If Not Ezri...

[TheSubCommander]

I would not want DS9 to be deprived of Avery Brook's atrocious, Shatneresque acting style! For the show's stationary format, someone over-the-top leading the cast was absolutely essential. Sir Patrick Stewart was the perfect choice to show Trekkies - and, indeed, the world - that rotten acting doesn't have to be synonymous with STAR TREK ... which William Shatner and his co-stars had so firmly established. But there was no need to go past the point of making the point, by having Stewart be in absolutely everything. I'm glad he wasn't. He passed the baton to Avery and told him to "have fun with it." You couldn't ask for a better send-off, than that.

Definitely agree that they were better off with Sisko instead of Stewart, and I am glad how it ended up working out with Avery Brooks. However, since at the time DS9 was touted as a spin off of TNG, I was sort of surprised (at the time) they didn't move Riker over to DS9 as Commander/Captain. They ended up moviing Obrien over as the the TNG connection character (and alter Worf), but considering that by season 5 Riker's character was stagnating, that would have been a good way to do something with the Riker character.

Then again, like you said, DS9 really did need an over the top actor, and I don't know that Frakes would have filled that role the way the show needed. So in the end, it was best that they cast Books the way they did. Tony Todd would have been a good choice, too, but he had been too visible as Kern, so that wasn't going to happen.

 

[2takesfrakes]

That's an interesting take on it, because I never saw DS9 as any kind of an opportunity for Jonathan Frakes, at all, outside of a recurring character, maybe. TNG was enough for ALL of the characters on that show, as far as I'm concerned. O'Brien's being onboard is the only "transfer" that makes sense. Having Worf there is overkill and too much - direct - TNG involvement. Being the very next spin-off, it was far too soon to be revisiting anyone else from the show with that kind of regularity on Deep Space Nine. It changed the focus of the show, entirely, and the Klingoncentric episodes were kind of overbearing and - dare I say it? - annoying. "Hoof Hog! Hog Hoof!!!" "SNARL!!! GROWL!!!" show after show ... enough! ENOUGH!!! And with the inclusion of the Defiant, well now, the whole thing with the station is just a moot point. We're almost totally into TNG mode, by this point, having all of that starship-like power and mobility ... it just hurts, something aweful, how the potential that was there when DS9 started got broomed like that, in favour of having the show's format resemble TNG's more. It was different when VOYAGER came along, there was enough of a buffer there, to take on the second side of the TNG saga and I welcome it, for that. But DS9 dared to be different, at first ... which was needed. Had Michael Dorn come to the show playing a Human character, or at least a non-Klingon, it wouldn't have been so bad. BUT ... that's entertainment for you, I guess.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I was sort of surprised (at the time) they didn't move Riker over to DS9 as Commander/Captain. They ended up moviing Obrien over as the the TNG connection character (and alter Worf), but considering that by season 5 Riker's character was stagnating, that would have been a good way to do something with the Riker character.

I'm not sure Riker was stagnating. I was not a fan of the character, but his character remained vital even as Stewart took up more of the action. Perhaps more importantly, Frakes work behind the camera was more important, and he was starting to play an influential role in TNG, arguably the Cadillac of the franchise.

 

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Gosh, I would have hated having Will Riker on DS9 (Tom Riker was enough, but he was actually somewhat interesting). Never cared much for his character on TNG and he would be so out of place on DS9. No commanding presence like Sisko had.

But back to Ezri. I do realize that some people think there was too much focus on her in season 7, but that was natural given the limited time they had to develop her character. And in that short time she was developed a lot more than Jadzia ever was. If there was something they should have tossed from that season it was the stupid Holodeck episodes with baseball and Vic Fontaine, or the character assassination of Dukat.

 

[TheSubCommander]

Gosh, I would have hated having Will Riker on DS9 (Tom Riker was enough, but he was actually somewhat interesting). Never cared much for his character on TNG and he would be so out of place on DS9. No commanding presence like Sisko had.

But back to Ezri. I do realize that some people think there was too much focus on her in season 7, but that was natural given the limited time they had to develop her character. And in that short time she was developed a lot more than Jadzia ever was. If there was something they should have tossed from that season it was the stupid Holodeck episodes with baseball and Vic Fontaine, or the character assassination of Dukat.

I think DS9 could have used a little more Tom Riker. At least an episode to wrap up his fate.

The thing with Ezri was that if they didn't focus on her enough, she wouldn't have had enough character development. It was a hard thing to do: they had to balance cramming a new character into a season that was going to be its last. So, some of the Ezri-centric episodes were necessary, if Ezri was to be a main cast member. I suppose they could have focused less on Ezri, and made her more of a recurring character, than a main character. THey actually could have got away with it, really. Some of the Ezri episodes were sort of bland.

 

[TheSubCommander]

I'm not sure Riker was stagnating. I was not a fan of the character, but his character remained vital even as Stewart took up more of the action. Perhaps more importantly, Frakes work behind the camera was more important, and he was starting to play an influential role in TNG, arguably the Cadillac of the franchise.

Maybe stagnating is little too strong a word, but as far as development is concerned, Riker's character really did peak after season 4 (arguably after BOBW), except for some Riker episodes here and there. The most interesting things that happened to Riker after BOBW was Tom Riker, Chain of Command, The Pegasus, All Good Things, and the movies.

 

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

I think DS9 could have used a little more Tom Riker. At least an episode to wrap up his fate.

Yeah, that would have been good to know.

I suppose they could have focused less on Ezri, and made her more of a recurring character, than a main character. THey actually could have got away with it, really. Some of the Ezri episodes were sort of bland.

I'm not sure they could have gotten away with it. The Ezri fanboys (such as myself) would have demanded her cuteness to have a more prominent presence. But I agree that some of her eps were a bit bland.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I like the idea of adding a Romulan envoy to the cast and learning to trust each other and coordinate attacks.

This is assuming Michelle Forbes would say no to a one season deal.

 

[locutus101]

I like the idea of adding a Romulan envoy to the cast and learning to trust each other and coordinate attacks.

This is assuming Michelle Forbes would say no to a one season deal.

Well, unfortunately that never happened.

 

[The Wormhole]

who was their counselor the previous 6?

There was Counselor Telnorri in season 4.

 

[locutus101]

There was Counselor Telnorri in season 4.

So I am guessing that she didn't cut the mustard.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Miles didn't care much for him.

 

[locutus101]

Miles didn't care much for him.

Though, as a counselor he liked him better than Julian.