Danielle Solzman
What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is an in-depth documentary that looks back on the series and a whole lot more.
If you’re thinking of leaving the theater during the end credits, you might want to re-think this. In addition to the conversation with showrunner/director Ira Steven Behr and actress Nana Visitor, there will be a taped roundtable following the film.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine would run for 176 episodes from January 3, 1993, to June 2, 1999. The series would be the third sequel to Star Trek: The Original Series. What set it apart from the Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager is that it was set on a space station rather than a traveling starship. Moreover, it was the first series to have a person of color serving as captain. Despite running for seven seasons, the series just didn’t have the same critical and fan acclaim. This may have certainly changed over the years but at the time it aired, it was quite a different story.
Things have changed over the years with younger generations discovering the series. Because of this, we’re getting a full-length documentary looking back on the series. On top of this, showrunner/director Behr brings back all of the series writers. Their mission: to break a story for what could be their season 8 premiere if the show comes back to air. With reboots being all the craze, you never know what could happen!
In an interview, Cirroc Lofton discusses how some things have not changed since the series premiere in 1993. Two years earlier would see the beating of Rodney King. Over these past few years, the status quo is unfortunately the same. The montage of clips shown are highlighted by Trump’s “on both sides” speech.
“The bottom line is when people cannot come to the conclusion that every person on this planet is worth treating as a human being, “Behr says, in conversation with Cirroc Lofton, who played Jake Sisko. “When we cannot agree on that basic–most basic–concept, don’t talk to me about 400 years from now.”
The interview segues into a quote from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.
“If man is to survive, he will have learned to take a delight in the essential differences between men and between cultures,” Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was once quoted as saying.
There are things that the series could have done better. These include war, the cost of war, religion, and sexual identity. After all, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine tackled a same-sex relationship during the 1990s. During interviews, Behr admits that they could have done a better job on this. Even Terry Farrell, the actress who portrayed Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax, agrees with this assessment. Just watch the film!
This documentary may run around two hours but the fact is, it could be longer. I’d be curious as to seeing what is on the cutting room floor. If there’s a nice thing about viewing the film, it’s the remastered footage. For what we have, it’s a solid documentary.
What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine helps to lend some closure and validation to the series.
DIRECTORS: Ira Steven Behr, David Zappone
