DS 9 is the most cerebral series of them all
- Thread starter mysticgeek
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I remember watching something where Terry herself said she thought she'd be sacked, due to the sheer amount of technobabble that landed in her lap and had to memorise. Personally, I've never had a problem with her acting skills on DS9. She definitely became more comfortable in the role, and as the PTB changed Dax to become more fun-loving adventurer then the character found its place in the mix.
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DS9 is my favorite post TOS Trek series, edging out TNG (which I also like a lot). I don't celebrate its darkness but I do think it has the best developed and multifaceted characters and a number of compelling storylines.
But what I think really draws me to DS9 is its tenor, which is more like TOS than any other series. It has the 'feel' of TOS, the grittiness, the humor, the passion, the suspense. TNG--and especially Voyager--seem antiseptic in comparison.
What a shame we'll apparently never see it in HD.
I'm not alone then! When the credits rolled for that episode, I said out loud "this is a great show." I think the show was okay up until then, and there were some great moments and relationship development, little sparks of ideas. So I wouldn't discount everything before "Progress." But that was most definitely the "I'm hooked" moment for me.
I agree with most of the original post except for the "cerebral" comment. I don't think it was any more or less cerebral than the rest of the Trek shows. It had the most ongoing arcs, and they were compelling. That plus the writing and the casting made it the best for me, and the richest of the Treks.
I may be a little biased but I agree 100%. I like the fact that there was a continual story line. There was drama mixed with comedic episodes I.E. The Ferengis and the goings on in Quark's Bar. Of course we can't forget the great acting.
I only like technobabble when it actually means something, and means the same thing across different episodes. Instead it is often used as a deus ex machina, particularly in Voyager.
Never thought of ST as a cerebral experience, more of a serious cerebral trauma resulting in escapism and inability to grow up.
The best thing about DS9 is that it can be watched by non-Trek viewers with no ill effect, it does away with the typical Trek attitude. I don’t think it is too complicated in terms of structure or topics – in fact, quite streamlined and well-balanced. It simply avoids some of the clichés, tones down the syrupy utopia, displays characters with a convincing motivation, and does not shun interpersonal conflicts and personal flaws. They should have done that earlier and now could have a modern show with a young, prospective audience not a nerd reserve for middle-aged daydreamers.
The best thing about DS9 is that it can be watched by non-Trek viewers with no ill effect, it does away with the typical Trek attitude. I don’t think it is too complicated in terms of structure or topics – in fact, quite streamlined and well-balanced. It simply avoids some of the clichés, tones down the syrupy utopia, displays characters with a convincing motivation, and does not shun interpersonal conflicts and personal flaws. They should have done that earlier and now could have a modern show with a young, prospective audience not a nerd reserve for middle-aged daydreamers.
I'm watching 'The Visitor' , what a moving episode, It expresses such a deep connection between father and son. This one makes me weepy, wish I was as close to my real father.
P.S At least Mrs Jake shows up in the 'Unity' novel
P.S At least Mrs Jake shows up in the 'Unity' novel
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TIs the least "cerebral". other then Odo, Kira, and Dax its BLAND. the jake episodes suck. Sure nog and quark are fun as crap, but the most form that is nog covering for jakes stupid crap and suffereing the punishment.
To many episodes let sisko go be the super duper black man that saves the world. Going back in time to be some pivotal black terrorist was ludricris.
It really should have been federation run space station that dealt with smugglers and running the local AAA towing service.
To many episodes let sisko go be the super duper black man that saves the world. Going back in time to be some pivotal black terrorist was ludricris.
It really should have been federation run space station that dealt with smugglers and running the local AAA towing service.
Whether or not the show is bland bears no relevance to the question of whether it's cerebral.
Calling Gabriel Bell a terrorist is absurd considering he gave his life to protect strangers who hated him, and making it about his race is more absurd. About the 'super duper black man', what the fuck are you talking about? Sisko's accomplishments are no greater than any of the white captains. What the fuck is wrong with you?
