Summary
Several members of theStar Trek: Deep Space Ninecast stepped behind the camera to direct some of the show’s best episodes. In the 1990s, everyStar Trekshow had what was referred to as “Director’s School”, which would give actors the relevant knowledge and experience to direct their own episodes.Stewarded by Rick Berman, the “Director’s School” originated from a request byStar Trek: The Next Generationstar Jonathan Frakes to direct an episode. Now a successful director in his own right, Frakes paved the way for other actors, including members of theDeep Space Ninecast, to become directors.
Five members of theStar Trek: Deep Space Ninecast matriculated through Rick Berman’s “Director’s School” duringDS9’s seven seasons. Many of the directorial efforts by the likes of Avery Brooks and Rene Auberjonois have provided some of thebest episodes ofDS9ever made. Some ofDS9’s actor-directors also went on to direct episodes of otherStar TrekTV shows, while carving out a career for themselves, following in the footsteps of Jonathan Frakes.
10 Best Star Trek Episodes Directed By Jonathan Frakes
Jonathan Frakes stars as Captain Will Riker in the Star Trek universe, but he has also become one of Trek’s most beloved and prolific directors.
5Avery Brooks (Captain Benjamin Sisko)
Directed Nine Episodes of DS9
Avery Brooks made his debut as aStar Trekdirector withDS9season 2, episode 25, “Tribunal”, in which Chief O’Brien (Colm Meaney) was put on trial by the Cardassians. Many of Brooks' best episodes ofDeep Space Ninewere darker in tone, like the noiresque “Improbable Cause” in which Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson) becomes embroiled in a Cardassian and Romulan plot to destroy the Dominion. Avery Brooks also directed one of thegreatest episodes ofStar Trek, “Far Beyond the Stars”, which tackled race relations in America, head-on.
“Ties of Blood and Water”
“Far Beyond the Stars”
“The Dogs of War”
Season 7, Episode 24
Avery Brooks took his work as a director very seriously, which is why he rejected an offer byEntertainment Tonightto document the filming ofStar Trek’s first same-sex kiss inDS9season 4, episode 6, “Rejoined”. Brooks was keen not to sensationalize the kiss between Lieutenant Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) and Lenara Kahn (Susanna Thompson), and it was the right choice. While Avery Brooks excelled at directing more challenging, character-focused material, his handling of comedy wasn’t his strong suit, as seen in his weakest episode,DS9season 3, episode 10, “Fascination”.
Every Star Trek: DS9 Episode Avery Brooks Directed, Ranked Worst To Best
Captain Sisko actor Avery Brooks directed nine episodes of Deep Space Nine, including one of Star Trek’s finest hours. How do his other DS9s compare?
4Michael Dorn (Lt. Commander Worf)
Directed Three Episodes Of DS9 & One Episode Of Enterprise
Michael Dorn went through theStar Trek"Director’s School" when Worf transferred to Deep Space Nine in season 4.Dorn made his directorial debut withDS9season 5, episode 25, “In the Cards”, which was a sweet little comedy episode about Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) and Nog (Aron Eisenberg) trying to raise Captain Sisko’s spirits. While his debut may have been light and throwaway, Michael Dorn’s most notable directorial contribution toStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewas “Inquisition”, in whichDS9introduced Section 31.
“In the Cards”
“Two Days and Two Nights”
Star Trek: Enterprise Season 1, Episode 25
With its elaborate holographic simulation and espionage plot, “Inquisition” could have been a challenging episode to direct. However, Michael Dorn showed himself to be a skilled director at building atmosphere and tension, and coaxed out excellent performances from Alexander Siddig and William Sadler as Doctor Julian Bashir and Luther Sloan respectively. AfterStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended, Michael Dorn directedStar Trek: Enterpriseseason 1, episode 25, “Two Days and Two Nights”.
Apocalypse NowandThe West Wingstar Martin Sheen was originally considered for the role of Luther Sloan inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
3René Auberjonois (Constable Odo)
Directed 9 Episodes Of DS9
Rene Auberjonois proved himself to be a highly skilled and multi-faceted director across nine episodes ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. While nobody, even Rene Auberjonois, sees “Let He Who Is Without Sin…” as a classic episode ofDS9, the director has deftly handled the tonal shift betweenFerengi comedy episodesand dark character studies. If there’s something that defines some of Auberjonois' bestDS9episodes as a director, it’s his relationships with Alexander Siddig and Armin Shimerman.
For example, two of the best Doctor Bashir episodes, “Hippocratic Oath” and “The Quickening” were directed by Rene Auberjonois. The desperation of Bashir’s situation, particularly in “The Quickening”, is handled beautifully, with close camera angles and a handling of the background actors that adds to the sense of panic and urgency. On the flipside, Auberjonois also handles comedy well, perfectly balancing the humor and pathos of the episode “Family Business”, which finally provides insight into Quark’s family dynamics back on Ferenginar.
Every Star Trek: DS9 Episode Directed By Rene Auberjonois
René Auberjonois worked with Hollywood director Robert Altman, do the Odo actor’s directorial efforts on Star Trek: DS9 display Altman’s influence?
2Siddig El Fadil/Alexander Siddig (Dr. Julian Bashir)
Directed 2 Episodes Of DS9
Alexander Siddig directedStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 5, episode 18, “Business as Usual” as Siddig El Fadil. This was a shortened version of Alexander Siddig’s birth name, which he adopted in the early years of his career before taking the name Alexander Siddig fromDS9season 4. “Business as Usual” was a favorite episode of Armin Shimerman, it saw Quark finally go too far by getting involved with a sinister arms dealer called Hagath (Steven Berkoff). In an interview withDreamwatchmagazine, issue 36, Alexander Siddig praised Armin Shimerman’s work, saying, “Thank God for him, or I’d have been in all sorts of trouble!”
“Business as Usual”
“Profit and Lace”
Season 6, Episode 23
Siddig directed another Quark-centric episode ofStar Trek: Deep Space Ninein the following season. However, rather than hitting the highs of “Business as Usual”, “Profit and Lace” was voted as the worst episode ofDS9in a 1999Sci-Fi Entertainmentpoll. It’s widely felt that the failings of “Profit and Lace” come from Alexander Siddig and Armin Shimerman treating the episode more seriously than the writers Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler intended. It was a disappointing end to Siddig’s fledgling career as a director.
1Andrew J. Robinson (Elim Garak)
Directed One Episode Of DS9 & Two Episodes Of Voyager
Prior to being cast asGarak inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, Andrew J. Robinson had worked with Hollywood greats like Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman, actors who also turned their hands to directing. So perhaps it wasn’t surprising that Robinson was keen on following the same path, courtesy of Rick Berman’sStar Trek"Director’s School". Robinson only directed one episode ofDS9, season 5’s “Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places”, an incredibly funny Klingon romantic comedy notable for getting Worf and Dax together.
“Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places”
Star Trek: Voyager, season 3, episode 16
“Unforgettable”
Star Trek: Voyager, season 4, episode 22
Andrew Robinson’s skills at directingStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s romantic comedy clearly earned him a reputation as he was assigned to some similar episodes ofStar Trek: Voyager. “Blood Fever” was a pon farr episode that gets Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres and has some incredibly funny moments of comedy, particularly from Robert Picardo’s Doctor. Finally, Robinson directed the romantic mystery “Unforgettable” in which Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) meets an enigmatic woman who claims to know him. Each of Robinson’sStar Trekepisodes struck a good balance between romance, sci-fi, and comedy. So it’s disappointing that he never got to direct more.
