Even though Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Trill character Curzon Dax died in 2367, two years before DS9 season 1 in, Curzon's legacy is felt throughout DS9's seven seasons and beyond. After the symbiotic Trill were introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 23, "The Host", Star Trek: Deep Space Nine improved the Trill with DS9's Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). Because DS9's Trill symbionts carried the memories of all previous hosts, and Curzon hosted the Dax symbiont right before Jadzia, Jadzia Dax's personality was influenced by Curzon's, and she knew everything he did.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine shows how Jadzia Dax is separate from but similar to Curzon Dax, unlike TNG Trill who were vessels for their symbionts. In DS9 season 1, episode 7, "Dax", Jadzia is not responsible for Curzon's actions in a murder trial but still honors Curzon's desire to take his secret affair to the grave, to save his friend's reputation. In DS9 season 2, episode 18, "Blood Oath", Jadzia isn't obligated to Curzon's oath to Star Trek: The Original Series Klingons visiting DS9, Kor (John Colicos), Kang (Michael Ansara), and Koloth (William Campbell), but honors it anyway.
Who Was Curzon Dax On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
Curzon Hosted The Dax Symbiont Before Jadzia On DS9
Curzon Dax is the seventh and longest host of the Dax symbiont in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's cast. Curzon lived to over 100 years old and hosted Dax for 81 of those years, from 2286 to 2367. As a Federation ambassador, Curzon was heavily involved in peace talks with the Klingon Empire, and represented the Federation at the Khitomer Conference. Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) met Curzon in 2355; Curzon mentored young Ensign Sisko and taught Ben how to enjoy life. Benjamin's friendship and nickname for Curzon, "Old Man", carried over into Dax's next two lifetimes.
Curzon is played by Frank Owen Smith during a flashback to Jadzia's joining to the Dax symbiont in DS9 's premiere episode, "Emissary".
Curzon Dax was a field docent for the Trill Symbiosis Commission who evaluated new candidates for joining. Curzon was as tough on initiates as he was on Sisko, and dropped one candidate—Jadzia—from the program. When Jadzia re-applied, she requested and received the Dax symbiont. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 25, "Facets", when Odo (Rene Auberjonois) hosts Curzon's memories during Dax's Trill zhian'tara ritual, Curzon explains he had been in love with Jadzia. At the same time, Odo experiences Curzon's favorite vices: drinking, gambling, and pursuing women.
Jadzia & Ezri Hosted The Dax Symbiont After Curzon
Jadzia & Ezri Are Star Trek: DS9's Most Well-Known Trill
After Curzon's death—either by jamaharon on Risa with Dax's lover, Arandis (Vanessa Williams), or surrounded by family and friends—the Dax symbiont passed to Jadzia. Jadzia Dax's early characterization in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was cool-headed and reserved, but as more about Curzon was retroactively established in DS9 stories, Curzon Dax's vivaciousness and impulsivity became a stronger part of Jadzia Dax's personality. Despite being the most well-known Dax to DS9 fans, Jadzia only hosted Dax for seven years, from 2367 to 2374.
|
Host Name |
Years Joined |
Time Joined |
Profession |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lela |
2168–2226 |
58 years |
Politician |
|
Tobin |
2226–?? |
Unknown |
Engineer |
|
Emony |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Gymnast |
|
Audrid |
??–2284 |
Unknown |
Head of Symbiosis Commission |
|
Torias |
2284–2285 |
1 year |
Pilot |
|
Joran |
2285 |
6 months |
Musician |
|
Curzon |
2286–2367 |
81 years |
Federation Ambassador |
|
Jadzia |
2367–2374 |
7 years |
Starfleet Science Officer |
|
Ezri |
2374–?? |
Unknown |
Starfleet Counselor |
There were no other Trill aboard the DS9 station when Jadzia Dax was murdered by Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) at the end of DS9 season 6, so the Dax symbiont was rushed to Trill. With travel hampered by the ongoing Dominion War, Dax was transferred to Starfleet Ensign Ezri Tigan (Nicole de Boer). Curzon's overwhelming personality was tempered by Jadzia being Dax's most recent host, but Ezri hadn't been trained and wasn't prepared to be joined. Audiences only got one year with Ezri Dax, but if Ezri is still Dax's host in Star Trek's current era, that could change.
Curzon Dax’s Star Trek: Lower Decks Comeback Explained
Alternate Curzon Dax Serves On An Interdimensional Starship Crew
Curzon Dax returns in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, episode 9, "Fissure Quest", voiced by Lt. Shaxs actor Fred Tatasciore, as part of the multidimensional starship Animaxander's crew. This version of Curzon is from an alternate reality where he hasn't yet passed the Dax symbiont to Jadzia. "Fissure Quest" is the first time that Curzon himself is actively depicted on-screen in Star Trek. As a bat'leth-swinging, battle-ready "Old Man", Lower Decks' Curzon lives up to every DS9 story told by Jadzia, Ezri, or Sisko about Curzon Dax being a passionate lover and loyal friend with a zest for life.
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Mirror Universe episodes, Jadzia is still referred to as Jadzia Dax, suggesting that Mirror Jadzia is also joined to the Dax symbiont.
Star Trek's Trill value the persistence of their symbionts above almost all else, since the symbionts are living records of Trill history through the eyes of their own people. Through Dax's earlier hosts, Dax experienced being a parent, an engineer, a pilot, and a gymnast; compared to them, Curzon Dax filled in necessary gaps by living life to the fullest.Star Trek: Lower Decks' alternate Curzon dies an honorable death, surely joining his Klingon friends in sto-vo-kor. In the Prime Timeline, Curzon's zest for life lives on in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jadzia Dax and Ezri Dax.
