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Star Trek: 10 Reasons Why Benjamin Sisko Is The Greatest Starfleet Captain

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It's a question as old as time…well about as old as 1999. Who is the best Starfleet captain? Are you a hardcore classic purist and always answer James T Kirk, despite all his many questionable actions? Or you all forward thinking and advocate for gender rights and consider Katherine Janeway the best? Perhaps it’s the diplomatic, Shakespearean, Earl Grey-drinking Jean Luc Picard? Or do you like Jonathan Archer because he was Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap?

For me, Captain Benjamin Sisko is the best of the best, but against stiff competition it is going to be a hard case to sell. The single father / Emissary to Bajor / Starfleet captain / military strategist had so much going for him across his seven years in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that I am confident I have a wealth of example to present.

But in the interest of fairness (and because I feel Picard comes a close second), I'm also going to give me thoughts on what the other four Starfleet captains fared in similar situations. Because any fair case needs both sides to the story.

Are you ready to be convinced? Good. Allow me to present 10 Reasons Why Benjamin Sisko is the greatest Starfleet captain…and as usual a warning to anyone who hasn’t seen Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, I would be discussing key episodes to support my argument so if you plan to watch the show, spoilers beware!

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10. Sisko Knows The Personal Cost Of Failure

Episode Evidence: The Emissary

Going right back to the opening moments of Deep Space Nine, we saw the then Commander Sisko face the greatest loss in his life…the death of his wife Jennifer at the Battle of Wolf 359. Part of the Federation fleet sent to fight the Borg (and Locutus), the first officer experienced first hand what failure can bring. Not only is his ship destroyed, but he is forced to leave with wife, trapped in the wreckage, in an effort to save his son Kake and escape.

From that first scene we know that Sisko understands the cost of going up against an enemy and failing and this is something that follows him through to his role in the ongoing war against the Dominion. He would experience a similar loss again with the murder of his best friend Jadzia Dax at the end of season 6.

All Starfleet Captains know the consequences of failure but none as keenly as Benjamin Sisko.

And for your argument…

KIRK: The only man who can compare to Sisko on this level – the murder of his son Marcus at the hands of Klingons. Though with Spock’s death at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, he knows that sometimes to win the day you have to make great sacrifices.

PICARD: He never quite faced loss on the level of Sisko. Sure he lost his only family to a fire, but that was accidental. It was never as the result of failing to defeat an enemy.

JANEWAY: Through her seven-season tenure, Janeway never really had someone she was close to. Sure she lost her boyfriend back on Earth (he naturally assumed she was dead) but there was no other family to speak off. While she keenly felt the loss of any crew-member in her attempt to lead them home, she never suffered a devastating loss. Only the Year Of Hell two-parter came close and that was an alternate version anyway.

ARCHER: Nice enough chap. He had a dog. Perhaps having the rug stolen out from under him by making the Star Trek: Enterprise finale a Next Generation clip show? (Scott Bakula apparently did write an angry letter to the producers, and rightly so!)
 
9. He Successfully Juggled Parenthood And Love Around His Career

Episode Evidence: Explorers

The talk of personal loss leads me to my next point. Sisko had something even Kirk didn’t. He juggled his incredibly difficult Starfleet career with raising a son single-handed into childhood. Dealing with the loss of his wife, it wasn’t until he took command of Deep Space Nine that he managed to balance the two and achieved in raising a strong, independent son…sometimes a little too independent as his actions staying behind on the Dominion-occupied Deep Space Nine showed.

Still Sisko was always eager to support his son and show him the universe. From a field trip to end all field trips in ‘The Jem’Hadar’ to piloting the ancient solar-sailed Bajoran ship in ‘Explorers’. The latter may not have been the most exciting episode, but it showed that Benjamin Sisko was fiercely devoted to giving Jake a first hand experience at all the wonders of the universe.

And okay, it might have ended tragically, but Sisko also managed to find love again in Kassidy Yates. Amid the cold war tensions with the Klingons and the Dominion, and later the war itself, he managed to devote time to the woman who would bring him happiness again. Even when the Prophets warned him not to, Sisko committed to Yates whole heartedly, marrying her…even though his final fate (joining the Prophets) meant that they never got to live a full life together (at least not on screen).

