Plotlines

We are now in the second season, which begins with a three-part storyline featuring a familiar but somewhat hidden face. Tim Russ, whom we know from Star Trek: Voyager, appears here as a Klingon. Interestingly, he later reappears as a member of a rebel group in the Mirror Universe.

I always find it fascinating when actors, before landing such iconic roles as Tim Russ did, appear in earlier projects and in different roles. Star Trek is particularly suited for this, given the sheer number of opportunities the franchise offers.

What I particularly enjoyed was noticing Simon Jäger, a well-known German voice actor who dubs Matt Damon, among others, making an appearance. Of course, not as a character, but as a voice. Still, it stood out, especially since I had recently listened to an audiobook narrated by him.

By now, there has also been an episode—yes, I’ve watched a bit ahead—where we learn about Odo’s prior work under Gul Dukat. It’s mentioned for the first time that Odo, as a Changeling, has mastered the Cardassian neck trick, but unfortunately, we never actually get to see it.

What fascinated me even more about this episode (S2E08) was the set design. DS9 itself is already an enormous set, even though a lot is undoubtedly reused. But to modify it in such a way that the same station appears as a new location is truly impressive. As the series progresses, we frequently see how these sets are destroyed and rebuilt, which adds another layer of complexity.

We’ve also been seeing more of the quarters and the long corridors leading to them. At the far ends, you can often spot the larger matte paintings that add depth and give the station a grander scale. Additionally, there have been shots from the upper pylons looking down at the station, which helps emphasize its size. I always find it exciting when the creators of a series don’t push such details aside or neglect them.

I’m not exactly sure why, but another thing I noticed is Jadzia’s hair. It’s no longer tied up quite as high, and it’s also significantly darker. It gives her a certain sternness, though not in a negative way.

This brings me to another important point regarding character development. For instance, Dr. Bashir has shed his awkward clumsiness and now comes across as much more confident. Nog and Rom are becoming more integrated into other characters’ stories and are no longer just there to deliver punchlines. It feels as though the individual pieces that already fit well together in the beginning have now finally clicked into their proper places. The creators are carefully examining and developing everything as they go.

One of the most crucial points that I don’t want to gloss over is the fact that we’ve already heard a very specific name mentioned. In episode S2E07, the Dominion is brought up for the first time. It’s pronounced a bit oddly in German, but that’s okay. From the moment it’s mentioned, you can tell this isn’t just a friendly poker game among pals. Whatever the Dominion may be, it’s clear that it’s something you’d rather not cross paths with.

Lastly, here’s a detail I noticed early in the second season. Let’s take a quick detour to Star Trek: Lower Decks. Beckett, with few exceptions, wears her sleeves rolled up—something that’s pointed out in the series as not being regulation. Does that remind you of anyone else who wears their uniform that way? That’s right—Chief Miles O’Brien. But there’s more to it. He holds the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer, which isn’t part of the regular officer hierarchy. This is because his rank is part of the Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) ranks, not the commissioned officer ranks. This gives him a bit more freedom in certain contexts, as is often visible on DS9. Now, who does that remind us of? Exactly—Beckett Mariner! The two of them have more in common than one might think, and I believe I’m only scratching the surface here!