I think you’re selling DS9’s progressiveness short. The federation is portrayed as less progressive, but the message of the show itself is far more progressive than the norm; if anything, it makes the federation standins for moderate/centrist/liberals and calls them out for not being left enough.
For real! I know this is a bit of a meme but it really isn’t far off. The show definitely had its problems with representation (like not letting avery brooks sport his signature bald w/ a goatee until season 3 because they were worried that a bald, black lead would be “too intimidating” or whatever) but it also had PLENTY of stuff that “shouldn’t” have been on network TV in 1993. Also lets not forget the episode where Jadzia got to meet all the past Dax symbionts and Quark got stuck with an old lady inhabiting his body for half an episode or so.
I think you’re selling DS9’s progressiveness short. The federation is portrayed as less progressive, but the message of the show itself is far more progressive than the norm; if anything, it makes the federation standins for moderate/centrist/liberals and calls them out for not being left enough.
For real! I know this is a bit of a meme but it really isn’t far off. The show definitely had its problems with representation (like not letting avery brooks sport his signature bald w/ a goatee until season 3 because they were worried that a bald, black lead would be “too intimidating” or whatever) but it also had PLENTY of stuff that “shouldn’t” have been on network TV in 1993. Also lets not forget the episode where Jadzia got to meet all the past Dax symbionts and Quark got stuck with an old lady inhabiting his body for half an episode or so.
And then there’s… whatever this was.