KIRK: Orion slave girls, Doctor Carol Marcus, every female alien in the universe…Kirk had them all. Unfortunately he was too much of a ladies man to commit to any of them. And his newfound relationship with his son Marcus was cut tragically short.

PICARD: A will they, won’t they relationship with Doctor Beverley Crusher, awkward denial over his attraction to Vash, a flirtation with Anij on Baku…poor Picard was never able to balance his emotions with his role as Captain of the Enterprise(s).

JANEWAY: No children. No love. She’s too busy getting her crew home to deal with any of that nonsense.

ARCHER: I can’t quite remember any romance. He was fiercely devoted to his per beagle Lou though…
 
8. He Wasn’t Afraid To Use His Emotions To Drive His Convictions

Episode Evidence: Far Beyond The Stars

While some captains might be rigidly stoic in the face of danger, Sisko instead chooses to use his emotions to handle tough situations. He isn’t afraid to show his anger, going head to head with Gowron and the Klingon Empire, the Dominion and the Maquis to show the strength of his convictions.

And hell, he even punched Q.

He also showed his inner geek, asking Captain Kirk for an autograph when they crossed paths (time travel of course) in the excellent ‘Trials & Tribble-ations’. But nowhere did Sisko do it better than in playing the role of Benny in the Prophet’s induced dream that was ‘Far Beyond The Stars’ and its follow up ‘Shadow’s And Symbols’. His speech where we rants that you cannot deny an idea, that of Benjamin Sisko and Deep Space Nine, is an amazing scene that stands at the pinnacle of any Star Trek performance. Full of conviction and passion, this is the true nature of Captain Sisko, a man who will do what he must to make others see the right thing.

KIRK: Another man who didn’t hold back. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is full of great moments. Discovering he has a son allows for a moment of rare tenderness and his anger at Khan (Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!!!) and loss at Spock’s death show the Captain at his emotive best.

PICARD: Rarely a man to let emotions rule him, it comes to a head when Lily questions his decisions in Star Trek: First Contact. “They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they’ve done! ”

JANEWAY: Like Picard, she doesn’t let emotions show. She has the need to be in control all the time. So much that it isn’t until the season five opener ‘Night’ that she finally opens up and questions her actions so far to Chakoty.

ARCHER: I admit, I’m drawing a blank. Suggestions anyone?
 
7. He Had Great Trust In His Colleagues And Friends And Used It To His Advantage

Episode Evidence: You Are Cordially Invited

Some Starfleet Captains held themselves aloft from their crew. It’s an understandable position. A man or woman in position has to balance any friendship with command. But Captain Sisko was quite unique in that he used his friendship to better himself. None more so than his continuing friendship with Dax.

Sisko first meet Dax when ‘he’ was Cuzon Dax, a Federation Ambassador. The trill became a mentor to Sisko and this relationship continued when the Dax symbiont transferred to Jadzia. This ambitious young science officer was a great source of support from the commander-then Captain, providing herself as a sounding board for his thoughts and actions. She even took on the honourific role of ‘old man’; as someone with the experience of several different lives, this was a title she took with great fondness. And throughout the first six years Sisko confided in the ‘old man’ on numerous occasions, utilising her Starfleet experience and the eight lives worth of guidance to guide him.

And it went both ways. Sisko had a great insight into what made Jadzia tick, and when she expressed doubts in her ability to measure up to Martok’s family preceding her marriage to Worf in season six, it would Sisko who convinced her she had the skill and confidence to take on the mantle of Worf’s ‘Klingon’ wife. Without Dax’s wisdom, Sisko would have been lost on numerous occasions. And when Jadzia was murdered in the season six finale ‘Tears Of The Prophets’, Sisko realised, in an incredibly heartfelt speech, that he couldn’t go on. He needed his ‘old man’ to help guide him and without her he was forced to admit defeat and return to Earth.

And it wasn’t just Dax. He used Kira to help him gain insight into the Bajoran people and their faith and Worf to help negotiate tricky situations with the Klingon Empire. They may have been friends as well as colleagues, but he knew the wisdom of using their experiences to find solutions to the problems he faced.

KIRK: A man who relied heavily on Spock and McCoy, again using their wisdom and experience to help resolve the situation without ever loosing confidence in his own abilities as Captain.

