Star Trek debuted on national television in the fall of 1966 (Trimble, 1995). While the original series was not a hit until it reached syndication much later, it still managed to gain a loyal cult-like fellowship in the hearts of fans called "Trekkies" or "Trekkers". That devoted pool managed to spur a successful movie franchise in the 1980s, eventually creating eight motion pictures and five spin-off series. Modern day Trekkers continually debate over which series is the greatest, with some contending that the original Star Trek wins hands down because of the original, groundbreaking escapades of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. However, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the third spin-off series, is clearly superior to the original largely due to its realistic character development, intricate plot lines, and riveting socio-political conflicts.

Deep Space Nine developed their characters much more thoroughly than the original Star Trek, even going so far as to creating conflicts among the crew. While the original series' cast consisted entirely of a happy-go-lucky group of courageous officers, b

Although Captain Kirks rough and tumble bravado made him the classic action hero, it also brought out the one-dimensionality of his character as well. Captain Sisko was more than that; he was a father, an imperative religious leader to the Bajorans, as well as a steadfast comrade to his crewmates. Commanding a space station on the edge of the galaxy, he was continually forced to balance his actions between the call of duty and his obligation as a spiritual leader. The mot significant contrast between the two characters is that while Kirk was only responsible for his ship, Sisko was continually forced to poise his resources between the strategic desires of the Federation and the ever-looming hazards of the galaxy around him.

The storylines of Deep Space Nine were much more involved and continuous than those of the original Star Trek. Over the course of eight seasons, an intricately fashioned and astonishing plot depicting all-out war between the Federation and the Dominion developed. What began as a single skirmish on a far-away planet in season two, expanded over the next six seasons into intergalactic conflict between the superpowers. Each encounter with the Dominion depended on the results of the last, culminating in an astounding seven-episode story arch that focused entirely on the deciding battle for the entire Alpha Quadrant. The story excluded

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