DS9 vs. BSG Part II

Now to get back to somethign that has been on my mind for a while.

I've been mulling over at to why I like DS9 more than BSG. BSG has the better effects, some better acting, and the critical support; so why I am so much more smitten with the earlier show? I think the key to my better enjoyment of Deep Space Nine lies in the comparison of the philosophies of both shows.

Battlestar Galactica was highly conscious of its relevance, constantly adding texture to the show with symbolism both deep and meaningful. Sometimes the metaphor would be too hard on the nose, but usually the allusions were smooth and well weaved into the drama.

Deep Space Nine was far less aware of its significance at the time. It wasn't critically praised or well recognized by even the main producers of Star Trek.

What the show was able to do was communicate with me on a more subconscious level. The obvious qualities of the show were qualities I personally like, but what really made the show were the unintentional aspects, like Jake's off-screen but ever present relationship with his father. The perfect example is the final shot of the series that shows Jake mourning his father's absence (much as the fans would mourn the shows ending). This shot mirrored another shot from the heartbreaking The Visitor episode. That impetus of the scene in The Visitor indicated Jake's natural inability to cope with the world without his father. In the natural plot structure of that episode, the story sets up the fact that Sisko would be able to be around for Jake in the future to help his son. The ending of the finale though set up the fact that Jake still wouldn't be able to cope. This does not detract from The Visitor though, instead implying that a father's influence over his son never ends, adding to the reality of this world instead of tying up plots.

Star Trek DS9 had hidden depth that eventually meant more to me than BSG's, no matter how hard they tried.

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This might not be a complete thought, so I will probably rethink it later.