PICARD: A man used to being at the top, he had no issues with making firm decisions. None the less, he used Troi’s wisdom in negotiations, Data’s scientific and historical databanks and took heed of Riker’s warnings to consider all options.

JANEWAY: Another Captain comfortable in command and able to make hard decisions. None the less, she was ready to listen to the guidance of her first officer Chakoty.

ARCHER: Relied on Tripp and T’Pol heavily. Seemed confident but not altogether at ease in the Captain’s chair.
 
6. He Balanced His Federation Duties With Being A Religious Icon

Episode Evidence: Rapture

So imagine being told you are commanding a space station in the frontier of space, without all the federation nice-ities at your disposal, given the mission of helping a species recover from occupation and deal with a hostile race who will do anything to dispose you and take back that station. And then imagine being told you’re a religious icon, sent by the gods to lead that species to enlightenment.

That’s what Sisko had to face from his first day on Deep Space Nine.

As expected, it was something he struggled with from day one. Deep Space Nine was a fresh start after his wife’s death and he had enough on his plate without the spiritual adoration of the Bajoran people. Combined with the political machinations of characters like Vedek (and later Kai) Winn, he always felt uncomfortable with the situation. However Sisko was always the professional, respecting the beliefs of the Bajoran people even if he didn’t follow them.

Then everything changed with the season five episode ‘Rapture’. Visions from the Prophets warned that the joining of Bajor to the Federation would result in disaster, and despite his mission mandate and Starfleet duties, he chose to follow through on those beliefs and prevent it from happening. With the eventual war with the Dominion breaking out at the end of the season, it was a decision that saved the planet and it’s people from destruction.

From then on Sisko continued to find balance between his role as Starfleet Captain and Emissary, convincing the Prophets to act when the Dominion fleet looked poised to invade through the wormhole in ‘Sacrifice Of Angels’ and final taking on the ultimate battle against the Emissary of the Pai’Wraths’ in the series finale ‘What You Leave Behind’. Both actions were formidable as he not only embraced his role as spiritual leader and link to the Prophets, but saved the Federation (and potentially the Quadrant) from certain destruction as a result.

Not bad for one man.

KIRK: He went on a mission to find God and took on a malevolent force at the centre of the galaxy that claimed to be the ultimate deity. Not bad for a few day’s work. (It’s a shame that the film Star Trek V: The Final Frontier just wasn’t that good…)

PICARD: The Mintakan race believed Picard was a god. He proved he wasn’t by shedding blood. Brilliant Captain he may be, he wasn’t a religious icon…

JANEWAY: She took on the Borg like some self-proclaimed god of war, but that was more a defect of her personality that religious traits. Rule 1 of the Borg…run! Don’t take on the Borg Queen. Unless you’re Picard (and Data).

ARCHER: No religious icon traits but he was a driving force in the founding of the Federation. So that’s pretty cool.
 
5. He Was A Great Diplomat

Episode Evidence: By Inferno’s Light

It’s a trait that every Starfleet Captain needs and all our leading commanders do it well. But what made Captain Sisko so damned good at his job was that he wasn’t just a ship or planet at stake where he played the diplomatic card. It was whole quadrant. Not only did he work with the Bajorans to rebuild their home from his first day on the job but he was the front man for any first contact in the Gamma Quadrant. And then in the course of the Dominion War, he liaised with the Klingon forces (and later the Romulans) to forge an alliance to stop the invading forces. And he was there at the final peace treaty that ended the galactic conflict, the ‘Treaty of Bajor’.

For my evidence, I present the Klingons. There were three Starfleet Captains who rose to prominence in ensuring peace with the ridge-headed warriors. Captain Spock (The Khitomer accords), Captain Picard (as Arbiter of Succession following the death of Klingon Chancellor K’mpec) and Captain Sisko. It was Sisko who reasoned that the Dominion were behind the renewed conflict between the Federation and Klingons, and that continued bloodshed would only make both races weak. The Klingons of course, and their bug-eyed leader Gowron wouldn’t hear any of this. But Sisko battled on and when the shocking alliance of the Dominion and Cardassia was formed, he sought his chance, convincing Gowron that only be resigning the Khitomer accords and forging a new alliance could they hope to beat this increased threat.

