these people and enjoy the time spent in their company.
The most obviousStar Trek: Deep Space Nineinfluence on modernTrekare the dinner parties thrown by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, a clear callback to the infrequent meals cooked by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). These informal moments show the real people behind the Starfleet uniforms, adding jeopardy to their adventures because we care about these people and enjoy the time spent in their company. Ira Steven Behr pioneered this more personal character-driven approach inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, and it continues to pay dividends 30 years later.
