Bajoran Prophecies.

Life as a religious figure started for Benjamin Sisko almost the moment he arrived at the station. Coming to terms with that life took a bit longer. One of the elements that made Deep Space Nine so rich and unique was the Bajoran belief system. The writers wove elements of spirituality—or mysticism depending on your perspective—into the series in a way that requires a long view to appreciate. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss six specific Bajoran prophecies that led us from the arrival of the Federation in "Emissary" to the final showdown in the Fire Caves in "What You Leave Behind." We also explore how these prophecies eased Sisko into his role as Emissary and helped Kira, Winn, and others accept that he was, in fact, of Bajor.

Time Travel and Alternate Realities.

Like all Star Trek series, Deep Space Nine has its fair share of time travel stories. Some, like "Visionary" are your standard trips through time. Others, like "Past Tense," carry strong social commentary. And still others, like "Children of Time," create alternate realities and mind-boggling paradoxes that can send you in search of the aspirin bottle if you try to make sense of them. But through it all DS9 does what it always does best—build characters. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss time travel in general and compare and contrast two specific episodes—"Visionary" and "Children of Time"—as we look at how the DS9 writers utilize one of science fiction's most popular plot devices.

Lwaxana Troi on DS9.

During Deep Space Nine's first season, the writers attempted to woo fans of TNG by bringing familiar faces aboard. Picard appeared in "Emissary" while Miles and Keiko joined as regulars transferring over from the Enterprise. So far so good. But then came our beloved Q and Vash. These last two didn't quite work on DS9, and so when Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed, the Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, and Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed, showed up in "The Forsaken" we braced for the worst. As it turns out, however, the experiment was successful; so much so that she came back two more times.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss Mrs. Troi's appearances on DS9, what she added to the show, how she helped Odo become a more well-rounded character, and why—as it turned out—she is a character that is right at home on the station.

Looking for par'Mach In All the Wrong Places Commentary.

Love is in the air aboard Deep Space 9, only it isn't between the people you might expect. Quark has eyes for his Klingon ex, Jadzia has eyes for her Klingon colleague, and Miles and Kira have… well… something neither of them really wants. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing bring you a commentary for the episode that put a Star Trek spin on a classic tale of chivalry and wit—sprinkled with a few of Cupid's misplaced arrows—and planted the seeds for so much to come in the lives of our characters—especially for Worf and Jadzia.

Waltz.

Sisko and Dukat have one of the most dynamic relationships of any hero/enemy combination in Star Trek. It transcends even the obvious Starfleet-Cardassian conflict and extends into the spiritual realm. It's enough to be men on opposite sides of galactic politics—who have each commanded DS9 (or Terok Nor)—but as emissaries to opposing sides of Bajoran religion they represent the timeless battle between good and evil. Being Deep Space Nine, however, who is on which side is not always entirely clear.

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing are joined by John Tenuto to discuss this relationship, how it comes to a head in the sixth-season episode "Waltz," and how the writers used the moment to wash away the grey and plant Sisko and Dukat firmly on opposing sides of the ethical, moral, and spiritual plains.

Undeveloped Stories.

With Deep Space Nine's complex story arcs and extensive cast of characters it was difficult for the writers to explore every story idea they wanted. Many concepts were left on the table, ranging from a visit to Gre'thor to the return of Sito Jaxa in a follow-up to TNG's "Lower Decks." In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss eight undeveloped episodes from DS9 as well as a few others we'd like to have seen. And along the way we resist the urge to break out in song—something Ronald D. Moore once hoped to see happen aboard the station.

Aliens of Deep Space Nine.

As the gateway to the Gamma Quadrant—or the Alpha Quadrant depending on where you normally hang your hat—DS9 saw countless alien races walk down its dimly-lit corridors. Some were familiar from TOS and TNG, some were new to Star Trek, and some were possibly from 1980s music videos. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss a few of the key species that turned up on the station, those that made DS9's complex storylines work, and even a few that left us simply scratching our heads. Plus, we hand out awards to recognize some of the more unique contributions to the show.

Sacrifice of Angels Commentary.

What appeared to be the culmination of The Dominion War proved to simply be one of several turning points in the conflict. "Sacrifice of Angels," the culmination of a six-part arc, is about as exciting as they come. But beyond these fun superficial elements is a story a love, betrayal, and loss. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take you through the episode with a commentary track that examines the heart of an evil man, the death of an innocent angel, and whether or not Sisko hit the reset button by seeking the help of the Prophets.

Greatest Sisko Episodes.

From "Emissary" to "What You Leave Behind," Deep Space 9's commanding officer had many wonderful character moments. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing pick some of the best that highlight the passion, drive, determination, and caring that all came together to make Benjamin Sisko a unique leader within Star Trek—to say nothing of a friend and father.

The Mirror Universe.

Typically when Star Trek fans think of the Mirror Universe, they think of The Original Series and the episode "Mirror, Mirror." And while it's true that the Enterprise's mission to the Halkan homeworld gave birth to this sexy and sinister place, it was Deep Space Nine that really gave a home to the land of alter egos. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing explore the Mirror Universe and discuss how it was fleshed out by DS9, how our familiar characters differ and remain the same, and why even the Intendant can't resist Mirror Ezri. Plus, we imagine a series called Star Trek: MU and play a round of Mirror Universe trivia.