Poll What are the chances of a Kurtzman-era DS9 follow-up series?

It's my dream, but it's probably a pipedream.

 

I have a serious question that this topic keeps bringing to my mind. What is it about DS9 that necessitates its return now? Many have suggested a wide variety of threads to pick up on, but the story itself was wrapped up very neatly. You had various members going on off on new, individual adventures. We don't currently have two stars with us any more. The series, while far from perfect, had one of the best wrap ups in the franchise.

How can a production team, in the 2020 decade, bring anything that will somehow be additive to this show that is considered one of the best? Because, for me, all I see is the extreme potential for disappointment. Call me cynical or jaded, but after the past decade of Trek productions and being told "those are not real Trek" why would people want them to now touch one of the revered series? Why can't it just exist as it is?

 

For me, it's not a question of what necessitates its return now, but that there can now be a follow-up. Paramount is itching for new IP and streaming content. Kurtzman is looking to diversify the types of Trek currently being produced. And fans are gaining a new or, for some of us, continuing appreciation for DS9. I think these make it a good time to do a revival series. Catch up on the characters that fans love and show more of the progress of the TNG-era Federation which was the dominant era of Trek for 15 years (and has dominated reruns, streaming, and ancillary sales since). Picard, while having mixed critical success, is more about following one character's history and isn't really interested in all the world-building that DS9 contributed to.

As for what can a production team bring? I don't know, but I am interested in finding out. I think the LDS producers have done a good job in bringing something new to the franchise. And hopefully with two good seasons under their belts, they will continue to stretch and expand what the show provides. I am willing to see anyone give it a shot with a DS9 follow-up (though I hope Ira at least will be involved).

 

I think it’s nothing more than the fact that because Picard, Data, Riker, Troi, Janeway, 7 of 9, Tom Paris and Chakotay are all being brought back, DS9 fans are clamoring for their fair share, not to mention the numerous Quark references in several shows. But in my opinion (and DS9 being my favorite Trek series), I think they’re wrong and are just setting themselves up for disappointment.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the answer.

I agree. I do not believe that any sort of series will fulfill fan expectations in the way currently desired.

 

Could be, but the Trek fanbase (even the "hardcore" DS9 fans among us) aren't a monolith. Nothing will please everyone, but I would rather it be given a good "college try" than let the opportunity pass by. With a good team trying hard, we could get ok stuff or amazing stuff.

 

I'd rather they not.

 

I'm not sure a live action show could work, unless they find a way to write Odo and Nog out. And what would it take to get Avery to come back to Star Trek? Last I heard he'd retired from acting and possibly dealing with health/mental issues.

I think the only options are either animated and bringing back the original actors when possible to voice their characters...or simply having one or two guest star somewhere.

Short Treks could maybe work. They're apparently trying to do a Captain Proton one, so why not have a quick 15 minute reunion on Cardassia between Garak and Bashir, or something else DS9 related?

 

The problem is that the writers aren’t interested in giving it the ‘good college try,’ at least insofar as trying to give the fans what they want (and in their defense, ‘giving the fans what they want’ is a nebulous concept, as what one fan wants may be completely different than what another fan wants); they’re more interested in putting their own spin on the characters and the universe as a whole, even if it means that those people are going to act out of character from what we’re used to seeing. A perfect example of this are the fundamental differences between the TOS versions of Spock and Sarek and the DSC versions of those characters. They’re not going to resolve old threads, they’re going to create new ones for the story they want to tell.

In my opinion, the writers of PIC completely marred the character of Picard in order to tell the story they wanted to tell. I wouldn’t want that to happen to any of the DS9 crew.

 

In my opinion there is no ruination of anyone thus far in Star Trek. However, much like franchise fatigue, fan fatigue has set in for me regarding the apparent "wrongness" of all things Trek currently, and how they mishandle characters so much so that it apparently destroys all goodness in the franchise (hyperbole but only slightly)

. To be blunt I see no value in bringing DS9 back, cameos or otherwise, and only see it as a desperate opportunity to burn the current production team in effigy. I think there's more than enough fuel on that fire so why not let this one stay unburned.

 

If that was directed at me…well, you’re entitled to your opinion, as I am mine. I happen to dislike when scriptwriters these days take characters that I like and change them around to suit their own take rather than create original characters with the qualities that they’re trying to shoehorn into the original person. It’s completely just about name recognition rather than any kind of deep introspection about that original character that the writer is seriously trying to tap into. As far as I’m concerned, the Sarek and Spock I saw in DSC are completely different characters from the ones I saw in TOS and the TOS films. It would have worked fine for me had they actually been original characters, but because CBS still clings to the idea that this is the same universe as TOS (except I’m now supposed to believe that what I saw in TOS isn’t what I actually saw) instead of just saying it’s a reboot, doesn’t work for me.

I realize that I’m straying from the topic of DS9, so I’m going to stop my rant here, other than to say that bringing DS9 back now would be a mistake.

 

It was not. It was an observation from personal experience of the last ten years of this fandom. Take it as you will.

Agreed.

 

While "ruined" is strong, to me Picard never fully recovered from his monstrous attitude to the unfrozen 20th century guests in The Neutral Zone...and then came the debate in Pen Pals...and Homeward...and Insurrection...

 

Yeah, "Neutral Zone" and the Riker/Q episode cemented a rather strong feeling of disinterest in Picard.

 

There’s also the fact that reboot culture and revival culture that spurring this. Since if other shows that’s long ended can make a comeback, the why not DS9?

Guest appearances from some of the DS9 cast might make more sense than a full on revival.

 

At the risk of sounding like an extremely broken record to what purpose? How does it serve a story already completed, how does it help the franchise? And, why should Trek conform to this trend?
Thus far, I've seen few upsides argued beyond nostalgia and fan service.

 

Exactly. At least J. Michael Straczynski knows better that Babylon 5 needs to be rebooted rather than making a sequel/prequel to a show that’s a perfect example of being completed.

 

Babylon 5 has to be a reboot. Furlan, Doyle, Biggs, Furst, Conaway, and perhaps Katsulas most of all - JMS could never keep going without them.

Mind you, I'm damn glad he realizes that. Less so that this is coming to The CW, but hey, can't win them all.

I know what I'm saying doesn't outright defend the notion of DS9 getting a sequel series, but I do think that between the Star Trek franchise's skillful connectivity and most of the actors still being around (thank goodness), it's an appetizing enough prospect.

That said, I still respect the stance that moving forward means letting go of the past. I'm perfectly happy with that approach. It's simply that I also happen to be am unrepentant DS9 diehard who cannot help wishing Alex Kurtzman and his team felt the same.

 

If Voyager, which was much more popular in its original run, didn't get a follow-up series of its own in the streaming Trek era, then its unlikely that DS9 would get a follow-up series. Perhaps particular characters or story threads could be incorporated into ST:Picard, if they come up with a way that makes sense.

Kor

 

Nemesis, Prodigy, Picard, and Lower Decks are all loose follow ups on VOY follow ups. Not a direct follow up focusing solely on the entire cast, but they count.

All we’ve had with DS9 are references to Mariner being on the station during the Dominion War, Quark’s bar, Kasidy Yates is still active as a freighter, and various species from DS9 being featured in the third season of DIS. Plus that Worf is still around, and O’Brien’s importance in history, both of which are as much TNG threads as they are DS9 ones.

Did the station get destroyed sometime between NEM and PIC?