Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended in 1999, but was it canceled? The first spinoff of Star Trek: The Next Generation from executive producer Rick Berman, Deep Space Nine aired for 7 seasons in syndication from 1993-1999. Deep Space Nine was the first Star Trek series not to be set on a starship, but rather, a space station. DS9 also made history by casting Avery Brooks as Commander (later Captain) Benjamin Sisko, the first Black lead of a Star Trek series. As showrunner of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Ira Steven Behr spearheaded heavily serialized storylines and character arcs, pioneering what would become a television standard in the modern streaming era.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's main cast was supported by a vast ensemble of fascinating ancillary characters who became immensely popular. These included the Cardassian tailor/spy Garak (Andrew Robinson), Nog (Aron Eisenberg), the first Ferengi in Starfleet, Klingon General Martok (J.G. Hertzler), and the holographic crooner Vic Fontaine (James Darren). DS9's later seasons centered on the Dominion War story arc, a conflict between the United Federation of Planets and the Changelings of the Gamma Quadrant that threatened the galaxy, Melding tales of politics, religion, war, relationships, love, death, and baseball, Deep Space Nine redefined what Star Trek could be.
Deep Space Nine Ended After 7 Seasons On Its Own Terms, Following A Star Trek Pattern
DS9 finished its story
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was not canceled, but it concluded after its planned seven seasons. Star Trek: The Next Generation previously ended after seven seasons before making the jump to feature films. While DS9 movies would not be in the cards, Captain Sisko's series followed TNG's precedent by also wrapping up after seven seasons. Star Trek: Voyager later joined the pattern by finishing up with season 7 on UPN in 2001.
Unlike Star Trek: The Next Generation, which was creatively struggling in season 7 before its spectacular series finale, "All Good Things...", Star Trek: Deep Space Nine built towards its series finale, "What You Leave Behind." The final ten episodes of DS9 were a tightly serialized saga that concluded the Dominion War story and confronted Captain Sisko with his ultimate destiny as the Emissary of the Prophets of Bajor. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had a poignant, bittersweet, and definitive ending, as beloved characters left the Deep Space Nine space station for good, leaving friends and loved ones to soldier on without Captain Sisko as their guiding light.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Ended At The Right Time
DS9 didn't wear out its welcome
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine wrapping up after seven seasons was ultimately the right call. DS9's seven seasons consisted of 26 episodes each, which was ample time to suitably explore every character, introduce myriad new faces, species, friends, and enemies, and tell stories with heady themes and rich character depth. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine never wore out its welcome, and while it was never the ratings juggernaut Star Trek: The Next Generation was, DS9 went out at the peak of its powers as a Star Trek series.
Deep Space Nine's episodes have aged wonderfully.
Because Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's serialized storytelling was so innovative in the 1990s, television has now caught up in the streaming era, which makes DS9 feel prophetic. Deep Space Nine's episodes have aged wonderfully, and the show's political themes and social commentary remain relevant 25 years after the series concluded. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was a product of the Rick Berman Star Trek era of the 1990s, and it ended right before TV began a seismic shift in the 2000s, which, in part, gave Star Trek: Enterprise problems during its 4-season run on UPN from 2001-2005.
Will Star Trek: DS9 Get A Revival?
A DS9 reunion has serious hurdles
25 years after Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended, the renaissance of Star Trek TV series on Paramount+ made fans yearn for a DS9 revival. After all, Star Trek: The Next Generation got a sequel thanks to 3 seasons of Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Voyager also got a continuation in two seasons of Star Trek: Prodigy. However, despite Colonel Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Quark (Armin Shimerman), Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodenchik), and First Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson) making welcome appearances on Star Trek: Lower Decks, DS9 hasn't enjoyed its own rebirth.
Tragically, a full reunion like the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation had on Star Trek: Picard isn't possible for Deep Space Nine. Cast members like Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Aron Eisenberg (Nog), and James Darren (Vic Fontaine) have passed away. In addition, Avery Brooks has retired from acting and is seemingly finished with Star Trek. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's cast bench is deep, and there are still enough actors who could return to make a revival worthwhile, but even if it happens, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine can never again be what it was when it ended in 1999.
