What We Left Behind - Deep Space Nine (2018)

A two hour documentary about Deep Space nine. Unintentionlly shows why DS9 was never more than a modest success. And has had no movies and not much fan fiction. 

Onscreen, the producers/writers come off as self-satistified odd-balls determined to explain why DS9 was underappreciated and really as good as Star Trek TNG - despite the audience/critics not thinking so. The actors are dull, except for Quark and Odo. The suprising tid-bit, almost past over, was that "Several" of the cast were offered "Take it or leave it" contracts after Season 6. No wonder Deep Space Nine never had a "family feel" to it.

Anyway, the reason for DS9's relative lack of success wasn't that it was "Too sophisticated" or "Too dark" but that it failed in execution. Some mediocre actors were cast, some characters weren't given clear, strong story arcs, Guest stars were often bad/mediocre, and there were far too many unfunny comic episodes. Further the Series seem more interested in winning "Diversity Bingo" then in putting out a good episode.

Too "dark" and "Sosphicated"?  Its real problem was that  - far too often - when it tried to be "hearwarming" "Romantic" "Comic" or "Lighthearted" it failed. No TV series can put out 25 episodes a year of good dramatic material.  You need less serious ones.   And your cast needs to form a "family" but DS9 never did. Except for Odo and Quark, there was almost no chemistry or strong bonds between the cast.