TNG vs DS9 - The Showdown!

[Paradon]

Have you guys ever met people from the Middle East? They are nothing like what you see on TV. A lot of are really nice and I am quite fond of them. That's what DS9 shows the audience.

And I, too, love Garack. I was fascinated by Cardassians...I guess because my mom acted like one! [laugh] My mom had really good memory. She could memorize speeches after speeches in no time, I kid you not! She never needed calender and note books when she was young. For some reason she knows exactly what to do on this and that date and what time the appointment is without wrighting it down. And what more can I ask for when they put the Dominions arch, one of my favorite Trek story, and the Cardassians together. That's why I love DS9!

I like Voyager, too. Had the characters were better developed and don't seemed as aloof, people might actually love Voy.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

It was TNG that got me hooked on Trek, but I remember first started watching DS9 back in the mid 1990's. That was the show I wanted to watch. It was the first one I wanted to see all the episodes on video. I found it different and more edgy than TNG.

When I started buying the DVDs a few years ago, it was DS9 that I wanted first. One day I'll go back and watch TNG again, but no trek series can beat my love of DS9.

 

[GNDN]

So I had commented in this thread, but I hadn't voted

And all of a sudden it came down to a very difficult choice. I watched TNG in high school, saw every ep, really like the characters and absolutely love the Enterprise.

I was excited to see the start of DS9 and stayed with it for a few years, but then real life got in the way at some point, and with Voyager on as well, there was a bit of Trek overload and I stopped paying complete attention to both series.

Back then, nothing could compare to TNG, but my decision vote came down to which show I get more from today, and that has to be DS9. Upon marathon rewatch, the characters and situations are just so much more nuanced, and the continuing story carries me along. I still adore TNG and love the occasional ep, but for longevity and the ability to see 'deeper', I must vote DS9.

 

[Winterwind]

For the longest time I had no opinion on DS9. I hadn't watched enough of it but I knew it got high marks for character development, "grittier" stories, etc.

Half way through S5 now and I'd rank it #2, right behind TOS. Nothing will knock TOS out of the top spot for me... even with some really bad crap in S3.

 

[lurok]

Hmmmm...TNG vs DS9? No contest: DS9.

Not that TNG was bad. DS9 just better series all round...

 

[Nightdiamond]

When TNG had the fans all to itself, it was THE show.

When DS9 came into its own, it went places TNG would not.

TNG was too safe and conservative.

The characters were too boxed in. TNG was about drinking tea, listening to classic music and watching plays for entertainment.

DS9 was roktajeno, gambling, sex in the holodeck, huge battle scenes. ect.

It took a couple of years but DS9 raised the bar a bit.

TNG was like I love Lucy.

DS9 was like the Sopranos (well almost).

But actually I enjoy watching the reruns of TNG.

 

[Trek4Ever]

DS9 gets my vote hands down, no contest. The show took Star Trek to new levels, wasn't afraid to explore the dark side of Trek and took chances.
TNG to me feels very bland and pedestrian. Of course TNG has some wonderful stand out episodes that ranks up there with the very best of Trek, but boy does it have some unwatchable clunkers.
Both shows started off weak but TNG more so, and DS9 had the better pilot which hooked me into the show (I still love it when Sisko was trying to explain the concept of time to the Wormhole Aliens and realized that he never got over the death of his wife).
But for various reasons I will admit that TNG is the more famous show. For a while it seemed as if it would've eclipsed TOS but that has since reversed itself. As for comparing TOS with DS9, it's hard for me to say which I prefer. It depends on my mood frankly (though Kirk is my favorite captain) but more often I find myself gravitating to DS9. Still miss it.

 

[Paradon]

Yeah, I just love the first episode where Sisko was explaining to the wormhole aliens about time and space...how they are linear where he comes from...while they tell him he is still stuck in the past!

DS9 is my favorite because it portrays people's lives so well and much better than other trek series. You have Sisko, who is very intelligent and got pretty far in life, getting what he wants from his career and even married a beautiful woman. But as usual his hunger (Buddhists call it greed) for better life and career in Star Fleet got him knee deep in trouble when they engage the Borg. They kill his wife, which he never fully recovered from... You see this very intelligent and sucessful man in charge, but the same he is just like anybody else...he is vulnerable. He nearly died and suffer from mental illness. It just goes to show what being human is all about.

 

[OldManDax]

I guess i'm the only Niner who is not super-intoxicated by Garak. I enjoy his moments, and I see why the Niners like him, but of my top five recurring characters list, he makes number 5. Something a bit schtick-y about him, IMO.

By my third rewatch I found him quite tiresome. Gul DuKat was more interesting.

My favorite recurring character is Kai Winn, one of my favorite Trek characters ever. Beautifully acted.

I think we must be the same wavelengths quite a bit. I found Gul Dukat infinitelllly more compelling than Garak. So devious, so racked through with a chilling sense of entitlement, and a constant tendency to rationalize his own misdoings. Yet not totally incapable of basic "human" decency. Fascinating, and at times disgusting simultaneously (like his justification after killing Jadzia. Sleazy Bastard lol).

Also, I very much liked Kai Winn as well, which seems to put meagainst the current of most Niner opinion, as many seem to have a reflexive hatred of her. Very well acted and realized, IMO.

