Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Hard Time
TV Flash files “Hard Time” as hour 91 of 176 in the TV Flash guide — Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999) on Syndication, season 4, episode 19, aired 1996-04-15, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S04E19: listed hour 91 of 176 in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine guide, hour 19 of 26 in season 4. It aired 1996-04-15 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Rules of Engagement” (S04E18). Next is “Shattered Mirror” (S04E20).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
After being convicted of espionage, Chief O'Brien struggles to re-integrate back into his life on DS9 after serving 20 years in an Argrathi virtual prison.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Hard Time sit in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine guide?
S04E19 is listed hour 91 of 176 — hour 19 of 26 in season 4, season 4 episode 19.
When did Star Trek: Deep Space Nine S04E19 air?
Hard Time aired 1996-04-15 and is listed at 60 minutes.
How is it different from other Trek?
Fixed station instead of a constantly traveling starship; heavier serialization, politics, religion, and the Dominion War as a long novel.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Trek stays put: Avery Brooks's Sisko commands a politically charged station near a wormhole, and the franchise finally lets serialization, war, and religion get messy. Berman and Piller's seven-season novel argues with utopia — Bajor, the Dominion War, moral gray TNG often dodged. The boldest 1990s Star Trek, still fighting the fan civil war.
Flash: January 3, 1993, syndication, a politically charged station near a wormhole, and the franchise finally staying put. Rick Berman and Michael Piller's Deep Space Nine leaned into serialization, war arcs, religion, and moral gray that 1990s Trek had often dodged. Avery Brooks's Sisko anchored diplomacy, prophecy, and combat with commanding gravity. Nana Visitor, Colm Meaney, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, Armin Shimerman made station politics into longform novel television. Someone already filed the…
Filed against
- Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko
Avery Brooks’s Benjamin Sisko made Star Trek: Deep Space Nine stay put — a politically charged station near a wormhole, serialization, war, religion, Bajor, the Dominion, moral gray TNG often dodged. Berman and Piller’s seven-season…
- Nana Visitor as Kira Nerys
Nana Visitor’s Kira Nerys made Star Trek: Deep Space Nine stay put and get messy — 1990s Avery Brooks’s Sisko, a politically charged station near a wormhole, serialization, war, religion, Berman and Piller’s seven-season novel arguing…
- Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
Colm Meaney played Miles O'Brien on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — Trek stays put, Avery Brooks's Sisko on a politically charged station near a wormhole, serialization, war, and religion getting messy. Berman and Piller's seven-season novel…
- René Auberjonois as Odo
René Auberjonois played Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 1990s Trek that stayed put — Avery Brooks’s Sisko on a politically charged station near a wormhole, serialization, war, and religion getting messy. Seven-season novel arguing…
- Terry Farrell as Jadzia Dax
Terry Farrell hosted Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Jadzia Dax — a joined Trill on a politically charged station near a wormhole, serialization, war, and religion getting messy. Trek stays put; utopia has to argue. TV Flash files her as…
- Armin Shimerman as Quark
Armin Shimerman’s Quark kept Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from utopia cosplay — Avery Brooks’s Sisko on a politically charged station near a wormhole, serialization, war, religion, Bajor, the Dominion, moral gray TNG often dodged.…