Jake Sisko.

After tri-divisional phenom Wesley Crusher, the writers of Deep Space Nine wanted to let kids be kids and gave us Jake Sisko. Breaking the stereotype that children of Starfleet officers long to enter the Academy themselves, Jake really was just an average child. Star Trek has never really done well with its younger characters. How do you tell stories about children and family on a show about space exploration, diplomacy, and starship battles? At first glance, the gritty nature of the former Terok Nor doesn't seem like a hopeful place to change that. As it turns out, it was just the right setting.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a close look at one of DS9's most forgotten and least popular characters to find out why he was critical to making Benjamin Sisko the man and leader he was, how he had a positive impact on Nog and others around him, and why the show would be very different if you removed the Jake.