View source for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

{{short description|American science fiction television series}}
{{redirect2|Deep Space Nine|DS9|the namesake space station|Deep Space Nine (fictional space station)|the car model from DS Automobiles|DS 9}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| image             = Star Trek DS9 logo.svg
| genre             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Science fiction]] 
* [[Adventure fiction|Action adventure]]
}}
| caption            =
| runtime            = 45 minutes
| creator            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Rick Berman]]
* [[Michael Piller]]
}}
| based_on           = {{Based on|''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]''|[[Gene Roddenberry]]}}
| showrunner         = {{plainlist|
* [[Michael Piller]] (1993–1995) 
* [[Ira Steven Behr]] (1995–1999)
}}
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
* [[Rick Berman]] 
* [[Michael Piller]] (1993–1995) 
* [[Ira Steven Behr]] (1995–1999)
}}
| starring           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Avery Brooks]]
* [[René Auberjonois]]
* [[Terry Farrell (actress)|Terry Farrell]]
* [[Cirroc Lofton]]
* [[Colm Meaney]]
* [[Armin Shimerman]]
* [[Alexander Siddig]]
* [[Nana Visitor]]
* [[Michael Dorn]]
* [[Nicole de Boer]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Dennis McCarthy (composer)|Dennis McCarthy]]
| company            = [[Paramount Television]]
| country            = [[United States]]
| language           = English
| network            = [[Broadcast syndication|Syndication]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/article/ds9-debuted-24-years-ago-today |title=Star Trek DS9 Debuted 24 Years Ago Today |date=January 3, 2017 |publisher=Startrek.com |access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref>
| first_aired        = {{Start date|1993|1|3}}
| last_aired         = {{End date|1999|6|2}}
| num_seasons        = 7
| num_episodes       = 176
| list_episodes      = List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes
| related            = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''
* ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''
* [[Star Trek (TV series)|''Star Trek'' TV series]] 
}}
}}
'''''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''''' ('''''DS9''''') is an American [[science fiction on television|science-fiction television series]] created by [[Rick Berman]] and [[Michael Piller]]. The fourth series in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' [[media franchise]], it originally aired [[Broadcast syndication|in syndication]] from January 3, 1993, to June 2, 1999, spanning 176 episodes over seven seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Valorie |date=2019-09-02 |title=Star Trek: The 10 Worst Episodes Of DS9 Ever, According To IMDb |url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-deep-space-nine-episodes-worst-imdb/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914154603/https://screenrant.com/star-trek-deep-space-nine-episodes-worst-imdb/ |archive-date=2019-09-14 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref> Set in the 24th century, when Earth is part of a [[United Federation of Planets]], its narrative is centered on the eponymous [[space station]] [[Deep Space Nine (fictional space station)|Deep Space Nine]], located adjacent to a [[wormhole]] leading to the [[Galactic quadrant (Star Trek)#Gamma Quadrant|Gamma Quadrant]] on the far side of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy.

Following the success of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', [[Paramount Pictures]] commissioned a new series set in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe. In creating ''Deep Space Nine'', Berman and Piller drew upon plot elements introduced in ''The Next Generation'', namely the conflict between two species, the [[Cardassians]] and the [[Bajorans]]. ''Deep Space Nine'' was the first ''Star Trek'' series to be created without the direct involvement of franchise creator [[Gene Roddenberry]], the first set on a space station rather than a traveling starship, and the first to have an [[African Americans|African American]] as its central character: [[Starfleet]] Commander, later Captain, [[Benjamin Sisko]] (played by [[Avery Brooks]]).

Changes were made to the series throughout its seven-year run. In the third season, the starship [[USS Defiant|USS ''Defiant'']] was introduced to enable more stories away from the space station. The fourth added [[Worf]] ([[Michael Dorn]]), a character who originated on ''The Next Generation'', to the main cast. The final three seasons deal with a [[story arc]], that of the war between the Federation and an invading Gamma Quadrant power, [[Dominion (Star Trek)|the Dominion]]. Although not as popular as ''The Next Generation'', ''Deep Space Nine'' was critically well received. Following the success of ''Deep Space Nine'', Paramount commissioned Berman, Piller, and [[Jeri Taylor]] to produce ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', which began in 1995. During ''Deep Space Nine''{{'s}} run, various episode novelizations and tie-in video games were produced. After the show ended, various novels and comics continued the adventures of the crew.

==Premise==
The main setting of ''Deep Space Nine'' is a space station near the planet [[Bajor]], built by the imperialistic Cardassians during their long, brutal occupation of Bajor. After liberating themselves through a [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla war]], the Bajorans invite the [[United Federation of Planets]] to jointly administer the station. The station is renamed [[Deep Space Nine (space station)|Deep Space Nine]], and a mixed [[Starfleet]] and Bajoran crew is assigned to manage it, led by Commander Benjamin Sisko.

Shortly after his arrival, Sisko discovers a [[Bajoran wormhole|stable wormhole in Bajoran space]] between the [[Alpha Quadrant]] and the unexplored [[Gamma Quadrant]], and the station is moved near the wormhole's entrance. The wormhole is the home of powerful, noncorporeal aliens whom the Bajorans worship as "the Prophets". Sisko is revered by the Bajorans as the Prophets' "Emissary"; although he is initially uncomfortable with being a religious figure, he gradually grows to accept his role.

Deep Space Nine and Bajor quickly become a center for exploration, [[space trade|interstellar trade]], political maneuvering, and finally open conflict. Threats come not only from Cardassians, [[Klingon]]s, and [[Romulan]]s from the Alpha Quadrant, but also later from the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]], a powerful empire in the Gamma Quadrant ruled by a species of [[Shapeshifting|shapeshifters]]. The starship USS ''Defiant'' is assigned to help protect the station. When the Dominion and the Cardassians take up arms against the Federation and its allies starting in the fifth season, Deep Space Nine becomes a key Federation base in the [[Dominion War]].

According to co-creator Berman, he and Piller considered setting the new series on a colony planet, but they decided a space station would appeal more to viewers, and would save the money required for a land-based show's on-location shooting. They did not want the show set aboard a starship because ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' was still in production, and in Berman's words, it "seemed ridiculous to have two shows—two casts of characters—that were off going where no man has gone before".<ref name="boldnew">The DVD set ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine—The Complete First Season'' includes the featurette "A Bold New Beginning", in which Berman and others explain the series's early design phases and their goals in creating it.</ref>

While its predecessors tended to restore the ''[[wikt:status quo ante|status quo ante]]'' at the end of each episode, allowing out-of-order viewing, ''DS9'' contains story arcs that span episodes and seasons. One installment often builds upon earlier ones, with several [[cliffhanger]] endings. Michael Piller considered this one of the series' best qualities, allowing repercussions of past episodes to influence future events and forcing characters to "learn that actions have consequences."<ref name="boldnew" /> This trend was especially noticeable toward the series finale, by which time the show was intentionally scripted as a serial.<ref name="boldnew" /><ref name="frontiers" />

Unlike ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', interpersonal conflicts were prominently featured in ''DS9''. This was at the suggestion of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''{{'}}s writers, many of whom also wrote for ''DS9'', who said that Roddenberry's prohibition of conflicts within the crew restricted their ability to write compelling dramatic stories. In Piller's words, "People who come from different places — honorable, noble people — will naturally have conflicts".<ref name="boldnew" /> The series took a more cynical view of human nature and the United Federation of Planets than the utopian vision presented in ''The Next Generation'', and unlike its predecessor, it featured main characters who were not from the Federation and could offer an alternative perspective.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 1, 2018 |last=Tremeer |first=Eleanor |title=To Boldly Stay: How ''Deep Space Nine'' Upended ''Star Trek'' by Exposing Utopia's Dark Side |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/to-boldly-stay-how-deep-space-nine-upended-star-trek-b-1823186821 |access-date=February 1, 2021 }}</ref>

==Cast==
{{Main|List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine cast members}}

