The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast

By TFM

What's The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast about?

The Orb is a Trek.fm podcast dedicated entirely to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, hosted since 2013 by C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing. In January 2023, we begin a 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of DS9, one episode at a time, as we shift from our format of exploring the minutiae of the show to celebrating 30 years of the greatest chapter in the Star Trek franchise with an episode-by-episode examination.

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The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast episodes:

03.29.2024
156: Welcome to the Hotel California
“Battle Lines” 30th-anniversary reflections A joy ride to the Gamma Quadrant turns deadly for Kai Opaka. At least until she springs back to life. Along with Sisko, Kira, and Bashir, the spiritual leader of Bajor finds herself marooned on some...
03.10.2024
155: Double Your Danger
“Vortex” 30th-anniversary reflections When Miradorn twins arrive on the station and offer to sell a Tamagotchi to Quark, things get weird, and soon two become one. An alien named Croden enters and wants the item for himself. A firefight ensues,...
07.16.2023
154: All About the Greed
“The Nagus” 30th-anniversary reflections Having heard that some of Quark’s holosuite programs are quite alluring, Grand Nagus Zek, leader of the Ferengi Alliance, pays an unexpected visit to the station. As he shares his plans for Ferengi business expansion into...
06.06.2023
153: Down the Wrong Warp Pipe
“Move Along Home” 30th-anniversary reflections First contact with a race from the Gamer Quadrant … uhm … Gamma Quadrant doesn't go quite as Sisko had hope when it turns out that they obsessed with, you guessed it, games. And also...
03.23.2023
152: Dead Giveaways
“The Passenger” 30th-anniversary reflections Doctor Bashir’s arrogance is interrupted when the runabout Rio Grande receives a distress call from a Kobliad transport. They find a fire aboard the ship and two people in distress. They rescue one and fail to...
03.17.2023
151: Who Is What and What Is Where?!
“Dax” 30th-anniversary reflections Aliens with an uncanny knowledge of the station and its systems attempt to abduct Jadzia and take her back to Klaestron IV to stand trial. Only it’s Dax they really want, and the crimes were committed 30...
03.08.2023
150: Like Oil and Water
“Q-Less” 30th-anniversary reflections The arrival of Vash, whom Dax found in the Gamma Quadrant, brings incredible profit potential to Quark, but great danger to the station. Tagging along with her is none other than Q, seemingly there to deliver his...
02.23.2023
149: The Most Dangerous Game
“Captive Pursuit” 30th-anniversary reflections The arrival of an alien from the Gamma Quadrant puts Chief O’Brien at the center of first contact when Tosk, as the reptilian calls itself, requires ship repair. As the mystery of Tosk unfolds, and alien...
02.15.2023
148: Miles and Miles of Sass
“Babel” 30th-anniversary reflections When lazy Chief O'Brien gets a hankering for a cup of coffee and triggers a booby trap left behind from the Cardassian Occupation, the crew and residents of Deep Space 9 begin losing their ability to make...
02.08.2023
147: Questioning the Foundation
“A Man Alone” 30th-anniversary reflections When a man is murdered aboard the station, Odo becomes the prime suspect. Kira is certain he couldn't have done it, but Sisko is not so sure. Odo sees that he is being framed, but...
01.31.2023
146: It’s Not Easy to Let Go
“Past Prologue” 30th-anniversary reflections As the Federation begins to settle into its presence aboard the former Cardassian station, now dubbed Deep Space Nine, the arrival of a former Bajoran freedom fighter named Tahna Los puts Major Kira in the uncomfortable...
01.26.2023
145: Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
“Emissary” 30th-anniversary reflections Commence station log. When Deep Space Nine premiered on January 3, 1993, it marked an unprecedented moment for Star Trek. Not only did Gene Roddenberry capture lightning in a bottle twice, the success of The Next Generation...
01.14.2023
144: How Gullible Is the Federation?
Dominion Breadcrumbs, Part 2. While Deep Space Nine may be best known for the Dominion War, getting to that storyline was a gradual process for the writers. After the Gamma Quadrant’s imperial force was finally revealed at the end of...
11.10.2022
143: Finding It As They Go
Dominion Breadcrumbs, Part 1. While Deep Space Nine may be best known for the Dominion War, getting to that story line was a gradual process for the writers. Before its full-on introduction in the Season 2 finale “The Jem’Hadar” and...
10.18.2022
142: In Awe of the Pylons
“Hear All, Trust Nothing“ It’s been more than 23 years since we watched Kira Nerys and Jake Sisko stare out of the window at the wormhole, wondering when Benajmin Sisko would come back. And while the Emissary has yet to...
10.03.2022
141: What She Left Behind
Remembering Louise Fletcher Few characters in Star Trek elicit such a visceral reaction from fans than Winn Adami. Introduced as a Vedek, she was later chosen as kai—the first elected after the end of the Cardassian Occupation. In that role,...
08.23.2022
140: Gul Facade
Dukat’s “Civil Defense” As central as Dukat was to the overall Deep Space Nine story, he didn't appear so often in the early season. The third-season episode “Civil Defense” marked only his eight appearance—and the first of the season—and the...
08.07.2022
139: Swept Up in Revolution
Michael Eddington At the start of Deep Space Nine’s third season, more than a new ship arrived. A new character also joined the crew, one who was meant to serve as a foil of sorts for Odo and as a...
05.15.2022
138: Boxes of Memorabilia
Top 10 DS9 episodes Deep Space Nine is best known for the Dominion War but, over the course of seven seasons, the series delivered a wide variety of story arcs, rich character development, and standalone episodes. Which are the best?...
04.28.2022
137: A Disturbance in the Link
“The Search, Part II“ When it comes to that moment when Deep Space Nine shifted in tone and became the more complex series that set it apart from the rest of Star Trek, fans most often point to “The Way...
04.14.2022
136: Shift in Tone
“The Search, Part I“ When it comes to that moment when Deep Space Nine shifted in tone and became the more complex series that set it apart from the rest of Star Trek, fans most often point to “The Way...
04.02.2022
135: Listening for Personal Gain
Martus Mazur and El-Aurians. They're known as listeners, but not all El-Aurians are as adept at doing so as Guinan, nor are their intentions as noble. We found this out in the second-season Deep Space Nine episode “Rivals," when a...
02.25.2022
134: Coffee in the Afternoon
“Armageddon Game” Following centuries of war, a race called the Kelleruns and another apparently named after Vulcans, the T'Lani, enlist the help of Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien to destroy their remaining stockpile of weapons. Of course the Starfleet officers...
02.11.2022
133: We All Put Our Faith in Something
The Emissary’s prophecies. In “The Reckoning,” Doctor Bashir said that if you look hard enough, you'll find a Bajoran prophecy for just about anything. The Ancient Texts, he feels, are a tangle of vague contradictions. But that's not everyone's view—certainly...
