So been re-watching DS9 of late, and for some reason, the thought popped into my head today of what season 7 would have been like had Terry Farrell stayed for season 7.
It's no secret I hate Ezri. Found her an annoying character, actress, and truth be told really irritated at how much of the shows final year got absorbed establishing her as a new character.
But anywho, here is what I envision...
Season 6 Finale: "Tears of the Prophets"
Instead of being killed by Dukat, Jadzia is injured. The injuries extensive enough to require her to go back to Trill for treatment, for who knows how long. Sisko, having lost the prophets and with Jadzia comatose at the finale and heading back to Trill, does the same thing he did and leaves the station, unsure if he'll return.
Season 7 Premiere: "Image in the Sand"
Same episode, except at the end, it's Jadzia who shows up at the restaurant in New Orleans. She spent 3 months on Trill, but has recovered -- or so she says.
"Shadows and Symbols"
We learn that there is some trouble between Jadzia and Worf, though we don't learn why until the end of the episode: the Dax symbiont was injured, and suffered some memory loss. The unique connection between host and symbiont makes it so even Jadzia's own memories are effected. She remembers bits and pieces of her life, but not everything. The most prominent thing she has lost? Most everything about her and Worf. She knows who he is, has memories of serving with him, being close to him -- but she can't quite connect those memories to feelings. This is why she came to Earth, to see Benjamin, and why Worf did not come with her but instead returned to duty. Worf wants vengeance on Dukat, but can't obtain such. So he settles for revenge on the Dominion, taking foolish risks in combat. Even O'Brien agrees Worf is going to far, but he won't do anything about it, he's to loyal. Bashir does; he relieves Worf of command under medical authority, and Worf goes so far as to pull his mek'leth on Bashir, forcing O'Brien to pull a phaser on Worf. Meanwhile, Jadzia and Sisko talk about old times, Curzon and Jadzia. Ben tries to help her remember more of what she's lost as they trek through the desert looking for the Orb. Episode follows the same plot ending, releasing the prophet Sarah Sisko and restoring the wormhole. The Bajoran moon Romulan Weapons sub-plot is ditched for time. Episode ends almost identical, Jadzia is happy to see everyone and be back, but things between her and Worf are awkward.
"Afterimage"
Things are awkward between Jadzia and Worf. He's in some trouble with Starfleet, and things between he, O'Brien and Bashir are all tense making everyone else tense. O'Brien is also upset with Bashir for relieving Worf, even if he agreed Worf was out of control. Everything has been upset, the close friendships all off-kilter. Garak meanwhile suffers the same claustrophobia problem, only it's coupled with hallucinations of dead cardassians. The problem is more evident in this version; Garak's guilt. Instead of Ezri to sort it out and figure out the problem, with the problem known, it's Kira and Odo who're asked to help him by Sisko. Kira knows what he's feeling; she had to kill Bajoran's in the resistance, even sometimes innocent ones, to strike at the Cardassians. Odo, meanwhile, knows about feeling as if he's betrayed his own people. Kira and Odo differ on how to handle things, but it eventually brings them closer together as they find even more common ground. They help Garak to realize he's not responsible for the Cardassian's who get killed, he's trying to save more lives by ending the war. Meanwhile, Worf is issued a formal reprimand for his actions. His life seemingly falling apart, his marriage screwed up, and now his career too, he takes a leave of absence and transfers to the Klingon Defense Force under Martok, full time.
"Take Me Out to the Holosuite" gets moved to later in the season, and is then basically the same episode.
"Chrysalis" is basically identical.
"Treachery, Faith and the Great River" is nearly identical.
"Once More Unto the Breach"
Slight changes, but same basic plot. Only the animosity Martok feels for Kor gives Worf some perspective on his recent difficulties. In the end, he apologizes to Bashir for his actions. He remains serving full time with the KDF for the time though, uncertain if he wants to remain in Starfleet. It's always been an issue with him, and it's coming to a head this season.
"Siege of AR-558"
Same basic plot about the ground troops, the bloody nightmare on the planet, et cetera. O'Brien and Kira come with the away team though. O'Brien works to try fix the Dominion comm array, while remembering the days of Setlik III and why he became an engineer -- to escape this kind of assignment, the death and blood and grit of war. Kira also recalls the resistance days, and this type of existence. Jadzia, meanwhile, is left in charge of the Defiant when it's forced to leave the away team behind, and we'd see a sub-plot of her trying to find her bearings in what used to be an easy task for her, commanding Defiant on occasion, as Defiant plays cat-and-mouse with some Jem'Hadar.
