The Star Trek DS9 And TOS Episodes That Influenced Strange New Worlds’ Darkest Episode

The TrekMovie interviewer was astute enough to recognize the two episodes in question. The first was the “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” episode “The Siege of AR-558” (November 16, 1998), and the other was the original series episode “A Private Little War” (February 2, 1968). 

“A Private Little War,” often referred to by Trekkies as “the Vietnam War episode” featured a peaceful, primitive planet that inexplicably started fighting each other with flintlock rifles, a technology centuries beyond their capabilities. Kirk (William Shatner) finds that the locals have been given the weapons by a Klingon named Krell (Ned Romero), a cruel interloper who wants to perpetuate a primitive Civil War for his own nefarious purposes. Kirk faces a moral dilemma. He can provide more weapons to the losing side of the Civil War, giving them a better chance for survival, but forcing him to actively perpetuate the conflict. Or he can step out and let one side be killed. 

Byrd summed it up, saying: 

“Yes, the one where they are selling the weapons and keep upgrading. So a lot of those were brought into this script-wise and then realized by me on set visually.” 

“The Siege of AR-558,” meanwhile, is an out-and-out combat episode of “Deep Space Nine.” At that point in the series, the Federation had been at war with the Dominion for over a year, and capturing communications relays was key to winning. Sisko (Avery Brooks) managed to fend off an attacking Dominion force, but lost many Federation officers in the process. The episode if violent and bleak. Everyone is injured and horrified. War is Hell. Davy Perez, the writer of “Under the Cloak of War,” knew both “Private” and “Siege” when he penned the episode.