===Main cast===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"|Actor !! Character !! Position !! Appearances !! Character's species !! Rank
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Avery Brooks]] || [[Benjamin Sisko]] || Commanding Officer || Seasons 1–7 || Human || {{Unbulleted list|Commander (Seasons 1–3)|Captain (Seasons 3–7)}}
|-
| colspan="5"| Benjamin Sisko is the [[Starfleet]] officer placed in charge of ''Deep Space Nine''. At the start of the series, he is a grieving widower (his wife having been killed by the [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg]] at the [[Battle of Wolf 359]]) and the father of a preteen son, Jake. He and [[Jadzia Dax]] discover the Bajoran wormhole, which the Bajorans believe is the home of the [[Bajoran Prophets|Prophets]], their gods and protectors. The Bajorans hail Sisko as the Emissary of the Prophets, an exalted religious status that initially makes him uncomfortable, but that he gradually comes to embrace. At the end of the third season, he is promoted to captain, and he eventually becomes a key leader of Federation forces against the Dominion. The seventh season reveals that Sisko's mother was possessed by one of the Prophets long enough to ensure he was born.
|- 
| rowspan="2"| [[René Auberjonois]] || [[Odo (Star Trek)|Odo]] || Chief of Security || Seasons 1–7 || [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changeling]] || [[Constable]] (unofficial)
|-
| colspan="5"| Constable Odo is the station's chief of security. He is a Changeling, a liquid life form capable of assuming any shape he wishes, though he normally takes the form of an adult male [[humanoid]]. His origins are initially unknown; he was discovered by the Bajorans some years before the beginning of the series and subjected to painful experimentation until they realized he was sentient. He longs to find his people, but when he finally does, he learns they are the authoritarian rulers of the Dominion. Odo is torn between his longing to be with his people and his opposition to the Dominion's totalitarian imperialism. He comes to love the Bajoran Kira.
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Alexander Siddig]] || [[Julian Bashir]] || Chief Medical Officer || Seasons 1–7 || Human || Lieutenant, junior grade (Seasons 1–3)<br />Lieutenant (Seasons 4–7)
|-
| colspan="5"| Julian Bashir is the station's chief medical officer. Somewhat tactless and arrogant initially, he develops friendships with several of the station's residents, particularly Miles O'Brien and the mysterious Cardassian tailor and ex-spy [[Elim Garak|Garak]]. Later, his high intelligence and physical skill are revealed to be the result of illegal genetic enhancements his parents obtained for him as a child because he was falling behind his classmates. Siddig was credited as Siddig el Fadil, a shortened form of his birth name, for the first three seasons, before adopting the stage name Alexander Siddig, after discovering that viewers did not know how to pronounce his name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sidcity.net/story-library/trekexpo-062505.shtml |title=Trek Expo Tulsa, Oklahoma |publisher=sidcity.net (official site) |date=June 25, 2005 |access-date=July 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626111713/http://www.sidcity.net/story-library/trekexpo-062505.shtml |archive-date=June 26, 2008 }}</ref> Siddig continued to be credited as Siddig el Fadil when he directed.
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Terry Farrell (actress)|Terry Farrell]] || [[Jadzia Dax]] || Chief Science Officer || Seasons 1–6 || [[Trill (Star Trek)|Trill]] || {{Unbulleted list|Lieutenant (Seasons 1–3)|Lieutenant commander (Seasons 4–6)}}
|-
| colspan="5"| Jadzia Dax is the station's science officer. A member of the [[Trill (Star Trek)|Trill]] species, the humanoid Jadzia shares a [[symbiosis|symbiotic]] existence with a long-living "symbiont" named [[Dax (Star Trek)|Dax]], who has already experienced seven prior lives "joined" with other Trills. The previous host, [[Curzon Dax]], a larger-than-life diplomat and womanizer, was a mentor and close friend to Sisko. That friendship is continued with Jadzia, whom Sisko familiarly calls "old man". She marries Worf during the show's sixth season. When Terry Farrell declined to renew her contract at the end of that season, her character was killed off, and Ezri Dax was introduced as Dax's next host. 
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Cirroc Lofton]] || [[Jake Sisko]] || {{Unbulleted list|Student (Seasons 1–5)|Journalist (Seasons 5–7)}} || Seasons 1–7 || Human || Civilian
|-
| colspan="5"| Jake is Benjamin Sisko's son. He at first resents the idea of living on an old Cardassian space station, but soon adapts to life on the station and develops a deep friendship with [[Nog (Star Trek)|Nog]], a [[Ferengi]] who is the station's only other resident close to his age. His father wants him to join Starfleet, but Jake yearns to be a writer, eventually becoming a reporter with the Federation News Service. Over the seven seasons, Jake and Nog grow from children into young adults, with storylines showing their rites of passage, successes, and mishaps.
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Colm Meaney]] || [[Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)|Miles O'Brien]] || Chief Operations Officer || Seasons 1–7 || Human || Senior chief petty officer
|-
| colspan="5"| Miles O'Brien is the Chief of Operations, responsible for keeping the station in working order. The character originated as a recurring role on ''The Next Generation''; on ''Deep Space Nine'', he became the first main character on a ''Star Trek'' series to be a [[non-commissioned officer]]. He and Julian Bashir are close friends. He is married to botanist and teacher [[Keiko O'Brien|Keiko]]; they have a daughter, [[Molly O'Brien (Deep Space Nine)|Molly]], and later a son, [[Kirayoshi O'Brien|Kirayoshi]], born in the fifth season. As an "uncomplicated" family man, he is often used by the writers as an "[[everyman]]" character struggling with various science-fictional hardships.
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Armin Shimerman]] || [[Quark (Star Trek)|Quark]] || Bar owner || Seasons 1–7 || Ferengi || Civilian
|-
| colspan="5"| Quark is the proprietor of a bar on ''Deep Space Nine''. Like most Ferengi, he holds the acquisition of [[Profit (economics)|profit]] to be the highest goal, and his frequently shady moneymaking schemes bring him into conflict with Odo. His cynical, profit-driven worldview is often used as a critique or counterpoint to the idealism of the Federation — although he does display a moral code on occasion, electing to save lives at the cost of profit. Sisko considers Quark an anchor to the merchant community and society in general aboard the station. He pressures Quark not to relocate after the Cardassians are driven out, giving him very generous financial terms to stay and keep his business in operation.
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Nana Visitor]] || [[Kira Nerys]] || First Officer || Seasons 1–7 || [[Bajoran]] || {{Unbulleted list|Major (Seasons 1–6)|Colonel (Season 7)|Commander (Season 7)}}
|-
| colspan="5"| Kira Nerys is the Bajoran military's liaison to ''Deep Space Nine'' and Sisko's [[second-in-command]]. During the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, she was a [[guerrilla]] fighter in the Bajoran resistance. She is initially suspicious of the Federation's intentions toward her planet, but grows to trust and befriend the rest of the crew. She is deeply religious, and sometimes finds it awkward having the Emissary of the Prophets as her commanding officer. [[Ro Laren]], a character from ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', was the first choice of the producers for Sisko's first officer, but [[Michelle Forbes]] did not want to commit to a television series.<ref name="frontiers">Source: "New Frontiers". DVD extra included with ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Complete Second Season''.</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Michael Dorn]] || [[Worf]] || {{Unbulleted list|Strategic Operations Officer|First Officer, USS ''Defiant''}}|| Seasons 4–7 || [[Klingon]] || Lieutenant commander
|-
| colspan="5"| The fourth season saw the addition of Dorn to the cast to boost ratings, reprising his role as the [[Klingon]] Worf, whom he had played for seven years on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''.<ref name="charting">Source: "Charting New Territory". DVD extra included with ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Complete Fourth Season''. Of Worf, writer and producer [[Robert Hewitt Wolfe]] said in an October 20, 2002, interview that the [[Paramount Pictures|studio]] decided ''DS9''{{'}}s ratings were sagging at the end of the third season, and he and the other writers were asked to give viewers a new reason to watch. Their answer was to make Worf a part of the cast.</ref> Worf transfers to Deep Space Nine when a brief war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire breaks out and stays on as Strategic Operations Officer and later as a liaison to the Klingon Empire. His character arc centers on negotiating his dual identity as a Klingon and a Starfleet officer. He marries Jadzia Dax in the sixth season.
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Nicole de Boer]] || [[Ezri Dax]] || Counselor || Season 7 || Trill || {{Unbulleted list|Ensign (Season 7)|Lieutenant, junior grade (Season 7)}}
|-
| colspan="5"| After the abrupt departure of Terry Farrell, Ezri Dax was added to the series as the next host of the Dax symbiont, a young Trill Starfleet [[Mental health counselor|counselor]]. Unprepared and untrained to be joined, she is often frustrated by aspects of the symbiotic relationship and the eight lifetimes' worth of memories she inherits. She struggles with her memories of Jadzia's love for Worf, as she finds herself attracted to Dr. Bashir.
|}

===Supporting cast===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:15%;"|Actor !! Character !! Character description !! Appearances !! Species
|-
| [[Marc Alaimo]] || [[Dukat (Star Trek)|Dukat]] || The former Cardassian prefect of Bajor during the occupation, later leader of the Cardassian Union after allying with the Dominion || Seasons 1–7 || Cardassian
|-
| [[Aron Eisenberg]] || [[Nog (Star Trek)|Nog]] || Quark's nephew, a close friend to Jake Sisko, who becomes the first Ferengi to join Starfleet || Seasons 1–7 || Ferengi 
|-
| [[Max Grodénchik]] || [[Rom (Star Trek)|Rom]] || Quark's brother and Nog's father, who initially works at Quark's bar before quitting to become a maintenance engineer on ''Deep Space Nine'' || Seasons 1–7 || Ferengi
|-
| [[Andrew Robinson (actor)|Andrew J. Robinson]] || [[Elim Garak]] || A disgraced Cardassian spy living in exile on Deep Space Nine, where he works as a tailor and strikes up a friendship with Bashir || Seasons 1–7 || [[Cardassian]] 
|-
| [[Rosalind Chao]] || [[Keiko O'Brien]] || A botanist, who briefly becomes a schoolteacher on Deep Space Nine and then returns to her previous career. She is married to Miles O'Brien. || Seasons 1–7 || Human 
|-
| [[Wallace Shawn]] || [[Grand Nagus Zek|Zek]] || Grand Nagus (leader) of the Ferengi Alliance || Seasons 1–3 & 5–7 || Ferengi
|-
| [[Philip Anglim]] || [[Bareil Antos]] || A progressive Vedek (a high-ranking Bajoran cleric) who becomes Kira's lover || Seasons 1–3 & 6 || Bajoran 
|-
| [[Louise Fletcher]] || [[Winn Adami]] || A conniving, ambitious Vedek who is selected to become Kai, the spiritual leader of Bajor || Seasons 1–7 || Bajoran 
|-
| [[Salome Jens]] || [[Female Changeling]] || Spokesperson for the Founders of the Dominion, who later oversees the war effort in the Alpha Quadrant || Seasons 3–4 & 6–7 || [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changeling]]
|-
| [[Kenneth Marshall]] || [[Michael Eddington]] || A Starfleet security officer on Deep Space Nine who betrays the Federation and joins the [[Maquis (Star Trek)|Maquis]] || Seasons 3–5 || Human 
|-
| [[Robert O'Reilly]] || [[Gowron]] || Chancellor of the Klingon Empire || Seasons 3–5 & 7 || Klingon
|-
| [[Chase Masterson]] || [[Leeta]] || A "Dabo girl" at Quark's bar who marries Rom in Season 5 || Seasons 3–7 || [[Bajoran]] 
|-
| [[Penny Johnson Jerald]] || [[Kasidy Yates]] || A civilian freighter captain who becomes Sisko's love interest || Seasons 3–7 || Human
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Jeffrey Combs]] || [[Liquidator Brunt|Brunt]] || A "liquidator" for the Ferengi Commerce Authority who becomes an antagonist to Quark. || Seasons 3–7 || Ferengi 
|-
| [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters#Weyoun|Weyoun]] || A Dominion administrator, negotiator, and military commander, eventually in charge of the Dominion forces in the Alpha Quadrant; he is replaced several times by clones, as various Weyouns perish. || Seasons 4–7 || [[Vorta]] 
|-
| [[Andrea Martin]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Ishka]] || rowspan="2" | Quark's mother, a highly successful businesswoman who agitates for civil rights for Ferengi females (who are not allowed to go into business) || Season 3 || rowspan="2" | Ferengi 
|-
|[[Cecily Adams]]
|Seasons 5–7
|-
| [[J. G. Hertzler]] || [[Martok]] || An influential Klingon general who commands the Klingon forces in the Dominion War, later Chancellor of the Empire. || Seasons 4–7 || [[Klingon]] 
|-
| [[Cyia Batten]]|| rowspan="3" | [[Tora Ziyal]] || rowspan="3" | Dukat's half-Bajoran daughter || rowspan="2" | Season 4 || rowspan="3" | Bajoran-Cardassian 
|-
|[[Tracy Middendorf]]
|-
|[[Melanie Smith (actress)|Melanie Smith]]
|Seasons 5–6
|-
| [[Casey Biggs]] || [[Damar (Star Trek)|Damar]] || Dukat's aide, who succeeds Dukat as leader of Cardassia and then leads the Cardassian rebellion against the Dominion || Seasons 4–7 || Cardassian 
|-
| [[Barry Jenner]] || [[William Ross (Star Trek)|William Ross]] || Commander of Starfleet forces in the Dominion War || Seasons 6–7 || Human 
|-
| [[James Darren]] || [[Vic Fontaine]] || A [[holodeck|holographic]] simulation of a 1960s Las Vegas lounge singer who offers helpful personal advice and entertainment for the crew. || Seasons 6–7 || Hologram
|}

===Recurring characters===
{{Main|List of recurring Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters}}
[[File:Alaimo, Shimerman and Meany.jpg|thumb|[[Marc Alaimo]], [[Armin Shimerman]], and [[Colm Meaney]], who portrayed the characters of [[Dukat (Star Trek)|Gul Dukat]], [[Quark (Star Trek)|Quark]], and [[Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)|Miles O'Brien]], respectively]]
[[File:Siddig, Alexander (2010).jpg|thumb|[[Alexander Siddig]] as [[Julian Bashir]].]]
The series' setting — a space station rather than a starship — fostered a rich assortment of recurring characters. It was not unusual for secondary characters to play as much of a role in an episode as the regular cast, if not more. For example, "[[The Wire (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Wire]]" focused principally on the recurring character [[Elim Garak]], while in "[[It's Only a Paper Moon (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|It's Only a Paper Moon]]", the central characters were Nog and [[Vic Fontaine]], with the regular characters in supporting roles.

