h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' – The Television Series - A5641995
Author: GodBen-The god of doors, ducks, eunuchs, and car dealerships ( O-> ) - U518809

OK, it's quite a bit longer than the other entries, and I had to cut some stuff out to make room.

Wow. Bloody fine piece of writing, and as different to the first two entries as DS9 was to the first two Star Treks. Y'know, maybe this series of entries should be the first of the new University projects, with the existing ST entry as the introduction.

I did see a few things that need attention but I'll have to come back later.

Excellent. I'm not so sure about the last couple of paragraphs, but that could just be because I'm a DS9 supporter (not because it's the most true to Rodenberry's vision, or anything, but simply because I enjoyed it more), so feel free to ignore me!

A couple of nitpicks

>>The show over-lapped TNG for its first two years, and they're time-lines are identical to one another.

their time-lines

>>in DS9 a Starfleet Admiral tries to coup to take control of the planet for 'its protection'.

Hmm, I'm not sure that 'to coup' is a recognised verb. Perhaps 'attempts a coup' instead of 'tries to coup'?

There are also a few places which could do with commas, but I know that I tend to use more commas than many people do, so I won't go through and point them out. Others would disagree with me, you see, and the thread could degenerate into an endless discussion of commas.

Excellent overview of the series.

David

The different because I'm a DS9 fan myself, and I can't really think of that much about it to make fun of. Sure, there were some really bad episodes in it, but the overall feeling of the show is one of pure quality, in my humble opinion.

That bit at the end about Gene being proud of the series because of the great characters is from a few visits I made to the Star Trek message boards. I saw a debate about DS9 where some people were arguing that it was the worst show because it abandoned Gene's principles, and some pro-DS9ers started going on about how Gene would have loved it because of the characters. Those people should have just been honest and said that it was their favourite because they liked the abandonment of Gene's principles, but that would probably get you killed there.

good piece of writing

What do the acronyms TOS and TNG mean?

The orginal seris and the next generation

Well it would be a good idea if that was made clear in the entry

Great entry!
This series crossed over into the other three very well I think.
I think its a good idea to mention that it was Picard as Locutus of Borg who oversaw the battle that led to Sisko's wife dying. It led to the excellent opener where Sisko showed such animosity.
Also, what about the TOS crossover where the crew were brilliantly placed on the deck of the Enterprise during "The Trouble with Tribbles".
Lastly there is Robert Picardo's appearance as Zimmerman to link into Voyager.
Just some ideas.
SBE

Another good one, GodBen! There are a few typos to weed out, but apart from that: As a DS9 fan myself (it's by far my favorite Trek series. "What can I say, I like a story with scope."), I do have a few remarks, though:

- How about including Ben Sisko's dad, Joe (Brock Peters, who died recently) among the recurring characters?

- The mirror universe-storyline, a continuation of the TOS episode 'Mirror, Mirror" perhaps also deserves mention.

- The darkness of the series is arguably best exemplified by season 5's "In the Pale Moonlight", in which Sisko becomes an accomplice to murder and realizes he's actually able to live with that. I don't think I've seen a farther cry from the holier-than-thou attitudes of certain other Starfleet Captains who shall remain nameless!

Great entry in the making here, GB!

I'm not saying it is wrong, but are you sure about the visits by the Enterprise? I'm not sure if Miles and Worf both arrived on the Enterprise, but that would be two right there.

[Gone are the days of the peaceful exploring of the starship Enterprise (unless you change the channel and watch TNG), Deep Space Nine is set on a space-station at the mouth of a wormhole to the distant Gamma Quadrant. The show over-lapped TNG for its first two years, and they're time-lines are identical to one another. Despite this the Enterprise only ever visited the station in the pilot (and once more in TNG, but that wasn't mentioned in DS9).]

I wouldn't call either TOS or TNG 'peaceful exploring'. They were often attacked, occasionally commandeered, and - at least once - turned into jewelry.

Keep it up!

wolf didn't arrive from the enterprise, the enterprise was destroyed by the time he arrived

That's what the Entry says isn't it?

Anyway, another good'un GodBen!

Wolf!?

Were we watching the same show??

Not being a DS9 fan, I'm not going to comment on the content of this. I'll just nit pick:

Perhaps add a footnote explaining simply what a wormhole is.


radically different to the previous series --> radically different from the previous series

they're time-lines are identical --> their time-lines are identical

in orbit of Bajor --> in orbit around Bajor

they wont risk a war --> they won't risk a war

Eventually this cold war is ended when war breaks out -->
Eventually this cold war is ended when full-scale war breaks out

character driven show --> character-driven show

and made plans to build a house there --> and makes plans to build a house there

where he became the First Officer onboard the USS Defiant --> where he becomes the First Officer onboard the USS Defiant

Her previous host, Curzon, was Sisko's mentor, and so Sisko gives her the nickname ‘old man’. -- This needs a little more explanation:

Her previous host, Curzon, was Sisko's mentor and a full-blooded male, and so Sisko gives her the nickname ‘old man’.

but know he heads Bajor's security --> but now he heads Bajor's security

to separate her feelings with those of her previous hosts --> to separate her feelings from those of her previous hosts

begins worshiping the Pah-wraiths --> begins worshipping the Pah-wraiths

Is a changeling the same as a shape-shifter? This needs to be explained.

Odo wont join the Dominion --> Odo won't join the Dominion

involved with strategising --> involved with strategy

for it's first two and a half seasons --> for its first two and a half seasons

"These people are seriously deluding themselves to justify DS9 being their favourite series." -- this is a very subjective comment which is out of place. Tone it down!

Great Stuff, Gnomon; but knowing the series, I'd offer one suggestion a bit differently:

[...and so Sisko gives her the nickname ‘old man’.]
...and so Sisko continues to use his nickname for the previous union (or was it 'joining'?), 'old man'.

Yes, there is no right or wrong when it comes to favourite shows, movies, songs, groups, beers, wines, etc. Subjectivity should always be toned down.

I'm not saying that these people are deluding themselves about DS9 being a great character show, as I believe that it is. I'm saying that they're deluding themselves when they say that Roddenberry would have been proud of the show based on its characters, which they clearly are. Gene was the one who said that Star Trek 6 was slightly apocryphal because it had humans plotting against the Klingons, so anyone who thinks that he would have been proud of DS9, which went WAY further than the film, are deluding themselves.

*bump*

The Original Series (TOS) cast had just signed off, literally

-- why literally? Had they ended the film by signing a document, or by logging off from a computer system?

Their signatures are all shown at the end of the film.


Geggs