DS9 is still the best
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I could not agree more with you my fellow Niner. DS9 truly is the wonderful dark horse of Star Trek with a great sense of complexly, wit and glorious characterisation. Prophets bless it.
Hm, personally I can never decide which I love more, TOS or DS9. I love both for different reasons, I guess. Without a shred of doubt they are the best Star Trek series (to me). So it's really hard to favor one over the other. Which is why most of the time I don't even try.
However, I don't see why so many people seem to compare the new movie to the various Trek series. It seems like there's a thread like this in every series-specific forum. I don't get on which basis one could effectively compare a television series to a big budget feature-length movie.
However, I don't see why so many people seem to compare the new movie to the various Trek series. It seems like there's a thread like this in every series-specific forum. I don't get on which basis one could effectively compare a television series to a big budget feature-length movie.
I've been trying so hard to hang on to my firm belief that TNG will always be the best of the series after growing up watching it. I came here and saw that most people seem to think DS9 is better and still stubbornly stuck to my opinion, but it's getting harder now. I'm leaning towards the "DS9 is the best of them all" bandwagon now after seeing "Take Me Out to the Holosuite". I know, not exactly they episode you'd expect would push someone's DS9 fandom over-the-top, but what occurred to me when watching it is just how diverse the stories of this series are compared to TNG and especially compared to "Star Trek", which (as the people behind the show themselves have admitted) tended to stick to certain formulas (i.e. crew lands on weird planet, some supernatural being or beings invades the ship, etc.).
Now after seeing this episode and "His Way", I am just so blown away by how DS9 can do stories that are so beyond anything ever done on any previous Star Trek series and yet at the same time maintain the message of friendship/camaraderie/love, honesty, optimism, thoughtfulness, and thirst for knowledge being the human qualities that will allow the species to endure in the future against all adversity.
Watching these episodes is jarring at first. I think to myself how weird it is to see a show that can convincingly immerse you in a completely believable world of 50s jazz lounges or American major league baseball and yet still feel like Star Trek. The show takes chances that the others never dared and somehow maintains the hopeful spirit of Star Trek. It mixes that with things that should not gel with it on paper and succeeds because the direction, writing, and acting are so strong.
It may have its share of boring, overly chattery episodes (mostly the ones that deal with politics and religion, in my opinion), but it's taken Star Trek to creative heights I've never seen the other shows reach and even in the last season I'm respecting and appreciating it more and more as it continues to keep surprising me.
Now after seeing this episode and "His Way", I am just so blown away by how DS9 can do stories that are so beyond anything ever done on any previous Star Trek series and yet at the same time maintain the message of friendship/camaraderie/love, honesty, optimism, thoughtfulness, and thirst for knowledge being the human qualities that will allow the species to endure in the future against all adversity.
Watching these episodes is jarring at first. I think to myself how weird it is to see a show that can convincingly immerse you in a completely believable world of 50s jazz lounges or American major league baseball and yet still feel like Star Trek. The show takes chances that the others never dared and somehow maintains the hopeful spirit of Star Trek. It mixes that with things that should not gel with it on paper and succeeds because the direction, writing, and acting are so strong.
It may have its share of boring, overly chattery episodes (mostly the ones that deal with politics and religion, in my opinion), but it's taken Star Trek to creative heights I've never seen the other shows reach and even in the last season I'm respecting and appreciating it more and more as it continues to keep surprising me.
Prune juice, extra large! 
Yeah, DS9, all the way!
Yeah, DS9, all the way!
Agreed with DS9 being best, but TNG is right behind.
*possible spoilers*
Ever since I started season 3, I've been hopelessly addicted, watching as much as 8-10 episodes in a single day. The acting is superb, the characters are all engaging, the continuity is exceptional, especially regarding secondary characters, and the plot is riveting. What impresses me the most is the exploration of Forengi and changling culture, and of course the intricacy behind the dominion war. Those who criticize this show for having been set on a space station don't know what they are missing, as this series is probably the most densely filled with thematic richness out of any Trek series in existence.
