Should it have gotten an extra season or two?

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Like, CBS/Paramount decide, at the last minute, to do another season of DS9, with the main cast - meaning O'Brien and Worf wouldn't depart DS9 and Sisko would obviously not disappear. Should Behr and co. had accepted the proposal and run with it? Do another season of DS9, following the Dominion War.

Personally, I really think they had one more season in them. I understand Berman's silly insistence of 7 seasons per show, but I would've liked it if the eighth season was like the first season in reverse for the Cardassians - now they're the demolished peoples with a war-torn civilization, and in need of help by the Federation. Also, to witness a proper post-War Federation and how it comes back to the ideals of exploration and what not that they had before the whole Dominion thing. And perhaps a less hurried manner in which Sisko could exit the show.

More importantly, the eighth season could've shown the admittance of Bajor into the Federation, thus ending the biggest loose thread left from WYLB. Overall, its an irresistible idea, to me.

But what do you think?

 

[Tosk]

Of course I'd have loved to have more. Some will may they were coasting for part of the final season, but I disagree.

 

[hux]

Like... why not.

Like... there was a lot of unresolved stuff at the end.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Bajor is not the "loose thread" people make it out to be. The show, even in its first seasons, was not about Bajor but about the station and the crew. It would have been nice if Behr had pivoted back to show more of how Bajor had developed, filling in more detail about how the society had changed with the geostrategic importance of the wormhole and station and with Federation presence. Admittance could have been part of that story, but then it would mean the whole series, including the war, would have taken up another season. Giving Behr 26 more episodes would have meant the final 10 episodes would have been the final 26 (indeed, it would have made those stories seem less rushed).

The series landed in just the right spot, both in terms of emotions and storytelling. Sisko's "death" resonated in the same way as the "I have been to the Mountain Top" speech, promising that the better future was ahead without him. Certainly, that future was already set up in Rapture, so we didn't need to see it. We see some of that playing out in the final scenes of Kira, who independently of the Federation, is in full control of the station. If Sisko had died on Cardassia, perhaps fighting Dukat, instead of in the Fire Caves, there would have been ten more minutes to explore what Kira's growth had meant.

If there is anything left to explore, it would be to look more at either Garak or (farther down the road) Kira. However, that is really talking about a spinoff, not an eighth season. Rebuilding Cardassia might make a good series, but it would be a superficial part of DS9. It would be interesting to see what Kira's life might become after the station as well, to see her play a role in interstellar politics.

Ultimately, the series ended in a satisfying place. The characters have had their growth, and they are able to follow their individual paths. We can have faith that the station will continue in its mission and that Bajor's future is assured.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

They have done all the action of the war, but the real hard work comes from the reconstruction afterwards. There were so many places they could've gone with plots, characters, etc--even if the likes of Worf, Odo and O'Brien left the station at the end of S7.

 

[Kilana2]

They should have included the birth of Kasidy's child. The election of a new Kai. More room for Ezri to show presence. Kira's new assignments. How Garak deals with the repercussions of the War. Bajor's admittance into the Federation of course. And some old friends showing up: Ro, Vic etc.

 

[Admiral Bear]

I always found the final 6 episodes to have been rushed and to have stretched the bounds of credulity. It always amazes me that Winn never recognised Dukat after his cosmetic surgery. It's actually so stupid, it ruins the whole story arc for me. For me, the writers saw the end of the show fast approaching, and said to each other, Right! How are we going to permanently send Sisko off to the Prophets over the course of the last 6 episodes? Ah, yes, turn Dukat in to an evil Bajoran, no one will recognise him, and we'll get him to throw Sisko in to a pit of fire. Brilliant idea, chaps!

 

[Terok Nor]

Indeed it should have continued! DS9 ended too soon in my opinion. I think it could have gone on for years. The setting of the space station was perfect for a long running tv show. At the very least it should have had a couple more seasons.

 

[kkt]

I agree that the last half of season 7 seemed rushed. They did tie up a whole lot of loose ends, but there were a few more that it would have been nice to see: Tom Riker released from Cardassian prison. Bajor entering the Federation (this was Sisko's original mission on DS9, remember?). Ben and Jake saying goodbye, like Ben and Kasidy got too. And, as mentioned, seeing Kasidy's baby, and some indication of what Jake is going to do next. I like to think Jake and Kasidy end up somewhat near each other so Jake can help with the baby sometimes and be a good role model. Of course I'm always happy to see anything Garak does and it would be interesting what his career has in store reconstructing Cardassia. There's a lot of possibilities. Ben said he'd be back.

