Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 3, Episode 6 – “Hear All, Trust Nothing”After Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s crossover in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3, episode 6, it’s clear that the space station-set 1990s show can and must continue as an animated series. The USS Cerritos’ crew docked at DS9 where the Lower Deckers got to walk the Promenade and rescue Quark (Armin Shimerman) while Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) worked with Colonel Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) to negotiate the Karemma from the Gamma Quadrant. It was a heartwarming return to Deep Space Nine that also opened Trekkers’ eyes to the potential for a DS9 animated sequel show.
Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Deep Space Nine episode was a proof of concept that a DS9 animated show would work brilliantly. Lower Decks‘ animation style proved ideal for Deep Space Nine; the Cardassian space station and its colorful characters were vividly recreated by Titmouse, Inc., the company that animates Lower Decks. Even though about six years have passed in the Star Trek 24th century timeline since DS9‘s series finale, the station was as full of life and bustling with activity and intrigue as it was in the glory days of the series. It was a joy to see Quark and Colonel Kira (and Morn) again, but DS9′s fans also want to see Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig), Ezri Dax (Nicole de Boer), Garak (Andrew Robinson), and the rest of the show’s (surviving) cavalcade of unforgettable characters. Lower Decks’ wonderful DS9 episode ultimately just whetted appetites for more.
DS9’s Cast Would Return For An Animated Show But Would The Showrunners?
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s cast would like to be more involved in the new Star Trek shows and has generally expressed interest in reprising their iconic roles. An animated show may be an even more attractive prospect because it dilutes the fact that the actors are 23+ years older. Armin Shimerman and Nana Visitor didn’t miss a beat as Quark and Kira and both said they’d be willing to come back, while other actors like Cirroc Lofton are simply waiting to be asked to return. Terry Farrell has stated she wants to reprise Jadzia Dax, and other DS9 actors like J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Combs already lend their voices to Star Trek: Lower Decks in guest starring roles. It’s safe to say DS9‘s cast would continue the series in an animated show if asked, and the format is perfect for a continuation of Deep Space Nine.
Creatively, the two biggest questions are what story a DS9 animated sequel would tell, and would the show’s mastermind, Ira Steven Behr, and his writing staff return? In the DS9 documentary What We Left Behind, Behr reassembled his old writers’ room to plot the first episode of an apocryphal DS9 season 8. Trekkers were generally wowed by their ideas and disappointed that it was all conjecture. But an animated DS9 could make it possible, and it’s a relatively low-budget playground to tell new stories in Deep Space Nine’s corner of the Star Trek universe as well as achieve sights and realize concepts that would be too costly and prohibitive in live-action.
Would Avery Brooks Return As Captain Sisko In A DS9 Animated Series?
One of the biggest hurdles is whether Avery Brooks would consider voicing Captain Benjamin Sisko in a DS9 animated series. Brooks is retired from acting and is overall estranged from the Star Trek franchise. Yet voicing Captain Sisko in a DS9 revival that has the same quality of writing by creatives he trusts might convince Brooks to come back, even in a limited role or a cameo. It’s hard to conceive that Deep Space Nine could continue without Captain Sisko, but Lower Decks‘ episode proved DS9 is a bigger canvas with unlimited stories to tell even without the Emissary’s regular presence. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is as alive again thanks to Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek on Paramount+ reviving DS9 as an animated series simply needs to happen.
