I'm reposting this here from an old blog since it's relevant here.I can no longer lie to myself. I've been struggling with something for a long time, but I finally realized what I always suspected to be true, even though it's very difficult for me to admit, especially since I feel like I'm betraying my childhood. But I was young, and I couldn't fully understand some things, so it's understandable. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has officially replaced Star Trek: The Next Generation as my favorite Star Trek series.
DS9 is much more complex than TNG, and it feels more real, too. The characters have flaws, and DS9 goes where no Star Trek before it would go. It's darker, it deals with politics, the impact of war, death, religion, equal rights, racism, and much more. Episodes like "In the Pale Moonlight", "Duet", and "The Visitor" bring forth emotions that TNG never could. The more DS9 I watch, the more I find myself wanting to be like Benjamin Sisko with a little bit of Elim Garak thrown in. I can't recall ever really wanting to be like anyone in TNG.
Long live DS9.
