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Some Star Trek characters are so unique that they stay with viewers long after a series reaches its end. For fans of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, many consider Odo the Changeling a standout and memorable character who, despite being far from human, brought heart and relatability to the series.

Played beautifully by the late, great Rene Auberjonois, Odo’s journey from a newly-formed changeling to chief of security on Terok Nor (renamed Deep Space Nine after the end of the Cardassian Occupation on Bajor) is a lesson in growth, questions of destiny, and what it means to fight for the right to become the person you always wanted to be.

Who is Odo?

Odo (or Odo Ital), whose name translates to “nothing” in Cardassian, was found adrift in Bajoran space and taken to a lab run by Mora Pol, who studied him for 7 years. At first, Pol didn’t...

Star Trek fans surely got a kick out of seeing Star Trek III: The Search for Spock villain Christopher Lloyd co-starring as Doc Brown alongside Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly in Back to the Future. And those same fans no doubt loved it when Marty, disguised and masking his voice, identifies himself to his future father as “Darth Vader… from the planet Vulcan,” and proceeds to offer the patented split-fingered Vulcan greeting.

But… a document from 1984, from the office of Back to the Future’s casting directors, Fenton-Feinberg Casting, reveals that several other familiar Star Trek names were considered before director Robert Zemeckis chose Lloyd. Among those considered: Joe Piscopo, Rene Auberjonois, Paul Dooley, Kevin Conway, and Gerrit Graham. Piscopo later played The Comic in the Star Trek: The Next Generation second-season episode, “The Outrageous Okona,” which premiered in 1988. Auberjonois joined the Star Trek universe in 1991, playing Colonel West...

When "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" premiered in syndication on January 3, 1993, it generated a good deal of nervousness, if not outright skepticism, from the franchise's finicky fanbase. That Trekkies would make the new series earn their respect was expected to a degree. They'd done likewise when "Star Trek: The Next Generation" debuted in 1987 -- not because they were closed off to anything different from "The Original Series" but simply due to them having high standards for what a science-fiction show could accomplish. Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek" franchise catered to thinkers and seekers, especially people who loved a good yarn but also wanted something to challenge their notions about what it means to be a citizen of this vast, mysterious universe.

While "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" took some getting used to (primarily due to it upending the "Star Trek" formula by taking place on a space station instead of...

The Star Trek franchise has no shortage of talent when it comes to its actors. Some of the best were featured on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which aired from 1993 to 1999. DS9 featured a cast that included Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Colm Meaney, Alexander Siddig, Nana Visitor, Terry Farrell, and Michael Dorn. Even its guest actors included an Academy Award winner in the late Louise Fletcher’s Kai Winn and talent like Andrew Robinson and Marc Alaimo.

Armin Shimerman, who played the Ferengi bartender Quark in all seven seasons of DS9, is an expert in Shakespeare, a writer, and a director. Shimerman, per ScreenRant, appearing on Virtual Trek Con’sThe Main Viewer to support Trek Against Pancreatic Cancer, said that there’s one DS9 alum who doesn’t get the credit he deserves for the talent he brought to the series.

The “Very Best”

Shimerman was referring to actor Cirroc Lofton,...

Starting in the seventh season of the ultra-successful "Stargate Sg-1" TV series, noted actor Robert Picardo played a character named Richard Woolsey, a stuffed-shirt overseer who kept a close eye on the members of the Stargate project. Woolsey is not a villain in his own mind -- he seeks only order and oversight -- but his bureaucratic shenanigans caused more harm than help. From 2004 to 2007, Woolsey appeared in seven episodes of "Stargate." His episodes of "Stargate" also overlapped with recurring appearances in the third and fourth seasons of the spin-off "Stargate: Atlantis." In that show's fifth and final season (which ran from 2008 to 2009), Woolsey became a series regular, with Picardo appearing in 20 episodes. 

Picardo might be best known for his role as the holographic Doctor on "Star Trek: Voyager," appearing in 172 episodes over that show's seven seasons. Picardo, however, has been embarrassingly prolific, never having a fallow period since his...

Though the "Star Trek" franchise occasionally veers into the existential here and there, no series has been as complex or as willing to stare into the void as "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." The series has been thought of as the weird step-child of the franchise since its airing, as there's not much in the way of exploring the stars in "Deep Space Nine," instead forcing its characters to go through a variety of challenges all while living aboard the space station Deep Space Nine. Many of its characters aren't members of Starfleet or even the Federation, as Deep Space Nine sat near a newly opened wormhole and was next to the recently-freed planet Bajor after many years of Cardassian occupation. Over seven seasons, "Deep Space Nine" followed Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Commander and then Captain of Deep Space Nine, who was not only the military leader of a vital outpost,...