 

[at Quark's]

I'm not so sure it should have continued.

There already was a considerable amount of soap opera "filler" in later DS9 seasons. I'm not saying there wasn't any "filler" in early DS9, but in my opinion, it became kind of more annoying in later DS9 with all those forced relationship items that had to be revisited again and again (Worf and Dax, Ezri's uncertainty issues when dealing with Worf, etc).

Of course, there was a lot of great stuff as well, but I'm afraid of the possibility of the series gradually running out of steam, after these loose ends would have tied up one after another - either forcing the writers to drag along, _or_ to introduce entirely new ideas (and in effect, writing a new series, a 'DS9 - the story continues').

And I think all 'great' stories were satisfactorily wrapped up at the end of S7, even if they had to hurry it up quite a bit in the last few episodes, after stalling some those stories perhaps for too long before the final few episodes. And with 'wrapped up' I don't mean everything has been neatly resolved. I don't need to see "the Sisko " returned to us, or explained to me just what it is he is/was/will be doing with the prophets, or whether he now is some kind of demigod, or just a human on an 'extended apprenticeship'. I like the mystery. I trust that in time, Bajor will join the Federation, but I don't need to actually see it happen. I like the open-ended nature of that.

All in all, I'd rather have 7 seasons of a series I consider "great" than, say, 11 seasons, of a series which I'd consider mediocre, with a few middle seasons being "great".

 

[TheGoodStuff]

No. It was wonderful.

I'm glad it ended with 7 fantastic seasons. Trying to stretch it out could have resulted in the magic being lost, mistakes being made...I would have hated for DS9 to 'overstay its welcome' and ruin itself.

The story was told, and it was fantastic. The character development was outstanding. Dukat is gone, Sisko is gone...I like that it ended then. We, as fans, have a natural desire for "more!more!more!" but that isn't necessarily good for the show. DS9 never jumped the shark, or collapsed in quality. I'm not even implying they COULDN'T have handled an extra season or two...but I think it would have been pushing it a bit too far.

 

[stardream]

I agree. It ended at just the right time.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

It ended at the right time, but I would't have minded an season 8.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I guess my question derives from my own, personal belief that season 7 (well, counting the season 6 finale) is way weaker than most around here seem to believe. Anything to do with the Pah-Wraiths is, basically, nonsense.

 

[OtherGene]

With a different conclusion to S7 I could've watched DS9 for years, same as I could've watched TNG for years. In fact, for a time in the 90s I believed the show was headed to the silver screen the same as TNG did. Deep Space Nine:Generations anyone?

 

[Lance]

If any of the NextTrek's actually did have another season in it, then it was probably DS9 ( maybe ENT might have done another year, or maybe it being put down after only four seasons was more of a mercy killing! )

But on the other hand, I could say that all the NextTrek shows were feeling tired after 7 years..... DS9 maybe less than TNG and VOY, but all three shows were displaying signs of a tiredness in Year 7 to varying degrees compared to previous seasons. No disrespect to DS9, which managed to maintain a quality in its last year that the other shows didn't, but S7 is just weaker to my mind than S6, S5 and S4. One still must wonder if a hypothetical S8 would've been that final tipping point where it might have nosedived. Better the road travelled than the one less taken, I'd say.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I guess my question derives from my own, personal belief that season 7 (well, counting the season 6 finale) is way weaker than most around here seem to believe. Anything to do with the Pah-Wraiths is, basically, nonsense.

Weaker? I would not say so. It is more uneven, and I consider the season premier to be the weakest of the series. However, there are some episodes that are among the most unique in Star Trek, even if people disagree about how good they are.

 

[dub]

I wept. I knew I would miss every single character. I wanted more. I rewatched right away. That's how I know it ended at just the right moment.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I just think, considering how the films were never going to explore a post-Dominion War Federation properly (as in, actually explore the toll it has taken to them), that the show could show them, and consequently the main characters, re-adjust on this new order of things. Maybe the season wouldn't actually need to be all that long, but I would've liked for the show to not be about the Dominion War as it'd end, since it didn't start out that way.

 

[Trek Survivor]

No, seasons 6-7 were a severe decline in quality compared to what had gone before. I can only assume a season 8 would've been as disappointing as some of the clangers they dropped in the two preceding seasons... so no thanks.