 

[lurok]

...So devious, so racked through with a chilling sense of entitlement, and a constant tendency to rationalize his own misdoings. Yet not totally incapable of basic "human" decency. Fascinating, and at times disgusting simultaneously

That sounds like Garak I like both characters and admire both actors. Each nuanced in own way and relevant to their character backgrounds. I think Alaimo had a slight advantage in more screen time and run-up to establish his character. And Robinson is just a 'broader' actor...

, I very much liked Kai Winn as well, which seems to put meagainst the current of most Niner opinion, as many seem to have a reflexive hatred of her. Very well acted and realized, IMO.

I'm probably a minority in not really liking Fletcher as an actress (despite her many credits and awards), nor Winn as a particularly interesting character. Both lack a subtlety in performance that Alaimo/Dukat, Robinson/Garak and Combs/Weyoun possess. But I can see why people like her...

 

[JarodRussell]

It always seemed to me like in TNG they were still experimenting, expanding their skillsets, trying to find their ways, and in DS9 everything was already in place, and they were ready to do everything.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Winn is one of my favorite ever characters. Every time I rewatch DS9 I'm still hoping she will tip over into the "good" side and away from her fear and self indulgence and pride. I think there is always an underlying chance of it. Her admission that she has never heard from the prophets and her bitterness, that was so chilling because it cast such a dark light on all we had seen of her previously. I think she's very subtle, Fletcher conveys so much with just her facial muscles. I could watch Kai Winn all day.

 

[Alex1939]

There is no question that DS9 is a far, far better show than TNG because unlike TNG, DS9 has character development, story development, conflict, compelling stories, interesting non-generic dialogue, interesting characters, and great acting.

There is no question that TNG is a far, far better show than DS9 because unlike DS9, TNG has character development, story development, conflict, compelling stories, interesting non-generic dialogue, interesting characters, and great acting.


Why would I make that comment? Because no matter which series you use its total bullshit.

Both series had story development, conflict, compelling stories, character development, interesting characters, great acting. And non-generic dialogue? lol, give me a fucking break.


I prefer TNG but I consider ToS, TNG, and DS9 all good.

 

[RandyS]

There is no question that DS9 is a far, far better show than TNG because unlike TNG, DS9 has character development, story development, conflict, compelling stories, interesting non-generic dialogue, interesting characters, and great acting.

There is no question that TNG is a far, far better show than DS9 because unlike DS9, TNG has character development, story development, conflict, compelling stories, interesting non-generic dialogue, interesting characters, and great acting.


Why would I make that comment? Because no matter which series you use its total bullshit.

Both series had story development, conflict, compelling stories, character development, interesting characters, great acting. And non-generic dialogue? lol, give me a fucking break.


I prefer TNG but I consider ToS, TNG, and DS9 all good.

Agreed.

 

[Nightdiamond]

I noticed an irony; Enterprise gets criticized a lot, but it probably had more non generic dialog in it DS9 and TNG.

I noticed more free cursing, innuendos and such, maybe because it had more of a chance to be free-it came out in 2001.

Now the storyline, and characters and scripts, is another story.

Although I tend to prefer DS9, I've fallen into the habit of watching TNG in reruns-it just seems to fit in well there.

 

[Paradon]

The fact that the U.S is the only developed nation that went to war over slavery and write fictions for their history books, just show what kindda attitude they have towards other cultures. That's no surprised there! Literally, everything in the history book is false. That's the kind of impression I get from Enterprise, Voyager and TNG, you know? That's why I prefer DS9. I hate all that bullcrap shown on other series.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The US is the "only" nation that has BS in its history books? Oooh I kinda doubt that.

Have you guys ever met people from the Middle East? They are nothing like what you see on TV.

Everybody is nothing like what you see on TV.

But DS9 doesn't show you that because of the underlying assumptions that the current cultures, nations, religions, etc of Earth no longer exist by the time of TOS or even ENT, really. In fact, Star Trek's attitude is the opposite of what you think: it implictly condemns all Earth cultures as being backwards and deserving of extinction. The unity of Earth will come about only when everyone acts and thinks like liberal Americans, aka, Gene Roddenberry. Far from being tolerant, Star Trek represents the triumph of cultural imperialism!

 

[Paradon]

Ok, your right! But it's got so much bullshit, it's annoying!

 

[Paradon]

The US is the "only" nation that has BS in its history books? Oooh I kinda doubt that.

Have you guys ever met people from the Middle East? They are nothing like what you see on TV.

Everybody is nothing like what you see on TV.

But DS9 doesn't show you that because of the underlying assumptions that the current cultures, nations, religions, etc of Earth no longer exist by the time of TOS or even ENT, really. In fact, Star Trek's attitude is the opposite of what you think: it implictly condemns all Earth cultures as being backwards and deserving of extinction. The unity of Earth will come about only when everyone acts and thinks like liberal Americans, aka, Gene Roddenberry. Far from being tolerant, Star Trek represents the triumph of cultural imperialism!

Well...everybody is entitled to their opinions. Far be it for me to judge anyone for that reason. Gene probably assumed and said a lot of things without know as much facts as he could; but can you say anybody really knows anything? Nobody knows everything. (How do you know what you know is correct, or maybe it's partially correct?) And we sometime say things we shouldn't say because that. The important thing is: when the right times come, you would keep an opened mind and that people can count on you when it matters.

 

[Alex1939]

The fact that the U.S is the only developed nation that went to war over slavery and write fictions for their history books, just show what kindda attitude they have towards other cultures.

Are you also racist and sexist, or do you limit yourself to assuming citizens of certain countries all fit into a nice homogeneous box for you to disparage?