Arguably, three of the most popular franchises in recent (or past or future) memory are Back to the Future, The Lord of the Rings, and Star Trek, and the stars of all three recently appeared at a Vancouver convention. Christopher Lloyd, John Rhys-Davies, and William Shatner all appeared at the recent Fan Expo Vancouver and posed for an iconic photo together.

Lloyd, who played Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, posted an epic photo to the social media site X that featured himself, Star Trek’s Captain James T. Kirk (Shatner), and The Lord of the Rings trilogy’s Gimli (Davies). Lloyd captioned the picture: “The final frontier, the future, or middle-earth…your choice.”

The final frontier, the future, or middle-earth…your choice pic.twitter.com/hRpwhSOEj3— Christopher Lloyd (@DocBrownLloyd) February 23, 2025

RelatedJohn Rhys-Davies Was the Perfect Gimli, But He Nearly Played a Very Different Character...

Richie Rich, the 1994 comedy starring Macaulay Culkin, is a streaming success. The film, currently available on the Netflix library, has spent a few days on the streamer's top 10 list of most popular movies. Richie Rich is sitting in the eighth spot at the time of writing, while other titles on the list include The Menu, Back in Action, and How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Directed by Donald Petrie, Richie Rich is based on the comic book character of the 1950s. The character also had an animated cartoon show in the 1980s, which was then revived in 1996 after the release of the movie. Richie Rich only made $76 million from a $40 million production budget and had a mixed reception by critics; it currently has a 27% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Although it was considered a box office flop, Richie Rich blew up the home video market and made an estimated $125 million in home video sales.

All of the series that came after Star Trek: The Original Series until Star Trek: Discovery ran for seven seasons. It started with Star Trek: The Next Generation, but there was no guarantee it was going to happen for future series as evidenced by an interview with Ron Moore in the August/September 1997 edition of Star Trek Communicator, The Magazine of the Official Star Trek Fan Club.

Moore told the magazine that the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine might be its last. It wasn't that Paramount didn't want another season; it did, but the actors were on six year contracts. The producers just assumed they would only run the show for six seasons, but even then Moore said "we won't be tying it up clean and simple."

Season five of Deep Space Nine had the crew embroiled in the Dominion War, and while it would have been...

Star Trek's best engineer was Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney), and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine proved that. Originally a recurring character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Miles O'Brien served in the Cardassian War before being assigned to the USS Enterprise. O'Brien moved from helmsman to the Enterprise's transporter chief, giving him hands-on knowledge of Starfleet's flagship. Chief O'Brien had experience with sophisticated Federation engineering and a working knowledge of Cardassian technology, making O'Brien the perfect choice to head up the Starfleet engineers on the former Cardassian station Deep Space Nine.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 6, episode 15, "Honor Among Thieves", Deep Space Nine's crew are dealing with far more technical malfunctions than usual. Dr. Julian Bashir's (Alexander Siddig) infirmary technology, the fire suppression system at Quark's (Armin Shimerman) Bar, and Constable Odo's (Rene Auberjonois) security sensors are all unexpectedly glitching. Even the turbolift in Ops is being a jerk.

Like many Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters, Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) underwent a complex character evolution throughout DS9's seven seasons. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's First Officer was originally supposed to be Star Trek: The Next Generation's Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes), but when Forbes declined to return as Ensign Ro, DS9 created Major Kira instead. Unlike Ro Laren's Starfleet-adjacent point of view in Tng, Kira's backstory in the Bajoran Resistance placed her closer to the front lines of the conflict between the Bajorans and their Cardassian oppressors.

Born in 2343 in Bajor's Dahkur Province, Kira Nerys grew up in a refugee camp with her parents, Kira Taban and Meru; and her brothers, Reon and Pohl. When Nerys was three years old, her mother was taken to be a comfort woman for the camp's Cardassian overseers, and Meru became Gul Dukat's (Marc Alaimo) mistress. Dukat ensured that Kira's family was safe,...

This article contains spoilers for Moana 2.

Disney has been a trusted brand for producing family-friendly all-age films. From original stories to classic fairy tales, many Disney movies are widely loved and long celebrated. Magical creatures and friendly animals make most stories less frightening despite tackling dark themes. The promise of love between a princess and a prince is also able to gloss over the disturbing truth underneath their union.

In fact, many classic Disney movies are more problematic than fans noticed. The portrayal of romance goes wrong in many movies. From Snow White to Moana 2, what seems like a magical journey about empowerment and adventure might have some very disturbing details lying in between the lines.Most Love Is Instant

Disney loves an instant love story. From Snow White to Cinderella, love at first sight is Disney's style. What's gluing two characters together is rarely explained in a Disney movie,...

With a vast range of Disney movies, it can be hard to know which one to go with, especially when looking for a film that is suitable for a young audience. While the studio is known to create movies for the whole family, some wouldn't appeal to children, nor would they be appropriate. However, there's a whole host of films that meet the G certificate rating.