Several Cardassian characters figure prominently in ''DS9'', particularly Gul Dukat, a senior member of the Cardassian military involved in the occupation of Bajor, played by [[Marc Alaimo]]. A complex character, Dukat undergoes several transformations before ultimately resolving as a profoundly evil character, and Sisko's archenemy, by the show's conclusion. A StarTrek.com article about ''Star Trek''{{'}}s greatest villains described Gul Dukat as "possibly the most complex and {{Sic|hide=y|fully|-}}developed bad guy in ''Star Trek'' history".

Elim Garak, portrayed by [[Andrew Robinson (actor)|Andrew Robinson]], is the only Cardassian who remains on the space station when the Federation and the Bajorans take over. Although he maintains that he is merely a simple tailor, Garak is a former agent of the [[Obsidian Order]], the feared Cardassian [[secret police]]; his skills and contacts on Cardassia prove invaluable on several occasions, and he becomes a pivotal figure in the war with the Dominion.

[[Damar (Star Trek)|Damar]] ([[Casey Biggs]]) is introduced in the fourth season as an aide to Gul Dukat, and he rises in stature as Dukat regains prominence. He becomes the leader of the Cardassian Union when Dukat has an emotional breakdown, but dissatisfied with Cardassia's relationship with the Dominion, Damar forms and leads an insurgency against the Dominion, playing a vital role in its eventual defeat.

[[File:Visitor and Auberjonois by Beth Madison, 2.jpg|thumb|[[Nana Visitor]] and [[René Auberjonois]], who portrayed the characters of [[Kira Nerys]] and [[Odo (Star Trek)|Odo]], respectively]]
[[Jeffrey Combs]] has stated that he had auditioned for the role of [[William Riker]] on ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', but when [[Jonathan Frakes]] (who won the part) later directed the ''DS9'' episode "[[Meridian (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Meridian]]", he recommended Combs for a part.<ref name="combs">Combs, Jeffrey. Interview conducted January 30, 2003. Included as a "Hidden File" with ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – The Complete Third Season''.</ref> Combs made his ''Star Trek'' and ''DS9'' debut as a one-episode alien named Tiron, before being cast as two recurring characters, the Ferengi [[Liquidator Brunt|Brunt]] and the [[Vorta]] [[Weyoun]]. He went on to appear in 31 episodes of ''DS9''. In "[[The Dogs of War (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Dogs of War]]", he became one of the few ''Star Trek'' actors to play two unrelated roles (Brunt and Weyoun) in the same episode. He would later play the recurring role of Shran on ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''.

In addition to Quark and his brother Rom ([[Max Grodénchik]]), several other Ferengi had recurring roles, including their shrewd mother [[Ishka]] ([[Andrea Martin]], later [[Cecily Adams]]), who eventually engineers a social revolution on Ferenginar; Rom's son Nog ([[Aron Eisenberg]]), the first Ferengi to join Starfleet; and [[Grand Nagus Zek]] ([[Wallace Shawn]]), the Ferengi leader. The Bajoran character [[Leeta]] ([[Chase Masterson]]), who works at Quark's bar and later marries Rom, is sometimes involved in the Ferengi storyline.

The [[Klingon]] Empire plays a significant role in ''DS9''. Aside from Worf, recurring Klingon characters include Chancellor [[Gowron]] ([[Robert O'Reilly]]), leader of the Empire, who was introduced on ''The Next Generation'', and General [[Martok]] ([[J. G. Hertzler]]), a leader of the Klingon forces in the Dominion War, who succeeds Gowron as Chancellor when Gowron is killed by Worf late in the series. [[Kor (Star Trek)|Kor]], a Klingon character from ''Star Trek: The Original Series'', appears in three ''DS9'' episodes; one of them, "[[Blood Oath (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Blood Oath]]", unites Kor with two other Klingons from the original series: [[Koloth]] and [[Kang (Star Trek)|Kang]]. [[John Colicos]], [[William Campbell (film actor)|William Campbell]], and [[Michael Ansara]] reprised their original series roles.

[[Morn (Star Trek)|Morn]] is a minor character who is a fixture in Quark's establishment, sitting at the bar over the course of seven years. It became a running joke that though the other characters remark on how talkative and funny he is, he never speaks a word on camera. Morn did have a line in the script for pilot episode "Emissary", but it was cut due to run-time considerations, after which the creators conceived the joke that he never talks.<ref name="ErdmannP42">Edrmann and Block (2000) [https://books.google.com/books?id=kDe3VS07YSMC&pg=PA42 page 42]</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 29, 1995 |last=Spelling |first=Ian |title=The Man Behind 'DS9' Alien Barfly Morn |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-12-29-9512290329-story.html |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |quote=Morn and Shepherd have both made their mark without spouting a line of dialogue. }}</ref>

==Season overview==
''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' ran for seven seasons, from 1993 to 1999. The first season started half-way through the typical broadcast season running from fall to spring, and had fewer episodes than typical ''Star Trek'' runs. 
{{:List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes}}

==Plot elements==
[[File:Chase Masterson Nicole de Boer Star Trek Convention Las Vegas 20110812 3.jpg|thumb|[[Chase Masterson]] (''left'') portrayed the recurring character [[Leeta]] on the series; [[Nicole De Boer]] (''right'') played [[Ezri Dax]], a main character introduced in the seventh season.]]
Major plotlines focus on several key ''Star Trek'' cultures, especially interactions between the Bajorans, Cardassians, Ferengi, Klingons, and the Federation. Each of these cultures is represented by major characters in the main or recurring cast.

Major arcs revolve around Bajor's recovery from Cardassian occupation; the Maquis, a rebellious Federation splinter group; and the Dominion, a hostile imperial power from the other side of the galaxy. The war between the Dominion and the Federation spans the show's last two seasons, after tensions between the two gradually increase from the beginning of the third season. Throughout the series, loyalties and alliances change repeatedly: pacts with the Cardassians are made, broken, and remade; a short war with the Klingons flares up and is settled; Bajor grows into political stability; and formerly neutral powers are drawn into conflict.

===Bajor===
{{Main|Bajor}}
In the first episode, Starfleet Commander Benjamin Sisko arrives at ''Deep Space Nine'', a space station formerly operated by the Cardassians during their oppressive occupation of the planet Bajor. He is assigned to run the station jointly with the newly liberated Bajorans as they recover from the Cardassian occupation, to help pave the way for Bajor's entry into the Federation. Sisko and Jadzia Dax stumble upon a wormhole leading to the distant Gamma Quadrant, and discover that it is inhabited by beings not bound by normal space and time. To the strongly religious people of Bajor, the wormhole aliens are their gods (the Bajoran Prophets), and the wormhole itself is the long-prophesied Celestial Temple. Sisko is hailed as the Emissary of the Prophets, through whom the Prophets act.

Bajor's politics and religion, and Sisko's status within it, provide the basis for long-lasting story arcs. Early seasons show Bajor reckoning with the aftermath of occupation and establishing itself as a democracy. Meanwhile, Sisko initially considers his role as a religious icon with discomfort and skepticism, striving to keep his role as station commander distinct from any religious obligations that the Bajorans try to place on him. Later, he becomes more accepting of his role and, by the end of the series, he openly embraces it. He is often called upon to choose between his role as Emissary and his duties to Starfleet, as when he persuades the Bajorans to withdraw their application for Federation membership after receiving a vision from the Prophets. The political and religious implications of Sisko's status for Bajor and its spiritual leaders (most notably, Winn Adami) provide a central arc that lasts until the end of the series.

===The Maquis===
{{Main|Maquis (Star Trek)}}
The station crew early on contends with a resistance group known as the [[Maquis (Star Trek)|Maquis]]. Rooted in the events of ''The Next Generation'' episode "[[Journey's End (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Journey's End]]", in which [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] settlers refuse to leave when their planet is given to Cardassia as part of a treaty, the Maquis are an example of the show's exploration of darker themes; its members are Federation citizens who take up arms against Cardassia in defense of their homes, and some, such as [[Calvin Hudson]], a long-time friend of Sisko's, and [[Michael Eddington]], who defects while serving aboard the station, are Starfleet officers. The show's critique of traditional ''Star Trek'' themes can be seen in episodes such as "[[For the Cause (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|For the Cause]]", in which Eddington compares the Federation to the implacable alien hive mind known as the [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg]]: "At least [the Borg] tell you about their plans for assimilation. You assimilate people and they don't even know it."

===The Dominion War===
{{Main|Dominion War}}
The second-season episode "[[Rules of Acquisition (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rules of Acquisition]]" marks the first mention of the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]], a ruthless empire in the Gamma Quadrant, though they are not fully introduced until the second-season finale, "[[The Jem'Hadar]]". It is led by "the Founders", a race of shape-shifting Changelings, the same species as ''DS9''{{'}}s security chief, Odo. They were once persecuted by non-shapeshifters (whom they call "solids") and they seek to impose "order" upon any who could potentially harm them, which includes nearly all solids. The Founders have created or genetically modified races to serve them: their sly diplomats and administrators, the [[Vorta]], and their fearless shock troops, the [[Jem'Hadar]]. These races worship the Founders as gods.

At the start of ''DS9''{{'}}s third season ("[[The Search (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Search]]"), with the threat of a Dominion attack looming from the other side of the wormhole, the [[USS Defiant|USS ''Defiant'']], a prototype warship, is stationed at ''Deep Space Nine'', providing an avenue for plot lines away from the station. With the third season, writers from the now-completed ''The Next Generation'' began to write regularly for ''DS9''.

In the show's middle seasons, the Dominion foments discord to weaken the Alpha Quadrant powers, manipulating the Klingons into war with the Cardassians, and almost inciting a ''coup d'état'' on Earth. In the fifth-season episode "[[By Inferno's Light]]", the Dominion annexes Cardassia, and goes to war with the other major powers of the Alpha Quadrant in the season finale "[[Call to Arms (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Call to Arms]]". The Dominion War tests Starfleet's commitment to its ethics; when the formerly neutral [[Romulan]]s are persuaded to ally themselves with the Federation ("[[In the Pale Moonlight]]"), it occurs only through criminal and duplicitous acts on Sisko's part. This provides an example of the moral ambiguity prevalent in ''DS9'' in comparison to the other ''Star Trek'' series.

===Section 31===
Another example of ''DS9''{{'}}s darker nature is the introduction of [[Section 31 (Star Trek)|Section 31]], a secret organization dedicated to preserving the Federation way of life at any cost. This shadowy group, introduced in "[[Inquisition (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Inquisition]]", justifies its unlawful, unilateral tactics by claiming that it is essential to the continued existence of the Federation. Section 31 features prominently in several episodes of the Dominion War arc, especially as it is revealed that it attempted a genocide of the Founders.

