With the shared DNA of Ronald D. Moore, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine can be seen as the predecessor of Battlestar Galactica2004 reboot. Both science fiction series are acclaimed, with DS9 maintaining a 91% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and BSG even higher with a 95% Fresh rating. Debuting in 1993, Deep Space Nine is a spin-off of Star Trek: The Next Generation which ran for 7 seasons in syndication. Battlestar Galactica released a decade later, first as a 2003 Sci-Fi Channel miniseries that spawned an ongoing series in 2004 with 4 seasons, as well as a prequel, Capricaand derivatives Battlestar Galactica: Razor, Battlestar Galactica: The Planand Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome.
Ronald D. Moore has joined the writers’ room for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine after achieving great success in Star Trek: The Next Generationincluding co-writing with Brannon Braga TNG’the acclaimed series finale, “All Good Things…” and the feature films Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: First Contact. DS9 broken Star Trekalong the lines of being set on a space station and exploring themes that are darker and more complex than the happier ones TNGwith a wider canvas and a cavalcade of eclectic characters. Moore learned lessons from Star Trek but he also found Gene Roddenberry’s vision limiting. On reboot Battlestar Galactica, Moore managed to make a distinctive sci-fi epic that did what Star Treknot even Deep Space Ninecouldn’t.
The concept of Deep Space Nine was the spiritual predecessor of Battlestar Galactica 2004
Ronald D. Moore managed to explore darker themes in DS9
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine evolved over its seven seasons. The original premise of DS9 meinvolved the space station led by Commander (later Captain) Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) guarding the Bajoran wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant. Gradually, DS9 introduced its super-threat, the Dominion, and marched toward an epic war that engulfed and existentially endangered the United Federation of Planets. All the time, DS9 was about the inner journey of its vast cast of characterswith a deeper exploration of their motivations and inner lives than Star Trek had seen before. Crucially, Deep Space Nine it also pioneered serialized storytelling, foreshadowing the dominant form of TV in the streaming era.
With the serialized Battlestar GalacticaRonald D. Moore flipped the script on intergalactic warfare: humans had suffered a devastating nuclear attack at the hands of robotic Cylons and were on the run. Of Battle StarFrom the beginning, the human race was at a disadvantage, desperately trying to escape their Cylon attackers, facing constant infiltration and searching for the legendary 13th colony, Earth. As Deep Space Nine, Battlestar integrated military and civilian characters in intriguing ways. Galactic Battle Stara was Moore free from the constraints of Star Trekbut still aware of the need for complex, flawed heroes and villains that felt like a natural progression from his work in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Deep Space Nine and Battlestar Galactica shared similar stories and themes
War, politics, religion and more
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine went places Star Trek: The Next Generation did or could not. Captain Sisko was the Emissary of the Prophets of Bajor, divided between his roles as spiritual leader and Starfleet officer. DS9 delved into the religion of Bajor, with elements of the supernatural that TNG barely touched or generally avoided. As DS9 progressed, turning into a series about the costs and complications of war, with Sisko and his crew pushed to make moral compromises that seemed unthinkable aboard the USS Enterprise-D. DS9 was also immersed in politics and intrigue that couldn’t be resolved in just one hour, while main characters like Sisko, Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) and Lieutenant Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) fell in love, got married and even died tragically .
As dark as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could be, Ronald D. Moore got it Battlestar Galactica on an even greater stellar journey into the darkness. As a science fiction allegory of 9/11 and the War on Terror, Battle Star was steeped in fear and paranoia, Commander (later Admiral) William Adama (Edward James Olmos) and his survivors aboard Galactica realized that any one of them could be a Cylon sleeper agent. The flaws of the human race were exposed in the wake of possible extinction at the hands of the Cylons, while religion, politics, sex, and the ramifications of war were even more prevalent in Battlestar Galactica.
Despite their shared DNA, DS9 and Battlestar Galactica are still very different shows
DS9 still maintains Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek vision of optimism
Deep Space Nine he picked up Star Trek in fascinating new directions, but at its core, was still Star Trek and maintained Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic vision of the future. Even in the most harrowing moments of the Dominion War, there was always light and the fulfilled belief that Captain Sisko and Starfleet would find a path to triumph. DS9 also featured many light-hearted episodes, such as the James Bond-themed “Our Man Bashir”, the baseball romp “Take Me Out to the Holosuite”, which was written by Ronald D. Moore, and the Ocean’s Eleven parody, “Bada Bing, Badda Bang”. Deep Space Nine ran the gamut of narratives and could deftly switch genres in the best way Star Trek tradition.
BSG it had none of the guiding principles of Gene Roddenberry’s utopia.
In contrast, levity was scarce in Battlestar Galactica. The situation of Galactica and its military and civilian populations became increasingly dire as the seasons progressed. Gaius Baltar (James Callis) replaced Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) as president, the situation of the population of Galactica became even worse. BSGThe characters were plunged into alcohol and drug abuse, and some were even tortured. It’s hard to imagine a comedy episode about playing baseball against the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica. BSG had no guiding principle of Gene Roddenberry’s utopia, but this is which allowed Ronald D. Moore to forge an even more realistic allegory for post-9/11 America.
DS9 and Battlestar Galactica are proving difficult to remake and reboot
For different reasons
Another thing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Battlestar Galactica have in common is that they are both difficult to revive and restart. Although Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager found a new life in Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Prodigy, DS9 not having the same luck. In addition to a handful of DS9 favorite characters returning, the tragic deaths of actors like Rene Auberjonois and Aron Eisenberg, and especially the retirement of Avery Brooks, prevent a complete Star Trek: Deep Space Nine reunion happens. The reduction of Star Trek projects to Paramount+ projects also creates fewer opportunities for DS9 actors to revive their characters.
In 2019, Battlestar Galactica was eyeing a reboot of the Peacock series under the leadership of Mister Robot creator Sam Esmail. However, after a development process that lasted years, Battlestar Galactica the reimagining was dropped at Peacock. Given the singular impact of Ronald D. Moore’s work Battlestar Galacticaand how current and relevant it remains 20 years later, There doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for a renewed approach to humans versus Cylons. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and 2004 Battlestar Galactica they are products of their respective eras that share Ron Moore’s vision, which is difficult to replicate.