The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast

Feedback Show. In each episode of The Orb we delve into the minutiae of Deep Space Nine, which generates a lot of feedback from you, our loyal listeners. When the messages start piling up, it’s time to gaze into the Orb of Mail. In this special show we share our thoughts on your thoughts and questions about past episodes. Join us as we discuss which episode is DS9’s most important, the possibility...

The Dominion Invasion, Part 7 of 7: Sacrifice of Angels. Deep Space Nine is often seen as that series about the war. But, in fact, the Dominion War didn’t really begin until the end of the fifth season. Squadrons of insect-like Dominion ships pouring out of the wormhole was the harbinger of the greatness and danger to come, and to a unique approach to Star Trek storytelling. The sixth season of DS...

Michael Dorn Talks Worf, Star Trek, and Internity. When Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered, one sign that times had changed for the Federation was the presence of a Klingon officer on the bridge of the Enterprise. The role of Worf was not intended to be as integral as it became. And certainly, in those early episodes of TNG, no one would have guessed that this would be the character that wou...

Aron Eisenberg Talks Nog and Star Trek. Deep Space Nine did wonders for the Ferengi, transforming them from campy comic-relief villains into a mirror for ourselves and what we’re like today. Although Quark got the headline role, his brother Rom and nephew Nog made perhaps the biggest strides. Nog in particular went from thieving kid in “Emissary” to a Starfleet officer by the final season, showing...

The Dominion Invasion, Part 6 of 7: Favor the Bold. Deep Space Nine is often seen as that series about the war. But, in fact, the Dominion War didn't really begin until the end of the fifth season. Squadrons of insect-like Dominion ships pouring out of the wormhole was the harbinger of the greatness and danger to come, and to a unique approach to Star Trek storytelling. The sixth season of DS9 was...

The Circle Trilogy, Part 3 of 3: The Siege. Enterprise gets much praise for its unique three-episode storytelling style that defined the fourth season. But a decade earlier, DS9 took the format for a trial run with what has come to be known as "The Circle Trilogy." Comprising "The Homecoming," "The Circle," and "The Siege," the three-part story remained unique within Star Trek until the NX-01 ente...

The Orb Supplemental: The Orb of Mail Feedback Show. In each episode of The Orb we delve into the minutiae of Deep Space Nine, which generates a lot of feedback from you, our loyal listeners. When the messages start piling up, it’s time to gaze into the Orb of Mail. In this special show we share our thoughts on your thoughts and questions about past episodes. Join us as we discuss fan ratings of D...

The Circle Trilogy, Part 2 of 3: The Circle. Enterprise gets much praise for its unique three-episode storytelling style that defined the fourth season. But a decade earlier, DS9 took the format for a trial run with what has come to be known as "The Circle Trilogy." Comprising "The Homecoming," "The Circle," and "The Siege," the three-part story remained unique within Star Trek until the NX-01 ent...

The Dominion Invasion, Part 5 of 7: Behind the Lines. Deep Space Nine is often seen as that series about the war. But, in fact, the Dominion War didn't really begin until the end of the fifth season. Squadrons of insect-like Dominion ships pouring out of the wormhole was the harbinger of the greatness and danger to come, and to a unique approach to Star Trek storytelling. The sixth season of DS9 w...

The Circle Trilogy, Part 1 of 3: The Homecoming. Enterprise gets much praise for its unique three-episode storytelling style that defined the fourth season. But a decade earlier, DS9 took the format for a trial run with what has come to be known as "The Circle Trilogy." Comprising "The Homecoming," "The Circle," and "The Siege," the three-part story remained unique within Star Trek until the NX-01...

DS9 Season One Overview. When you look back at the whole of Deep Space Nine, the first season feels a bit out-of-place. The tone of the episodes in this freshman outing don’t quite mesh with the persona DS9 took on in later seasons. Yet there are plenty of seeds being planted in these early adventures, and there are even a few moments of sheer brilliance. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan...

The Dominion Invasion, Part 4 of 7: Sons and Daughters. Deep Space Nine is often seen as that series about the war. But, in fact, the Dominion War didn't really begin until the end of the fifth season. Squadrons of insect-like Dominion ships pouring out of the wormhole was the harbinger of the greatness and danger to come, and to a unique approach to Star Trek storytelling. The sixth season of DS9...

