`Deep Space 9' was, as far as I'm concerned, the very pinnacle of the `Star Trek' franchise.

The original series was ruined by Kirk's self-important posturing, vanity and constant womanising, American Cold-War propaganda and Gene Roddenberry's `Black & White' morality.

`The Next Generation' was far superior, but ultimately mediocre.

`Voyager' somehow managed to be even more patronising, moralising, irritating and smug than the original series. And `Enterprise' was so sickeningly cheesy that it struggled to reach a fourth year.

In the midst of all this however, DS9 created a collection of deep and enthralling storylines that lasted for seven whole series; far more comparable to `Babylon 5' than to any other `Star Trek' programme. And whilst some people have tried to describe it as `Boldly Standing Still,' the station was the focus of so many plotlines that there was less need for the usual cliches.

As I've already suggested, there were so many wonderful storylines, characters and emotive relationships that it would be impossible for me to describe all of them here.

Odo's quest to find his people, his love/hate relationship with Quark, the question mark hanging over the Cardassian tailor Garak, the Bajoraan's suspicion and fear of the Federation, Vedek Winn's feud with Vedek Barial...

These are just some of the great storylines that are played out in the first three series alone! But throughout all seven series, the underlying message is that there are no `Black & White' answers; no line between the `Bajoraans' and the `Cardassians' that declares one `Good' and the other `Evil.'

The uncertainty, the indecision and the ethical conflicts; these are what give depth and soul to every character and storyline in the programme. However, because it was an American series, the producers and networks demanded that this fake line be drawn so as not to confuse their `Lazy' viewers.

The number of endings that were hastily rewritten to fit this `Good vs. Evil' cliche is a joke.

"Don't worry. We know that Gul Dukat was trying to save some Bajoraans in this episode. However, we promise you that he is `Pure Evil,' so you don't have to think too much about it."

But in spite of these rewrites, the truth is there for anyone who is paying attention.

Before DS9, Star Trek had a problem and it ws holding Trek down - It was far too limited. The Original series was cute, Next Gen was cute with very few dark moments that showed the Federation and Starfleet wasn't perfect. And then Deep Space Nine appeared. And showed just what Star Trek is capable of.
The box set being reviewed has all seven seasons, every episode plus extras and doesn't take up a lot of room. Weighs a fair bit, aye, but what do you expect for all the DVD's in it?

Deep Space Nine was a series that truly deserved to be respected more, it had a lot of strong story lines, even before the Dominion War came about, and great characters. When DS9 ended, one of the few remaining decent programmes on TV, in a flood of Reality TV, sports and mindless junk that's taken over, disappeared completely. When it's repeated, it doesn't get fully shown, same with Voyager.
So if you're craving some Star Trek and getting annoyed at the lack of anything worth paying the TV licence and Sky for, then I strongly recommend these box sets. And I've just started watching the DS9 box set for the fifth time over, and got the Voyager box set coming in soon, because I'm fed up of there being nothing on.

Deep Space Nine: Star Trek at it's finest. If it hadn't been for DS9, I would have probably never came to love Star Trek. And this box set is 100% worth the money. Definitely going to try and get the rest of Trek after I've bought the remaining box sets and the movies, especially if they're done so way as they are in the Slim Line editions.

I remeber how at the time i seemed to be the only person who loved this show i really got hooked during the second season, deep space nine just got better and better and remains my favourite sci-fi show ever.Reading the reviews on amazon it is a very nice suprise to see how loved the show is, it deserves to be loved, every thing has already been said in these reviews and to be honest i could speak about ds9 for hours, it is a shame that they never filmed a follow up tv movie like they said they might but such is life in sci-fi land.
It may be a bit ugly during its first two seasons but it becomes a very beautiful swan no other star trek show has matched yet.

I've been a STAR TREK fan since i can remember and I have to say that DS9 has got the be the best of the lot! There are some people that say its just coronation street in space but nothing could be further from the truth!! I mean lets face it corrie, eastenders and soaps like that couldn't be worse if they tried !! No, DS9 is a proper drama, involving believable characters and facinating stories that eventually erupt into an amazing interstellar war!

So if your new to to STAR TREK or if you've been watching for years and hav'nt given DS9 much thought, or even if your looking for something fresh, I strongly recommend that you give this a chance.

This show is an absolute classic
Being quite new to start trek, (i'd only really seen the next gen movies and 5 seasons of next gen) someone told me that DS9 was the best of the lot.
I ignored this advice until I watched the TNG crossover show, which was largly set on DS9 and featured Dr Bashir, i thought this looks interesting.
Have 2 weeks off work, i decided to buy the whole lot and watch them all (i know, i'm a loser!)
I must say i was blown away by what i saw, the 1st 2 seasons are prety much standard trek, but a litle bit darker. Season 3, however, when the dominion begin to appear, is where the show begins to shine.
The characters and not clear cut good and evil.
Ben Sisko's got to THE most complex captain in trek history.
Odo, the stern changling head of secuirty, eventually shows his emotional side after many years of lusting after a certain bajoran major.
Quark, the ferengi barkeep (one of treks truely great creations) keeps everyone on their toes, with his dogdy deals, and stolen goods.
and Jadzia Dax, possibly the sexiest woman in sci-fi history.

Lets face it, if your thinking of buying this set, then you've seen most of it, and know what lies in store.
If you haven't, trust me when I say it's worth it, I had never seen it either, and loved it.

I could rant on all day about how good this is.
On a final note, think of it this way
It's not so much a 7 season show, as a 176 hour mini series. The singles still come in seperate collectors boxes,and look great.