Mmm, it's a fair point. It seems a little too tempting to make it an American-European distinction, and I'm always wary of the intellectual risk of imposing too much of the authorial worldview on the medium itself, because it can detract from the value of the message within the context of the medium's world boundaries; but now I think I've just used too much semiotics in one sentence, so I'll leave that thought be.
Of course, the thing about DS9 that's worth reiterating is that there wasn't a war when Sisko took command. I mean, there was the Borg, but there wasn't a DS9-specific war going on. it's the tail end of one, instead, where everyone is trying (badly) to peacefully coexist. The war only comes once those politics have destabilized, and then what Sisko's characterization had been working toward finally found its place as a formidable adversary.
I always find myself wondering if putting a guy like Sisko behind a desk, a static, unmoving desk, wasn't Starfleet's way to try and rope him back. Like, if you put that guy out in the field, in command of a mobile diplomatic militaristic platform, it seems like there are more unknowns than if you put Picard or Janeway up in the command position. Both P and J would respond to an incursion, but you could be relatively certain they weren't going to go out and start a war, intentionally or no. (I say that with some facetiousness.)
But with Sisko...his ethic wouldn't stand for the offense, so to speak. Not that he doesn't have restraint, but I'm thinking of those absolutely beautiful, robust rants he would occasionally go on, outlining exactly why a thing was Wrong, and far be it from you to disagree with him. That's why Sisko and Nerys were so interesting as colleagues; she never backed down.
But you know, I am a Niner, and us Niners are crazy.
Ack, truer words. I feel like I should break out the powepoints and expository dialogue when people knock DS9.
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Date: 2009-06-18 09:03 pm (UTC)Of course, the thing about DS9 that's worth reiterating is that there wasn't a war when Sisko took command. I mean, there was the Borg, but there wasn't a DS9-specific war going on. it's the tail end of one, instead, where everyone is trying (badly) to peacefully coexist. The war only comes once those politics have destabilized, and then what Sisko's characterization had been working toward finally found its place as a formidable adversary.
I always find myself wondering if putting a guy like Sisko behind a desk, a static, unmoving desk, wasn't Starfleet's way to try and rope him back. Like, if you put that guy out in the field, in command of a mobile diplomatic militaristic platform, it seems like there are more unknowns than if you put Picard or Janeway up in the command position. Both P and J would respond to an incursion, but you could be relatively certain they weren't going to go out and start a war, intentionally or no. (I say that with some facetiousness.)
But with Sisko...his ethic wouldn't stand for the offense, so to speak. Not that he doesn't have restraint, but I'm thinking of those absolutely beautiful, robust rants he would occasionally go on, outlining exactly why a thing was Wrong, and far be it from you to disagree with him. That's why Sisko and Nerys were so interesting as colleagues; she never backed down.
But you know, I am a Niner, and us Niners are crazy.
Ack, truer words. I feel like I should break out the powepoints and expository dialogue when people knock DS9.