Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was rare for its time. It was a sci-fi character study, an action-heavy war tale, and an emotional tale of redemption. It discussed morals without being preachy, and it showcased a diverse cast without coming across as holier-than-thou. For these and many other reasons, it has become a personal favorite of many. Some of the things that make DS9 unique are easily visible, while others take a bit of digging. In this Captain's Log, Jesse Merkel digs into what made the series different from other Trek as we knew it.