===The Ferengi===
In ''DS9'', the Ferengi are no longer an enemy of the Federation, but rather an economic power whose political neutrality is mostly respected. Several episodes explore their [[capitalism|capitalistic]] nature, while others delve into the race's [[sexism|sexist]] social norms. Unlike their depiction in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', where they were generally portrayed as sexist buffoons, in ''DS9'', they received a more complex depiction. Some Ferengi characters seek life paths outside the pursuit of profit, such as Nog, who becomes the first Ferengi to join Starfleet; others attempt to reform Ferengi society from within, such as Ishka, who leads a women's-rights revolution on the Ferengi homeworld, and Rom, who leads a strike against unfair working conditions in Quark's bar.

===The Mirror Universe===
Several episodes of ''DS9'' explore the [[Mirror Universe (Star Trek)|Mirror Universe]], first introduced in the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' episode "[[Mirror, Mirror (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Mirror, Mirror]]". In the second-season episode "[[Crossover (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Crossover]]", Kira and Dr. Bashir are accidentally sent to the Mirror Universe and discover that it is dominated by a ruthless Klingon–Cardassian alliance and Terrans (humans) are slaves. Over the course of four Mirror Universe episodes of ''DS9'', the Terran workers form a resistance movement and eventually liberate themselves ("[[Through the Looking Glass (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Through the Looking Glass]]", "[[Shattered Mirror (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Shattered Mirror]]", "[[Resurrection (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Resurrection]]", and "[[The Emperor's New Cloak]]").

==Production==
[[File:QTXP 20121019 Destination Star Trek London MG 2144.jpg|alt=Avery Brooks|thumb|Avery Brooks directed several episodes in addition to his lead role of Sisko.]]
The series was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller at the request of [[Brandon Tartikoff]] and was produced by [[Paramount Television]].<ref name="ErdmannP3">Edrmann and Block (2000) page 3</ref> The original ''Star Trek'' series had been pitched as the science-fiction equivalent to [[Westerns on television|television Westerns]] such as ''[[Wagon Train]]'', and ''DS9'' was instead analogous to shows like ''[[The Rifleman]]'', featuring a town or trading post right on the edge of the frontier.<ref name="ErdmannP3"/> As overall head of ''Star Trek'' production, Berman served as executive producer for the entire series. Piller initially served as second executive producer and showrunner, but left the series in 1995 to manage ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''. Writer [[Ira Steven Behr]] was promoted by Berman to replace Piller as showrunner and held that role for the remainder of the series. In addition to Berman, Piller, and Behr, key writers included [[Robert Hewitt Wolfe]], [[Ronald D. Moore]], [[Peter Allan Fields]], [[Bradley Thompson]], [[David Weddle]], [[Hans Beimler (screenwriter)|Hans Beimler]], and [[René Echevarria]].

Several actors also directed episodes, including Avery Brooks, who directed and starred in the critically acclaimed episode "Far Beyond the Stars".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bastién |first=Angelica Jade |date=2018-01-19 |title=Deep Space Nine Is TV's Most Revolutionary Depiction of Black Fatherhood |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/01/deep-space-nine-revolutionary-depiction-of-black-fatherhood.html |website=Vulture.com |access-date=2021-10-21 }}</ref>

''DS9'' was the first television series in the ''Star Trek'' franchise to use [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI) for exterior space shots. Although a few other television series, such as ''[[Babylon 5]]'', were using CGI exclusively to avoid the high expense of model photography, the ''Star Trek'' franchise continued to primarily use physical models for exterior space shots because producers decided models provided more realism. ''DS9'' continued using models where needed, such as the fourth-season premiere and the alternate-universe episode "Shattered Mirror".<ref>Season 4 DVD Special Effects commentary</ref> During the battle sequences between the Federation and Klingon fleets, the effects department used [[Playmates Toys|Playmates]] toys, [[Ertl Company|Ertl]] model kits, and [[Hallmark Cards|Hallmark]] Bird-of-Prey Christmas ornaments in the background to keep production costs down.<ref name="ErdmannP265">Edrmann and Block (2000) page 265</ref>

The [[USS Defiant|USS ''Defiant'']] was the first full-fledged starship in the ''Star Trek'' franchise to have a CGI model used in regular production. It was first built and animated by VisionArt, which was responsible for the [[morphing]] of Odo. The CGI ''Defiant'' was featured heavily in the fourth-season episode "[[Starship Down]]", where it battled a CGI [[Jem'Hadar]] ship in a CGI gas giant's atmosphere.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/1930/ds9.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022202214/http://geocities.com/Hollywood/1930/ds9.html |archive-date=October 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |title=Deep Space Nine |access-date=December 5, 2007}}</ref><ref name="ErdmannP335">Edrmann and Block (2000) [https://books.google.com/books?id=kDe3VS07YSMC&pg=PA335 page 335] "most people don't know it's CG. Even people in our Art Department"</ref>

The series started using [[Foundation Imaging]] and Digital Muse in 1997 (seasons 6 and 7) for its effects as part of the ongoing storyline of the Dominion occupation of the station. The station itself remained a physical model throughout the series' seven-year run, except for the final scene of the series. In October 2006, the physical model of the station was sold for $132,000 in an auction at [[Christie's]] auction house in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 October 2006 |title=DEEP SPACE NINE MODEL |url=https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-deep-space-nine-model-4780057/ |website=40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection |publisher=[[Christie's]] }}</ref>

The opening sequence was likewise modified in the fourth season, most notably by the introduction of CGI inserts of construction work being performed on the station's exterior by suited maintenance crews, and more docking and launching activity by ships, along with subtle colored wisps of [[nebula]]e added to the background starfield. Accordingly, the solo [[trumpet]] (preceded by a solo [[French horn]]) featured prominently in the main theme by [[Dennis McCarthy (composer)|Dennis McCarthy]] to accentuate the isolation of the outpost was augmented by a chorus of brass as the station attained a more bustling atmosphere following the presence of the wormhole.

The digital effects were rendered in standard definition and while the series could be released in a high-definition format, the studio preferred recreating the visual effects, rather than upscaling them.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Whitbrook|first1=James|title=The Detailed, Depressing Reason Deep Space Nine and Voyager May Never Get Full HD Versions|url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-detailed-depressing-reason-deep-space-nine-and-voy-1791962332|website=[[io9]]|date=February 3, 2017 |publisher=[[Univision Communications]]|access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes}}
Overall, 176 episodes of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' were produced,<ref name="hollywoodreporter20greatest">{{cite web |date=September 22, 2016 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/star-trek-deep-space-nine-930878 |title='Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' — The 20 Greatest Episodes |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=April 8, 2021 }}</ref> with an average run time of 43 minutes each. ''Geek.com'' calculated 126 hours of total viewing time for the series.<ref name="Whitwam">{{Cite web |date=2015-01-19 |author=Ryan Whitwam |website=Geek.com |title=Star Trek: Deep Space Nine condensed: How to watch the most story-driven Trek |url=https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/star-trek-deep-space-nine-condensed-how-to-watch-the-most-story-driven-trek-1613741/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120130855/https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/star-trek-deep-space-nine-condensed-how-to-watch-the-most-story-driven-trek-1613741/ |archive-date=2016-11-20 }}</ref>

The show debuted in January 1993 with the double episode "Emissary", half-way through the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6#Episodes|sixth season of ''The Next Generation'']]. This is the first time that two ''Star Trek'' franchise series aired concurrently, which continued until ''DS9'' ended in 1999, except for late 1994, when ''Next Generation'' ended and ''DS9'' was alone on the air. The next year, though, ''Star Trek: Voyager'' aired on the then-new [[United Paramount Network]] (UPN) so once again two shows from the franchise aired.

The most acclaimed episodes of ''DS9'' include: "[[In the Pale Moonlight]]", in which Sisko wrestles with compromising his ethics to win the Dominion War; "[[The Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Visitor]]", in which an elderly Jake Sisko tries desperately to undo the loss of his father; and "[[Far Beyond the Stars]]", in which Sisko has a vision of himself as a writer coping with [[racism]] in 20th-century New York.<ref name="hollywoodreporter20greatest"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/01/star-trek-deep-space-nine-best-episodes-ranked.html|title=The Best Episodes of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', Ranked|last=Bastién|first=Angelica Jade|website=Vulture|date=January 4, 2018|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-star-trek-episodes/|title=The 50 best Star Trek episodes ever|website=Empire|last=Gross|first=Ed|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/television/feature/the-tdf-top-10-star-trek-deep-space-nine/ |website=The Digital Fix |title=The TDF Top 10: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |last=Greenland |first=Baz |date=2020 |access-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711224605/https://www.thedigitalfix.com/television/feature/the-tdf-top-10-star-trek-deep-space-nine/|archive-date=July 11, 2021|url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable
|+Episodes by season (1–4)
|-
! style="background: tan; color: white;width:25%" | Season 1
! style="background: tan; color: white;width:25%" | Season 2
! style="background: tan; color: white;width:25%" | Season 3
! style="background: tan; color: white;width:25%" | Season 4
|-
|{{ordered list|
"[[Emissary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Emissary]]" (2-part episode)
}}
{{ordered list|start=3
| "[[Past Prologue]]"
| "[[A Man Alone (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|A Man Alone]]"
| "[[Babel (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Babel]]"
| "[[Captive Pursuit]]"
| "[[Q-Less]]"
| "[[Dax (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode)|Dax]]"
| "[[The Passenger (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Passenger]]"
| "[[Move Along Home]]"
| "[[The Nagus]]"
| "[[Vortex (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Vortex]]"
| "[[Battle Lines (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Battle Lines]]"
| "[[The Storyteller (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Storyteller]]"
| "[[Progress (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Progress]]"
| "[[If Wishes Were Horses (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|If Wishes Were Horses]]"
| "[[The Forsaken (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Forsaken]]"
| "[[Dramatis Personae (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Dramatis Personae]]"
| "[[Duet (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Duet]]"
| "[[In the Hands of the Prophets]]"
}}
|| 
{{ordered list
| "[[The Homecoming (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Homecoming]]"
| "[[The Circle (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Circle]]"
| "[[The Siege (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Siege]]"
| "[[Invasive Procedures (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Invasive Procedures]]"
| "[[Cardassians (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode)|Cardassians]]"
| "[[Melora (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Melora]]"
| "[[Rules of Acquisition (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rules of Acquisition]]"
| "[[Necessary Evil (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Necessary Evil]]"
| "[[Second Sight (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Second Sight]]"
| "[[Sanctuary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Sanctuary]]"
| "[[Rivals (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rivals]]"
| "[[The Alternate (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Alternate]]"
| "[[Armageddon Game]]"
| "[[Whispers (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Whispers]]"
| "[[Paradise (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Paradise]]"
| "[[Shadowplay (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Shadowplay]]"
| "[[Playing God (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Playing God]]"
| "[[Profit and Loss (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Profit and Loss]]"
| "[[Blood Oath (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Blood Oath]]"
| "[[The Maquis (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Maquis]], Part I"
| "The Maquis, Part II"
| "[[The Wire (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Wire]]"
| "[[Crossover (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Crossover]]"
| "[[The Collaborator (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Collaborator]]"
| "[[Tribunal (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Tribunal]]"
| "[[The Jem'Hadar]]"
}}
||
{{ordered list
| "[[The Search (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Search]], Part I"
| "The Search, Part II"
| "[[The House of Quark]]"
| "[[Equilibrium (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Equilibrium]]"
| "[[Second Skin (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Second Skin]]"
| "[[The Abandoned (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Abandoned]]"
| "[[Civil Defense (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Civil Defense]]"
| "[[Meridian (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Meridian]]"
| "[[Defiant (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Defiant]]"
| "[[Fascination (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Fascination]]"
| "[[Past Tense (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Past Tense]], Part I"
| "Past Tense, Part II"
| "[[Life Support (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Life Support]]"
| "[[Heart of Stone (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Heart of Stone]]"
| "[[Destiny (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Destiny]]"
| "[[Prophet Motive]]"
| "[[Visionary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Visionary]]"
| "[[Distant Voices (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Distant Voices]]"
| "[[Through the Looking Glass (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Through the Looking Glass]]"
| "[[Improbable Cause]] "
| "[[The Die Is Cast (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Die is Cast]]"
| "[[Explorers (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Explorers]]"
| "[[Family Business (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Family Business]]"
| "[[Shakaar]]"
| "[[Facets (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Facets]]"
| "[[The Adversary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Adversary]]" 
}}
||
{{ordered list
| "[[The Way of the Warrior (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Way of the Warrior]]" (2-part episode)}} 
{{ordered list|start=3
| "[[The Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Visitor]]"
| "[[Hippocratic Oath (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Hippocratic Oath]]"
| "[[Indiscretion (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Indiscretion]]"
| "[[Rejoined]]"
| "[[Starship Down]]"
| "[[Little Green Men (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Little Green Men]]"
| "[[The Sword of Kahless]]"
| "[[Our Man Bashir]]"
| "[[Homefront (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Homefront]]"
| "[[Paradise Lost (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Paradise Lost]]"
| "[[Crossfire (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Crossfire]]"
| "[[Return to Grace]]"
| "[[Sons of Mogh]]"
| "[[Bar Association (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Bar Association]]"
| "[[Accession (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Accession]]"
| "[[Rules of Engagement (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rules of Engagement]]"
| "[[Hard Time (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Hard Time]]"
| "[[Shattered Mirror (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Shattered Mirror]]"
| "[[The Muse (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Muse]]"
| "[[For the Cause (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|For the Cause]]"
| "[[To the Death (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|To the Death]]"
| "[[The Quickening (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Quickening]]"
| "[[Body Parts (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Body Parts]]"
| "[[Broken Link (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Broken Link]]"
}}
|}