Ever since I started season 3, I've been hopelessly addicted, watching as much as 8-10 episodes in a single day. The acting is superb, the characters are all engaging, the continuity is exceptional, especially regarding secondary characters, and the plot is riveting. What impresses me the most is the exploration of Forengi and changling culture, and of course the intricacy behind the dominion war. Those who criticize this show for having been set on a space station don't know what they are missing, as this series is probably the most densely filled with thematic richness out of any Trek series in existence.
After finishing DS9 (just watched What You Leave Behind this week), I can't enjoy TNG or TOS as much as I could before. Maybe it's just because I've seen both of them in their entirety too many times to count and DS9 is just more enjoyable because I haven't rewatched every episode millions of times yet, or maybe it's because DS9 is as good as it gets.
DS9 and TNG are still by far the best Star Trek, IMO. First, when I had only seen ENT and TOS, I liked ENT best. Then I watched TNG, which I thought was better then ENT. Then I watched VOY, which I liked, but not enough to beat any of the other series aparty from TOS. Then I watched DS9 (Finished it a few weeks ago), and during the sixth season, I really discovered that I couldn't choose between TNG and DS9 as my favourite Trek, so now they're both my favourites. I am currently rewatching everything in chronological order (I am currently at "Shadows of P'jem").
I think that DS9, with storytelling and character arcs that are much meatier than all of the other Trek spinoffs put together, could never work as a two hour movie so I don't even want to make any comparisons to the new movie. We're talking apples and oranges here. I love the new movie but for me DS9 still dominates the TV Trek landscape.
I have never cared for TNG, it is my least favorite. Slow, preachy, no real politics. Also I never really bonded with any of the characters though I do think Picard is a great captain and eminently watchable. Prior to STXI First Contact was always my favorite film.
Now DS9.. I'm rewatching it all the way through again and every time I am more impressed. So many layers! Bajor and Cardassia, what wonderful creations. Here you have two totally different worlds replete with politics, religion, schisms and the best and most nuanced characters in Trek--Kai Will, Dukat, Garak. And then you have the Ferengi, another briefly seen race completely developed in DS9. Somehow DS9 managed to chronicle the cultural and political histories of 3 distinct worlds while still producing stories about the Federation.
Really, IMHO it can't be topped. There are many things I love about TOS, ENT and VOY but as a series DS9 is a masterpiece.
Now DS9.. I'm rewatching it all the way through again and every time I am more impressed. So many layers! Bajor and Cardassia, what wonderful creations. Here you have two totally different worlds replete with politics, religion, schisms and the best and most nuanced characters in Trek--Kai Will, Dukat, Garak. And then you have the Ferengi, another briefly seen race completely developed in DS9. Somehow DS9 managed to chronicle the cultural and political histories of 3 distinct worlds while still producing stories about the Federation.
Really, IMHO it can't be topped. There are many things I love about TOS, ENT and VOY but as a series DS9 is a masterpiece.
Well, TWOK had a good character arc for Kirk (dealing with becoming old, amongst other things), but granted that arc is stronger if you know who Kirk is prior to the film. It is possible to have strong character stories within movies, just obviously of a narrower focus than what a long-running series can offer.
And let's face it: big character arcs aren't always necessary for compelling stories. About the only character arc you saw from anyone in the LOTR trilogy was of people overcoming personal doubt in the face of adversity -which tends to be where the drama in action movies comes from anyway.
Ira Behr and his team pushed Trek to the very limits of what they were allowed to do and they created a great show. If I was to be stuck on a desert island (with a TV, DVD player and generator to power them) and I was only allowed to bring one series of any TV show to watch, I would choose DS9.
It is indeed! Getting better with age, I would say!
Totally agree. I enjoyed the movie, but lets hope we get something of more substance like DS9 in the future.
I always go back and forth regarding DS9 and TNG, both my favorite series. I've just come to the conclusion, especially after the Movie, how much I loved the 90s Star Trek. I really miss it and realize it will never happen again.