It was an argument that paid off. And by the end of the Dominion War, relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire was at its strongest, thanks to Sisko’s work with these allies and his diplomatic relationship with new Klingon Chancellor Martok.

KIRK: With the Klingons, Kirk too finally saw reason and worked to forge the alliance, becoming a key player in the Khitomer Accords.

PICARD: Pretty much every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. But again, it’s his work with the Klingons in season three through five that shows him at his diplomatic finest.

JANEWAY: Used her diplomatic guile brilliantly over her seven years in the Delta Quadrant, negotiating with local races to sustain her crew across hostile territory. Oh and she struck a temporary alliance with the Borg against Species 8472. That takes some skills…

ARCHER: Yeah, he helped found the Federation so he might win this one. We might not have Kirk, Picard, Sisko and Janeway without him.
 
4. He Held People Accountable For Their Actions

Episode Evidence: For The Uniform/Blaze Of Glory

All Stafleet Captains must aspire for high standards in the crew they lead. A sense of duty. Respect for others. Holding up the ideals of the Federation. So to have to those standards broken would be a terrible betrayal. Sure these instances, while few and far between, were faced by all our leading Captains, but none moreso than Sisko. I’m talking of course about the fall of his former Chief of Starfleet Security on Deep Space Nine, Michael Eddington,.

When Eddington went rouge, Sisko made it a personal mission to bring him to justice. Not just because his officer had betrayed the Federation, but because his actions looked set to destabilise the quadrant further. In ‘For The Uniform’ he mans the Defiant on a mission to the badlands, taking drastic action to bring Eddington to justice and hold him accountable for his crimes. Remember a few years earlier he had lost his good friend Cal Hudson to the Maquis. He wasn’t willing to allow that to go unchallenged again. You could question that making an entire planet uninhabitable to humans to capture him was questionable, and I would agree, but that’s another trait I’ll come to later.

But it is in ‘Blaze of Glory’ that things come to a head, with the actions of the Maquis set to plunge the Alpha Quadrant into all out war. It was something Sisko couldn’t hold back forever, but he challenged Eddington to help him stop the terrorist group now – prevent missiles from striking Cardassian soil and resulting in bloodshed from their new allies the Dominion. Sisko gave Eddington a chance of redemption. As it turned out it was a ruse to rescue Maquis survivors (Eddington’s wife included) but it was a chance of redemption none the less. Even if it cost him his life.

Oh, and he sent Kassidy to jail for a year when he discovered the woman he loved had also supported the Maquis. Fortunately for them, they survived that little ‘incident’.

KIRK: Saw his best friend Gary Mitchell become a powerful entity and was forced to consider killing him to save the ship. Not an easy decision to make…

PICARD: He faced a similar circumstance with the now Lieutenant Ro Laren. Sent to infiltrate the newly formed terrorist group, she went and joined them, disappointing her former mentor. Some might say is that it? But disappointing Jean Luc Picard? I’d rather disappoint my own mother…

JANEWAY: Another ‘Maquis’ crewmember, Janeway was betrayed by Seska to the Kazon race. However, Seska had already come onboard as Maquis crewmember under Chakoty’s command but was actually a Cardsassian spy. So that was a mess from the start.

ARCHER: Discovered Lieutenant Reed was secretly a member of Section 31, a black ops unit within Starfleet. Immediately stuck him in the brig and demoted him. (Though he did realise that Reed had been put in an impossible situation and reinstated him as Chief of Security)
 
3. He Was A Brilliant Military Strategist

Episode Evidence: The Sacrifice Of Angels

Captain Sisko was possibly the most important military tactician in the Dominion War. With close ties forged with the Klingon Empire and the knowledge and experience of five years exploration of the Gamma Quadrant, he was the man who led the way in many critical battles. Let’s take a look at some of his biggest military achievements…

1) Defending Deep Space Nine against a Klingon armada (Way Of The Warrior)

2) Defending Deep Space long enough to evacuate personnel and families against a Dominion invasion force (A Call To Arms)

3) Leading 600 Federation ships in a battle to retake Deep space Nine (Sacrifice Of Angels)

4) Took drastic steps to bring the Romulans into the war (In the Pale Moonlight…more on that on the next page…)

5) Taking a leading role in a combined Federation, Klingon and Romulan offensive against the Dominion at the Chintoka system (Tears Of The Prophets)

6) Ordered Worf to ‘deal’ with Chancellor Gowron to prevent further unauthorised Klingon attacks, leading to the replacement of a more reasonable Martok, who worked with Sisko and the allies to help win the war.