{| class="wikitable
|+Episodes by season (5–7)
|-
! style="background: tan; color: white;" | Season 5
! style="background: tan; color: white;" | Season 6
! style="background: tan; color: white;" | Season 7
|-
|
{{ordered list
| "[[Apocalypse Rising]]"
| "[[The Ship (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Ship]]"
| "[[Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places]]"
| "[[...Nor the Battle to the Strong]]"
| "[[The Assignment (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Assignment]]"
| "[[Trials and Tribble-ations]]"
| "[[Let He Who Is Without Sin...]]" 
| "[[Things Past (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Things Past]]"
| "[[The Ascent (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Ascent]]"
| "[[Rapture (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rapture]]"
| "[[The Darkness and the Light (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Darkness and the Light]]"
| "[[The Begotten]]"
| "[[For the Uniform]]"
| "[[In Purgatory's Shadow]]"
| "[[By Inferno's Light]]"
| "[[Doctor Bashir, I Presume?]]"
| "[[A Simple Investigation]]"
| "[[Business as Usual (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Business as Usual]]"
| "[[Ties of Blood and Water]]"
| "[[Ferengi Love Songs]]"
| "[[Soldiers of the Empire]]"
| "[[Children of Time (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Children of Time]]"
| "[[Blaze of Glory (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Blaze of Glory]]"
| "[[Empok Nor]]" 
| "[[In the Cards]]" 
| "[[Call to Arms (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Call to Arms]]"
}}
||
{{ordered list|"[[A Time to Stand]]"
| "[[Rocks and Shoals (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rocks and Shoals]]"
| "[[Sons and Daughters (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Sons and Daughters]]"
| "[[Behind the Lines (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Behind the Lines]]" 
| "[[Favor the Bold]]"
| "[[Sacrifice of Angels]]"
| "[[You Are Cordially Invited]]"
| "[[Resurrection (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Resurrection]]"
| "[[Statistical Probabilities]]"
| "[[The Magnificent Ferengi]]"
| "[[Waltz (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Waltz]]"
| "[[Who Mourns for Morn?]]"
| "[[Far Beyond the Stars]]"
| "[[One Little Ship]]"
| "[[Honor Among Thieves (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Honor Among Thieves]]"
| "[[Change of Heart (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Change of Heart]]"
| "[[Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night]]"
| "[[Inquisition (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Inquisition]]"
| "[[In the Pale Moonlight]]"
| "[[His Way (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|His Way]]"
| "[[The Reckoning (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Reckoning]]"
| "[[Valiant (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Valiant]]"
| "[[Profit and Lace]]"
| "[[Time's Orphan]]"
| "[[The Sound of Her Voice]]"
| "[[Tears of the Prophets]]"
}}
||
{{ordered list
| "[[Image in the Sand]]"
| "[[Shadows and Symbols]]"
| "[[Afterimage (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Afterimage]]"
| "[[Take Me Out to the Holosuite]]"
| "[[Chrysalis (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Chrysalis]]"
| "[[Treachery, Faith, and the Great River|Treachery, Faith and the Great River]]"
| "[[Once More unto the Breach (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Once More unto the Breach]]" 
| "[[The Siege of AR-558]]"
| "[[Covenant (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Covenant]]"
| "[[It's Only a Paper Moon (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|It's Only a Paper Moon]]"
| "[[Prodigal Daughter (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Prodigal Daughter]]"
| "[[The Emperor's New Cloak]]"
| "[[Field of Fire (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Field of Fire]]" 
| "[[Chimera (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Chimera]]"
| "[[Badda-Bing Badda-Bang]]"
| "[[Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges]]"
| "[[Penumbra (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Penumbra]]"
| "[['Til Death Do Us Part (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|'Til Death Do Us Part]]"
| "[[Strange Bedfellows (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Strange Bedfellows]]"
| "[[The Changing Face of Evil]]"
| "[[When It Rains...]]"
| "[[Tacking Into the Wind]]" 
| "[[Extreme Measures (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Extreme Measures]]"
| "[[The Dogs of War (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Dogs of War]]"
| "[[What You Leave Behind]]" (2-part finale)
}}
|}

==Reception==
Although ''DS9''{{'}}s ratings remained solid, it was never as successful as the syndicated ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''. One factor was the minimal promotion for ''DS9'', as Paramount focused its efforts on its flagship network series ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stowe |first1=Dusty |title=Star Trek: How Paramount Sabotaged Deep Space Nine |url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-ds9-voyager-paramount-promotion-marketing/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=February 20, 2021 |access-date=23 August 2021}}</ref> 

===Critical reception===
''DS9'' was well received by critics, with ''[[TV Guide]]'' describing it as "the best acted, written, produced, and altogether finest" ''Star Trek'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ereader.com/product/detail/12878?book=Star_Trek%3A_Deep_Space_Nine%3A_Unity |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104192826/http://www.ereader.com/product/detail/12878?book=Star_Trek%3A_Deep_Space_Nine%3A_Unity |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 4, 2008 |title=eBooks - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Unity by S. D. Perry - eReader.com |date=January 4, 2008 |access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> Though debuting in the shadow of ''The Next Generation'', ''DS9'' achieved a considerable level of success in its own right. According to a press release through ''Newswire'' on April 7, 1999, it was the #1 syndicated show in the United States for adults 18–49 and 25–54. The characters of ''DS9'' were featured on the cover of ''TV Guide'' ten times during its run, including several "special issue" editions in which a set of four versions with different covers was printed.

The series was bestowed with a number of award nominations and awards. ''DS9'' earned 31 [[Emmy Award]] nominations during its run, including for makeup, [[cinematography]], art direction, special effects, hairstyling, music (direction and composition), and costumes. Of these, it won two for makeup (for "[[Captive Pursuit]]" and "[[Distant Voices (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Distant Voices]]"), one for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects|special visual effects]] (for "Emissary"), and one for its main title theme music (by composer Dennis McCarthy).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/star-trek-deep-space-nine-1 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=emmys.com |publisher=[[Emmys]] |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ''DS9'' was also nominated for two [[Hugo Award]]s in the category of Best Dramatic Presentation for "[[The Visitor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Visitor]]" and "[[Trials and Tribble-ations]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-07-26 |title=1996 Hugo Awards |url=https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1996-hugo-awards/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=The Hugo Awards |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-07-26 |title=1997 Hugo Awards |url=https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1997-hugo-awards/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=The Hugo Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>

''Deep Space Nine'' drew praise from African-American, Latino, and other minority viewers for its handling of the minority characters, particularly the Sisko family members.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Pounds|first1=Michael Charles|title=Explorers|journal=African Identities|date=May 2009|volume=7|issue=2|pages=209–235|doi=10.1080/14725840902808892|s2cid=146744349}}</ref> In addition, actor Alexander Siddig (who portrayed Dr. Bashir) expressed his enthusiasm for the fact that he, with his English accent, unusual screen name at the time of casting (Siddig El Fadil), and North African heritage, was a main character on a prominent television series, despite not being as easily racially identifiable to audiences as many other TV actors and characters were at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008KA58 |title=Star Trek Deep Space Nine – The Complete Sixth Season: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, Colm Meaney, Nana Visitor, Armin Shimerman, Terry Farrell, Michael Dorn, Mark Allen Shepherd, Randy James, Robert Ford, Allan Eastman, Allan Kroeker, Anson Williams, David Livingston, JesÃºs Salvador TreviÃ±o, LeVar Burton: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>

[[Andrew Robinson (actor)|Andrew J. Robinson]] commented on ''DS9'' not being as popular as its predecessors: "It's not the most popular because it's the most morally ambiguous... Whenever you have characters who are gray rather than black and white... Although they are more interesting, they are more difficult for people to get a handle on. I loved ''DS9'' because they were gray because the characters were not easily definable, but that's not for everybody".<ref>{{cite web |title=Robinson On Why He Couldn't Leave Garak Behind: Andrew J. Robinson |date=2002 |url=http://www.trektoday.com/news/010602_02.shtml |publisher=TrekToday |access-date=January 5, 2015}}</ref>

