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Robert Justman thought Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had a role problem with Captain Sisko

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As a die-hard Star Trek fan with over three decades of fervent devotion under my belt, I must admit that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was a breath of fresh air amidst the vast expanse of space operas. While many were initially skeptical about life on a station instead of a starship, DS9 swiftly won over audiences with its gritty realism and thought-provoking storylines.

Following Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine emerged, deviating from spacecraft adventures to focus on a space station’s deck instead. Initially, fans were hesitant about this new aspect of Starfleet. However, the show gained massive popularity throughout its 7-season span, with episodes such as season four’s “The Visitor” often being hailed as the best in Star Trek.

In an interview for Star Trek All Good Things: A Next Generation Companion, Robert Justman – co-producer of Star Trek: The Original Series and the man credited for discovering Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard – expressed mixed feelings about Deep Space Nine compared to fans’ enthusiasm. It wasn’t that he disliked the show overall; instead, he had reservations primarily concerning the role of Captain Sisko, which seemed problematic to him.

Despite Justman praising Avery Brooks as an exceptional actor with immense power and vitality, he believed the character of Sisko didn’t drive any significant events or developments. Instead, Justman sensed some issues in the role.

Sisko was a role that really didn’t make anything happen. It’s a tough role, and [Avery Brooks] was an actor who displayed such flash and fire in [Spencer: for Hire] when he played a guy named Hawk. He’s a marvelous actor and has a lot of power and energy and anger, but he was playing against himself, and the character wasn’t as proactive as, say, Bill Shatner, had been.”

Robert Justman

As a gamer, I can’t simply compare Captain Sisko from Deep Space Nine to Captain Kirk from the original Star Trek series because they played completely different roles that demanded unique acting styles. While Kirk eagerly embraced his role as captain of the USS Enterprise, Sisko wasn’t keen on being stationed at Deep Space Nine – a choice perhaps driven by the grief he still carried from losing his wife and becoming a single father. So it’s no surprise that those lingering emotions seeped into his interactions with others.

While Justman is undeniably entitled to his perspective, I find myself at odds with the idea that Commander Sisko didn’t instigate anything. Instead, I see him as a resilient leader, unafraid to engage in conflict when necessary, and maintaining discipline among his team. He was not only respectful towards his subordinates but also demonstrated this during the challenging Dominion War, a battle none of Kirk or Picard had to endure. In the end, Sisko successfully defended the space station and the people he vowed to safeguard.

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2024-08-07 23:23

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