7) Was one of the fleet commanders in the three-pronged’ invasion of Cardassia that led to the conclusion of the Dominion War.

Not bad for one man. None of the Starfleet Captains below achieved half of what Sisko managed, providing his knowledge and experience of the enemy and commander of Deep Space Nine ‘the most important piece of real estate in the quadrant’ to help turn the tide of war, battling through when all seemed lost and having the skill and confidence to lead the Federation to ultimate victory.

KIRK: In one-on-one combat situations, Kirk was the master. Using 3D thinking to outmanoeuvre Khan in the Mutara Nebula, playing the ultimate bluff on the Klingons over the Genesis planet (sacrificing his own ship to destroy the bulk of the enemy forces) and going up against a cloaked Klingon bird of prey in his final mission as Captain of the USS Enterprise.

PICARD: Captain Picard may have come second, rallying the fleet and destroying the Borg cube at the battle for Earth in Star Trek: First Contact. Though ultimately it would become a more personal battle back in the past…

JANEWAY: Faced Kazon attacks, the Phage-infested Vidiians and then on to bigger fish such as the Borg. She may have been reckless, but she got her crew home. Her biggest military achievement was the formation of an alliance to attack the Krenim in the closing moments of ‘Year Of Hell Part 2′, an action that cost her, her life and her ship…

ARCHER: Sent to discover the true nature of the Xindi threat, the wily Captain demonstrated plenty of battle expertise, even though he received a devastating attack at Azati Prime. Nothing on the scale of Sisko, though who knows what happened in the Romulan War that followed…
 
2. He Would Cross The Line To Do What Needed To Be Done

Episode Evidence: In The Pale Moonlight

Sure, every Starfleet Captain has made decisions that were against Starfleet morals or rules, but none more so than Captain Sisko’s actions in the stunning season six episode ‘In The Pale Moonlight’. We had already shown that Sisko was willing to cross the line to achieve results by launching the missile at the Maquis-inhabited planet in ‘For The Uniform’, but a year later the Captain of Deep Space Nine did something wholly unexpected in an effort to turn the tide of the Dominion War.

Sisko had reasoned that with the fall of planets like Betazed the Federation and Klingons needed the Romulans to join their side if they ever hoped to turn back the enemy forces. And so he enlisted wily Garak, a former member of the Obsidian Order to uncover information that would convince the Romulan Star Empire that the Dominion meant to attack them. A desperate measure for sure, but nothing our other Captains probably wouldn’t have done in the same situation. Again, it’s about Sisko using the resources and people around him to achieve results.

But when those measures fall short, Sisko makes the ultimate decision, with Garak’s aid, to show fabricated evidence that proves the Dominion meant to attack the Romulans. No longer is this about proving to the Romulans that the Dominion is their enemy. Now it is about lying to them to convince them to lend their resources to the good guys. As it turns out the Romulans discover the information is a fake but are killed when their ship explodes…another friendly act by his ally Garak. The Romulans believe the Dominion to be behind the murder and so join the Federation / Klingon alliance against them.

Any other Captain may have admitted his guilt over the lies and murder to achieve such ends. But Sisko knows the cost otherwise. He knows they need the Romulans to win the war. And so in the end, a very heavy conscious aside, he stays quiet. It is an action that helps to turn the tide of war…and something no other Starfleet Captain may have ever been able to achieve.

KIRK: He broke Starfleet regulations to save Spock on Genesis, but would he have ever gone so far if he had faced the same situation as Sisko?

PICARD: Again, looking to the Borg, he broke Starfleet decisions by returning to Earth and destroying the Borg, but I find it hard to imagine his conscience would have allowed him to stay silent in Sisko’s place.

JANEWAY: She stole Starfleet technology and broke regulations to travel back in time to get her ship home. Of all the Captains, I think it is she who may have been the only one with the guile to do what Sisko did.

