Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - TV-PG

Strong spin-off is more violent than the others.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: Spike, Syndicated Cast: Rene Auberjonois, Avery Brooks, Armin Shimerman Genre: Science Fiction
Available on: DVD

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this Star Trek series is by far the most violent entry in the franchise. One alien race was enslaved and forced into concentration camps, while another has been genetically engineered to become the perfect fighting machine (their masters take over a portion of the galaxy and prove to be brutal dictators). A secret faction within the Federation engages in biological warfare. Later seasons focus on an all-out war against the Dominon, which costs billions of lives and features several battle scenes involving hundreds of starships.

Families can talk about dictatorship and rebellion. Two of the show's main alien races were involved in a long war before the series began; considerable tension remains between them, and there are frequent references to atrocities committed during the conflict. Is war ever necessary? When is it acceptable to fight back? What would you do if your homeland was invaded? Families who've seen other Star Trek shows and movies can also discuss how they're different from and similar to each other. Which one is your favorite? Why is the franchise so successful?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Will Wade

Think of STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE 9 as the black sheep of the Star Trek family. For starters, instead of taking place on a starship, it's set in a space station that's permanently parked near the planet Bajor. But that's just the beginning of its many departures from the unwritten rules that govern the Star Trek universe, all of which make Deep Space 9 one of the more enjoyable series in the venerable sci-fi franchise.

DS9 centers on Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), who oversees the station's operations. At the series' start, Bajor has just been liberated from five decades of brutal occupation by the Cardassians. With the assistance of the Federation, the freed planet is assuming joint control of the strategic space station. Shortly thereafter, Sisko discovers a "wormhole" in space, a shortcut to the far side of the galaxy. Peace on Bajor and the wormhole's tantalizing secrets quickly transform Deep Space 9 from a galactic backwater to a thriving commercial hub.

This complicated set up provides endless opportunities for drama. Not only does the series explore the lingering tension between the Bajorans and the Cardassians (who make it very clear that they want to regain control of the outpost), the constant stream of characters passing through the busy station means endless opportunities for guest stars with new conflicts. What's more, the wormhole soon attracts the attention of the Dominion -- a powerful, hostile race based on the other side of the space rift -- which eventually invades Federation territory

Both of these are sharp departures from the other Star Trek series, which all took place within the confined worlds of spaceships and focused almost exclusively on the activities of their crews. The other Trek series almost always resolved their conflicts by the end of each episode and rarely followed story arcs for more than a few episodes.

In contrast, DS9 (which originally aired from 1993 to 1999) really hit its stride by creating a compelling, overarching storyline that follows the complicated political machinations among the Federation and its allies, the Dominion and its invasion plans, and the simmering conflict with the Cardassians (who eventually ally themselves with the Dominon and later come to regret that choice).

DS9 is also notable for its many comedic subplots, which generally focus on Quark (Armin Shimerman), a grumpy Ferengi who owns the station's popular bar (imagine the famous Star Wars cantina, with a bit less attitude and a lot less gunplay). The Ferengi value greed and pure capitalism, and the show often depicts them as childlike nuisances. They also have institutionalized sexism, which is clearly displayed in Quark's attitude toward the bargirls he employs. Not surprisingly, a fair amount of drinking takes place at the bar.

Fans of Deep Space 9 will probably also like the original Star Trek series and its spin-offs, as well as Babylon 5, which is also set in a busy space station. Anyone looking for a more serious space drama should definitely check out Battlestar Galactica.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content No nudity, but more sexual situations and innuendo than other Star Trek series. Couples occasionally shown in bed together, etc.
Violence Explores themes of genocide, fascism, and oppression, all of which come with plenty of violence -- though it's discussed more often than it's shown. A central long-running plot line involves a major intergalactic war, with plenty of spaceship battles and some ground combat.
Language
Message
	Social Behavior The Federation is portrayed as a benevolent democracy. But the series prominently features several other cultures with very different values, including the Klingons, who judge each other by their fighting prowess; the sexist Ferengi; and the Dominion, a fascist dictatorship bent on taking over the galaxy.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco One of the main characters owns a bar where many important scenes take place, usually with a fair amount of drinking. An entire race of villains has been genetically engineered to be addicted to a drug.