I just watched Far Beyond the Stars last night. It occurred to me that they should have used a grander, expanded version of this episode as the finale.
Far Beyond the Stars as the Finale
- Thread starter Kate Nichols
- Start date
Personally, I disagree. Ending on an episode where a lot of the material is "imaginary" is a terrible way to end a long-running series. Like Highlander, I am still disappointed by that finale. And Enterprise, of course. 
Time travel seems okay, as All Good Things is fine.
Time travel seems okay, as All Good Things is fine.
Yes, the TNG Finale was the best finale. I found the DS9 Finale definitely lacking, the abrupt end of the war, the breakup of the couples, the never ending mystery of Sisko and the prophets.
M
marlboro
Guest
I agree with you about the quality of TNG's ending, but I still liked the DS9 finale. I think the bittersweet ending fit the "gray" tone of the series. The good guys won, but there is always a cost.
As I've said in other threads, I'm not a huge fan of Far Beyond the Stars. It's neat to see the actors without their makeup, but the story didn't grab me. And I would have been extremely disappointed with a "maybe none of this is real?" ending. St Elsewhere already did that. It sucked then, too.
As I've said in other threads, I'm not a huge fan of Far Beyond the Stars. It's neat to see the actors without their makeup, but the story didn't grab me. And I would have been extremely disappointed with a "maybe none of this is real?" ending. St Elsewhere already did that. It sucked then, too.
Far Beyond The Stars is a fantastic episode and everyone pulled their artistic weight to make that happen.
However making that the last episode could very well have been interpreted as "It was all just a dream" trope.
I don't think that's how you want to go out.
However making that the last episode could very well have been interpreted as "It was all just a dream" trope.
I don't think that's how you want to go out.
Finales that are commentaries on the series as a whole don't go over well. It'd be kind of like the bizarre Prisoner finale. Also I think it would have been a really bad idea to leave the series with a sense of ambiguity that maybe the whole show is the dream.
I liked Far Beyond the Stars as an episode, but I don't think it would have worked as a finale. It didn't have the epicness I'd come to expect from a finale.
I thought What You Leave Behind was an outstanding finale. I put it on par with All Good Things. I wish they re-release all the finales with expanded scenes, commentaries, etc.
I thought What You Leave Behind was an outstanding finale. I put it on par with All Good Things. I wish they re-release all the finales with expanded scenes, commentaries, etc.
Far Beyond The Stars is a wonderfully put together episode and a great character piece for Sisko, the typically strong and resilient Captain retreats inside himself when things have just gotten too much--it's something many of us might do when faced with stress and tension. Though I disagree that it should've been the finale.
I love What You Leave Behind and think it was a wonderful way to end the series, with the characters moving on (so they're not just stagnant), couples having to part, and friends saying goodbye to one another. The one thing that does irk me about it was not giving more time and focus to Benjamin and Jake, though the final scene with Kira and the younger Sisko looking out always makes me well up.
I love What You Leave Behind and think it was a wonderful way to end the series, with the characters moving on (so they're not just stagnant), couples having to part, and friends saying goodbye to one another. The one thing that does irk me about it was not giving more time and focus to Benjamin and Jake, though the final scene with Kira and the younger Sisko looking out always makes me well up.
I may be the only one who thinks this episode is overrated. I like it okay, but it seems like a real cheat to just follow a completely different set of characters and only tenuously connect it to the rest of the show. Wasn't it Behr's original idea to end the show with Benny Russel selling the show to Paramount?
I think it would work if you expanded it like mentioned above. That means you have the Benny Russell stuff going on while on the outside you have the Dominion War coming to the end. Maybe move Sisko's fight with Dukat to the previous episode were they both "die" and have him inside the 50's setting as well as the racist publisher who won't let Benny Russell make his story.
Meanwhile Worf commands the final fleet battle to take control of Carddissia. The dream of any Klingon warrior to lead such a battle and also come back to the idea of Worf wanting to go down the command route when he took the red uniform. Meanwhile KIra,Garak and Weyoum and I would also have Odo back with them fighting in the underground restiance and also being caught up in the genocide that Changling FOunder, ordered so they storm the castle so to speak.
At the end we get the final goodbyes. Sisko returns to address everyone and say he is staying with the Prophets but he will return someday. Then the episode ends with Sisko being Benny Russell again. His memories of being Sisko erased of being Sisko and the illusion is made that the Prophets are going to learn more about humanity by watching Sisko via being Benny Russell to final get a better understanding of linear life and people outside their domain. All of which also in away comes full circle tp the pilot were they first meet Sisko and he teaches them about linear existence and people. The lesson that started then is now going to finally continue only offscreen of course.
Jason
Meanwhile Worf commands the final fleet battle to take control of Carddissia. The dream of any Klingon warrior to lead such a battle and also come back to the idea of Worf wanting to go down the command route when he took the red uniform. Meanwhile KIra,Garak and Weyoum and I would also have Odo back with them fighting in the underground restiance and also being caught up in the genocide that Changling FOunder, ordered so they storm the castle so to speak.
At the end we get the final goodbyes. Sisko returns to address everyone and say he is staying with the Prophets but he will return someday. Then the episode ends with Sisko being Benny Russell again. His memories of being Sisko erased of being Sisko and the illusion is made that the Prophets are going to learn more about humanity by watching Sisko via being Benny Russell to final get a better understanding of linear life and people outside their domain. All of which also in away comes full circle tp the pilot were they first meet Sisko and he teaches them about linear existence and people. The lesson that started then is now going to finally continue only offscreen of course.
Jason
I read on the Trek wikia (Memory Alpha) a few years ago that the plan for WYLB was for it to end with Benny Russel on the DS9 set. Watching it being filmed and produced. The show was going to be revealed as Benny's imagination the entire time (season 1-7). His dream was real and he finally was seeing it become a reality.
But TPTB dropped that angle. Recall, Benny was in the season intro of season 7. When in the mental asylum, the doctor was trying to get him to paint over his writings on the wall of DS9. Which in the show, was preventing Sisko from opening the orb of the emissary. Benny fights back, keeps writing and Sisko is able to open the orb.
It certainly would've been a curious memento of a way to end a show like DS9.
But TPTB dropped that angle. Recall, Benny was in the season intro of season 7. When in the mental asylum, the doctor was trying to get him to paint over his writings on the wall of DS9. Which in the show, was preventing Sisko from opening the orb of the emissary. Benny fights back, keeps writing and Sisko is able to open the orb.
It certainly would've been a curious memento of a way to end a show like DS9.
Also something that fans would be talking about in the context of canon from then till eternity.
Jason
M
marlboro
Guest
Thank God for TPTB then. What a steaming pile that would have been. Thankfully the writers were able to come up with something a little better than "Hey, let's rip off St. Elsewhere!"
You know what would have made Far Beyond a more interesting episode? If it had nothing to do with DS9 at all. Just randomly do an episode with a very Trek message that has nothing to do with canon and doesn't even have any science fiction elements. You just do a 50s based episode with the cast out of makeup, deliver your message, and offer zero explanation. Next week you're back to space opera.
You know what would have made Far Beyond a more interesting episode? If it had nothing to do with DS9 at all. Just randomly do an episode with a very Trek message that has nothing to do with canon and doesn't even have any science fiction elements. You just do a 50s based episode with the cast out of makeup, deliver your message, and offer zero explanation. Next week you're back to space opera.
All of Star Trek is already part of the Tommy Westphall Universe.
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
The last shot, along with TOS's last shot, the Enterprise moving on to it's next adventure.
DS9 and VOY had definate endings. What ENT had I'm still trying to figure out.
A finale that lacked finality.
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