01.26.2022
132: The Longevity of Memories
“Blood Oath” and Trill obligations. A struggle with past lives is something all Trill must face. How much a joined Trill owes to past hosts is an ongoing question that is addressed from time to time in Deep Space Nine....
01.14.2022
131: No Easy Answers
The Way of the Warrior, Part 2. Following the revelation that the Founders had infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant, tensions are high and Starfleet is preparing for the worst. Those tensions rise when the Klingons arrive at Deep Space 9 on...
01.05.2022
130: Perfect Storm of Wonderfulness
The Way of the Warrior, Part 1. Following the revelation that the Founders had infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant, tensions are high and Starfleet is preparing for the worst. Those tensions rise when the Klingons arrive at Deep Space 9 on...
09.06.2021
129: Hitting the Pause Button
“The Sound of Her Voice” and the need for quiet episodes. Amid the fervor of the Dominion War, as the Deep Space Nine story was building toward a climactic bridge between Seasons 6 and 7, the writers took a moment...
02.28.2021
128: Not Impossible, Just Highly Improbable
Rivals Commentary. One of the greatest friendships in Star Trek is that of Miles O’Brien and Julian Bashir. And it really started on a racquetball court. Space racquetball, of course. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones...
02.06.2021
127: True IDIC and Finding Common Ground
Why DS9 endures. Almost three decades after it first aired, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continues to be loved by its fans and welcomes first-time viewers every day. What is it about this series that was once cast into the...
04.15.2020
126: Thrown Back into the Mythology
DS9 Documentary: Season 8 Premiere. As the camera pulled back from Deep Space 9, and we watched Kira and Jake stare out at the wormhole, what we left behind were many unanswered questions. When Ira Steven Behr and the writers...
05.19.2019
125: Create Your Own Truth
Mob Mentality and “A Man Alone.” Justice requires facts, facts require information, and information can only be obtained when one is willing to listen. In “A Man Alone,” an accusation against Odo—one based on few details and driven by preconceived...
02.02.2019
124: Ferengi for the Win
The Mirror Universe, Part 5: The Emperor’s New Cloak. Since its introduction in the second season of The Original Series, the Mirror Universe has been a fan favorite. This alternate world in which good is bad has captured the imagination...
01.21.2019
123: In a Mirror, Reversed
The Mirror Universe, Part 4: Resurrection. Since its introduction in the second season of The Original Series, the Mirror Universe has been a fan favorite. This alternate world in which good is bad has captured the imagination of fans and...
08.01.2018
122: An Evilish Tint
The Mirror Universe, Part 3: Shattered Mirror. Since its introduction in the second season of The Original Series, the Mirror Universe has been a fan favorite. This alternate world in which good is bad has captured the imagination of...
04.29.2018
121: A Totally Different Type of Normal
The Mirror Universe, Part 2: Through the Looking Glass. Since its introduction in the second season of The Original Series, the Mirror Universe has been a fan favorite. This alternate world in which good is bad has captured the imagination...
04.11.2018
120: The Ultimate in Narcissism
The Mirror Universe, Part 1: Crossover. Since its introduction in the second season of The Original Series, the Mirror Universe has been a fan favorite. This alternate world in which good is bad has captured the imagination of fans and...
01.15.2018
119: The Other Side of the Glass
DS9 25th Anniversary. On January 3, 1993, a new chapter in Star Trek storytelling began. And although we didn’t know it at the time, this new series set on space station Deep Space 9 would become the richest chapter in...
12.10.2017
118: Devilishly Smart
Rom. When we first met him in “Emissary,” Rom was just another Ferengi. He was brother of Quark, father of Nog, and a pit boss concerned about profit. But over the course of the series, he became so much more...
08.09.2017
117: A Flashpan Love Affair
Natima Lang. Once of the strengths of Deep Space Nine is its ability to bring in secondary characters and make them important. In some cases, those character may appear only once, yet have significant impact on our main crew. Such...
07.26.2017
116: Untitled Bashir
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges Commentary. Gene Roddenberry’s utopian vision of the future is what attracts many fans to Star Trek. But as Deep Space Nine shows, solving the problems we face is just one part of creating an ideal...
06.14.2017
115: Kind of Like a Jazzcat
Music and DS9. When you think of Deep Space Nine, of course the Dominion War, the Bajoran religious and political tug-o-war, and the complex character relationships come to mind. But another thing that is really hard to shake is the...
05.17.2017
114: Life Is Way Bigger Than 140 Characters
Past Tense, Part II. In 1995, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine addressed the effects on society of a growing gap between the haves and have-nots. More than two decades later, the challenge remains and the message still applies. Homelessness is...
05.10.2017
113: Path through Hell
Past Tense, Part I. A growing gap between the haves and have-nots leads to a fractured society. In Star Trek’s 2024, America has tucked away undesirables in Sanctuary Districts. Sisko explains that social problems had to reach a breaking point...
08.25.2016
112: The Goodmiral
Remembering Barry Jenner. Deep Space Nine was filled with supporting characters who enriched the show and made its story believable. Most of these made far fewer appearances than it seems. Such is the case with Admiral William Ross. In only...
08.17.2016
111: Temporal Bluetooth
The Orb of Time. Deep Space Nine has few time travel stories, but when the writers chose to dip into the temporal well they had a unique tool at their disposal. The Orb of Time offered a way to move...
08.10.2016
110: Sleeping with the Enemy
Kira Meru. For most of her life, Kira Nerys had an image of her mother, Meru, that drove her to hate Cardassians. When her mother was ripped away to serve as a comfort woman aboard Terok Nor, Nerys’s life changed...
07.11.2016
109: A Spiritual Hat Trick
Rapture. When Benjamin Sisko arrived at Bajor, he was told right away that he was the Emissary. He didn’t believe it. By the end of the series he did, but it took some time. The writers marked several turning points,...
06.01.2016
108: Never Turn Your Back on Boushh
By Inferno’s Light. Beginning in season three with “The Die Is Cast,” it was revealed that the Founders were infiltrating the Alpha-Beta powers by replacing key figures. In the fifth season two-parter comprising “In Purgatory’s Shadow” and “By Inferno’s Light,”...
05.26.2016
107: A Merit-Based System
In Purgatory’s Shadow. Beginning in season three with “The Die Is Cast,” it was revealed that the Founders were infiltrating the Alpha-Beta powers by replacing key figures. In the fifth season two-parter comprising “In Purgatory’s Shadow” and “By Inferno’s Light,”...

What's The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast episodes:

156: Welcome to the Hotel California

155: Double Your Danger

154: All About the Greed

153: Down the Wrong Warp Pipe

152: Dead Giveaways

151: Who Is What and What Is Where?!

150: Like Oil and Water

149: The Most Dangerous Game

148: Miles and Miles of Sass

147: Questioning the Foundation

146: It’s Not Easy to Let Go

145: Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of

144: How Gullible Is the Federation?

143: Finding It As They Go

142: In Awe of the Pylons

141: What She Left Behind

140: Gul Facade

139: Swept Up in Revolution

138: Boxes of Memorabilia

137: A Disturbance in the Link

136: Shift in Tone

135: Listening for Personal Gain

134: Coffee in the Afternoon

133: We All Put Our Faith in Something

132: The Longevity of Memories

131: No Easy Answers

130: Perfect Storm of Wonderfulness

129: Hitting the Pause Button

128: Not Impossible, Just Highly Improbable

127: True IDIC and Finding Common Ground

126: Thrown Back into the Mythology

125: Create Your Own Truth

124: Ferengi for the Win

123: In a Mirror, Reversed

122: An Evilish Tint

121: A Totally Different Type of Normal

120: The Ultimate in Narcissism

119: The Other Side of the Glass

118: Devilishly Smart

117: A Flashpan Love Affair

116: Untitled Bashir

115: Kind of Like a Jazzcat

114: Life Is Way Bigger Than 140 Characters

113: Path through Hell

112: The Goodmiral

111: Temporal Bluetooth

110: Sleeping with the Enemy

109: A Spiritual Hat Trick

108: Never Turn Your Back on Boushh

107: A Merit-Based System