Calling Gabriel Bell a terrorist is absurd considering he gave his life to protect strangers who hated him, and making it about his race is more absurd. About the 'super duper black man', what the fuck are you talking about? Sisko's accomplishments are no greater than any of the white captains. What the fuck is wrong with you?
appealing to, or conceived by the intellect rather than the emotions; intellectual
An intellectual is a person who engages in critical study, thought, and reflection about the reality of society, and proposes solutions for the normative problems of that society,
Siskos main achievements were the creation of the Defiant class and getting a cloaking device installed on it. And destroying a large chunk of the cardassian automated defense systems in the final attack for cardasia? And bombarding a maquis plannet with toxic material and rendering it unusable for 500 years in order to make them abandon it as a base of operations.
The rest of his achievements always seemed to be caused/initiated by a visit from the wormhole aliens.
And I remember several interviews in the early 90s where he stated he saw his sisko character as the baddass super black man fighting racial notions in the future, where racial notions are rendered to a non notion among civilized races."
An intellectual is a person who engages in critical study, thought, and reflection about the reality of society, and proposes solutions for the normative problems of that society,
Siskos main achievements were the creation of the Defiant class and getting a cloaking device installed on it. And destroying a large chunk of the cardassian automated defense systems in the final attack for cardasia? And bombarding a maquis plannet with toxic material and rendering it unusable for 500 years in order to make them abandon it as a base of operations.
The rest of his achievements always seemed to be caused/initiated by a visit from the wormhole aliens.
And I remember several interviews in the early 90s where he stated he saw his sisko character as the baddass super black man fighting racial notions in the future, where racial notions are rendered to a non notion among civilized races."
I'd give her a pass on that one. Unlike everyone else, she has two brains, so the second one (the symbiont) is likely unaffected and knows something is wrong straight away. It may actually be really good acting.
Uh ... no.
I don't disagree that DS9 is probably the least "cerebral," and that's why I like it over all the other spinofffs.
The rest makes no sense to me. But hey, I'm no intellectual. I'm just a fan.
DS9 was more of a 'comedy of manners' type show.
Because Sisko was less of an intellectual than Picard doesn't mean the show was less cerebral. DS9's commentary on terrorism was a critical response to Roddenberrian idealism which questioned if TNG's vision of perfect humanity could stand up to real suffering and real threats.
I'm not understanding your 'super black man' comment. Are you suggesting that it's a problem to portray a black person as being competent? What exactly did Sisko ever do that's any more 'Super' than any other science fiction show lead?
I'm not understanding your 'super black man' comment. Are you suggesting that it's a problem to portray a black person as being competent? What exactly did Sisko ever do that's any more 'Super' than any other science fiction show lead?
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Sisko as a Black Panther of the 24th century, his “Benny Russell” alter ego in the 20th century, personifying Gabriel Bell, refusing to go to Vic’s holosuite program claiming that at this period his people were not allowed to such places. It was useless because it bore no relevance to 24th-century developments and alien surroundings where everyone is different per se and some characters are not even humans.
It was a campaigner move because Avery Brooks himself is very much into promoting Afro-American values. That is his business but Sisko stood very well as a tough and (thanks goodness and TPTB) non-intellectual captain so it went overboard. Thanks to these episodes, some people consider Brooks a racial quota and fail to see his achievements as an actor.
It was a campaigner move because Avery Brooks himself is very much into promoting Afro-American values. That is his business but Sisko stood very well as a tough and (thanks goodness and TPTB) non-intellectual captain so it went overboard. Thanks to these episodes, some people consider Brooks a racial quota and fail to see his achievements as an actor.
You know, it seems I started a fury of controversy by calling it "Cerebral" in the topic post. I was just excited and wanted to give high praise it deserves. Plus, with all of the revolutions, relationships, everything that comes on in the end...just makes for an incredible show. "Cerebral" or not I find it my absolute favorite.
In fact, I wish they would of enxtended this version some way either by movies or another spinoff series. When does Sisko come back? What happens to Ferenginar? What happens with Cardassia after the revolution. Does the Federation/Romulan alliance stand? So amny questions that would many incredible new shows, movies, or shorts....
In fact, I wish they would of enxtended this version some way either by movies or another spinoff series. When does Sisko come back? What happens to Ferenginar? What happens with Cardassia after the revolution. Does the Federation/Romulan alliance stand? So amny questions that would many incredible new shows, movies, or shorts....
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