At least, when I was at a con shortly before DS9 premiered, that is what the behind-the-scenes guy giving the presentation on DS9 insinuated when answering the “Why no Ro?” question.

Sorry I don’t remember who the source was. It was a few decades ago.

As it is, the story shows hallmarks of being written very early. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that this was one of the original outlines of stories the producers had in mind when putting together the show’s concept. Like many of DS9′s first season stories, it sorts rather roughly with how DS9′s concepts and characters evolved.

I think the few insights into Sisko and Curzon’s friendship are possibly the most interesting parts of this story, so I agree that it would have been nice to see more about that as a lead-up to this. As it is, what we know is mainly by implication: Sisko feels so strongly about the Old Man–he really doesn’t know Jadzia Dax well enough yet–that he’s willing to fight hard for his successor’s life.

As it is, the story shows hallmarks of being written very early. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that this was one of the original outlines of stories the producers had in mind when putting together the show’s concept. Like many of DS9′s first season stories, it sorts rather roughly with how DS9′s concepts and characters evolved.

I think the few insights into Sisko and Curzon’s friendship are possibly the most interesting parts of this story, so I agree that it would have been nice to see more about that as a lead-up to this. As it is, what we know is mainly by implication: Sisko feels so strongly about the Old Man–he really doesn’t know Jadzia Dax well enough yet–that he’s willing to fight hard for his successor’s life.

As it is, the story shows hallmarks of being written very early. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that this was one of the original outlines of stories the producers had in mind when putting together the show’s concept. Like many of DS9′s first season stories, it sorts rather roughly with how DS9′s concepts and characters evolved.

I think the few insights into Sisko and Curzon’s friendship are possibly the most interesting parts of this story, so I agree that it would have been nice to see more about that as a lead-up to this. As it is, what we know is mainly by implication: Sisko feels so strongly about the Old Man–he really doesn’t know Jadzia Dax well enough yet–that he’s willing to fight hard for his successor’s life.

As it is, the story shows hallmarks of being written very early. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that this was one of the original outlines of stories the producers had in mind when putting together the show’s concept. Like many of DS9′s first season stories, it sorts rather roughly with how DS9′s concepts and characters evolved.

I think the few insights into Sisko and Curzon’s friendship are possibly the most interesting parts of this story, so I agree that it would have been nice to see more about that as a lead-up to this. As it is, what we know is mainly by implication: Sisko feels so strongly about the Old Man–he really doesn’t know Jadzia Dax well enough yet–that he’s willing to fight hard for his successor’s life.

As it is, the story shows hallmarks of being written very early. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that this was one of the original outlines of stories the producers had in mind when putting together the show’s concept. Like many of DS9′s first season stories, it sorts rather roughly with how DS9′s concepts and characters evolved.

I think the few insights into Sisko and Curzon’s friendship are possibly the most interesting parts of this story, so I agree that it would have been nice to see more about that as a lead-up to this. As it is, what we know is mainly by implication: Sisko feels so strongly about the Old Man–he really doesn’t know Jadzia Dax well enough yet–that he’s willing to fight hard for his successor’s life.

Title of this episode is Dax not Sisko. It is again another character development story that presupposes that no one is aware of the future direction of the series. We are not supposed “learn enough” about Dax, who is a unique and complex character, and it assumes that the viewer knows nothing about Trill society. Surely it has to leave holes that can be filled in later stories.

The “formulaic” outline is really so very predictable.

“Emissary” was about Sisko
“Past Prologue” was about Kira
“A Man Alone” is about Odo
“Captive Pursuit” is about O’Brian
“Dax” is about Dax
“The Passenger” is about Bashir (next episodes)
“Moving Along Home” and “The Nagus” is about Quark

Heavens, it is even they repeat various character episodes again – even until Series 2! The same kind of sequence was in Voyager and even TNG.

Studio producers have always understood that if series are going to survive it must form a positive attachment of the audience to the characters. Even in various spin-offs, the plot development nearly always tries to use the familiar then gravitate to the unfamiliar story lines. In DS9, they went out of their way to make sure to use as many plots and characters from the TNG stories to be all woven into DS9. I.e. Borg (to introduce Sisko), Q, Ferengi, Kilngons, Cardassians, etc. In turn, the used the same ideas into Voyager. I.e The Marquis (Ro Laren is the key the joins DS9, Voyager and TNG here; who was also mean to be in the role of Kira Nerys, but they could not get Michelle Forbes to to play Kira.)

TV Series traditionally is really all about keeping viewer watching and engaging with the characters. If we care about one or two, or even the majority, of characters, we will keep the ratings up and the program will not be cancelled. (In DS9 this was more important as Babylon 5 that was shown at the same time was also competing for similar sci-fi audiences.)