Author Terry J. Erdmann commented: "''DS9'' was never as popular as its two predecessors, although it arguably was a more critically acclaimed series".<ref>{{cite web |title=Paula M. Block & Terry J. Erdmann: TNG 365 Interview, Part 2 |date=2012 |url=http://trekcore.com/blog/2012/09/paula-m-block-terry-j-erdmann-tng-365-interview-part-2/ |publisher=Trekcore |last=Walker |first=Adam |access-date=December 28, 2014 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118034201/http://blog.trekcore.com/2012/09/paula-m-block-terry-j-erdmann-tng-365-interview-part-2// |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2018, ''[[IndieWire]]'' ranked ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' as the third-best science-fiction show set in outer space, while placing ''Star Trek'' (1966–1969) in eighth place and ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1987–1994) in 12th place among other shows in this genre, including 18 overall.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 18, 2018 |last=Miller |first=Liz Shannon |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/best-sci-fi-shows-space-1201954486/ |title=The 18 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows Set In Space, Ranked |website=IndieWire |access-date=February 27, 2021 }}</ref>

In 2016, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called the Dominion war arc possibly the "richest narrative" of the ''Star Trek'' universe,<ref name="Drezner">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/09/13/the-top-ten-star-trek-episodes-ever/ |title=The top 10 'Star Trek' episodes ever |last=Drezner |first=Daniel |date=September 13, 2016 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 2, 2021 }}</ref> though the arc's only standout episode is "In the Pale Moonlight", which it ranked the fourth-best episode of all ''Star Trek'' for highlighting the moral confusion and compromises that can occur during war.<ref name="Drezner" /> In 2016, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' ranked ''DS9'' third of all ''Star Trek'' films and TV series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-hc-star-trek-movie-and-show-ranking-20160830-snap-story.html|title=Ranking every 'Star Trek' movie and TV series from first to worst|last=Bernardin|first=Marc|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 8, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> In 2017, [[Vulture.com|''Vulture'']] ranked it the best live-action ''Star Trek'' television show.<ref>{{cite web | date=September 22, 2017 |author=Angelica Jade Bastién | title=Every Star Trek TV Show, Ranked | url=https://www.vulture.com/article/star-trek-every-tv-show-ranked-worst-to-best.html |website=[[Vulture.com]] | access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> In 2019, ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' ranked it the 16th-best science-fiction television show ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/digital/home-entertainment/the-50-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows|title=The 50 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows Ever|last1=Hoffman|first1=Jordan|last2=Wakeman|first2=Gregory|date=July 12, 2019|website=Popular Mechanics|language=en-US|access-date=July 20, 2019}}</ref> In 2021, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' ranked it ninth among ''Star Trek'' film and television series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=2021-03-22 |title=Celebrating William Shatner: Top 10 'Star Trek' Movies and TV Shows of the Franchise |url=https://variety.com/lists/best-star-trek-movies-tv-shows-ranked/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=2021-03-27 }}</ref> In 2021, ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' ranked it the 46th-greatest television show ever, saying its seasons-long character and story arcs make it good for [[binge-watching]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=The 100 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time|url=https://www.empireonline.com/tv/features/best-tv-shows-ever-2/|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Empire}}</ref>

===Former cast members and staff===
In a 2007 interview with ''[[If Magazine]]'', [[George Takei]], who had played the character [[Hikaru Sulu]] in ''The Original Series'', criticized ''DS9'' for being the polar opposite of Gene Roddenberry's philosophy and vision of the future.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=2478 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123012040/http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=2478 |archive-date=November 23, 2007 |publisher=iF Magazine |first=Sean |last=Elliot |title=Exclusive: George Takei Thanks Fans For 40 Years of 'Star Trek' |date=November 20, 2007 |access-date=November 20, 2007 }}</ref> Writer [[D. C. Fontana]] thought that as a World War II veteran Roddenberry would have appreciated the show and its dark themes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trekmovie.com/2007/08/16/dorothy-fontana-on-new-comics-new-novel-canon-ds9-ent-new-movie/ |title=Interview – Dorothy Fontana On New Comics, New Novel + Canon, DS9, ENT & New Movie |publisher=TrekMovie.com |last=Pascale |first=Anthony |date=August 16, 2007 |access-date=December 28, 2014 }}</ref> [[Bjo Trimble]], one of the major forces behind the letter-writing campaign that helped renew ''The Original Series'' for its third season, commented that she thought Roddenberry would have "come to like ''DS9'', had he lived to see it", and that "the only reason there were not full battles in early ''Star Trek'' is lack of funds to pull it off, and lack of technology to show it. Otherwise, GR would certainly have added it; he knew what audiences liked".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trekplace.com/bjotrimble.html |title=Bjo Trimble email interview |first=Greg |last=Tyler |publisher=TrekPlace.com |date=August 1999|access-date=December 28, 2014}}</ref>

Roddenberry is quoted in ''The Making of Star Trek DS9'' as having doubts that a non-exploration show could work, and being displeased with early concepts presented to him in 1991. However, Rick Berman stated in the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion]]'' that Roddenberry had given him his blessing for developing it close to his death.

At the Shore Leave 14 convention in July 1992, Majel Barrett commented on Roddenberry's involvement: "He knew about it, but he was not about to become involved. He had done what he wanted to do and that was it. He just wished them Godspeed and go ahead. And as long as the name ''Star Trek'' is on it, yes, the estate will have a part of the action."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twguild.com/resources/development1.html |title=Star Trek Deep Space Nine Pre-Premiere Bible |first=Greg |last=Tyler |publisher=Trek Writer's Guild |date=July 1992 |access-date=December 28, 2014}}</ref>

[[Ronald D. Moore]], one of the series' main writers (who previously wrote for ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and went on to create the [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'']]), praised the show as the "ultimate achievement for the [''Star Trek''] franchise" in 2002:
<blockquote>
I think ''Deep Space [Nine]'' was the show that really took ''Star Trek'' as far as you could take it. You have ''The Original Series'' which is a sort of a landmark, it changes everything about the way science fiction is presented on television, at least space-based science fiction. Then you have ''Next Generation'', which for all of its legitimate achievements, is still a riff on the original. It's still sort of like, ok, it's another star ship and it's another captain – it's different, but it's still a riff on the original. Here comes ''Deep Space [Nine]'' and it just runs the table in a different way. It just says ok, you think you know what ''Star Trek'' is, let's put it on a space station, and let's make it darker. Let's make it a continuing story, and let's continually challenge your assumptions about what this American icon means. And I think it was the ultimate achievement for the franchise. Personally, I think it's the best of all of them; I think it's an amazing piece of work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008KA57 |title=Star Trek Deep Space Nine – The Complete Seventh Season: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, Colm Meaney, Nana Visitor, Armin Shimerman, Terry Farrell, Michael Dorn, Mark Allen Shepherd, Randy James, Robert Ford, Allan Kroeker, Anson Williams, Chip Chalmers, David Livingston, John T. Kretchmer, Jonathan West, LeVar Burton: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>
</blockquote>

=== Scholarly reception ===
J. Emmett Winn, in his discussion of the portrayal of Ferengi, criticized the show for "perpetuat[ing] [[racial stereotypes]] and promot[ing] mainstream [[cultural assimilation]] as a noble, desirable quest and as the correct way for the racialized 'other' to exist".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Winn|first=J. Emmett|date=2003-04-10|title=Racial Issues and Star Trek's Deep Space Nine|journal=Kinema: A Journal for Film and Audiovisual Media|doi=10.15353/kinema.vi.1046|issn=2562-5764|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Since the end of the series, many other scholars have addressed a variety of aspects of the show, including Victor Grech's analysis of the Cardassians as representing Nazis;<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Grech |first=Victor |date=June 2020 |title=The banality of evil in the occupation of Star Trek's Bajor |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S037837822030147X |journal=Early Human Development |language=en |volume=145 |article-number=105016 |doi=10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105016|pmid=32192805 |s2cid=214591155 |url-access=subscription }}{{Expression of Concern|doi=10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2021.105328|http://retractionwatch.com/2021/03/31/beam-us-up-elsevier-pulls-26-covid-19-papers-by- researcher-with-a-penchant-for-star-trek/ ''Retraction Watch''|http://retractionwatch.com/2020/12/10/elsevier-looking-into-very-serious-concerns-after- student-calls-out-journal-for-fleet-of-star-trek-articles-other-issues/ ''Retraction Watch''}}</ref> Douglas Cowan's chapter looking at religion in science fiction "Heeding the Prophet's Call: ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''";<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cowan |first=Douglas E. |title=Sacred space : the quest for transcendence in science fiction film and television |date=2010 |publisher=Baylor University Press |isbn=978-1-60258-238-5 |location=Waco, TX |oclc=445480598}}</ref> and Roger A. Sneed's ''The Dreamer and The Dream: Afrofuturism and Black Religious Thought''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sneed |first=Roger A. |title=The dreamer and the dream : Afrofuturism and Black religious thought |date=2021 |isbn=978-0-8142-1479-4 |location=Columbus |oclc=1246284354}}</ref> and Lisa Doris Alexander's article "Far Beyond the Stars: The Framing of Blackness in ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''",<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alexander |first=Lisa Doris |date=2016-07-02 |title=Far Beyond the Stars: The Framing of Blackness in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01956051.2016.1142418 |journal=Journal of Popular Film and Television |language=en |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=150–158 |doi=10.1080/01956051.2016.1142418 |s2cid=193597250 |issn=0195-6051|url-access=subscription }}</ref> both of which address the way ''Deep Space Nine'' broke new ground in depicting race in science fiction.

== ''Babylon 5'' controversy ==
''[[Babylon 5]]'', another science-fiction series with a similar premise, set on a space station, aired around the same period as ''Deep Space Nine''. ''Babylon 5'' creator [[J. Michael Straczynski]] indicated that [[Paramount Television]] was aware of his concept as early as 1989,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-14441 |title=J. Michael Straczynski post |publisher=Jmsnews.com |date=December 7, 1994 |access-date=November 7, 2010}}</ref> when he attempted to sell the show to the studio and provided them with the series [[Bible (writing)|bible]], pilot script, artwork, lengthy character background histories, and plot synopses for 22 "or so planned episodes taken from the overall course of the planned series".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-7864 |title=J. Michael Straczynski commenting on B5's attempted sale to Paramount + B5/DS9 similarities |publisher=Jmsnews.com |date=January 13, 1996 |access-date=November 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 8, 2003 |last=Sylvain |first=Nicholas |url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ds9season1.php |title=Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Season One (review) |publisher=DVD Verdict |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031011154632/https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/ds9season1.php |archive-date=2003-10-11 }}</ref>