The Orb Supplemental: The Orb of Mail Feedback Show.   In each episode of The Orb we delve into the minutiae of Deep Space Nine, which generates a lot of feedback from you, our loyal listeners. When the messages start piling up, it's time to gaze into the Orb of Mail. In this special show we share our thoughts on your thoughts and questions about past episodes. Join us as we further explore the re...

Profit and Lace Commentary. The sixth season of Deep Space Nine brought us some of Star Trek's best episodes. In fact, it delivered what is considered by many to be the best hour of DS9—and one of the best in the entire franchise—with "In the Pale Moonlight." But it also gave us what is widely considered to be DS9's worst: "Profit and Lace."  In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and...

The Dominion Invasion, Part 3 of 7: Rocks and Shoals. Deep Space Nine is often seen as that series about the war. But, in fact, the Dominion War didn't really begin until the end of the fifth season. Squadrons of insect-like Dominion ships pouring out of the wormhole was the harbinger of the greatness and danger to come, and to a unique approach to Star Trek storytelling. The sixth season of DS9 w...

Ziyal. As the overseer of the Occupation, it isn't surprising the Dukat would have conceived a child with a Bajoran woman. But that this child would become a driving force in the stories of so many characters is. Through just nine appearances on DS9, Tora Ziyal changed the course of life for not only her father but also Kira, Garak, and others. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones an...

Leonard Nimoy's Influence on DS9. The passing of Leonard Nimoy marks a shift in Star Trek universe. Perhaps no character from the franchise is better known that Spock. And while this endearing Vulcan never graced the corridors of Terok Nor, his influence—and that of the man who played him—is never far away. In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a moment to rem...

The Dominion Invasion, Part 2 of 7: A Time to Stand. Deep Space Nine is often seen as that series about the war. But, in fact, the Dominion War didn't really begin until the end of the fifth season. Squadrons of insect-like Dominion ships pouring out of the wormhole was the harbinger of the greatness and danger to come, and to a unique approach to Star Trek storytelling. The sixth season of DS9 wa...

The Orb Supplemental: The Orb of Mail Feedback Show.   In each episode of The Orb we delve into the minutiae of Deep Space Nine, which generates a lot of feedback from you, our loyal listeners. When the messages start piling up, it’s time to gaze into the Orb of Mail. In this special show we share our thoughts on your thoughts and questions about past episodes. Join us as we set Jake, Kasidy, and...

Deep Space Nine Season Eight. The finale of DS9 ended with the crew becoming scattered, Sisko in the Celestial Temple, and a feeling of complete and utter change. But what if the plan had been for eight seasons? What if the writers had 26 more episodes to continue the story they had begun? In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing imagine what would have happened with...

The Dominion Invasion, Part 1 of 7: Call to Arms. Deep Space Nine is often seen as that series about the war. But, in fact, the Dominion War didn't really begin until the end of the fifth season. Squadrons of insect-like Dominion ships pouring out of the wormhole was the harbinger of the greatness and danger to come, and to a unique approach to Star Trek storytelling. The sixth season of DS9 was t...

Little Green Men Commentary. One of the most fascinating incidents in American history is the alleged crash of a flying saucer near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. The supposed cover-up of the event, examination of aliens, and storage of the actual craft has become a thing of legend. What if it came with the added twist of a Star Trek connection?   In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones...

The Final Chapter, Part 10 of 9: What We Left Behind. Wrapping up a series as complex as Deep Space Nine cannot be done with a traditional finale—or a single podcast. In the ninth part of our nine-part series, Chris and Matthew had way too much to say—and thus we bring you an additional 86 minutes of discussion as we look back on DS9. In the first part of our "What You Leave Behind" Orb we discuss...

The Final Chapter, Part 9 of 9: What You Leave Behind. Wrapping up a series as complex as Deep Space Nine cannot be done with a traditional finale. To tackle a task so large, the writers needed a grand canvas upon which to paint the final strokes; but even eight episodes left so much still undone. The ninth and final installment—a double-thick bookend to the series opener "Emissary"—had a lot to l...

The Orb Supplemental: The Orb of Mail Feedback Show. In each episode of The Orb we delve into the minutiae of Deep Space Nine, which generates a lot of feedback from you, our loyal listeners. When the messages start piling up, it's time to gaze into the Orb of Mail. In this special show we share our thoughts on your thoughts and questions about past episodes. Join us as we expand upon the possible...