Reworking DS9

[DarKush]

There's not much I would've done differently with DS9. However....

1) Bring Bajor into the Federation at the conclusion of the series.

2) Make the Klingon-Federation War more devastating, or not even do it. I think DS9-except for Martok, Worf, and Kor-did a pretty lackluster job with the Klingons. They made them too weak and pathetic warriors. As much as I enjoyed "The Way of the Warrior" looking back on it now, the Klingons were terrible.

3) Make the Hunters part of the Dominion. I think it would've been cool to see them again, plus the Tosk aliens looked like Jem'Hadar to some extent so it might've explained their origins too.

4) Less Mirror Universe and Ferengi episodes.

5) Would've killed off Dax in "Change of Heart." After reading some of the other posts, I probably wouldn't have brought the character back. Or maybe as a man.

6) Better S31 episodes. The only show that did them justice was "Inter Arma Silent Leges".

7) Made the Tholians or Gorn the surprise member of the Dominion instead of the Breen. I thought the Breen were okay, but not enough of a real shock to me. Even though they had previously had as much or more screen time than the Tholians or Gorn, those TOS races would've excited the fans more IMO, esp. if the FX had been good.

Would've left Dukat trapped as a blind Bajoran. I think it would've been ironic and fitting for him to spend the rest of his life, or at least some part of it as perhaps a destitute beggar, living off the charity of the Bajorans.

9) Had the Pah Wraiths ally with the Dominion. They would've attacked the wormhole, allowing the Dominion to send ships in. I probably would've had Sisko ascend in the battle to stop this from happening inside the wormhole.

10) More Maquis cameos would've been cool. I think the Cal Hudson story deserved a follow up. So did Tom Riker. It also would've been great to see Ro as a guest star. I agree with some of the other posters that putting Chakotay, Seska, Torres, or Tuvok in one of the DS9 Maquis stories would've been great. I also think a Sisko/Janeway scene would've been cool in "Caretaker."

11) Made T'Rul a recurring character. I would've liked to have seen more of her.

 

[Kegek]

Cal Hudson was dead and boring to begin with, I was quite happy how his plot was resolved in a throwaway line, per "Blaze of Glory." Tholians, Gorn, Breen, same difference - writers wanted to make the Dominion seem threatening again so a random alien race is thrown in. It would feel forced no matter which race it is; probably should have stuck to the ensemble players, gave Bajoran politics more space and not pulled any silly stunts.

Agreed about T'Rul. She should have had a properitary interest in the Defiant, a kind of permenent stationed Romulan (but not a regular).

 

[JM1776]

Zero Hour said: The Founders were supposed to be xenophobes; it makes more sense for them to try to close off the Bajoran wormhole than to see it as a new opportunity for expansion. Having the Federation fight a desperate struggle to keep a foothold in the Gamma Quadrant would've made for a shorter war with fewer ridiculous large fleet engagements. It would also have added a nice touch of moral ambiguïty to the conflict.

This stands as one of the ten most insightful observations about DS9 I've ever read. Nicely reasoned.

It would have been interesting to see T'Rul on occasion forbid use of the cloak, since she was purportedly there to represent Romulan interests and make certain the device was used only in accordance with what I assume was a codicil to the Treaty of Algeron.

 

[Jono]

I can only think of two things I'd change.

1. I'd have Jake feature more and further explore his character.

2. I wouldn't have killed Damar.

 

[TeutonicNights]

I think an eighth season should have dealt with the final confrontation between prophets and pagh-wraiths, and also the aftermath of the war.
The advent of restoration should throw Bajor in turmoil, a civil war involving a growing pagh-wraith cult with Dukat as their leader could have been cool. What we got was okay, but less exciting than I had hoped for.

I also think "Shadows and Symbols", with some modifications, could have been an excellent finale to the show. That could even have toppled "All good things".
A disturbing ending could involve Sisko being back on the bridge of the Saratoga or even the Benny Russell conclusion that was considered.

 

[Praetor]

T'Rul!!! How can I forget T'Rul! Martha Hackett's ideal role, if you ask me.

But then again I'm biased.

 

[DarKush]

Kegek said:
Cal Hudson was dead and boring to begin with, I was quite happy how his plot was resolved in a throwaway line, per "Blaze of Glory." Tholians, Gorn, Breen, same difference - writers wanted to make the Dominion seem threatening again so a random alien race is thrown in. It would feel forced no matter which race it is; probably should have stuck to the ensemble players, gave Bajoran politics more space and not pulled any silly stunts.

Agreed about T'Rul. She should have had a properitary interest in the Defiant, a kind of permenent stationed Romulan (but not a regular).

Kegek,

You're entitled to your opinion as much as I am. However I disagree with you. I think there was some more stuff to mine with the Hudson/Sisko relationship. Another episode or two at least. To be honest I did think there was little chemistry between Brooks and Casey, but if a different actor had been chosen to begin with, I think Hudson could've become an even more personal adversary than Eddington. The dramatic potential, on paper I suppose, was definitely there. Hudson could've become the anti-Sisko. And even with Casey as Hudson, there was still some stuff they could've done.