"Covenant"
Basically identical.
"It's Only a Paper Moon"
Basically identical, only we get a sub-plot of Jadzia beginning to regain some of her memories, spurned on after commanding Defiant in "AR-558"
"Prodigal Daughter"
Swap Ezri for Jadzia, and you've got the same episode. We get to see Jadzia's family, the Idaris' family, after O'Brien goes to New Sydney looking for Marika Billby. Same episode otherwise.
"Emperor's New Cloak"
Basically identical, only instead of mirror Ezri it's mirror Brunt who is the lead, tempted by mirror Kira and money. Quark keeps pointing out how bad his Brunt is, and when the alliance betray Quark and Rom after they provide the cloak, mirror Brunt has a change of heart and helps them escape.
"Field of Fire"
Swap Ezri for Jadzia, and add a bit about Jadzia finding herself and recovering more of who she is, and the episode is the same. The end would see her recover her feelings for Worf, though.
"Chimera"
Same episode. Added sub-plot of Jadzia and Worf beginning to reconcile, but not easily. He returns to the station, versus living aboard the Rotaran, but he remains unsure about his career or marriage. Still, he returns to active Starfleet duty. The past few months have shown him how different worlds can be, and though he loves Jadzia, he feels the call of truly embracing being a Klingon.
"Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
Basically identical.
"Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
Basically identical.
Final Chapter
Swap Ezri for Jadzia. Worf is lost, Defiant can't find him. Jadzia, having just begun to get Worf back and her life on track, takes a runabout and goes after him on her own. She finds him the same way. Most of the final chapter is the same as it was, only with some changes for Jadzia and Worf. Jadzia and Worf are captured, come to terms more on where they stand with each other, Worf expresses he's always felt pulled between two worlds and this past year made it all so prominent. They talk about their interrupted plans to have a baby from last season. By the time Damar helps them escape, they've come to a few decisions: they're staying together, and Worf . Jadzia will even give up hers to stay with him. They're marriage means more than their careers. The only other substantial change is that we drop Sisko and Kassidy having a baby, and instead in the penultimate episode, learn Jadzia is pregnant. Everything else is as it was, but at the end of the war Worf and Jadzia stay on DS9.
It's no secret I hate Ezri. Found her an annoying character, actress, and truth be told really irritated at how much of the shows final year got absorbed establishing her as a new character.
But anywho, here is what I envision...
Season 6 Finale: "Tears of the Prophets"
Instead of being killed by Dukat, Jadzia is injured. The injuries extensive enough to require her to go back to Trill for treatment, for who knows how long. Sisko, having lost the prophets and with Jadzia comatose at the finale and heading back to Trill, does the same thing he did and leaves the station, unsure if he'll return.
Season 7 Premiere: "Image in the Sand"
Same episode, except at the end, it's Jadzia who shows up at the restaurant in New Orleans. She spent 3 months on Trill, but has recovered -- or so she says.
"Shadows and Symbols"
We learn that there is some trouble between Jadzia and Worf, though we don't learn why until the end of the episode: the Dax symbiont was injured, and suffered some memory loss. The unique connection between host and symbiont makes it so even Jadzia's own memories are effected. She remembers bits and pieces of her life, but not everything. The most prominent thing she has lost? Most everything about her and Worf. She knows who he is, has memories of serving with him, being close to him -- but she can't quite connect those memories to feelings. This is why she came to Earth, to see Benjamin, and why Worf did not come with her but instead returned to duty. Worf wants vengeance on Dukat, but can't obtain such. So he settles for revenge on the Dominion, taking foolish risks in combat. Even O'Brien agrees Worf is going to far, but he won't do anything about it, he's to loyal. Bashir does; he relieves Worf of command under medical authority, and Worf goes so far as to pull his mek'leth on Bashir, forcing O'Brien to pull a phaser on Worf. Meanwhile, Jadzia and Sisko talk about old times, Curzon and Jadzia. Ben tries to help her remember more of what she's lost as they trek through the desert looking for the Orb. Episode follows the same plot ending, releasing the prophet Sarah Sisko and restoring the wormhole. The Bajoran moon Romulan Weapons sub-plot is ditched for time. Episode ends almost identical, Jadzia is happy to see everyone and be back, but things between her and Worf are awkward.
