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Sisko's role in this episode is based on the 1964 Sidney Lumet Cold War thriller Fail Safe, where the President, played by Henry Fonda, is forced to help the Russians shoot down an American plane on its way to launch a nuclear strike on Moscow. |
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This episode introduces a fleet of Keldon-class ships secretly constructed by the Obsidian Order in the Orias system. The later third season episode "The Die is Cast" reveals the reason for their construction: they were to be used in a joint operation by the Obsidian Order and the Romulan Tal Shiar to launch an assault on the Founders' homeworld (precipitating the Battle of the Omarion Nebula). |
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Thomas Riker calls the Defiant a "tough little ship"; William T. Riker later calls it the same thing in Star Trek: First Contact. |
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Shannon Cochran reprises her role as Kalita from TNG: "Preemptive Strike". She would next be seen on Deep Space Nine as Sirella in the sixth season episode "You Are Cordially Invited". |
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This episode is where it is revealed that the Defiant is only allowed to use the cloaking device in the Gamma Quadrant. |
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It is unknown if William T. Riker visited Quark's during the Enterprise's first visit to DS9 in "Emissary", its second visit in "Birthright, Part I" or another time altogether, though an off-hand comment by Jadzia places his visit closer to that of "Birthright, Part I" ("I met him a year ago"; discussing Riker with Kira). |
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Although this episode was screened three days after the release of Star Trek Generations, the stardates indicate that it takes place shortly before. This makes sense, as Riker and Sisko's conversation would seem to indicate the Enterprise is still active. |
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The large Cardassian viewscreen seen many times in this episode is actually a miniature designed by Gary Hutzel and built by Tony Meininger. The shots of Sisko standing in front of the screen were composited shots of the miniature and actor Avery Brooks in front of a bluescreen. |
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This episode builds on the humanization of the character of Gul Dukat which began in "The Maquis, Part II" from the second season and continued in the third season episode "Civil Defense". In "Defiant", Dukat is saddened about missing his son's birthday, and his interpretation of what that will mean to his son in future years is uncharacteristically honest. This softening of his character continues up to the fifth season episode "By Inferno's Light". |
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Jonathan Frakes always felt that the character of Thomas Riker should have returned to DS9 and that there should have been an episode where Kira fulfilled her promise to rescue him. The producers however, seemed to be uninterested in finishing the story arc, as in the fourth season pitch letter to freelance writers, Tom Riker appeared on the list of subjects that they were not interested in hearing about. |
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Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) does not appear in this episode. |
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Tricia O'Neil (Korinas) also played Enterprise-C Captain Rachel Garrett in TNG's "Yesterday's Enterprise" and Kurak in TNG's "Suspicions". |
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Michael Canavan (Tamal) had roles in Voyager (Curneth in "Unforgettable") and Enterprise (Vulcan adviser in "First Flight"). |