There is a Disney film for every movie fan's taste. Some involve talking animated animals, and others depict a teenager's journey to becoming a princess. Whether with songs or without, the below selection of G-rated movies provides a varied choice for younger viewers.

Updated by Alexandra Locke on December 24, 2024: Disney is known for making movies that are fun for the whole family - including even the youngest members. Disney has a wide selection of Rated G films, but these are among the best.

In the years since he was first cast as Starfleet officer William T. Riker on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Jonathan Frakes has become an integral part of the "Star Trek" franchise not only as an actor but also as a director, shaping things behind-the-scenes. Back when the role was being cast in the late 1980s, however, Frakes wasn't the first pick for the roguishly handsome first officer. In fact, he was actually up against some other very talented performers.

In the end, though, it all worked out and Frakes ended up playing the guy who simply cannot sit in a chair the way it was designed (as "Star Trek: Lower Decks" once poked fun at). Still, things could have been very different on "The Next Generation" if one of the other actors in the running had secured the part. In fact, the person who almost took the role and...

Jeffrey Combs is, perhaps, the greatest Star Trek star to never be a part of any show's regular cast. Whether done up in Andorian blue, Ferengi orange, or Vorta purple, Jeffrey Combs has played ten different characters throughout Star Trek. Although frequently covered in large amounts of prosthetics, Combs's voice and mannerisms make him unmistakable in 1990s Star Trek, as well as his one appearance (so far) in modern Trek. Each of Jeffrey Combs' Star Trek characters has been iconic in their own way, but Jeffrey Combs has played a few characters whose popularity, and infamy, set them above his other performances.

In Star Trek: Enterprise, Combs appeared as Commander Thy'lek Shran in the Andorian Imperial Guard. When he first met Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), Commander Shran was an antagonist figure, but through repeated contact with Captain Archer, Combs's Enterprise Commander Shran became an integral force in the creation of the Federation.

Cardassian Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson) was a lot more than a simple tailor on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. With its premiere in 1993, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine introduced a darker tone to Star Trek, with its morally gray characters and lengthy Dominion War storyline. Introduced in DS9 season 1, episode 3, "Past Prologue," Garak was one of the show's most morally gray characters, but he nevertheless became a fan favorite. Despite appearing in only 33 of 176 episodes, Garak remains one of the show's DS9's most memorable and beloved characters.

The Cardassians were introduced as villains on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and remained enemies of the Federation for most of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. DS9 more fully explored the Cardassians, showing that, as is the case with most species, not all Cardassians are the same. Garak was tailor aboard Deep Space Nine and befriended several of the station's personnel, including Dr.

Even though Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Trill character Curzon Dax died in 2367, two years before DS9 season 1 in, Curzon's legacy is felt throughout DS9's seven seasons and beyond. After the symbiotic Trill were introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 23, "The Host", Star Trek: Deep Space Nine improved the Trill with DS9's Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). Because DS9's Trill symbionts carried the memories of all previous hosts, and Curzon hosted the Dax symbiont right before Jadzia, Jadzia Dax's personality was influenced by Curzon's, and she knew everything he did.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine shows how Jadzia Dax is separate from but similar to Curzon Dax, unlike Tng Trill who were vessels for their symbionts. In DS9 season 1, episode 7, "Dax", Jadzia is not responsible for Curzon's actions in a murder trial but still honors Curzon's desire to take his secret affair to the grave,...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 8 - "Upper Decks"

25 years later, Star Trek: Lower Decks finally shows the horrific reality of one of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's biggest tragedies. When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine begins, Bajor has finally won its independence after the 50-year-long Cardassian Occupation of Bajor forced the formerly peaceful Bajorans to take up arms as resistance fighters. Starfleet sends Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) to oversee Bajor's bid to join the United Federation of Planets. Sisko's First Officer is Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), a notable member of the Shakaar Resistance cell turned DS9's liaison to the Bajoran provisional government.

Star Trek: Lower Decks is connected to this dark chapter of the Star Trek timeline via the USS Cerritos' Bajoran Chief of Security, Lieutenant Shaxs (Fred Tatasciore), who was a Resistance fighter before joining Starfleet. The Cerritos' visit to...

"Seven Samurai" by master Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa might just be the most remade film ever. The 1954 film is, sure enough, about seven samurai recruited to protect a farming village from bandits. The setting, themes, and characters are Japanese, but the premise is evergreen. "The Magnificent Seven" is just "Seven Samurai" but with cowboys. "A Bug's Life" retold the story with, well, bugs. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" episode "Bounty Hunters" recruits the seven from Jedi Knights and alien mercenaries. 

"Star Wars" creator George Lucas is a well-known fan of Kurosawa. (Lucas even helped him finance his 1980 epic "Kagemusha.") The galaxy far, far away isn't the only space franchise that can riff on "Seven Samurai" though. "Star Trek: Enterprise" aped the premise for its season 2 episode, "Marauders."

First, though, why are Kurosawa's films so often remade in spirit (besides them being so good)? One reason is ease of translation. Kurosawa...

Did Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) have any special Borg powers in Star Trek: Voyager? Many of Star Trek's alien characters have special abilities that set them apart from humans. Star Trek: The Original Series started this trend by establishing Vulcans' telepathic abilities with Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Star Trek: The Next Generation characters with superpowers, like the empathic half-Betazoid Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), outnumber those without. Even humans can have enhanced abilities with the aid of technology, like Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge's (LeVar Burton) Visor granting him the ability to see much more of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Of course, there's no better example of a tech-enhanced organic being in Star Trek than the Borg. Beginning in Star Trek: Voyager season 4, ex-drone Seven of Nine provided insight into the previously inscrutable Borg. According to Seven, the Borg prized efficiency in their quest for perfection. Starfleet methods, like research and communication,...

Best known for playing Lt. Commander Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, actor Michael Dorn also directed four episodes of Star Trek. Dorn is one of many Star Trek: DS9 actors who became directors. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Avery Brooks (Captain Benjamin Sisko) and Rene Auberjonois (Constable Odo) each directed nine episodes of DS9. Tng's LeVar Burton (Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge), and Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Duncan McNeill (Lt. Tom Paris) and Roxann Dawson (Lt. B'Elanna Torres) have all become successful television directors.

Many Star Trek actors, including Dorn, got their chance to direct episodes because Star Trek producer Rick Berman's "Director's School" let interested actors from 1990s Star Trek shows get hands-on experience as directors. The Star Trek Director's School was inspired by Dorn's Star Trek: The Next Generation cast mate Jonathan Frakes (Commander William Riker), who...

Thirty-five years ago this week, Disney released Ron Clements and John Musker's The Little Mermaid, and pop culture was never the same. Between its iconic visuals and addictive soundtrack, the movie has long since become one of the Mouse House's most beloved movies, and for good reason. Ariel's story is timeless and continues to inspire the imagination. Even if some want to claim parts of the story are problematic, The Little Mermaid has a message that resonates to this day.

The Little Mermaid

Director John Musker, Ron ClementsRelease Date November 17, 1989Studio(s) DisneyDistributor(s) DisneyWriters John Musker, Ron ClementsCast Jason Marin, Pat Carroll, Samuel E. Wright, Rene Auberjonois, Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel BarnesRating GRuntime 63 MinutesGenres Family, Animation, AdventureFranchise(s) The Little MermaidBudget $40 MillionMain Genre Animation

I grew up with The Little Mermaid, so I have a lot of fondness for it. Ariel was one of my favorite Disney princesses as a kid,...

Five years ago, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine teased season 8, which, unfortunately, can't happen. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended in 1999 after seven seasons, wrapping up the saga of the space station commanded by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). Unlike Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9 did not move on to become a movie franchise. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's cast went their separate ways, but the series lives on in streaming and found an even greater appreciation from audiences 30 years after it first aired.

In 2019, 455 Films released What We Left Behind: Looking Back At Deep Space Nine. The documentary was spearheaded by DS9's showrunner Ira Steven Behr and reassembled most of the show's actors and creative team to look back on the triumphs and controversies of Deep Space Nine. What We Left Behind's centerpiece was Behr gathering his core writers, Rene Echevarria, Hans Beimler, Robert Hewitt Wolfe,...

In a move that didn't make much sense at first, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine retconned an important part of Captain Benjamin Sisko's (Avery Brooks) history, but the confusing change led to the creation of one of Deep Space Nine's best recurring characters. The life of a Starfleet commanding officer often means difficulty in maintaining family relationships, as seen with both Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), who prioritize their Starfleet careers over family. Unlike Kirk and Picard, however, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's then-Commander Sisko was a family man from DS9's very first episode.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's premiere, "Emissary", established that Sisko's love for his family is a core part of his character. Benjamin is still grieving the loss of his wife, Jennifer (Felecia M. Bell), until the Bajoran Prophets remind Ben that he must live in the present.

Disney movies are often admired for their wholesome morals, but examining some classics a little closer shows that they have some strange messages. Children's movies usually have positive messages, even though kids often learn more from brief interactions than extended narratives. Disney has always been lauded for teaching children to work hard for their dreams and to be kind to others, but not all their movies have such simplistic messages.