Paramount declined to produce ''Babylon 5'', but later announced that ''Deep Space Nine'' was in development, two months after Warner Bros. announced its plans for ''Babylon 5''. Straczynski stated that though he was confident that ''Deep Space Nine'' showrunners Rick Berman and Michael Piller had not seen this material, he suspected that Paramount executives used his bible and scripts to steer the development of ''Deep Space Nine''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-7652 |title=J. Michael Straczynski post from 1992 |publisher=The J. Michael Straczynski Message Archive (jms.com) |date=February 4, 1992 |access-date=October 26, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-3367 |title=J. Michael Straczynski post from 1997 |publisher=The J. Michael Straczynski Message Archive (jms.com) |date=September 15, 1997 |access-date=November 16, 2007 |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207130339/http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-3367 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="GEnie">{{cite web|title=B5 information from GEnie|url=http://mirrors.ntua.gr/b5/GEnie/jms92-02|publisher=National Technical University of Athens|access-date=July 6, 2016}}</ref> He and Warner Bros did not file suit against Paramount, largely because Straczynski did not see it as a productive option, with negative repercussions for both TV series. In 1993, he responded to a ''Deep Space Nine'' fan who saw the lack of legal action as proof that Straczynski's allegation was unfounded with: "If there is any (to use your term) winking and nudging going on, it's on the level of 'Okay, YOU (Paramount) know what happened, and *I* know what happened, but let's try to be grownup about it for now,' though I must say that the shapechanging thing nearly tipped me back over the edge again. If there are no more major similarities that crop up in the next few weeks or months, with luck we can continue that way."<ref name="GEnie"/>

==Music==
On June 30, 1993, between seasons one and two, ''DS9'' followed the example of other ''Star Trek'' series in releasing the original score from its pilot episode on CD. The title theme was also made available as a CD single. Music from several other episodes is included on ''The Best of Star Trek'' releases.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startreksoundtracks.com/ds9/emissary.html |title=Star Trek Soundtracks: Emissary |access-date=March 6, 2013 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118034308/http://www.startreksoundtracks.com/ds9/emissary.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startreksoundtracks.com/misc/bestof2.html |title=Star Trek Soundtracks: The Best of Star Trek: Volume 2 |access-date=March 6, 2013 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118034157/http://www.startreksoundtracks.com/misc/bestof2.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Created in the hope that [[Frank Sinatra Jr.]] would take the role,<ref name="ErdmannP562">Edrmann and Block (2000) [https://books.google.com/books?id=kDe3VS07YSMC&pg=PA562 page 562]</ref> the character [[Vic Fontaine]] (instead played by 1960s heart-throb [[James Darren]]) was introduced in the sixth-season episode "[[His Way (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|His Way]]". The character was a self-aware holographic [[Las Vegas]] lounge singer and nightclub owner from the early 1960s. Vic was popular with the station's crew and performed many period songs by, among others, [[Frank Sinatra]] and [[Nat King Cole]]. Darren's role allowed him to release ''[[This One's from the Heart]]'' on August 24, 1999, featuring songs that Vic sang in the show and other period pieces.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 1, 1999 |last=Sharpe |first=John |title=James Darren: This One's From The Heart |website=[[All About Jazz]] |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/this-ones-from-the-heart-james-darren-concord-music-group-review-by-john-sharpe.php |access-date=October 1, 2021 }}</ref>

On February 12, 2013, La La Land Records released a limited-edition, four-disc soundtrack collection entitled the ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Collection''. The discs contain various cues from episodes scored by [[Dennis McCarthy (composer)|Dennis McCarthy]], [[Jay Chattaway]], [[David Bell (composer)|David Bell]], [[Paul Baillargeon]], [[John Debney]], [[Richard Bellis]] and Gregory Smith. Only 3000 copies of the collection were printed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lalalandrecords.com/DS9.html |title=LA LA LAND RECORDS, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |access-date=March 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305140123/https://lalalandrecords.com/DS9.html |archive-date=March 5, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startreksoundtracks.com/ds9/ds9-lala.html |title=Star Trek Soundtracks: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Collection |access-date=March 6, 2013 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118034114/http://www.startreksoundtracks.com/ds9/ds9-lala.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Home media==
{{See also|List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine home video releases}}
Episodes of ''DS9'' were made available on [[VHS]] cassettes. The series was released on VHS in the United Kingdom starting August 2, 1993. Each video cassette contained two episodes and unique artwork and character/plot information. The first VHS release in the United States came on November 19, 1996.

Beginning in 1996, ''DS9'' began releases on [[LaserDisc]]. Picture and sound quality in this format was significantly better than that of VHS cassettes; however, the Laserdisc format was discontinued in 1997. Only 30 discs, or the first 60 episodes, were released, comprising the first, second, and part of the third season before Pioneer halted its production of ''Star Trek'' discs in October 1999. ''DS9'' LaserDiscs were also produced for the Japanese and European markets. In Japan, the first five seasons were released in a series of 10 boxed sets (two per season) before they were cancelled around the same time as the US releases.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blam1.com/StarTrek/DeepSpaceNine.htm |title=Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |last=Young |first=Blaine |date=November 22, 2003 |publisher=Blam Entertainment Group |access-date=January 1, 2021 }}</ref> In Europe, a select few ''DS9'' episodes were released on PAL laserdisc: "Emissary", also included in the boxed set ''Star Trek: The Pilots''; "The Way of the Warrior", parts 1 and 2; and "Trials and Tribble-ations" from ''DS9'', "The Trouble with Tribbles" from ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' and "More Tribbles, More Troubles" from ''Star Trek: The Animated Series''.

Following the DVD release of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' in 2002, ''DS9'' was released on DVD beginning in February 2003. ''DS9'' was released in boxed sets of one season each, which were released about one month apart. Each season contains several "special features", including a biographical look at a main character, information from make-up designer [[Michael Westmore]] on how various aliens were created, and interviews with cast and crew members.

The sets also include "Section 31" [[easter egg (media)|easter eggs]] that give a brief look at other aspects of the series. The Region 2 and 4 DVDs also came with bonus CD-ROM discs that allow users to build a "virtual" ''DS9'' on their computers with each release (this software can no longer be installed, as the online registration is no longer available).{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} On October 26, 2004, a boxed set of all seven seasons was also released.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}

In 2017, the complete series was released on a DVD box set, with 176 episodes on 48 discs; the set also included a variety of extras that was the same as those on the 2003 box set.<ref name="TrekNews">{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2017 |author=TrekNews net Staff |title=[REVIEW] Deep Space Nine Complete Series DVD Box Set|url=https://treknews.net/2017/02/10/review-star-trek-ds9-complete-series-dvd-box-set/|access-date=February 19, 2021|website=TrekNews.net }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2017|title=Review: Love & family are interpreted differently in this week's releases (Includes first-hand account)|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/entertainment/review-love-family-are-interpreted-differently-in-this-week-s-releases/article/485443|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=www.digitaljournal.com}}</ref> An example of bonus content is a featurette "Deep Space Nine: A Bold New Beginning".<ref name="TrekNews" />

==''What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''==
{{redirect|What We Left Behind|the album|What We Left Behind (Veara album)}}
{{for|similar titles
|What We Leave Behind (disambiguation){{!}}What We Leave Behind
|What You Leave Behind
}}
In 2017, [[Ira Steven Behr]] announced he had reconvened much of the former cast and crew of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' for a documentary film entitled ''What We Left Behind'' (eventually released as ''What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''). It had a very positive response and surpassed its fundraising goals, and this success led to ground-breaking conversions of ''Deep Space Nine'' footage into higher definition, although it caused some delays. A screening version was released in late 2018 in Hollywood, in New York City, and at the ''Destination Star Trek'' convention in the UK.<ref name="trektoday.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.trektoday.com/content/2018/09/what-we-left-behind-world-premiere/|title=What We Left Behind World Premiere – TrekToday|date=September 10, 2018 }}</ref><ref name="trekmovie.com"/><ref name="ComicBook.com1">{{cite web |date=December 22, 2018 |author=JAMIE LOVETT |title=See 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' in HD for the First Time |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |url=https://comicbook.com/startrek/2018/12/22/star-trek-deep-space-nine-hd-documentary-what-we-left-behind/ |access-date=2021-10-10 }}</ref>

By February 2017, the documentary was partially finished, with an [[Indiegogo]] fundraising page set up to crowdsource the rest of the money needed to complete it. In addition to interviews with cast and crew, the documentary explored ''Deep Space Nine''{{'}}s legacy; Behr also reconvened the series' old writers' room to develop a script for the first episode of an imagined eighth season, which featured in the film.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 9, 2017 |author=Lance Ulanoff |url=http://mashable.com/2017/02/09/deep-space-nine-documentary-news/ |agency=Mashable |title=Deep Space Nine documentary gets crowdfunding push |access-date=February 1, 2021 }}</ref> In 2017, a tentative release date was set for 2018.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 8, 2017 |first=Beth |last=Elderkin |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/a-new-deep-space-nine-documentary-reveals-what-would-ha-1792170830 |agency=io9 |title=A New Deep Space Nine Documentary Reveals What Would Have Happened in Season Eight |access-date=February 9, 2021 }}</ref> In the summer of 2018, the makers scheduled special release events starting in October 2018.<ref name="trekmovie.com">{{cite web|url=https://trekmovie.com/2018/08/27/star-trek-ds9-composer-dennis-mccarthy-to-score-what-we-left-behind-backer-premieres-announced/|title=Star Trek: DS9 Composer Dennis McCarthy To Score 'What We Left Behind,' Backer Premieres Announced |first=Anthony |last=Pascale |website=TrekMovie.com }}</ref> A version was able to be screened at these special release events at Paramount in Hollywood and some other locations, but a decision was made to delay the media release to increase the number of high-definition conversions.<ref name="trektoday.com"/><ref name="ComicBook.com1"/>

In 2017, a fundraiser for the documentary surpassed its target of nearly $150,000 within a day of going live.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/what-we-left-behind-star-trek-deep-space-nine-doc|publisher=Indiegogo|title=What We Left Behind: Star Trek Deep Space Nine Doc|access-date=February 9, 2017}}</ref> It went on to raise over $500,000 by March 2017.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 10, 2017 |first=Elizabeth |last=Howell |url=https://www.space.com/35991-star-trek-ds9-documentary-crowdfunding-success.html |title='Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' Doc Warps Way Beyond Crowdfunding Goal |website=Space.com}}</ref> When it concluded, it had raised over $631,000 from thousands of donations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treknews.net/2017/03/10/ds9-documentary-thank-you/|title=DS9 Documentary Reaches Final Day, Team Releases Thank You Video [UPDATED] |first=Kyle |last=Hadyniak |date=March 10, 2017}}</ref>

Development of ''What We Left Behind'' took extra time due in part to the large amount of material for editing and technical challenges.<ref name="ComicBook.com">{{cite web |date=April 24, 2018 |author=JAMIE LOVETT |title='Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' Documentary Offers New Update |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |url=https://comicbook.com/startrek/2018/04/23/star-trek-deep-space-nine-documentary-update-what-we-left-behind/ |access-date=2021-10-10 }}</ref> This includes crafting special-effects footage and working with CBS to make high-definition scans.<ref name="ComicBook.com"/> The makers also expanded the amount of footage that was remastered and innovated with a 16:9 scan of the original ''DS9'' film.<ref name="trekmovie.com"/>

