When Deep Space Nine get down 26 yr ago , it was not therevered genre classicit is consider as today — it cursorily became a controversial , ill-affected stepchild to the wider Trek franchise . What We Left Behind , Shout Factory and 455 film ’s young infotainment about the serial publication , still has some of that disaffected kick to it . But its lense is primarily an unbelievably sentimental one .
carbon monoxide gas - guide by Deep Space Nine writer and executive producerIra Steven Behrand David Zappone , What We bequeath Behind is a nostalgic , delicious look back at the retention forged by the cast and work party of Deep Space Nine as they go about creating what , at the metre of its program , quickly became the black sheep of Star Trek ’s early ‘ 90 peak . The product of severalcrowdfunded campaigns , it ’s a project create by people who fuck DS9 , for people who do it DS9 — and it ’s packed to the lobe from here to Ferenginar with love for practically everything the showtried to accomplishacross seven season of video .
Just shy of two 60 minutes long , What We Left Behind is bursting at the seams with a veritable swath of mental object to get across . Almost too much . There ’s interview with cast and crowd , vox pop segments with lover — everything from costumed kid at Star Trek cons to recordings provide from home litter with Trek spaceships and paraphernalia — and yes , frequent glimpses of lovingly restored in high spirits Definition footage to imaginewhat could have been . take by Behr , playing the role of not just the documentary ’s chief perspective , but at times its emcee and interviewer , it is veritable that What We Left Behind comes from an heartfelt , undying love for what Deep Space Nine is .
See fragments of Deep Space Nine like you’ve never seen them before in What We Left Behind.Image: Shout Factory
Every inch of the documentary is an explosion of nostalgic joy , full of bed references and quick recollection . It ’s hard not to get capture up in the pampering of it all — a loving fear that is difficult not to contrast with the deep respect Deep Space Nine itself did not particularly hold for the know conventions of Star Trek , as it jubilantly tore down the expected figure of the dealership to forge its own way of life ( to eventual appreciation , at least ) . At times , however , that joyous adulation means the flow of What We leave behind Behind can feel a little discordant . While there are several element that go on to play as a spine for the documentary — most notably a supposed writers room break down ofa potential season eight premiere(which really creates a riveting story and it ’s almost sad it will in all probability never come to twinkle beyond this doc)—it mostly dart about with a hectic energy that at times feels like it was in need of a bite more cohesion .
It is like , in many way , the cast ’s recollections themselves , a fragmentary shot of joyful memories that come off in the mind as quick as they leave it . “ Oh , is n’t Garak a great character ? Oh , but what about the Vic Fontaine episodes ? Oh , but what about the Dominion arc ? Oh , is n’t slap-up that there were complex distaff character like Kira and Dax ? Oh , but seem at this space battle , and this , and this , and this ! ” It ’s a petty like an over - excited nipper recounting all the preferent things about their most darling toy dog , or sometimes , a little more like that boastfully rebellious teenager , biting its thumb at its early detractor with a sense of “ fuck you , we shake . ”
That heady mix of joy and a little ( well - take in ! ) braggadocio also intend that a lot of the potential conflict that could emerge out of such an undertaking as What We Left Behind mostly gets swept under the rug in party favour of nostalgia . The penny-pinching the documentary gets to holding a negative frame of Deep Space Nine is a abbreviated section on Terry Farrell ’s departure from the show after season six , due to contract conflict that moderate to her undiplomatic way out from the serial publication , which sees the actress tearily and angrily acknowledge the foiling and want of regard that lead to her leaving . In another similarly brief , more metatextual moment , amid a serial of back - pats for the fashion DS9 tackled social issues the documentary takes a pace back from compliment itself too much for theLGBTQ topic coveredin the episode “ Rejoined ” by acknowledging that the show did not go far enough in that regard . But these moments are brief , and few and far between , before the documentary gets back to recalling far happier memories .
Ira Steven Behr is the crux of everything What We Left Behind sets out to do.Image: Shout Factory
While it mean a more critical heart is mostly absent from the documentary , the fannish glee that drives much of What We Left Behind is what makes it ultimately so charming an endeavor . It comes from a home of earnest love for what Deep Space Nine effected , and more specifically , what the people behind it reach .
What We Left Behind does n’t want to convince you why Deep Space Nine was good . It does n’t want to , really — everyone involved in make the show already cognise it was good . What We pull up stakes Behind just want to share that love with as many people as possible , whether they already have it in their heart and soul or not . If you hoped for a more critical scrutiny of Deep Space Nine , or even a deeper dive into its bumpy journeying on TV before it became a re - examined genre darling , What We Left Behind is not really the docudrama you require . This is the passion letter that Deep Space Nine wanted all those years ago , even as it strap out at the formula of what Star Trek could be to the ire of fans who just want more Kirk and Picard , more boldly going rather of boldly staying .
It ’s a little less “ In the Pale Moonlight ” and a little more “ Badda - Bing , Badda - Bang ” , sure as shooting . But that ’s hunky-dory . It ’s a rap on the back , 26 years in the making — and one that ’s not just deserved , but more than justifies a nostalgic spirit back at what indeed was left behind after seven time of year : one of Star Trek ’s most seditious and intriguing chapters . A chapter that in exploringthe shadows it draw , made the light of the enfranchisement ’s large ideals ultimately shine that much brighter . But What We Left Behind intelligibly discover that even that light perhaps ca n’t shine quite as brilliantly as the candle the cast and crew behind Deep Space Nine so clearly still hold for the serial , all these years afterward .
Terry Farrell’s emotional frustration with how executives treated her departure makes for a rare moment of conflict in an otherwise relatively lighthearted documentary.Image: Shout Factory
What We Left Behind gets alimited theatrical releasenext calendar week on May 13 through Fathom Events , beforehand of a physical sacking at a presently undisclosed date .
For more , check that you ’re follow us on our new Instagram @io9dotcom .
ReviewsStar TrekTelevision
Much of What We Left Behind feels like this—friends, family, gathered to look back on the good times.Image: Shout Factory
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , science , and culture news in your inbox day by day .
news show from the future , delivered to your nowadays .
You May Also Like