There are plenty of Disney movies which have aged poorly, with outdated stereotypes and problematic characters. In some cases, older Disney movies also have questionable moral lessons that don't hold up to scrutiny. What's more surprising is that modern Disney movies have also been criticized for their strange messaging. Movies can help shape young minds, so it's a little alarming to see some of the weird morals that Disney classics seem to offer.

Related 13 Disney Animation Characters With Surprisingly Large...

A surprising number of actors from Batman: The Animated Series went on to appear in live-action Batman films, linking two beloved interpretations of the Dark Knights world. Batman: The Animated Series has been celebrated for its distinct visual style and memorable voice performances since it first aired in the early 1990s. Its distinct interpretation of DC's Gotham City became the definitive Batman for an entire generation of viewers, who would then later see many of the same cast in live-action.

Live-action Batman films have been a staple of the Dcu timeline for decades. They have evolved through many tones and styles, from the campy 1960s film starring Adam West to Tim Burtons gothic take and later, Christopher Nolans grittier, realistic vision. Several talented actors have had the unique experience of bringing Gothams world to life in both animated and live-action Batman adaptations, demonstrating their versatility across formats.

Adam West Played...

Most of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's major characters are still waiting to make their Star Trek comeback. Star Trek on Paramount+ series like Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Prodigy have brought back numerous characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager. However, only a handful of DS9 characters - Colonel Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Quark (Armin Shimerman), Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodenchik), and First Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson) - have returned on Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine reuniting in live-action is difficult since a few of the actors have passed away. However, animated Star Trek makes the impossible possible. For example, Odo returned on Star Trek: Prodigy as a hologram. Despite Rene Auberjonois' death, archival footage was used to bring the heroic Changeling back to life. Unfortunately, with Star Trek: Lower Decks ending on Paramount+ and...

Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) often commanded the USS Defiant even though Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) was Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Captain. After seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation and appearing in the feature film Star Trek Generations, Worf joined the cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in season 4. The popular Klingon was brought in to boost ratings and viewer interest in DS9, and Worf remained until the end of the series while splitting his time between DS9 and the Star Trek: The Next Generation movies.

Star Trek: First Contact began with Worf sitting in the USS Defiant's Captain's chair during a battle with the Borg. Although the Defiant was built to fight the Borg, the "tough little ship" was rendered "adrift but salvageable" as Worf took his usual spot as Security Chief of the USS Enterprise-e. Worf would command the USS Defiant several...

Nana Visitor spent seven seasons playing Major Kira (eventually promoted to Colonel Kira) on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. A complicated character, she'd joined a terrorist organization in an attempt to take down the Cardassians. She wrestled with feelings of guilt and anger which worked to make her one of the best characters on the show. But it was a role Visitor initally turned down as her manager assured her it would kill her career because it was a part in a science fiction television series, which weren't popular in the 1990s. [via Variety] At that time, it was easy to get pigeonholed, and that could affect an actor's future career prospects.

Executive producer Rick Berman intervened and called Visitor to tell her more about the character and where he saw Major Kira going on the show. And during the conversation, he convinced Visitor to give the role a shot, largely because...

Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) had many enemies on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but he hated one particular foe even more than Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo). In his 7 years as commander of Deep Space Nine, Sisko was a target of several adversaries of the United Federation of Planets. Along with Gul Dukat, Captain Sisko faced down Dominion Changelings, Cardassians, Klingons, and even the Pah-Wraiths, who were the mortal enemies of the Prophets of Bajor. However, the villain that incensed Sisko the most wore a Starfleet uniform.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3 introduced Lt. Commander Michael Eddington (Kenneth Marshall). Originally conceived as a rival for Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois), Eddington was the Starfleet Chief of Security on Deep Space Nine. Michael was another reassuring Starfleet presence on the station. Efficient and capable, Eddington integrated smoothly with the other Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters. However, Eddington was secretly a Maquis sympathizer,...

Like any movie genre, the Western has its fair share of popular subgenres. Well-known Western subgenres include neo-Westerns, revisionist Westerns, and spaghetti Westerns. More obscure Western subgenres include acid Westerns, meat pie Westerns, and weird Westerns. Influential film critic Pauline Kael coined the term acid Western in 1971 in her review of Alejandro Jodorowsky's El Topo.

In the mid-1990s, Jonathan Rosenbaum expanded upon the definition of acid Westerns. He noted acid Westerns are a type of revisionist Western that reflected the counterculture ideologies of the 1960s and 1970s. Acid Westerns have a hallucinogenic quality that is often aided by surrealist imagery. Rosenbaum also stated that in traditional Westerns, a character's journey West resulted in freedom and prosperity. In Acid Westerns, Rosenbaum argued a character's journey is a march toward death. Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter, Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man, and Sam Peckinpah's Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Captain Benjamin Sisko low-key pulled off a Starship Enterprise feat no other Star Trek Captain accomplished. For seven seasons, Sisko was the commander of Deep Space Nine, the most strategically important space station in the Alpha Quadrant. Deep Space Nine was the guardian of the Bajoran wormhole, the gateway to the Gamma Quadrant, and Captain Sisko became one of Starfleet's most important leaders during the Dominion War.

As a spinoff of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine created its own iconography without the benefit of Star Trek's most famous starship. the USS Enterprise. DS9 was the first Star Trek project not reliant upon the Enterprise. Captain Sisko not only oversaw his own space station but, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, Ben finally got his own starship when the USS Defiant became Sisko's warship to battle the Dominion and other enemies.

The best Joely Richardson movies and TV shows feature roles working with some of the best directors and showrunners working in Hollywood today. Richardson is a legacy actress, the daughter of Tony Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave. Her sister was the late Natasha Richardson, and her brother-in-law is Liam Neeson. While her name might have gotten her some attention, her talent got her some big roles. She got her start when she was three in one of her dad's movies, and she never looked back.

Over the years, Richardson has appeared in movies starring Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, a hit film by David Fincher, and several groundbreaking and popular television shows. She has earned nominations at the Golden Globes, Satellite Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards. With over 20 different television show credits and almost 50 movies to her name, most fans have seen her in something, from horror movies and historical epics...

Actor James Darren, who evolved from a teen idol to a successful singer and accomplished actor in television and film, has passed away at the age of 88. According to a report by Variety, Darren passed away on Monday at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. His son Jim Moret has since revealed that the cause of his death was congestive heart failure. It marks the end of a stellar, diverse career highlighted by the Gidget films of the 1950s and 1960s, the classic film The Guns of Navarone, and the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Darren, born James William Ercolani, is a native of Philadelphia, and earned his start in acting with a small role in the 1956 crime drama Rumble on the Docks, alongside Robert Blake. He continued to find supporting roles in lesser-known films like Operation Mad Ball, and the Van Heflin western Gunman's Walk. His breakthrough role, however,...

Children of the 1960s might recognize the late actor James Darren from his role as Moondoggie, aka Jeffrey Matthews, from the hit 1959 beach party movie "Gidget." Darren reprised his role in "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" and "Gidget Goes to Rome." Darren, however, was massively prolific in film, TV, and music, and his decades-long career was only cut short this week when the actor passed away at the age of 88. He left behind a sizable body of work that includes 14 studio albums, dozens of appearances in TV shows, and movies beyond Gidget. He shared the screen with future "Gilligan's Island" stars Bob Denver and Tina Louise in "Those Who Think Young," popped up in Jess Franco's 1969 version of "Venus in Furs," and most recently appeared in the Harry Dean Stanton film "Lucky" (one of the best films of 2017).

To Trekkies, Darren is best known for playing Vic Fontaine, the holographic Rat...

Sam Richardson reveals what role his shapeshifter plays in Star Trek: Section 31, which hints his Chameloid may be smarter than Odo (Rene Auberjonois) on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Richardson plays the first Chameloid seen in Star Trek since Martia, the changeling embodied by Iman in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Richardson joins the cast of Section 31, Star Trek's first made-for-streaming movie starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh.

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Sam Richardson was a guest on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, which delved into the Emmy-winning actor's career. Richardson explained his Star Trek fandom and revealed his Chameloid is "a physicist shapeshifter," making his changeling a scientific expert as opposed to Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who was a skilled detective. Read Sam's quote and listen to Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard below:

The new Star Trek, so Section 31, it says Star Trek movie.

DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations" episode pokes fun at Klingon differences in a lighthearted and humorous manner. Worf's comical explanation of the Klingon-Tribble War adds levity to tackling Star Trek lore within the crossover. Deep Space Nine skillfully addresses Klingon oddities through witty dialogue, honoring Tos history with a comedic touch.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's crossover episode with Star Trek: The Original Series pointed out 2 weird things about Klingons. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5, episode 6, "Trials and Tribble-ations", the Bajoran Orb of Time unexpectedly sends Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the USS Defiant crew back to 105 years earlier in the Star Trek timeline. Against the backdrop of Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 15, "The Trouble With Tribbles", Sisko's crew must prevent Klingon spy Arne Darvin (Charlie Brill) from assassinating Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), while dealing with the USS Enterprise's historical Tribble infestation.

Colm Meaney has no plans to return as Chief O'Brien in Star Trek. While he believes in 'never say never,' Meaney is not eager to reprise the role of an elderly Miles O'Brien. The actor acknowledges Star Trek's ability to revamp itself but doesn't prioritize an O'Brien return.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Colm Meaney has no plans to return to Star Trek as Chief Miles O'Brien. Meaney originated O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but the Irish engineer truly came into his own on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as part of the crew led by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). Between Tng and DS9, Meaney played O'Brien in 225 episodes, the most of any Star Trek actor except for Michael Dorn's Worf.

