The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast

The Mirror Universe. Typically when Star Trek fans think of the Mirror Universe, they think of The Original Series and the episode "Mirror, Mirror." And while it's true that the Enterprise's mission to the Halkan homeworld gave birth to this sexy and sinister place, it was Deep Space Nine that really gave a home to the land of alter egos. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing explore the Mirror Universe and discuss how it was fleshed out by DS9, how our familiar characters differ and remain the same, and why even the Intendant can't resist Mirror Ezri. Plus, we imagine a series called Star Trek: MU and play a round of Mirror Universe trivia.

The Maquis. They were created for Voyager, but it was DS9 that really fleshed out the story of this group of settlers caught in the middle of a conflict between the Federation and Cardassia. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing examine how governments forget the little people when making concessions to enemies, how the blind eye of the Federation Council led to an insurgency that cost the lives of many innocent people, and how the Maquis found themselves in a position of real life that was beyond the imagination of the decision makers sitting comfortably back on Earth.

The Dominion War. By the second season it became clear that Deep Space Nine was going to be more about characters and real life than any previous Star Trek series. And the pursuit of this led DS9 across a line that no one had dared cross before. The introduction of the Dominion set up one of television's greatest story arcs, but one that has been criticized by fans, by Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and even by Rick Berman himself. For many, open warfare has no place in Star Trek. But is that so? In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a first look at the Dominion War, focusing on the setup, how it changed our characters, how Cardassia paid the heaviest price of all, and why the Dominion War was good for the core mission of Star Trek.

Vic Fontaine. Deep Space Nine always marched to the beat of its own drum, but with the introduction of a 1962 jazz lounge in the sixth-season episode "His Way" the show began to swing, too. Vic Fontaine was only on the show for a short while, but in the ten episodes in which he appears or is mentioned he became a key part of the family and touched the lives of the entire crew. He tickled the eardrums of the audience, too… and probably made you tap your foot once or twice. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a look at the guy who knew what he was—a light bulb—and how the leading man of holoprogram Bashir 62 added so much to the uniqueness of DS9 and helped provide some of the show's most touching moments.

DS9 Season Two. The first season of Deep Space Nine took a while to find its footing as it established a new kind of Star Trek, and it wasn't until the end of the season that we saw those seeds truly planted. But when the show returned for its sophomore outing it had clearly grown up a bit. The Circle Trilogy—with its Bajoran political intrigue—set the tone for storytelling that was deeper and more character-driven than what had come before. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing go for a walk and talk through the Promenade to examine Season Two, how writing mandates and set changes influenced the direction of the show, and what we see as the highs and lows of the season.

In the Pale Moonlight Commentary. It's widely held as the darkest moment of not only Deep Space Nine but all of Star Trek. Captain Sisko's decision to trick the Romulans into entering the Dominion War rocked the foundation of Roddenberry's world and the principles of the Federation. Despite this—or perhaps because of it—"In the Pale Moonlight" is one of Star Trek's finest pieces of storytelling. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take you through the episode with a full commentary. Because we felt that, maybe if we just laid it all out in our logs, it would finally make sense.

Impressions of a First-time Niner. As hard as it is for we die-hard Niners to believe, there are many Star Trek fans who are just now viewing Deep Space Nine for the very first time. In many cases, they've heard from friends how DS9 is a rich series filled with character depth and complex story threads and have decided they must see this for themselves. And then, they get into Season One and wonder what all the hooplah is about. In this episode of The Orb we're joined by Trek.fm's own TOS editor Drew Stewart to find out about his own experience as he explores this corner of the Alpha Quadrant for the very first time. Plus, we reveal how "Move Along Home" could have been an instant classic.

The Breen. When the writers of Deep Space Nine needed to throw one more challenge at the Federation Alliance, they turned to a name we all knew but a race we knew nearly nothing about: The Breen. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take on these menacing aliens in Boushh cosplay as we look at what we think we know about them, their role in the culmination of the Dominion War, and why they were an excellent creative choice. We touch on both what we've seen on screen and what has been developed in the expanded literary universe, and reveal our own ideas of what's going on under those suits.

The Visitor. The only episode of Deep Space Nine to be nominated for the Hugo Award, "The Visitor" is a moving story that works with or without the Star Trek elements. This account of Jake Sisko's life following the apparent death of his father tugs on the heartstrings and effectively conveys an enormous sense of loss, anguish, and guilt. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing are joined by sociology professor John Tenuto to discuss this unique and powerful episode, what it says about the importance of fathers, and why it is quietly one of the greatest Star Trek episodes of all time.

Bad Episodes We Love. Okay, maybe "bad" is too strong a word; but we all have different tastes in Star Trek, even within the series we love most. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing examine episodes that were a ratings flop with fans but which we think get a bad rap. From gunji jackdaws to arrogant scientists to micro universes, find out which stories deserve a fresh viewing and why we see something good in DS9's often forgettable moments.

