Star Trek in the ‘80s and the ‘90s was the franchise’s peak, becoming a global phenomenon with The Next Generation and the rest of the shows also having plenty of fans. Three shows in the franchise reached season seven during this era, including Deep Space Nine, which had Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko.
Sisko was not the usual captain in the series. He was not as charming as Captain Kirk, nor was he as diplomatic as Picard. He was proactive but also dove head-first into conflicts, and his stern demeanor was largely due to Avery Brooks’ own personality. Actress Terry Farrell, who played Jadzia Dax, mentioned that she was intimidated by him.
Star Trek’s Terry Farrell said that she was intimidated by DS9’s Avery Brooks
They say that the captain of the ship sets the tone of every Star Trek series. It is seen in each show’s personality, with Captain Kirk being the goofiest of them all (it might also be because it was in the ’60s). Avery Brooks was a lot more stern and did not tolerate nonsense as much as the others. He also had a tragic backstory at the beginning of the show, which motivated his tone.
Unlike other shows in Star Trek, Deep Space Nine did not traverse the galaxies to find more planets to explore in the universe. It was set in the DS9 space station, which Brooks’ Benjamin Sisko had to manage and protect. The show was quite different from the rest of the franchise, and for some time was its most underrated one.
Avery Brooks’ performance was widely appreciated, but his demeanor reportedly intimidated his fellow actors. Co-star Terry Farrell, who played Jadzia Dax, mentioned that she was initially nervous while performing with him, but she ultimately decided to have a talk and figure it out. She said to Trek Today,
During my first scene, I was so incredibly intimidated by him…I went up to him on a lighting break and pulled him aside. I had to appeal to his gentler side. I explained to him that I was twenty-eight; I wouldn’t be able to top him, and if he could help me out a little bit, so it wouldn’t be so much more glaringly obvious that he was more powerful than I was.
She said that after the talk, Brooks softened up, and it became a very straightforward relationship between them. She also said that she enjoyed her time working with him. However, her exit from the show after season 6 was motivated by another member of Star Trek: DS9.
Terry Farrell left Star Trek because of a toxic member on the sets of DS9
Terry Farrell played Jadzia Dax for six seasons in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and had great storylines. Farrell’s character was merged with a symbiote, who had lived several lifetimes and attached itself to multiple hosts. She also began a romantic relationship with Michael Dorn’s Worf, who was a recurring character in the show.
Farrell, however, left after season 6, with her character being killed off. Part of the reason, she mentioned, was that she had grown tired of her schedule, and when she was the fifth name on the call sheet, the waiting was a bit too long. However, she also called out producer Rick Berman for being extremely misogynistic on set.
Farrell said in the book The Fifty-Year Mission that she faced a lot of criticism from Berman about her body, and he used to constantly make misogynistic remarks. She said (via Slash Film),
The problems with my leaving were with Rick Berman. In my opinion, he’s just very misogynistic. He’d comment on your bra size not being voluptuous. His secretary had a 36C or something like that, and he would say something about, ‘Well, you’re just, like, flat. Look at Christine over there. She has the perfect br*asts right there.’
Berman, who was a producer on all the Star Trek series from TOS, was reportedly also present during their costume fittings and would constantly remark on the actresses’ bodies. Farrell mentioned that these factors did contribute to her leaving the show, although she admitted she had a great time otherwise.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is available to stream on Paramount+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire