The USS Defiant...a cop out?

Founder · **Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:29 pm The USS Defiant...a cop out?**

DS9 was the ONLY Star Trek series to take place on a station, unlike the others that were on starships. The USS Defiant came in the beginning of the third season to deal with the "Dominion threat".

Many DS9 fans did not like this inclusion because they felt it was a cop out, trying to lure the fans that didn't like the "all station" show.

How do most people feel about that here?

La Forge · **Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:36 pm**

Without the Defiant, we wouldn't have great episodes like "Starship Down" and the Dominion War would have been a whole lot duller.

The Defiant was a great element. More than enough shows took place on the station. The Defiant just allowed the crew to do more than they already could. Plus...the Defiant is awesome! It could whoop Voyager any day.

Did you dislike the Defiant element, Founder?

Founder · **Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:42 pm**

No, I certainly like it. Besides, it was nice to see a Federation starship with a permanent cloaking device.

Do you think the show would have been dull without it?

La Forge · **Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:43 pm**

No, but, I don't think we would have had the Dominon War without it.

Lord Borg · **Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:48 pm**

I like it, like said before, many good episodes came from having the Defiant. It wouldnt have been the same if it was set on a Runabout. Besides, a ship assigned to a station makes sense.

luit14 · **Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:55 pm**

Good question Founder.

Was it a cop out? Probably yes. Am I glad they did it even if it was? Definately yes.

I think they realized that there was a limited number of things they could do with only a station and the Defiant gave them more leverage to think of different story lines that they couldn't have told without it.

So I'm definately glad they brought it in. Even if it was a cop out.

thegame · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:31 pm**

I loved the Defiant. Probably my least favorite element of season's 1 and 2 was the overuse of the Runabouts. And with the Dominion threat coming after season 2 it would have been ludacris to have just shuttles defending DS9. The Defiant is my favorite Starfleet ship of all time. Loved the Pulse Phasers and the smaller bridge.

Dracojastin · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 4:09 pm**

If the Defiant wasn't there... where would Worf sleep

Leo Wyatt · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:51 pm**

I don't think it was a cop out. The show was great! Especially with Captain Sisko in charge. The defiant was awesome. And without the defiant, there wouldn't be a good ship .

IntrepidIsMe · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:23 pm**

I agree with luit14. As far as yes, it was a ploy to get more viewers, but it added a great factor to the show which made a lot more possible. How boring would it be to watch them sit on the station and watch the battle, instead of participating?

Spellbinder Marik · Tal Shiar General Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 1006

Founder · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:05 pm**

Ok, many people agree it is good, but argue that the show would have not been as good without it.

So if the Defiant had NOT been there, do you all feel that DS9 would suffer?

Spellbinder Marik · Tal Shiar General Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 1006

It probably would have. I thought the Defiant was a good idea for DS9. Originally DS9 used to be my least favorite series. But after I sat down and acutally watched it for a few episodes i found out it wasn't so bad. Especially when Odo catches Quark trying to pull a fast one.

All in All, Ds9 is alright in my book.

La Forge · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:09 pm**

Yes, it would have suffered. As I said, I don't believe that we would have had the Dominion War. Still, the show would have still been worth watching, even without the Defiant. Even without the Defiant, DS9 would have been better than VOY.

Founder · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:13 pm**

Hhmm...so, do you all feel that an all station show without a ship would not do so well? UNFORTUNATLY, I think that probably is the case...

La Forge · **Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:14 pm**

I agree with you, there. I believe that the show wouldn't do so well, without a ship. Still...I would watch it. But, that's just me. Others probably wouldn't.

thegame · **Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:52 pm**

I see two things here Founder as it pertains to the show suffering:

1. I loved the story arc at the start of season 6 where they were off of the station. One wonders if they would have done that without a ship that the audience could buy as the crew's home while in exile.

2. Several of my other favorite eps occurred only on the ship like "Starship Down", "Defiant", "One Little Ship" or "To the Death". I just think that the show would have been limited to stories where they had to wait for someone to come to the station and then have something interesting happen to the entire cast, an ep like the one with Q or "Babel".

vb23 · **Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:54 pm**

The poll says everything!!!

But I must say something......Defiant is something that we would call it cool ship....it really is cool with that puls phaser or what ever it's called these days. Defiant rules!!!!

luit14 · **Sun Jul 02, 2006 2:28 pm**

Without the Defiant the show probably wouldn't have lasted 7 seasons. It would have been good because of the great characters, but I think the writers would have run out of interesting things to write about. Because everything would have to come to the station, they couldn't go out to have troubles.

StarfleetCommand74656 · Captain Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 653 Location: On STV

The problem with a series set on a station is that it's well- stattionary!!! The USS Defiant brought an element to the series that every Star Trek needs to have- space battles, exploring strange new worlds, etc... Plus it was a fantastic ship, and very manoeuvrable- and DS9 couldn't probably fit through the wormhole. By Season 3, I was sick of the sight of runabouts!

Kilgore · **Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:57 am**

The Defiant was a nice addition to the show. I never felt that the Defiant was there to make it more of a travelling show and less of a station show. The Defiant was a logical addition to the show.

Sonic74205 · **Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:23 pm**

The defiant was definatly needed in DS9. I actually think the Defiant was severly under used in DS9.

I think the show would have definatly suffered if the Defiant wasnt there. Dont forget DS9 and Babylon 5 were head to head almost their entire run and without the Defiant, DS9 wouldnt have stood a chance when it came to the ratings.

One of the things i love with DS9 and the Defiant is Sisko. I just love the fact that Sisko was still only ranked as a Commander when he was in command of a Space station AND a starship. Great stuff!

If the Defiant wasnt in it then im sure there would be a chance to see lots of other federation ships show up so crew could get to places out of the runabouts range etc etc so we probably would have seen some interesting new classes of ships, but still i prefer the defiant being there.

Definatly Defiant all the way!