Tears of the Prophets

rdf:langString Tears of the Prophets

rdf:langString List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes

rdf:langString * Andrew Robinson as Elim Garak * Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun * Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat * David Birney as Letant * J. G. Hertzler as General Martok * Aron Eisenberg as Ensign Nog * Casey Biggs as Damar * Barry Jenner as Admiral Ross * Michelle Horn as Saghi * Bob Kirsh as Glinn * James Darren as Vic Fontaine

rdf:langString Jonathan West

rdf:langString Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

rdf:langString

rdf:langString Hans Beimler

rdf:langString Ira Steven Behr

rdf:langString "Tears of the Prophets" is the 26th and final episode of the sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 150th episode overall. It was first broadcast in broadcast syndication in the United States the week of June 15, 1998. It was written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler, and directed by Allan Kroeker. The episode featured the death of the character Jadzia Dax and the final appearance on the series of actress Terry Farrell. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet-managed Bajoran space station Deep Space Nine. The station is adjacent to a wormhole leading to the distant Gamma Quadrant; the wormhole is home to powerful alien beings worshiped by the Bajorans as the "Prophets". The later seasons of the series follow a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Dominion, an expansionist empire from the Gamma Quadrant that has already absorbed the nearby planet of Cardassia. In this episode, the Federation decides to move on the offensive against the Dominion. Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) is warned by the Prophets not to leave Deep Space Nine, but decides to ignore their warning. As Starfleet attacks a Cardassian star system, the former Cardassian leader Dukat (Marc Alaimo), possessed by one of the Pah-wraiths, the enemies of the Prophets, kills Jadzia (Terry Farrell) and disables the wormhole. After Jadzia's death, Sisko declares that he is leaving the station and returning to Earth. The premise of the attack on the wormhole originated as a plan to end the seventh season of DS9, and was again suggested for the end of season six when planning began for that season. The imminent departure of Farrell caused problems for the writers as they sought to include both elements into the episode. The episode raised themes of revenge and the conflict between military service and religion. Although the critical review was positive and the episode received a high level of press coverage due to the publicized death of Jadzia Dax, it was viewed by 3.9 million viewers in the first broadcast, the lowest of the season.