In August 2018, it was the announced that the documentary would have original music scored by ''Star Trek'' veterans Dennis McCarthy (256 ''Star Trek'' episodes scored) and [[Kevin Kiner]] (10 ''Star Trek'' episodes scored).<ref name="trekmovie.com"/> The documentary's producer was Kai de Mello-Folsom, in consultation with others from the original creative team including [[Michael Okuda]], Jonathan West, and [[Doug Drexler]].<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-07-03 |first=Anthony |last=Pascale |url=https://trekmovie.com/2018/07/03/editing-completed-for-what-we-left-behind-ds9-documentary-expected-to-be-released-this-year/ |title=Editing Completed For 'What We Left Behind,' Star Trek: DS9 Documentary Expected To Be Released This Year |website=TrekMovie.com }}</ref>

''What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' premiered in late 2018 at these locations:<ref name="trektoday.com"/>

* Los Angeles, October 12
* New York City, October 14
* [[Birmingham]], UK, October 20, during the ''Destination Star Trek'' convention<ref name="trektoday.com"/>

The strong community support and overall response, as well as the creative team's access to resources to create the high-definition sequences, led to a delay to increase the sequences filmed in higher definition for the documentary.<ref name="ComicBook.com1"/> Although the screening version was complete and could have been released as-is, a creative decision was made to undertake converting more sequences into high definition.<ref name="ComicBook.com1"/>
One teaser showed concept art of a ''Star Trek'' spacecraft, which appears in the documentary in an animated sequence.<ref name="trekmovie-unveils">{{cite web |url=https://trekmovie.com/2018/10/20/what-we-left-behind-doc-unveils-star-trek-deep-space-nine-season-8-starship/ |title='What We Left Behind' Doc Unveils 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' Season 8 Starship |author=TrekMovie com Staff |website=TrekMovie.com}}</ref> The spacecraft design was by John Eaves, who designed many spacecraft in the franchise's television shows and theatrical films.<ref name="trekmovie-unveils" />

<!-- Reception. Box office. Critical response. -->
On May 13, 2019, a limited theatrical version was released.<ref name="vulture">{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/what-we-left-behind-documentary-deep-space-nine.html |title=What We Left Behind Boldly Argues for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Place in the Black TV Canon |last=Bastién |first=Angelica Jade |date=May 17, 2019 |website=Vulture.com |access-date=May 27, 2019 }}</ref> It played at about 800 theaters and grossed over $380,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/daily/chart/?sortdate=2019-05-13&track=hathawawilsoncomedy.htm |title=Daily Box Office for Monday, May 13, 2019 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=May 4, 2020 }}</ref> The film reviewed various aspects of the series from a perspective of 20 years later, explored a plot for a notional eighth season and included many clips rescanned from original footage in high definition.<ref name="vulture" />

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from nine critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/what_we_left_behind_looking_back_at_star_trek_deep_space_nine |title=What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2019) |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=April 20, 2021 }}</ref>

==Books==
{{See also|List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novels}}
[[Pocket Books]] has published several dozen books based on ''DS9''. Some of these were [[novelization]]s of memorable episodes, such as "Emissary", "[[The Search (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|The Search]]", and "What You Leave Behind", which were usually published a few days after the episode aired in the United States. Several novels were part of "crossover" series between the ''Star Trek'' franchises, while others were part of other franchises, but dealt with events laid out in ''DS9''. For example, ''The Battle of Betazed'' tells of how [[Deanna Troi]] attempted to resist the Dominion occupation of her world (mentioned in the episode "[[In the Pale Moonlight]]"). Most focus on the station and its crew, with a notable exception being [[Ira Steven Behr]] and [[Robert Hewitt Wolfe]]'s ''Legends of the Ferengi''.

The "Millennium" series by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, published by Pocket Books beginning in 2000, consists of ''The Fall of Terok Nor'' (book 1), ''The War of the Prophets'' (book 2), and ''Inferno'' (book 3). The series lays out an alternate ending to ''DS9'' (the novels were written before the series concluded) in which a second wormhole is created by the actions of a number of shady characters, destroying the station. In the space-time distortion that occurs, most of the crew are transported 25 years into the future - in which the Federation and its allies are virtually crushed, and a fanatical sect of Bajorans who worships the [[Pah-wraith]]s have ascended to power and plan to destroy the universe to bring about a higher state of existence. ''Inferno'' ends the series, as an unexpected mode of time travel is discovered ''after'' the end of the universe, allowing the ''DS9'' crew to alter past events.

''Avatar'', a two-part novel published on May 1, 2001, picked up where the series left off. It began [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine relaunch|season eight]] of ''DS9'', into which ''A Stitch in Time'' (a biographical look at the life of Garak, written by Andrew Robinson himself) was incorporated retroactively. The events of "What You Leave Behind", ''DS9''{{'}}s series finale, caused some radical changes to occur in season eight. As Benjamin Sisko had entered the Celestial Temple, Colonel Kira was given command of the station, while a new commander named [[Elias Vaughn]] took over her position, Garak became the leader of postwar Cardassia, Odo helped the Changelings rebuild, and Rom presided over the [[Ferengi Alliance]].

Other publications, such as the ''Deep Space Nine Technical Manual'' and ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion|Deep Space Nine Companion]]'', are common to most of the ''Trek'' series. The ''DS9'' Companion contains detailed episode guides and interviews with actors, writers, directors, and other staff members.

''DS9'' series influences were included in role-playing game reference books from [[Last Unicorn Games]] and [[Decipher, Inc.]] Additionally, several novels have also been released in audio form, narrated by René Auberjonois and Armin Shimerman, among others.

===Comics===
Outside its line of novels, ''DS9'' has been the subject of several [[comic book]]s published by [[Malibu Comics]], [[Wildstorm Productions|Wildstorm Comics]], [[Marvel Comics]], and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]. One—Marvel's ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (comics)|Starfleet Academy]]''—is a spin-off detailing Nog's experiences as a cadet at the [[Starfleet Academy|title academy]] in [[San Francisco]]. Another ''DS9'' comic series became an example of licensed ''Star Trek'' works influencing each other as Tiris Jast, a major character from Wildstorm's ''N-Vector'', appeared in the novel ''Avatar, Book One''.

==Games==
Several video games focus on ''DS9''. The first is ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Crossroads of Time|Crossroads of Time]]'', a 1995 side-scrolling game for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] and [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]]. It takes place around the time of the series premiere, borrowing some stories from early episodes such as "[[Past Prologue]]" and creating others. A number of problems reportedly impeded the game's development process,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpmolyneaux.com/mm-ds9.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206052919/http://www.mpmolyneaux.com/mm-ds9.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2005 |title=Maurice Molyneaux: Deep Space Nine (Genesis/SNES) |access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> and it was met with mixed reactions.

Three ''DS9''-themed games were released for the PC: ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Harbinger|Harbinger]]'' in 1996, ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen|The Fallen]]'' in 2000, and ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars|Dominion Wars]]'' in 2001. A [[board game]] was released as part of the now-defunct "component board game" series, which includes a compatible board game for ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12937/star-trek-deep-space-nine-the-board-game |title=Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The Board Game &#124; Board Game |publisher=BoardGameGeek |access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> ''DS9''{{'}}s [[role-playing]] book is one of several that failed to be released into wide circulation when [[Decipher, Inc.|Decipher]], then publisher of the ''Star Trek'' role-playing game, discontinued its line.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}

''DS9'' is featured prominently in the ''[[Star Trek Customizable Card Game]]'', particularly its second edition. In the first edition, ''Deep Space Nine'' is the titular fifth set, followed by one titled ''The Dominion'' and several other ''DS9''-themed sets. In the second edition, two types of cards are used for the United Federation of Planets, which may be placed at Earth or Deep Space Nine. The Ferengi, Dominion, Cardassian, Bajoran, and Maquis affiliations are primarily ''DS9''-derived material, while the Klingon affiliation also borrows strongly from it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jklm.net/atn/pdp.html |title=Older Decipher Star Trek Card Products |publisher=Jklm.net |access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>

The PC game ''[[Star Trek Online]]'' features ''Deep Space Nine'' as a trading hub. The lower ring (the Promenade) contains vendors, and the upper ring offers views of surrounding space. The expansion ''Victory is Life'' is focused around ''DS9'' and the Gamma Quadrant.

In 2019, the ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Red Alert'' video-game gambling machine was announced, with a tie-in promotion to the Las Vegas ''Star Trek'' convention.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 29, 2019 |author=JAMIE LOVETT |url=https://comicbook.com/startrek/2019/07/29/star-trek-deep-space-nine-red-alert-gambling-machine/ |title=Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Red Alert Video Game Gambling Machine Revealed |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |access-date=August 1, 2021 }}</ref>

==Other merchandising==
Along with the rest of the ''Star Trek'' franchise, ''DS9'' has had much merchandising including [[Action figure]]s, [[keychain]]s, and [[Scale model|models]]. The station itself is the subject of many of these items. Paramount sells [[Starfleet]] uniforms, including the so-called "''DS9''-style" uniform with various division colors. The licensed product produced by [[Playmates Toys]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/totemic-artefacts-playmates-star-trek-deep-space-nine-wave-1 | title=Totemic Artefacts: Playmates Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Wave 1 – Eruditorum Press | date=January 28, 2016 }}</ref> was directed by Karl Aaronian, who was responsible for helming the development of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]. Aaronian called upon sculptors such as Scott Hensey of Anaglyph Studios, Steve Varner of Varner Studios, Art Asylum, and relied on graphic design from a number of design and development studios, including White Design, [[Pangea Corporation|PANGEA]], McHale Design, and Robinson-Clarke. The writing for the toy line was penned by [[John C. Schulte|John Schulte]], [[John Besmehn]], and Cheryl Ann Wong — all of PANGEA. The company was also responsible for generating blueprints of vessels and other in-pack incentives for the toy line.

''DS9'' was represented at [[Star Trek: The Experience]], an attraction at the [[Las Vegas Hilton]] with an immersive reenactment of the ''DS9'' universe, as an adventure on the bridge of the ''Enterprise'' and on ''DS9''. Staffed by costumed actors, Quark's Bar and Restaurant served ''Star Trek''-style cuisine, and hosted gatherings such as conventions. The Shopping Promenade sold souvenirs such as "official" Starfleet uniforms and action figures. The attraction closed in September 2008.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |year=1994 |edition=1st |last1=Okuda |first1=Michael |title=The Star Trek Encyclopedia |last2=Okuda |first2=Denise |last3=Mirek |first3=Debbie |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=0-671-86905-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekencyclop00okud |via=[[Internet Archive]] |url-access=registration }}<!-- Borrowing library, full copy of 1994 edition -->
* {{Cite book |date=2011-05-17 |edition=3rd |last1=Okuda |first1=Michael |title=The Star Trek Encyclopedia |last2=Okuda |first2=Denise |last3=Mirek |first3=Debbie |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4516-4688-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbYf2l7gczUC |via=Google Books }}<!-- Previews of 2011 edition -->
* {{Cite book |date=2000 |last1=Erdmann |first1=Terry J. |title=Deep Space Nine Companion |last2=Block |first2=Paula M. |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-671-50106-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDe3VS07YSMC |via=Google Books }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}{{deadlink|date=June 2025}}
* {{IMDb title}}
{{Memory Alpha|Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''}}
* ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u3WwFMgy5A What We Left Behind: Looking Back At Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]'', 2018 documentary

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