Star Trek: DS9 Was “A Breath Of Reality” Compared To TNG, Says Showrunner

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Summary

Star Trek : Deep Space Nineshowrunner Ira Steven Behr identified a " breath of world " that limit theStar Trek : The Next Generationspinoff from its parent show . Deep Space Ninewas specifically designed by Rick Berman and Michael Piller to stand out fromTNG;DS9 ’s cast of charactersincluded both Federation and non - Federation officers , and it was set on a space station instead of a spaceship . However , when Ira Steven Behr took over the running play ofDS9 in season 3 , he made an endeavor to further establish a very unlike tone toStar Trek : The Next multiplication .

Ira Steven Behr had cut his tooth onStar Trek : The Next Generation , supervising the writing team at the behest of Michael Piller during production of season 3 . Behr was even offered the chance to showrunTNGseason 4 , but he turned the opportunity down . When Ira Steven Behr was play aboardStar Trek : Deep Space Nineas writer and producer , he had a good appreciation of theTNGtropes that he want to avoid . Discussing this in theStar Trek : Deep Space Nine Companion , Ira Steven Behr said :

“ The Next Generation was very serious at times , and I translate that it did a lot of wonderful things , but it had a very ego - important atmosphere to it . Finding thing that puzzle out against that is very important to me , and has become more and more crucial to me as I ’ve taken over the day - to - day aspects of ply the show . "

Deep Space Nine is one of the most acclaimed Star Trek shows , thanks to its mature direction , and many of its best episodes excogitate this darker tone .

How Ira Steven Behr Wanted To Make Star Trek: DS9 Different From TNG

One central setting inStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 3 , episode 22 , " Explorers " , was central to Ira Steven Behr ’s attempts to make the show different fromTNG . The episode ’s subplot affect Doctor Julian Bashir ( Alexander Siddig ) being " snubbed " by an old Starfleet Academy fellow worker who was top of their class . A dejected Bashir finish up get drunk with Chief O’Brien ( Colm Meaney ) , and Ira Steven Behr explained how it exemplified his more grapheme - drive , realistic glide path toStar Trek , saying " that fit [ O’Brien and Bashir stimulate drunk ] became really important . It was both entertaining and a breath of reality . ”

DS9eschewed the formality ofTNG , and presented audience with characters who spend their downtime hang out and forming friendship .

TheO’Brien and Bashirscene is emblematic ofStar Trek : Deep Space Nine ’s more realistic access to character . InStar Trek : The Next Generationit was often concentrated to define Captain Jean - Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) and the gang of the USS Enterprise - viosterol beyond their rank and their uniform . The stove poker shot were a howling glance into theTNGcrew ’s downtime , a relaxed activity that felt more realistic than the Enterprise - D ’s frequent amateur dramatics functioning and orchestra recitals . DS9eschewed the formality ofTNG , and presented audiences with characters who expend their downtime hanging out and forming friendly relationship .

Custom image by Mark Donaldson

The whisky that O’Brien and Bashir drinking in " Explorers " is called Wee Bairns , a mention to Chief Montgomery Scott ’s tender term for single malt in " The Trouble with Tribbles " .

Modern Star Trek Owes A Lot To Ira Steven Behr’s Deep Space Nine

Ira Steven Behr ’s desire to present more naturalistic characters inDeep Space NinereflectedGene Roddenberry ’s originalStar Trekvision . Roddenberry was very discriminating that the crew of the USS Enterprise inStar Trek : The Original Seriesshould be naturalistic and recognizable reference for the hearing at home . DS9delivered on that in nigga , with an extensive ensemble cast , and an increased focus on how these characters interact with each other beyond their role as Starfleet officers . That coming has influenced the modern franchise too , fromStar Trek : Discoveryonwards .

These cozy moments show the substantial mass behind the Starfleet uniform , tally hazard to their adventures because we care about these hoi polloi and enjoy the time spend in their company .

The most obviousStar Trek : Deep Space Nineinfluence on modernTrekare the dinner party party thrown by Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ) inStar Trek : Strange New Worlds , a clear callback to the infrequent meals fix by Captain Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ) . These informal moments show the real citizenry behind the Starfleet uniform , adding peril to their escapade because we care about these citizenry and savour the meter spent in their company . Ira Steven Behr pioneered this more personal case - drive coming inStar Trek : Deep Space Nine , and it go along to pay dividends 30 age by and by .