ARCHER: Seems too much of a nice guy to ever do what Sisko did.
 
1. Saving Earth? What About The Entire Alpha Quadrant?

Episode Evidence: What We Leave Behind

What was so brilliant about the end of Deep Space Nine was that the threat wasn’t the Dominion, but a god-like race that wanted to burn the galaxy. I’m talking of course of the dreaded Pai’Wraths. Had the Emissary of the Pai’Wraths, Gul Dukat, succeeded in releasing them, no amount of warships or peace treaties would have been enough.

After helping to lead the invasion of Cardassia, win the war and forge the Treaty Of Bajor, Captain Sisko then had to step it up another level, taking on Gul Dukat at the fire caves on Bajor to stop the ‘dark gods’ breaking free. He had already used his role as Emissary to save the quadrant from certain destruction; convincing the Prophets to wipe out the Dominion fleet in season six. This was bigger still. But he achieved it, even at the cost of his own life (kind of).

By defeating Gul Dukat and joining the Prophets, Sisko fulfilled his destiny and saved everyone from certain destruction. Other Starfleet Captains may have saved Earth. They may have saved the Federation. But could any of them say they achieved what Sisko did in his final role as commander of Deep Space Nine?

KIRK: Saved Earth. A lot. Who knows what V’Ger might have done had it moved past Earth?

PICARD: Stopped the Borg twice. If Earth had fallen and the Federation crumbled, the entire Quadrant would have been up for grabs.

JANEWAY: Was off in another Quandrant. But she picked up some pretty nifty skills to stop the Borg should they come calling again.

ARCHER: Didn’t have chance. Though he stopped the temporal war thingy…I think…whatever that was…

So, are you convinced now? Other Starfleet Captains may have had some of the qualities I outlined above, but Sisko had everything. He was a brilliant leader, military commander, and saviour of the galaxy. Truly the best of the best. Feel free to agree below or share your thoughts if you feel differently…
 
Good shit. Anybody who says Kirk is just lost. Kirk did the wrong thing almost more often than he did the right one. If not for Spock he'd have died 5 times over, and killed the crew near the same amount.

Never saw DSN, I might check it out at kickass.to.
 
godofwine said:
Good shit. Anybody who says Kirk is just lost. Kirk did the wrong thing almost more often than he did the right one. If not for Spock he'd have died 5 times over, and killed the crew near the same amount.

Never saw DSN, I might check it out at kickass.to.
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Bruh... you will NOT be disappointed.
 
As a black man and single father myself, Deep Space Nine was one of my favorite tv shows of all time. Benjamin showed black men how to be successful in your career while being a father and carrying on a relationship for personal pleasure. Being a religious came a little later but even with that he somehow juggled and kept it all together. BUT.....

Voyager and Janeway is my Favorite Captain. Mainly because of how different the whole series was. She broke so many prime directives, protocols, merged with the Maqui to make one crew just to get back to the Alpha quadrant. Her stubbornness was it for me. Also, with that stubbornness she could also sit back and take a look and say, hey I may be wrong. A person of her word. Got the crew back by any means.
 
maryland browser said:
As a black man and single father myself, Deep Space Nine was one of my favorite tv shows of all time. Benjamin showed black men how to be successful in your career while being a father and carrying on a relationship for personal pleasure. Being a religious came a little later but even with that he somehow juggled and kept it all together. BUT.....

Voyager and Janeway is my Favorite Captain. Mainly because of how different the whole series was. She broke so many prime directives, protocols, merged with the Maqui to make one crew just to get back to the Alpha quadrant. Her stubbornness was it for me. Also, with that stubbornness she could also sit back and take a look and say, hey I may be wrong. A person of her word. Got the crew back by any means.
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Janeway was a VERY solid Captain. If you were a member of her crew you had a HIGH chance of survival.
 
Sisko is my 2nd favorite to Picard! Sisko was a great Commander/Captain and certainly worked for his timeline. However, Picard IMO although not perfect was one of those rare individuals who's command went unquestioned, who's word was bond and even more importantly worked seamlessly in-line with "Gene Roddenberry's" vision of Star-Trek and NOT the "Rick Berman's" vision of Star-Trek whom DS9 is based on.