I also think that the Tholians and Gorn resonate more with long-time Trek fans than the Breen, so there isn't a same difference. The Tholians and Gorn have been two of the TOS races I think a lot of people have wanted to see more of. And if one of them had joined the Dominion, I think it would've been more of a WTF than the more random Breen.

 

[Kegek]

DarKush said:
You're entitled to your opinion as much as I am. However I disagree with you.

That, DarKush, is the reason the TrekBBS exists.

To be honest I did think there was little chemistry between Brooks and Casey, but if a different actor had been chosen to begin with, I think Hudson could've become an even more personal adversary than Eddington.

The casting is certainly a chief problem. The two-parter did show one wonderful combination - Sisko and Dukat. This was actually the first time on the series they really bonded in any way. It would be followed up in numerous episodes and become an integral component of the series.

Maybe Cal Hudson would have been an interesting recurring character had the actor cast shown more chemistry. But even then, he's the Friend Sisko Has Had Forever Who Therfore Must Betray Him. It didn't quite pan out, they did rather better with Michael Eddington because we got to see him as Sisko's co-worker for almost two years before he betrayed the crew - and they never really stressed the idea he had ever been his friend.

I also think that the Tholians and Gorn resonate more with long-time Trek fans than the Breen, so there isn't a same difference.

Fan service isn't the issue here. Dramatic potential is. I love the Gorn, shamelessly. But throwing a new supervillain into the works to bolster up the Dominion was, IMHO, a bad idea. It was like they could only write the war in pulp logic - if the enemy is losing its dangerous edge, suddenly ratchet up the tension and make them seem just as powerful. In this case, by adding undeveloped enemies into the mix and hyping thier relevance. If the enemies were the Tholians, the Gorn, the Talarians, it boils down to same problem.

The Breen were probably a better choice than either TOS alien, though, as they'd already appeared on the series twice before and thus seemed a more organic fit.

 

[DarKush]

Kegek,

I see your point about the Breen now. However, I still think Hudson could've made for an interesting villian/antagonist. Because he was so similar to Sisko, it might've Sisko question himself regarding the Maquis and their mission. With Eddington, Sisko could be more self-righteous, cold, and vindictive, not saying that's a bad thing. I think with Hudson he might've been able to understand the Maquis POV more.

I liked Eddington, but I wished they had developed him more as a character so his betrayal had more of a punch.

 

[Kegek]

DarKush said:
I liked Eddington, but I wished they had developed him more as a character so his betrayal had more of a punch.

Agreed. He was pretty much a non-entity until after he betrayed Sisko. One can mark the point where he becomes a character: When, after betraying everybody, he tells Sisko the Federation is worse than the Borg.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I've always liked one of the original premises for DS9 (which I think at the time was briefly called Star Trek: Final Frontier according the Making of Deep Space Nine book). The premise was that the show be based on war ravaged Bajor instead of a space station. A base would be built near a town and the lead character would've been Dr. Julian Amores with Lt. Ro Laren in charge of the base. I'd kinda thought that idea was more radical a change in the way Trek stories were told that it could've been really fun to watch but only if Siddig El Fadil (Alexander Siddig) was still cast in the role of Julian.

Another idea that was thrown around for a hot minute was placing the series in a timeframe before the original series -- wonder if eventually paid off for them?

 

[Kegek]

middyseafort said:
I'd kinda thought that idea was more radical a change in the way Trek stories were told that it could've been really fun to watch but only if Siddig El Fadil (Alexander Siddig) was still cast in the role of Julian.

Sidding was actually considered for the role of Sisko himself, but was rejected as being too young. But yes, the earlier ideas were interesting... but I think the choice about putting it on a space station and making it only partly about Bajor was a good call.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Kegek said:

middyseafort said:
I'd kinda thought that idea was more radical a change in the way Trek stories were told that it could've been really fun to watch but only if Siddig El Fadil (Alexander Siddig) was still cast in the role of Julian.

Sidding was actually considered for the role of Sisko himself, but was rejected as being too young. But yes, the earlier ideas were interesting... but I think the choice about putting it on a space station and making it only partly about Bajor was a good call.

Yeah, I believe Rick Berman had seen him in a performance where he wore age make-up and didn't realize he was quite so young (at the time).

 

[Temis the Vorta]

My wish list could go on forever, but I'll just hit some high points:

-Cast Tony Todd as Ben Sisko.

-Make Sisko's religious storyline more dramatic by having his growing role as the Emissary put him at odds with the atheistic Federation (and make it clear at long last that the Federation IS atheistic).

-Sisko should pay for the ass-save the Prophets handed him with the death of Jake. Nothing else is a "penance" that is equivalent to the benefit of that ass-save, which needs to be something Sisko would have balked at, at the time, and he'd already decided to sacrifice himself and his crew so it has to be Jake. Otherwise it all comes off as a deus ex machina.