The Defiant. After the disastrous first encounter with the Jem'Hadar left the Galaxy-Class USS Odyssey in ruins, it became clear to Sisko that they would need something more than runabouts to protect the station and to venture into the Gamma Quadrant. So he returned to an old project he had worked on and asked Starfleet to pull a unique warship out of storage—the USS Defiant. It's a little ship, as Riker would call it, but also one that—as Sisko pointed out—has teeth. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a close look at the Defiant, the key role it played in both general storytelling and the Dominion War, and whether its introduction to the show was a natural evolution of the DS9 storyline or an admission that the stationary nature of the show wasn't working.

Badda-Bing Badda-Bang. Just before Deep Space Nine wrapped up with a ten-episode arc that resolved the Dominion War, the crew took one last moment to cut loose and enjoy themselves—and they did it in the name of one of their dearest friends. He may be nothing more than photons and forcefields, but Vic Fontaine influenced the lives of almost everyone on DS9 in a positive way. So when his hotel was bought and his livelihood threatened, Miles, Jules, and the rest of the crew knew they had to help. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing join in the holographic fun to discuss Vic, his role on the station, Sisko's issues with 1962, and why Starfleet could learn a thing or two from Ezri's choice of outfit.

The Prophets. To the Bajorans they are gods. To Starfleet they are aliens. Whichever may be true, to the viewer the Prophets are a mysterious force that resides outside our normal space yet exhibits great influence over the lives of we corporeal inhabitants of linear time. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss the Prophets, how they are used as a plot device in Deep Space Nine, the motivation behind their interest in the Bajorans, and how they both parallel and deviate from human belief systems.

The Visual Design of Deep Space Nine. The mandate going into DS9 was to create something very different from previous incarnations of Star Trek. Setting the show in a non-Federation environment at the junction of interstellar traffic meant that the station would be a strange and busy place. What was needed was something a bit darker, a bit sinister—and completely alien. Picking up on the threads first laid out in TNG's "The Wounded," Herman Zimmerman, Marvin Rush, and the rest of the creative team fleshed out Cardassian design and architecture to create an incredibly real environment and some of the most elaborate sets every built for television. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss various elements of Deep Space Nine's visual design including the interiors, the lighting, Cardassian technology, the meshing of Cardassian and Bajoran aesthetics, the Defiant, and of course the uniforms.

The Bajoran Orbs. One of the unique aspects of Deep Space Nine was the inclusion of religion and spirituality. And just as religions on Earth have their artifacts, so too does religion on Bajor. For the Bajorans these come in the form of powerful objects called Orbs. Also known as Tears of the Prophets, Orbs are mysterious hourglass-shaped energy fields that the Bajorans believe were sent by the Prophets to guide and teach them. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing examine the ten Orbs, how they are used in the story of DS9, and the spiritual and scientific properties of these beautiful glowing boxes.

Worf. He began as the token Klingon in "Encounter at Farpoint" and evolved into one of the longest-running characters on television. As a critical part of the crew on two Star Trek series, Worf was transformed from a two-dimensional representation of Federation-Klingon progress into a three-dimensional representation of the Human-Klingon balancing act. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing look at Worf, how he struggled to reconcile his human upbringing with his desire to be truly Klingon, how he is often a warrior of contradiction, how his relationships with Miles, Jadzia, and Martok shaped him, and his ultimate goal of bringing his two very different sides together to create one honourable man.

Favorite Episodes. With 173 episodes to choose from, it's difficult to pick just five favorites. But in this episode of The Orb we do just that as hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing each toss five episodes onto the table for discussion and explore why these stories highlight some of the best moments from Deep Space Nine.

Garak. He's one of the most beloved characters on Deep Space Nine and one of the most complex in all of Star Trek. Garak appears in just 33 of DS9's 173 episodes, yet it feels like he's always there. His character arc can stand up to that of any of the "main cast" and—as a study of the psychological motivations for one's actions—there is no better puzzle to unravel than the one called Elim. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing are joined by Dr. Una McCormack, Star Trek author and lecturer at the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, to discuss what makes Garak tick, how his interactions with others on the station changed him, and his path from exiled agent of the Obsidian Order led to life as a simple tailor and ultimately to redemption as a savior of Cardassia.

Science vs Religion on Bajor. Deep Space Nine did an excellent job of balancing two very different—yet intertwined—ways of viewing the world. People often come down on the extreme sides of world views based on either religion or science. While the two certainly seem diametrically opposed on the surface, there are similarities. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing use the season one finale "In the Hands of the Prophets" as the basis for a discussion of science, religion, and the need for moderate views and understanding. We explore the faceoff between Keiko O'Brien and Vedek Winn, Bareil's tempering hand, and the unlikely voice of reason: a Starfleet commander named Benjamin Sisko.

