Finally, 'Deep Space Nine' May Be Taking Its Rightful Place Within the Franchise
Yet fans still wait for the reunion we've patiently waited for
You might think that the upcoming third and final season of Star Trek: Picard — bringing together as it will the main cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation and giving the crew of the starship Enterprise one last proper send-off — would represent the ultimate level of fan service in the Star Trek franchise.
And you'd certainly be very close.
Yet, another, long-awaited — but never-consummated — reunion I think represents Star Trek's pinnacle.
Of what do I speak?
The return of Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the rest of the crew of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, of course.
We've at least seen our TNG heroes over the years, be it on the big screen or in the first couple of seasons of Star Trek: Picard.
But our DS9 friends?
Not a peep since they last graced our screens with the series finale, “What You Leave Behind,” literally back in the 20th century in 1999.
Deep Space Nine had always been something of the “redheaded stepchild” of franchise, even at the time it was originally broadcast.
It never stood on its own on television. By the time it came along, The Next Generation was in its glory and soon Star Trek: Voyager also would be launched alongside DS9 as well.
Add to that frustration that episodes often were broadcast at the time in the middle of the night, or preempted entirely by sports or other events.
And that was not easy on the Deep Space Nine cast, according to showrunner Ira Steven Behr.
“Actors don't go into acting to be disliked; they go into acting to be loved,” he observed in the documentary he produced a few years ago in honor of DS9's 25th anniversary, What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. “And certainly everyone thought, 'Hey, everyone loves TNG; they're going to love the next iteration of the franchise.’ Well, when that did not happen — and that continued not to happen, year-in, year-out — it gets a little wearisome and it hurt the actors. I felt bad.”
Yet Deep Space Nine managed to not only shine, but truly to innovate within the Star Trek franchise, “going where no series had gone before.”
In his DS9 documentary, Behr recalls that co-creator and execute producer, the late Michael Piller called him up to say that Season 2 would open with a three-part episode — “something that had never been done in franchise history.”
“That's where I started to think, 'Okay, Deep Space Nine gives us opportunities that the other shows do not have, or did not have — and that's exciting,’” Behr added.
Said podcaster and writer Marc Bernardin: “I think DS9 never gets enough credit for all the things that it did, as incredibly well as it did them, and how early they were doing them.”
As other fans have noted over the years, without the serialized storytelling which Deep Space Nine pioneered, we wouldn't have had Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, or any number of other “appointment” television series that we have now.
So are we going to get that reunion and resolution, or not? Are we ever going to get to see Captain Sisko? Jake (Cirroc Lofton)? Colonel Kira (Nana Visitor), or any of our other beloved characters?
We're left only to be tantalized.
Stars Visitor, Colm Meaney, and Terry Farrell reunited recently for a roundtable discussion of the show on its 30th anniversary.
However, while very enjoyable, the actors were never in character and it certainly wasn't an original DS9 episode.
Franchise honcho Alex Kurtzman discussed, in a roundabout way, bringing these characters back. He didn’t come out and say that anything was definitive, only that “conversations were being had.” And he called Captain Sisko a “critical, critical figure.”
The truth is that we aren't really any closer to the day when we can be reunited with our heroes and have the opportunity to find out what happened to them in the way that we keep being offered windows into the lives of the Next Generation crew.
And, given that the passage of time has sadly already taken Rene Auberjonois and Aron Eisenberg from us, please give us our reunion sooner rather than later.
Ken Mitchell Comes Out To ‘Support This Beautiful Star Trek Family'
If the “official” highlight of this year's Star Trek Day was the ceremony to remember and honor the late Nichelle Nichols who passed away this summer at age 89, the “unofficial” highlight had to have been the appearance by actor Kenneth Mitchell.
Mitchell — who played the Klingon, Kol, on Star Trek: Discovery among other characters in the franchise — has been living with with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
And his decision to appear in person for the annual observance of Star Trek Day on September 8 was truly an example of what Star Trek is supposed to be about.
Mitchell encountered his Discovery co-star, Mary Chieffo — who played Klingon L'Rell — on the red carpet at the Skirball Center along with her co-host, drag queen Jackie Cox.
The meeting clearly touched both Chieffo and Mitchell, who used his computer-generated voice to greet and communicate with his old colleague.
“Hello, my mother Mary. It's always a joy to share these family events with you,” he said.
Chieffo noted that Mitchell was wearing a shirt inspired by the character of Saru on Discovery, which Chieffo and her girlfriend got him in Las Vegas.
“Yes, indeed. I love it so much. Any chance to celebrate the greatness of Doug Jones, I am game — a beautiful human, incredible actor, mentor, friend, and impeccable hugger,” referring to the actor who plays the Kelpien officer, Saru.
Chieffo, turning to Cox, remarked, “I would have to agree with that statement. I don't know if you've had a hug from Dougie.”
Chieffo asked Mitchell how it felt to be at Star Trek Day.
“It feels wonderful to be alive and surrounded by people you love, celebrating something you deeply care about, respect and believe in,” he said, continuing to rely on his computer-generated voice. “In my condition, it would be easy for me to stay at home and watch from afar. But I felt inspired to be here, and challenge myself, connect and support this beautiful Star Trek family.”
Chieffo expressed how she — and all of the Star Trek community — feels about her friend and colleague.
“We love you so much, this whole Star Trek community, as you know. And I have a special love for you since you are my son and my mortal enemy as a Klingon,” she said.
She also asked him what is he most looking forward to on Star Trek Day.
“This very conversation is a true gift and joy, and seeing all of my friends and colleagues,” he replied, before adding, “I suppose that I am most honored to be present for the tribute to Ms Nichols, and sharing that with my son and wife who are with me today.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Nichelle several times, and her presence was always magical. I think that it is important for the world to continue to celebrate her legacy and remember what she pioneered and stood for,” Mitchell said. “I am grateful to share this tribute today with my family, especially my son: the upcoming generation. I think that connection is important. There is a lot to learn and celebrate from Ms Nichols and her legacy.”
Chieffo finished her interview by asking Mitchell what he wants his Star Trek legacy to be.
“Oh, I wish to leave it all on the Star Trek rave dance floor,” he joked.
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