-Do NOT turn Dukat into a red-eyed religious nut. Instead, he should stay his old wildly-overconfident self. Having been booted by the Dominion, he tries to wrangle his way back into more power than ever with an ill-thought-out alliance with the paghwraiths...who he certainly does not believe are actual dieties, just very powerful aliens that he can manipulate to his own ends.

-Dax should come back in a male host for S7.

-The Federation should LOSE THE WAR.

-Instead of ENT, turn Trek over to the DS9 writers for Series V, which will deal with the aftermath of the Dominion vicitory as the survivors of DS9 (and TNG and VOY) band together in a struggle for survival and eventually driving the Dominion back to the GQ. That should be a fun seven years. And I wouldn't mind a couple of new characters introduced, such as one played by a certain Connor Trinneer...

-After Star Trek: Resistance has its seven year run, THEN the gang can tackle Birth of the Federation (for real, no half-assed temporal cold wars) for Series VI. But at this point, that would still be in the future...sigh...

 

[where'sSaavik?]

Hi Temis

Temis the Vorta said:
-Cast Tony Todd as Ben Sisko.

I like Tony too, but I don't think he'd necessarily be a superior presence than Brooks. Brooks didn't dominate the cast like Stewart on TNG, but he was a strong part of the ensemble. What he was handed with the prophets storyline in the last few seasons was not easy to handle and I thought he did a good job with it.

I agree with those who say no to recasting Dax. There was way too much going on with everybody else in S7 to spend a half dozen episodes developing a new character when that time could have been spent more on exploring characters like O'Brien or Julian, who got a little short shrifted in S7.

Plus, Ezri just sucked.

I'm also not a fan of the red-eye Dukat, or the Pagh-wraith storyline. Either could have been deleted.

I like Sisko sacrificing himself for Bajor, but as it was it felt tacked on. I'd have rather it been something a little more metaphysical.

I also preferred the original presentation of the prophets as non-linear aliens who did not understand cause-and-effect. By the end of the series they were behaving more like the jealous gods of Rome.

 

[Kegek]

where'sSaavik? Didn't you disappear or something? Kegg here. Anyway...

Temis the Vorta said:
-Cast Tony Todd as Ben Sisko.

No arguments there. I can't believe they passed up on that one.

-Dax should come back in a male host for S7.

No can do. I like the idea in theory, but Ezri Dax was one of the best things about S7. A significant improvement on Jadzia.

 

[Praetor]

Frosty the Vorta said:
My wish list could go on forever, but I'll just hit some high points:

-Cast Tony Todd as Ben Sisko.

Eh, I like Avery. But I could have lived with Tony Todd.

-Make Sisko's religious storyline more dramatic by having his growing role as the Emissary put him at odds with the atheistic Federation (and make it clear at long last that the Federation IS atheistic).

-Sisko should pay for the ass-save the Prophets handed him with the death of Jake. Nothing else is a "penance" that is equivalent to the benefit of that ass-save, which needs to be something Sisko would have balked at, at the time, and he'd already decided to sacrifice himself and his crew so it has to be Jake. Otherwise it all comes off as a deus ex machina.

-Do NOT turn Dukat into a red-eyed religious nut. Instead, he should stay his old wildly-overconfident self. Having been booted by the Dominion, he tries to wrangle his way back into more power than ever with an ill-thought-out alliance with the paghwraiths...who he certainly does not believe are actual deities, just very powerful aliens that he can manipulate to his own ends.

Agree wholeheartedly... wonderful and dramatically appropriate ideas!

-Dax should come back in a male host for S7.

-The Federation should LOSE THE WAR.

-Instead of ENT, turn Trek over to the DS9 writers for Series V, which will deal with the aftermath of the Dominion vicitory as the survivors of DS9 (and TNG and VOY) band together in a struggle for survival and eventually driving the Dominion back to the GQ. That should be a fun seven years. And I wouldn't mind a couple of new characters introduced, such as one played by a certain Connor Trinneer...

-After Star Trek: Resistance has its seven year run, THEN the gang can tackle Birth of the Federation (for real, no half-assed temporal cold wars) for Series VI. But at this point, that would still be in the future...sigh...

Meh. I say no way to a new Dax and probably no to the Federation losing... perhaps there is a standstill of some kind or maybe the wormohole is closed permanently and, with no reinforcements, the war is declared over?

However, I would have preferred an 'Aftermath' series, picking up the pieces to 'Enterprise.'

 

[DumbDumb2007]

Whow is Klag ?

 

[J47]

Klag was the first officer in TNG's "A Matter of Honor" (the one where Riker enters the Klingon exchange program). He's also the main character in the Gorkon/Klingon Empire series of books by Keith R.A. Candido that are considered part of the current novel continuity.

 

[OmarB]

I would have loved to see more on the surface of Bajor. We have seen countries ripped apart by war and fighting to recover and start growth and trade again. It would have been interesting to see this idea played out on a planet wide scale. Plus, the few times they were on Bajor it was gorgeous, they should have had more of it ... or maybe I just like exteriors on DS9.