By Drew Dietsch | publishing
The best relationship in Star Trek is not a romantic one. Sorry, your Riker/Troi and Worf/Dax fans. Of all TV shows, books and movies, the best relationship in Star Trek is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Between Benjamin Sisko and his son Jake.
Actors Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton built a real friendship with each other in the series and loved each other, playing a role in portraying the relationship between the father and his son. Specifically, Brooks wanted to portray a single black father who was committed to his son and maintained a strong, loving relationship in extreme difficulties.
Benjamin and Jake openly show each other’s love and affection, breaking many expected norms of male characters on TV at the time. Benjamin urges Jack to become a writer, or Jack helps his father start dating again.
The plot that emphasizes this strong and loving relationship includes “The Visitor”, and the late, the great Tony Todd plays a future version of Jake, who lost his father at a young age, while “Explorers”, Benjamin and Jake ride together on the old spacecraft on the stars and learn more about each other.
From episode one to the last, the story of their relationship remains important throughout Star Trek: Deep Space. This is something you don’t have to say about many other relationships in the franchise.
Star Trek is full of fun, engaging and dynamic relationships like Kirk (Spock) and the Bone’s Triumvirate, the romping Garak and Bashir, and even the ridiculousness of Picard and Q.
But when I think of the cutest and most effective relationships in a franchise, I always return to the beautiful portrayal of a father and son who love each other unconditionally. Over the years, I have not lost any heart to see them.
If anything, the relationship between Benjamin and Jack will only become stronger over time. That’s why the giant Freakin robot calls it the best relationship in Star Trek.
