Star Trek Finally Confronts the Fate of Benjamin Sisko from Deep Space Nine After 27 Years
“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” has defied a ton of “Star Trek” norms in its freshman year. It’s often silly and sometimes cringy for anyone who considers themselves a Trekkie. The best I can say about this series is it feels “Star Trek” adjacent, but it dances very much to its own beat.
- It’s Star Trek-lite
- Star Trek-teen
- Star Trek-after-school-special
- Star Trek-Hogwarts
- Perhaps, Star Trek-fun
Fine. That’s what it is. Take it or leave it. But please don’t break anything.
Did Sisko Die?
So when I realized episode 5 would tackle the big question about what happened to Captain Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks) from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” centuries back (and 27 years ago for us), I got worried.
For those who don’t remember, (spoiler alert) in the series finale, Sisko either fell heroically to a fiery death or joined the Bajoran prophets in the celestial temple.
Hey, “Starfleet Academy” has the right to reinvent “Star Trek” if it wants. But don’t you dare mess with “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1993-1999), which is arguably the best Star Trek series of them all.
Stop!!
It’s a risky idea at best, and yet the writers of the young “Starfleet Academy” decide to boldly confront “Deep Space Nine’s” cliffhanger.
As the episode begins, I felt this huge impulse to somehow leap across space/time and stop it from happening. No. No. No! You’re going to create a warp core breach!
This series has yet to demonstrate the capability to responsibly handle this delicate topic, which is sealed in Trek canon. This is serious “Star Trek” stuff, and “Starfleet Academy” has been anything but serious.
Stop!!
It’s a risky idea at best, and yet the writers of the young “Starfleet Academy” decide to boldly confront “Deep Space Nine’s” cliffhanger.
As the episode begins, I felt this huge impulse to somehow leap across space/time and stop it from happening. No. No. No!
You’re going to create a warp core breach!
This series has yet to demonstrate the capability to responsibly handle this delicate topic, which is sealed in Trek canon. This is serious “Star Trek” stuff, and “Starfleet Academy” has been anything but serious.
Good Writing Matters
This episode benefits from two writers with deep “Star Trek” experience, and it shows.
“Series Acclimation Mil” is written by Kirsten Beyer and Tawny Newsome (who also has an important role in this episode). On a side note, you’ll remember Newsome as the voice of Ensign Mariner from the animated “Lower Decks.” She also appears in that great crossover episode from “Strange New Worlds.”
Our New Data?
The story focuses on SAM, the alien AI-photonic, played by Kerrice Brooks. She’s got plenty of problems and struggles as the emissary from her home world. So of course, she finds common ground when she comes across the old story of Captain and Emissary Sisko.
So, SAM decides she wants to solve the unsolvable Sisko mystery. On paper, that may sound like a disastrous plot that would likely upset most Trekkies. But the writers demonstrate a serious respect for the challenge. And they successfully work through it using this unlikeliest of cadet characters.
It’s impressive that SAM, who has so far been a silly, two-dimensional character totally carries this episode. It’s due to the writing as well as some strong directing and acting. Who knew that SAM, who seems inspired by Mork from Ork, would break through like this and become our new Spock or Data?
Classic Trek Storytelling
SAM gets to ask the classic Star Trek question, “What does it mean to be human?” Or this case… an ‘organic.’
As a photonic, SAM is not traditionally ‘real.’ Her mission to understand humanity, and her impossible search for Sisko, ultimately supports her own journey of self-discovery.
Yup. Classic Trek.
Jake Sisko is the Key
Then, the episode successfully tethers itself to the world of “Deep Space Nine” by reintroducing us all these years later to Jake Sisko, Captain Sisko’s son.
Now, we see an adult Jake Sisko (in hologram form) who is again played by Cirroc Lofton. And this series crossover provides the important weight this episode needs.
His presence gives the necessary permission to revisit this closed chapter in “Star Trek” history.
There are Always Possibilities
We all know that “Star Trek” is at its best when it presents us with challenging questions without all the answers. And that’s what we get here.
Don’t worry. We know the fate of Benjamin Sisko is unanswerable. That’s how the writers set it up 27 years ago, and Beyer and Newsome respect the boundaries. But that doesn’t mean they don’t offer up some clever and satisfying surprises.
Ultimately, this episode is a worthy love letter to “Deep Space Nine.” And I highly recommend it.
That said, one good episode does not yet make for a strong “Star Trek” series. But it does extend my hope that “Starfleet Academy” will eventually find its warp drive.
Please make it so.
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