The two are clearly different in character and mood. One reaches towards the pinnacle of the Human experience, whilst the other acts on where and what we currently are. The distinction tho subtle to the laymen is profound to what makes StarTrek, Well StarTrek!! Sisko is the perfect Captain for the latter and Picard the former.

Quite frankly, I didn't recognized StarTrek in the show DS9. Not it's cadences,nor its mood, neither its philosophy.

BTW, the Article is filled with holes. Especially in-regard to his analysis of the other Captians who he compares Sisko too. NONSENSE!!
 
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The love for "STAR TREK: DS9" continues to grow.
The show was never as straightforward and Black/White like the other "TREK" shows. It was more like a ever-growing canvas.

I'm not even going to get into a "THE BEST STAR TREK CAPTAIN" debate.
Each of those characters stands on his/her own because of the situations and styles of the era.

But Sisko can't be denied his place in "TREK" lore.
 
In support of Archer, who got NO love:

Archer created the first alliances and treaties that eventually became the Federation.

Which brings me to my point, Archer is the best captain. Picard had the weight of Q's judgement on his shoulders? Well Archer had the entire future of the human race on his shoulders. He was alone, utterly alone fighting the Xindi. The NX-01 was the only ship that was capable of saving Earth from total destruction and he had to survive any way he could. Which brings me to my next point; Picard (and I assume Kirk, haven't seen much Original series) at the end of nearly every episode, would set course for the nearest Starbase to rest and repair. Archer didn't have that, he had to repair his ship with anything he could get his hands on in the middle of nowhere, he couldn't just run back to Earth or a Starbase every time he encountered the Xindi, he had to survive utterly on his own and he succeeded. Rather than just defend Earth when the Xindi attacked, Archer took the war to the Xindi homeland, the Delphic Expanse, which was full of spatial anomalies making navigation difficult. Plus, Archer became entangled in a temporal cold war with beings from a thousand years into the future. Which just sounds cool. Picard and Kirk had it cushy compared to Archer.

Also the NX-01 was an explorer ship, not a warship. Picard and Kirk's Enterprises where chock full of torpedoes and phasers and could blow away anything that they came across. The NX-01 didn't even get Photon torpedoes until season 3 (?). Their ships also had shields, all the NX-01 had for protection was to polarise it's hull plating. And he still managed to take on an entire race of beings that wanted his total destruction and succeed.
 
tical said:
Sisko is my 2nd favorite to Picard! Sisko was a great Commander/Captain and certainly worked for his timeline. However, Picard IMO although not perfect was one of those rare individuals who's command went unquestioned, who's word was bond and even more importantly worked seamlessly in-line with "Gene Roddenberry's" vision of Star-Trek and NOT the "Rick Berman's" vision of Star-Trek whom DS9 is based on.

The two are clearly different in character and mood. One reaches towards the pinnacle of the Human experience, whilst the other acts on where and what we currently are. The distinction tho subtle to the laymen is profound to what makes StarTrek, Well StarTrek!! Sisko is the perfect Captain for the latter and Picard the former.

Quite frankly, I didn't recognized StarTrek in the show DS9. Not it's cadences,nor its mood, neither its philosophy.

BTW, the Article is filled with holes. Especially in-regard to his analysis of the other Captians who he compares Sisko too. NONSENSE!!
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This is not Tru picard was not Picard until gene roddenberry was cut out from star trek and Rick berman became showrunner
 
I completely and totally agree that Sisko was the best and greatest of the series leading Star Trek captains.. For all reasons stated in the above post and probably could add more insites to his greatness. I'll simply site in the season 7 episode "The seige at AR-55" where Capt.Sisko abundantly showed the greater part of each the sited strenghts of character,valor,command,and concern/care for those under his command.. A must see! I know these are fictional characters but lessons can be drawn nevertheless....
 
BigDaddyBuk said:
man the entire show got IMMENSELY better once Roddenberry died.

i hate to say it, but its true.
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Another person showing their TNG ignorance and not understanding the scripting and character development conceived for the show years in advance.
 
tical said:

Another person showing their TNG ignorance and not understanding the scripting and character development conceived for the show years in advance.
Click to expand...

Speaking ill of Roddenberry is sacrilegious.
 

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