"Afterimage"
Things are awkward between Jadzia and Worf. He's in some trouble with Starfleet, and things between he, O'Brien and Bashir are all tense making everyone else tense. O'Brien is also upset with Bashir for relieving Worf, even if he agreed Worf was out of control. Everything has been upset, the close friendships all off-kilter. Garak meanwhile suffers the same claustrophobia problem, only it's coupled with hallucinations of dead cardassians. The problem is more evident in this version; Garak's guilt. Instead of Ezri to sort it out and figure out the problem, with the problem known, it's Kira and Odo who're asked to help him by Sisko. Kira knows what he's feeling; she had to kill Bajoran's in the resistance, even sometimes innocent ones, to strike at the Cardassians. Odo, meanwhile, knows about feeling as if he's betrayed his own people. Kira and Odo differ on how to handle things, but it eventually brings them closer together as they find even more common ground. They help Garak to realize he's not responsible for the Cardassian's who get killed, he's trying to save more lives by ending the war. Meanwhile, Worf is issued a formal reprimand for his actions. His life seemingly falling apart, his marriage screwed up, and now his career too, he takes a leave of absence and transfers to the Klingon Defense Force under Martok, full time.
"Take Me Out to the Holosuite" gets moved to later in the season, and is then basically the same episode.
"Chrysalis" is basically identical.
"Treachery, Faith and the Great River" is nearly identical.
"Once More Unto the Breach"
Slight changes, but same basic plot. Only the animosity Martok feels for Kor gives Worf some perspective on his recent difficulties. In the end, he apologizes to Bashir for his actions. He remains serving full time with the KDF for the time though, uncertain if he wants to remain in Starfleet. It's always been an issue with him, and it's coming to a head this season.
"Siege of AR-558"
Same basic plot about the ground troops, the bloody nightmare on the planet, et cetera. O'Brien and Kira come with the away team though. O'Brien works to try fix the Dominion comm array, while remembering the days of Setlik III and why he became an engineer -- to escape this kind of assignment, the death and blood and grit of war. Kira also recalls the resistance days, and this type of existence. Jadzia, meanwhile, is left in charge of the Defiant when it's forced to leave the away team behind, and we'd see a sub-plot of her trying to find her bearings in what used to be an easy task for her, commanding Defiant on occasion, as Defiant plays cat-and-mouse with some Jem'Hadar.
"Covenant"
Basically identical.
"It's Only a Paper Moon"
Basically identical, only we get a sub-plot of Jadzia beginning to regain some of her memories, spurned on after commanding Defiant in "AR-558"
"Prodigal Daughter"
Swap Ezri for Jadzia, and you've got the same episode. We get to see Jadzia's family, the Idaris' family, after O'Brien goes to New Sydney looking for Marika Billby. Same episode otherwise.
"Emperor's New Cloak"
Basically identical, only instead of mirror Ezri it's mirror Brunt who is the lead, tempted by mirror Kira and money. Quark keeps pointing out how bad his Brunt is, and when the alliance betray Quark and Rom after they provide the cloak, mirror Brunt has a change of heart and helps them escape.
"Field of Fire"
Swap Ezri for Jadzia, and add a bit about Jadzia finding herself and recovering more of who she is, and the episode is the same. The end would see her recover her feelings for Worf, though.
"Chimera"
Same episode. Added sub-plot of Jadzia and Worf beginning to reconcile, but not easily. He returns to the station, versus living aboard the Rotaran, but he remains unsure about his career or marriage. Still, he returns to active Starfleet duty. The past few months have shown him how different worlds can be, and though he loves Jadzia, he feels the call of truly embracing being a Klingon.
"Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang"
Basically identical.
"Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
Basically identical.
Final Chapter
Swap Ezri for Jadzia. Worf is lost, Defiant can't find him. Jadzia, having just begun to get Worf back and her life on track, takes a runabout and goes after him on her own. She finds him the same way. Most of the final chapter is the same as it was, only with some changes for Jadzia and Worf. Jadzia and Worf are captured, come to terms more on where they stand with each other, Worf expresses he's always felt pulled between two worlds and this past year made it all so prominent. They talk about their interrupted plans to have a baby from last season. By the time Damar helps them escape, they've come to a few decisions: they're staying together, and Worf . Jadzia will even give up hers to stay with him. They're marriage means more than their careers. The only other substantial change is that we drop Sisko and Kassidy having a baby, and instead in the penultimate episode, learn Jadzia is pregnant. Everything else is as it was, but at the end of the war Worf and Jadzia stay on DS9.
I'm just saying....
