136: Shift in Tone

“The Search, Part I“ When it comes to that moment when Deep Space Nine shifted in tone and became the more complex series that set it apart from the rest of Star Trek, fans most often point to “The Way of the Warrior” and the start of Season 4. But it was actually the arrival of a cloaked starship named Defiant—Sisko’s little surprise for the Dominion—to kick off Season 3 that signaled a change which would send ripples through DS9’s storytelling. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing start our two-part exploration of “The Search” with a focus on the first half. We discuss the introduction of the Defiant, Michael Eddington, the growing feeling of family, and Odo’s search for identity. We also explore cloaking technology and the Federation, Sub-Commander T’Rul’s apparent expertise in the state of the Defiant’s engines, and the practicality of hairstyles. Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)