Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) tripled Captain James T. Kirk’s (William Shatner) singular devotion to the Starship Enterprise onStar Trek: The Original Series. Sisko commanded the Deep Space Nine space station for seven seasons ofDS9, fending off all manner of hostile aliens, interstellar crises, and theall-encompassing Dominion Warthat nearly toppled the United Federation of Planets. Through it all,Captain Sisko achieved a remarkable work-life balance that eluded Captain Kirk.
Star Trek: The Original Seriesset Captain Kirk as the gold standard of starship Captains. Kirk led the Starship Enterprise on a historic five-year mission, interacting with countless aliens, solving dilemmas, and saving the galaxy. To accomplish this feat, Kirk fully committed himself to the USS Enterprise and his crew. Jim may have enjoyed numerous human and alien lovers, but theCaptain of the Enterprisedenied himself a long-term relationship and a family.Kirk prized his starship above all, but Captain Sisko spread his love more evenly.
How Star Trek: DS9’s Captain Sisko Tripled Kirk’s Love Of The Enterprise
Sisko Cared For DS9, Bajor, And The Defiant
OnStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,Captain Benjamin Siskoexceeded Captain Kirk’s love of the Starship Enterprise by finding equal care and devotion to three things: The Deep Space Nine space station, the USS Defiant, and the planet Bajor.Captain Sisko was as committed to Deep Space Nine as Captain Kirk was to his beloved starship. As station commander, Sisko oversaw Starfleet’s personnel, the Bajoran militia, the station’s merchants and inhabitants, and the countless visitors passing through DS9. Sisko was an authority figure, to be sure, he wasn’t distant. Ben was a reasonable, compassionate, and popular station head, and he cared for DS9’s civilian and military population in equal measure.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had the biggest cast of characters of any Trek show, meaning that Captain Sisko had numerous allies in the Dominion War.
InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3, Captain Sisko received his own starship, the mighty USS Defiant. Partially designed by Sisko himself as a weapon against the Borg, the diminutive but overpowered Defiant gave Deep Space Nine a necessary edge in their numerous conflicts with the Klingons, Cardassians, and the Dominion.Captain Sisko loved the Defiant, and he was devastated when it was destroyed by the Breen during the Dominion War. Soon after, however, theUSS Sao Paulo was assigned to DS9 and rechristened the USS Defiant. Sisko had his starship back to help him win the Dominion War.
Captain Sisko was able to give DS9, the Defiant, and Bajor equal care and attention.
However,Captain Sisko’s loyalties were continuously split between his Starfleet duties and his responsibilities to Bajor.As Sisko grew to embrace his role as theEmissary of the Prophets, he also fell in love with the planet Bajor and its people. Before he became one with the Prophets, Ben even dreamed of retiring to Bajor and building a home there. As the Emissary, Sisko carered deeply for the Bajoran people, offering his counsel and even presiding over weddings and personal events. Captain Sisko was able to give DS9, the Defiant, and Bajor equal care and attention, whereas Captain Kirk’s life revolved only around the USS Enterprise.
Sisko Met Kirk On Star Trek: DS9 (& Saved His Life)
Captain Kirk Would Have Died On Space Station K-7 Without Sisko
Captain Kirk was Captain Sisko’s hero, andBen is one of the lucky few who have gotten to meet his hero and save his life. InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 5’s classic “Trials and Tribble-ations,” the Bajoran Orb of Time sent Sisko and the crew of the USS Defiant to the 23rd century. Sisko and his DS9 friends became secretly embroiled in the events ofStar Trek: The Original Series' “The Trouble With Tribbles.“However, this time, a Klingon agent posing as a human named Arne Darvin (Charlie Brill) time traveled with the Defiant crew and attempted to assassinate Captain Kirk with a bomb placed inside a Tribble.
“Trials and Tribble-ations” wasStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of Star Trek.
Thanks to Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), Darvin’s plan failed, and the Tribble bomb exploded harmlessly in space, with Captain Kirk none the wiser. In fact,Kirk had no idea his life was in danger on Space Station K-7, nor did he know Starfleet Officers from the 24th century were clandestinely operating aboard his Starship Enterprise. Before returning to the future, Captain Sisko posed as a Lieutenant, introduced hiself to Kirk, and shook his hero’s hand.Captain Kirk went to his gravein the 24th century never knowing he met Captain Benjamin Sisko.
Sisko Was Star Trek’s Most Complete Captain
Benjamin Sisko Achieved A Balance Few Star Trek Captains Had
Captain Benjamin Sisko emerged as the most well-rounded, well-balanced, and completeStar TrekCaptainprecisely because he broke the mold set by Captain Kirk. OtherStar TrekCaptains like Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) onStar Trek: The Next Generation,Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) onStar Trek: Voyager,and Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) onStar Trek: Enterprisefollowed Kirk’s lead by devoting themselves to their starships and denying themselves lasting relationships and family lives.The lonely starship Captain eventually became a classicStar Trektrope.
For Picard and Archer, nothing took precedence over the Enterprise, while Janeway purposefully made herself a solo act to lead the USS Voyager home from the Delta Quadrant.
However, Captain Sisko not only found a way to balance his Starfleet duties on Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant, as well as his religious responsibilities as Bajor’s Emissary, butBen also found time for family. Sisko’s highest priority was raising his teenage son, Jake (Cirroc Lofton). Captain Sisko never neglected Jake or shirked his most important role, being Jake’s father. Ben also found time to visit Earth and see his own father, Joseph Sisko (Brock Peters). And Sisko still made time for love, dating and eventually marrying Captain Kasidy Yates (Penny Johnson Jerald). Truly, Captain Sisko had it all onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast: Where Are DS9’s Actors Now?
Deep Space Nine had one of the most talented casts in Star Trek history, as proved by their impressive list of credits after DS9 ended.
Juggling Starfleet, Bajor, and his personal life certainly wasn’t easy for Captain Sisko, especially during the dark days of the Dominion War when the Federation was on the brink of disaster. Ben had a lot of help and support from his friends and loved ones. But this is also why Captain Sisko shines compared to the personal failings of Captain Kirk. Sisko understood that life was richer and more rewarding than a singleminded dedication to Starfleet. Kirk was one of Sisko’s personal heroes, but Ben chose not to be like Jim where it really counts. Captain Sisko’s love inStar Trek: Deep Space Ninecontained multitudes.