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Gazette interviewed Colm Meaney about his new film Duchess and asked the venerable Irish actor if he wants to reprise...

Members of Deep Space Nine cast, like Avery Brooks and Rene Auberjonois, directed some of the show's best episodes. The "Director's School" program, started by Jonathan Frakes's request, allowed actors to gain experience in directing Star Trek episodes. Avery Brooks, Michael Dorn, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, and Andrew Robinson all directed memorable episodes of Star Trek series.

Several members of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine cast stepped behind the camera to direct some of the show's best episodes. In the 1990s, every Star Trek show 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 by Star Trek: The Next Generation star Jonathan Frakes to direct an episode. Now a successful director in his own right, Frakes paved the way for other actors, including members...

3 different actors had the chance to portray Riker in Star Trek(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Let’s go back in time and investigate the possible outcomes inside the Star Trek world. Who knows, perhaps the series might have gone entirely in a different path if another actor had played Riker!

1. Michael O’Gorman: The Almost-Riker Who Quit Acting

Think of a Star Trek where Michael O’Gorman, not Jonathan Frakes, served as Riker’s face. It’s an idea worth considering. O’Gorman has a limited background in acting, having played quirky characters in a number of forgotten syndicated series, including Monsters and Miami Vice. Despite his short list of credits, O’Gorman was a serious contender for Riker.

In a memo dated April 13, 1987, from John Ferraro, Senior Vice President for Paramount Pictures, O’Gorman’s name appeared alongside other top contenders such as Gregg Marx and Ben Murphy. Ferraro’s memo...

Changelings take center stage with their superior shapeshifting abilities in Star Trek, leaving Chameloids behind. Chameloids like Martia lack the political prowess and versatile abilities of Changelings in the Star Trek universe. Sam Richardson's Chameloid character in Star Trek: Section 31 may finally showcase the unique advantages of Chameloids.

Chameloids and Changelings are both shapeshifting aliens in the Star Trek universe, but these two individual species are very different. Chameloids were first introduced in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, when a Chameloid named Martia (Iman) encountered Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForrest Kelley) in the Klingon prison, Rura Penthe. Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was the franchise's first Changeling, though Odo didn't know his important origin as a Founder of the Dominion when DS9 started.

Changelings and Chameloids haven't been given equal due in Star Trek, despite having similar abilities to impersonate people.

There are some actors who you recognize immediately. They are unique, iconic, and simply stand out because they have a magic about them that can’t be replicated. Sadly we lost one of these icons recently when the news was reported that Shelley Duvall had passed away at the age of 75. Duvall had gone out of the public eye for a number of years until quite recently. But with her passing the world lost an actress that was unique, talented, and brought to the screen a special sort of magic that’s hard to find. So in celebration of the life of Shelley Duvall, let’s take a look back on Whatever Happened to This Horror Star.

Shelley Duvall was born in 1949 in Blanco, Texas. Shelley was the oldest child of her parents Bobbie Ruth and Robert Duvall. Her other three siblings were all sons, Scott, Shane, and Stewart. I...

Cast members of Deep Space Nine have continued to excel in their careers post-show, with diverse roles in TV, film, and voice work. Many have remained active in sci-fi and fantasy genres, while showcasing their talents in a variety of other projects. Fans can follow their favorite actors, like Nana Visitor and Armin Shimerman, in their post-DS9 endeavors on social media platforms.

It's been 25 years since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended, and the cast have gone on to do some great things in the years after "What You Leave Behind" aired. It's hardly surprising that actors like Rene Auberjonois and Colm Meaney continued to be in-demand actors given their impressive movie credits in the years before DS9. However, the rest of the cast of Deep Space Nine have also built on the increased profile afforded to them by the Star Trek franchise to do some truly great work.

When...

Star Trek: Tng's Emmy loss inspired a plot for Dr. Bashir in DS9, in which he was nominated for an award he never thought he'd win. In DS9, Dr. Bashir's Carrington Award storyline is a reference to Tng and NYPD Blue losing out to surprise competitor Picket Fences at the 1994 Emmys. The Carrington Award is given out by the Federation Medical Council to honor outstanding achievements in medicine.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's loss at the 1994 Emmy Awards inspired a storyline for Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Across seven seasons, Star Trek: Tng racked up an impressive 58 nominations and 17 awards at the Emmys between 1988 and 1994. Tng performed well in the technical categories at the Emmy Awards, but it was only in contention for the Outstanding Drama Series prize once. The lack of Emmy recognition for Tng actors is, rightly, a bone of contention...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Ferengi episodes provide a fresh and funny perspective on Starfleet's mission, balancing comedy with darker themes. Quark and Rom's comic capers offer a unique contrast to the serious tone of Star Trek, showcasing a different side of the universe. The balance of light and dark in DS9's Ferengi episodes serves as a valuable lesson for modern Star Trek, which sometimes lacks in comedic elements.