Miles O'Brien. One of the longest-running characters in Star Trek, we first met Miles O'Brien in the TNG pilot episode "Encounter at Farpoint" in which he was the conn officer on the Battle Bridge. He went on to appear in 51 more episodes of The Next Generation before moving over to Deep Space Nine as Chief of Operations. By the time we got to DS9 his character had a full background, yet there is still a lot to be found in how his upbringing and 20+ years of service made him a stabilising factor for the DS9 crew and the calm in the eye of the storm. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing look at Miles, his hands-on approach to life, his loyalty to friends and family, and why if there is anyone who could hold the world on his shoulders it's Miles O'Brien—and he'd do it with a smile.

Kira Nerys. She grew up under Cardassian oppression, learned to fight for her feedom and beliefs, and came to trust the Prophets implicitly. After breaking free of the Occupation she found herself fighting what she saw as a new battle for freedom—this time against the Federation. Kira Nerys's life was defined by difficult positions, but through it all she held steadfast in her convictions and beliefs. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing look at the growth of Kira from hellish childhood to liberator of Cardassia, how she learned to temper her views and accept others, and why she is perhaps the best female character in Star Trek.

Jadzia Dax. In order to know who you are, it's important to know who you've been. That's the advice given by one of DS9's youngest crew members—and also its oldest—Jadzia Dax. Most of us find coming to terms with one life task enough; but what would it be like to juggle eight lives? In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing examine Jadzia the young woman, Dax the symbiont, the union of the two into a joined Trill, and how this unique person came to terms with her past and influenced those around her in a way that helped each of them grow.

Quark. Coming into Deep Space Nine, the Ferengi were a joke. Their disastrous introduction in the first season of TNG left them as little more than (perhaps unintentional) comic relief. But Armin Shimerman's brilliant portrayal of Quark breathed new life into the Ferengi and turned this profit-driven race into a vehicle for meaningful commentary—all without losing the fun. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a closer look at Quark, what drives him in business, what motivates his decisions, and how—like the Grinch—his heart grew three sizes by the end of his story.

Odo. When he was found in the Denorios Belt, Odo was literally a blank slate. As a being without form, without knowledge of his origins, and without knowing how to interact with those who had brought him in, Odo found himself at the beginning of a long journey that would ultimately find him torn between the world of his birth and the world in which he—for the lack of a better term—grew up. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a closer look at Odo and his search for identity and acceptance, as well as how he adapted to the changining environments of Terok Nor and Deep Space 9. We also look at what he learned from Quark and how his love for Kira ultimately shaped the person he became—and saved the Alpha Quadrant in the process.

Julian Bashir. He arrived on Deep Space 9 as a young, eager, and arrogant doctor ready to bring Federation medical knowledge to the wilderness. He said goodbye to his crewmates as a thougtful and mature man, loyal to his friends, his work, and his ideals. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a closer look at Doctor Julian Bashir, his inner search for acceptance, his relationships, and the arc of incredible growth that we say over the course of seven years.

The Sisko. Shortly after Benjamin Sisko arrived at Bajor, he was informed by Kai Opaka that he was the more than just a Starfleet Commander. Apart from being an ambassador of sorts whose mission was to prepare Bajor for Federation membership, Sisko was a long-awaited spiritual figure whose arrival was foretold in Bajoran prophecies. What played out over the next seven years was a story of incredible transformation of a kind never before seen in Star Trek. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a closer look at the man the Prophets came to refer to as The Sisko, how a Starfleet officer initially fought again his destiny, and how he came to accept that he had a very special purpose to fulfil that went beyond the uniform.

Favorite Characters, Favorite Arcs. No Star Trek series came close to the depth of character development that Deep Space Nine brought us over the course of seven seasons. Not only did the writers flesh out the main cast, they also developed more than 30 recurring characters who felt as much a part of the story as Sisko and his crew. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a closer look at the cast of DS9, examine their favorite characters, and consider who grew the most from "Emissary" to "What You Leave Behind."

First Impressions of DS9. It was billed as a darker, grittier take on Star Trek; but Deep Space Nine is much more than just TNG with the shine rubbed off. From its very foundation, DS9 is a different approach to storytelling. The much maligned decision to set the stories in a stationary location is actually one the greatest strengths of the series. In this, the premiere episode of Trek.fm's dedicated Deep Space Nine show, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing introduce the concept of The Orb, reminisce on their first impressions of DS9 from back in 1993, and explore the basic premise of the show and why it is better equipped than any other Star Trek series to examine the realities of life and relationships in a world of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs.