The Final Chapter, Part 6 of 9: Tacking Into the Wind.

After "When It Rains…" resolved parts of DS9's Final Chapter and set new ones in motion, the second half of the overall story kicks off with what may be the longest cold open in all of Star Trek. There is no "previously on Deep Space Nine," no explanation of why you are seeing an examination of a Jem'Hadar ship; and you won't see any credits for more than eight minutes. No, "Tacking Into the Wind" throws you right into the middle of DS9's endgame. The title is a perfect description of what takes place over the course of the episode. Like a ship making constant course corrections on the open sea, our characters must adjust to the rapidly changing circumstances around them.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our series of shows that will take you through the entire nine-part, ten-hour Deep Space Nine finale with the sixth episode in the story, "Tacking Into the Wind." We discuss how Gul Rusot is a temporal mirror for Kira, what finally forces Damar to play his hand, the fall of Gowron, why this story could not be told without Ezri, the plight of Odo, and how it sets up the next part of the story.

The Bajoran Solar System.

Deep Space Nine is first and foremost a story about characters. More so than any other Star Trek series, technology, science, and other worlds take a backseat to how events affect our characters on a personal level. So one easily overlooked part of the DS9 framework is the enormous solar system in which the series is set.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take you on a tour of the fourteen planets and two M-Class moons that make up the Bajoran system, discuss whether these locales should have played a bigger role in the series, speculate on the reality of the spatial relationship between Bajor, the Station, and the wormhole and debate whether Bajor XII, XIII, and XIV should be demoted to the status of dwarf planet just like poor little Pluto. Oh, and of course we get our plasma charged in the Denorios Belt.

You Are Cordially Invited Commentary.

From the very moment Worf and Jadzia met in Quark's, it was clear that there was a spark between them. Dax's history with Klingon culture made her a natural for a potential relationship with the new arrival, but that alone can only go so far. The onscreen chemistry between Michael Dorn and Terry Farrell helped lead Ronald D. Moore to revive a plotline he had tried to develop on TNG—the marriage of Worf. On The Next Generation the plan was for him to end up with Troi, but the relationship felt forced and didn't sit well with fans. The relationship between Worf and Jadzia, on the other hand, felt completely authentic and grew naturally over time. So when the Federation finally retook DS9 after the opening arc of the show's sixth season, it was time for a party. And what better way to party than to celebrate a wedding between friends and crewmates?

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing bring you a commentary for "You Are Cordially Invited." We discuss Martok's influence on Worf, Sisko's influence on Jadzia, and Sirella's influence on everyone. We also play with fire, crash a Klingon bachelor party, drool over a baked potato, and learn the latest dance craze, the Bolian Chest Bump.

The Cult of the Pah-wraiths and the Book of the Kosst Amojan.

From the very start, the Bajoran religion played a key role in the story of Deep Space Nine. As the story grew more complex in the final seasons, the influence of the Prophets got some competition from their evil counterparts, the Pah-wraiths. With the show's shift deeper into mythology, these two sides were critical to the endgame of the Fire Caves.

Following the Occupation, Bajorans unhappy with the Prophets formed the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. At the same time, two power-hungry leaders—Gul Dukat and Kai Winn—turned to a dangerous book not opened for more than seven hundred years. This tome—The Book of the Kosst Amojan—was the key to releasing the Pah-wraiths, and act with serious consquences for the Bajoran people and their Emissary.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing delve into the deep mythology underlying DS9. Despite its importance to many series threads, relatively little is known about the Cult of the Pah-wraiths and the Kosst Amojan. We discuss what we know, how it mirrors our own mythologies and religions, as well as why some Bajorans may have turned to the Dark Side.

The Final Chapter, Part 5 of 9: When It Rains…

The first four parts of Deep Space Nine's final arc established many threads and challenges the many players both on the Station and beyond. "When It Rains…" firmly plays the role of middle chapter as it jumps straight into the continuation of "The Changing Face of Evil" without so much as a mention of "previously on." As the name suggests, a deluge of new problems beset our heroes (and villains) as the writers position threads for a final push to the end.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our series of shows that will take you through the entire nine-part, ten-hour Deep Space Nine finale with the fifth episode in the story, "When It Rains…" We discuss Kira's twist of fate, Odo's plight and Starfleet's role in genocide, Garak's return home, and why Gowron is like your crazy uncle at the family reunion.

Casting DS9 with Larry Nemecek, Part 2.

Choosing the actors who will bring new characters to life is one of the many creative challenges in launching a new Star Trek series. The process itself can change the nature of the roles, resulting in adjustments to name, the background story of a given character, and their relationship with others. In this episode of The Orb we bring you the second part of our two-part conversation with Larry Nemecek about the casting of Deep Space Nine and the evolution of the characters.

Casting DS9 with Larry Nemecek, Part 1.

One of the many creative challenges in launching a new Star Trek series is casting. Finding the right actors to bring the characters to life takes time and careful consideration. And the process itself can change the nature of the roles, resulting in adjustments to name, ethnicity, background story, and in some cases requiring a completely new character to be created. In this episode of The Orb we're joined by Larry Nemecek for the first part of a two-part discussion about the casting of Deep Space Nine and the evolution of the characters.

The Cardassian Underground.

Throughout Deep Space Nine we see Cardassian government and society threatened by several different incarnations of resistance. From early dissidents such as Amin Marritza to later leaders like Tekeny Ghemor and Damar, something running deep inside Cardassians seems to cause dissident movements to continually spring up.

In this episode of The Orb we discuss the unique elements of Cardassian society that lead to rebellion. Is it a feature of Cardassian politics or something buried deeper within their psyche? What are some of the characteristics and motivations of the leaders of these movements? How do their actions affect the broader world of DS9? It's a look at the repetitive epic so cherished by Cardassia.

The Final Chapter, Part 4 of 9: The Changing Face of Evil.

The first three parts of Deep Space Nine's final chapter set up key plotlines that set the Dominion War's resolution in motion. It also set our characters on courses that would eventually lead them down separate paths. In the final piece of the initial four-episode block, the Dominion turns to The Breen Factor to break a stalemate in the war while the chasm between Cardassia and the Dominion widens—turning Damar into an unlikely object of viewer admiration. Initial plotlines are wrapped up while new threads are laid out.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our series of shows that will take you through the entire nine-part, ten-hour Deep Space Nine finale with the fourth episode in the story, "The Changing Face of Evil." We discuss how the writers sought to contrast everyday life with the stress of war, the fiery end of the Defiant, Ezri and Bashir's love dance, the unmasking of Dukat, and Damar's gambit.

Moogie.

Let's be honest. Ferengi episodes are not amongst the fan favorites—even for die-hard Niners. But even in the midst of ludicrous social customs and the grating laugh of Grand Nagus Zek, the writers found a wonderful vehicle for discussion of women's rights in the character of Ishka. She's better known simply as "Moogie," mother of Quark and Rom, and she threw the lives of her children and everyone on Ferenginar into chaos by… wait for it… earning profit. Egads!

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a close look at the woman behind the curtain, the woman with the lobes for business. We discuss how her presence on the show adds depth to Quark and Rom, what her relationship with Zek says about the evolution of societies, and how DS9 was able to deliver comedy with meaning.