I've never understood why people hate Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's brilliant Ferengi comedy episodes. Criticisms leveled at DS9's Ferengi episodes over the years state that they're too overtly comic or that characters like Quark (Armin Shimerman) or Rom (Max Grodnchik) don't deserve the limelight. Interestingly, those same critics praise Nog (Aron Eisenberg) as the most interesting Ferengi, presumably because he made history as a Starfleet Academy cadet. If Nog's Starfleet career makes him more important...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, episode 13, "A Tribble Called Quest"

DS9's Chancellor Martok leads the Klingon Empire in a war against Tribbles, aiming to alter their biology for ecological balance. Star Trek: Prodigy introduces a solution to Tribble infestations - stopping their rampant breeding thanks to xeno-anthropologist Rok-Tahk's theories. Martok's approach to the Tribble problem in Prodigy's episode 'A Tribble Called Quest' is a progressive shift from past Klingon Empire hunts.

Star Trek: Prodigy has revealed that Chancellor Martok (J.G. Hertzler) has declared war between the Klingon Empire and the Tribbles in the years after Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended. DS9 reintroduced the Tribbles to the 24th century in season 5, episode 6, "Trials and Tribble-ations", when the usually gruff Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) became attached to one of the cute fluffy creatures. As DS9's Tribble infestation at the end of "Trials and Tribble-ations" was a throwaway joke,...

Some of Star Trek: DS9's funniest episodes centered around Quark and his fellow Ferengi were inspired by classic sitcoms like Cheers and Taxi. Ira Steven Behr, who ran DS9, once wrote a script for Taxi that later became a Quark episode in "Prophet Motive". Taxi's Christopher Lloyd and Carol Kane also had Star Trek roles, showing multiple connections between the classic sitcom and the sci-fi franchise.

An episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine focused on Ferengi bartender Quark (Armin Shimerman) was inspired by a classic Danny DeVito sitcom. DS9 may have a reputation for being a dark and moody show, but it also gave audiences some of the funniest Star Trek episodes ever made. Many of DS9's comedy episodes focused on the exploits of Quark and his fellow Ferengi, with particular highlights including "Little Green Men" and "The Magnificent Ferengi". It's unsurprising, therefore, that the sitcom genre...

Odo's full name is Odo'ital, meaning "nothing," given by Bajoran scientists and a Cardassian overseer. Odo dropped the surname "Ital" after finding meaning and identity through friendships on Deep Space Nine. The story of Odo's name is revealed to the Female Changeling, not Kira, in "Heart of Stone."

It's not mentioned often, but Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) actually had a full name that he chose not to use. Discovered in his liquid state in orbit above Bajor, Odo spent a large part of his life before DS9 enduring a battery of painful laboratory tests. The experiments were conducted by Bajoran scientist Dr. Mora Pol, played by James Sloyan, who was unaware that Odo was a sentient being. When Odo eventually signaled his sentience to Pol, the two worked together so that the Changeling could maintain a solid form.

After Odo and Mora Pol parted,...

Claustrophobic Nana Visitor disliked being encased in the rock prop from "Heart of Stone," describing it as a "hot fudge sundae." The Star Trek: DS9 cast and crew also shared frustrations with the prop, calling it "horrible." Despite the prop issues, "Heart of Stone" remains a significant episode for Kira and Odo's relationship and provides key character moments for Nog and Sisko.

Major Kira actress Nana Visitor hated one particular prop she worked with on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, humorously describing it as a "hot fudge sundae". Throughout her time on DS9, Nana Visitor wasn't afraid to speak her mind when it came to how the character of Kira was handled. Nana Visitor nixed a Kira and Gul Dukat love story, and also had her reservations about the eventual love story between her character and Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois). Star Trek: DS9 season 3, episode 14, "Heart of Stone" represented...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Prodigy season 2!

In the Star Trek universe, the Treaty of Algeron is a fictional agreement that bars Federation member worlds from developing cloaking technology. The USS Defiant and alternate future USS Enterprise-d didn't need to worry about the Treaty of Algeron due to larger political circumstances. By the 32nd century, Starfleet are allowed to have cloaking technology but uses it sparingly.

Despite them being illegal under Federation law, several Star Trek ships have been fitted with a cloaking device. Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry objected to Starfleet using the cloaking technology that was utilized by their enemies, the Romulan and Klingon Empires. Star Trek: The Next Generation provided an in-universe explanation for this, in the form of the Treaty of Algeron. The Treaty was signed following the Tomed Incident, and barred Federation member worlds from developing cloaking technology. However, several Starfleet ships have defied this treaty,...