I skipped watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine when the series began airing more than 25 years ago, choosing instead to watch The X-Files. But I’m catching up to ST:DS9 now, during family viewing time.
DS9 shares many similarities with another 90’s TV series, Babylon 5. Something the two shows didn’t share at first was how their outer space effects were done. Babylon used groundbreaking computer graphics effects exclusively for its spaceships, while DS9 relied upon physical models until later in the series.
DS9 is available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and CBS All Access. It also airs on the over-the-air broadcast channel H&I. All of these outlets are showing the same standard definition copies. I know because I’ve checked. I keep wondering how much better DS9 would look if it could be presented in HD, as was done for the original 1960’s Trek.
Special effects wiz Adam “Mojo” Lebowitz, a 2-time Emmy winner who got his start on Babylon, remastered a scene he worked on in 1997, to demonstrate what’s possible.