Summary

  • Sisko proves he's not like Picard by punching Q, solidifying the differences between Star Trek: DS9 and Star Trek: TNG.
  • Sisko values the help of the Ferengi, unlike Picard who had a negative view of them.
  • Sisko breaks rules for the greater good, while Picard follows the rules strictly.

Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) had already proved beyond doubt that he wasn't anything like Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) even before he punched Q (John de Lancie) in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In DS9 season 1, episode 7, "Q-Less", Jean-Luc Picard's best frenemy turns up on the titular space station to try and win back Picard's former lover, Vash (Jennifer Hetrick). Vash's attempts to strike out on her own with an auction of Gamma Quadrant artifacts inadvertently put the station at risk. However, Q refuses to intervene, forcing Sisko and the crew of Deep Space Nine to work things out for themselves.

Sisko has no time for Q's games and delivers a quick one-two punch to the trickster god's gut and face in the episode's standout scene. As Q struggles to process what happened, Sisko delivers the iconic line "I'm NOT Picard." It was the final confirmation of how different Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was from Star Trek: The Next Generation, as Sisko had spent the past six episodes proving this to audiences. The differences between the two Star Trek protagonists had been established early with Sisko and Picard's feud in DS9's premiere, but the gulf between them only expanded in the subsequent episodes.

8 Sisko Understands The Value Of The Ferengi

Avery Brooks as Sisko and Armin Shimerman as Quark

Picard had a Ferengi nemesis in the form of DaiMon Bok (Frank Corsentino) and this largely colored Jean-Luc's view of the aliens. To be fair to Picard, the Ferengi were originally intended as the main antagonists of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but never really worked out. Sisko, on the other hand, arrives aboard Deep Space Nine and swiftly acknowledges that he'll need the help of Quark (Armin Shimerman) to get the station's commercial sector up and running. He dubs Quark a community leader and places Quark's Bar at the very heart of the Promenade, a role that it's hard to imagine Picard entrusting to a Ferengi.

7 Picard Follows The Rules - Sisko Breaks Them

star trek benjamin sisko jean luc picard

Sisko does bad things in Star Trek: DS9 but it's always in the best interests of Starfleet and the Federation. This becomes far clearer in later seasons of Deep Space Nine, but the pilot has barely started before Sisko throws Nog (Aron Eisenberg) into jail to extort Quark for his cooperation. It's a good example of how Sisko is an adaptable leader who is responding to the unique culture aboard DS9. Neither a fully-fledged Federation outpost nor a lawless frontier town, Sisko proved that he was always open to holistic solutions that didn't always square with the Federation's rules and regulations.

6 Picard Liked Bajor But Bajor Worshiped Sisko

sisko-deep-space-nine-return-bajor

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's pilot episode "Emissary", Picard briefs Sisko on his mission to prepare Bajor for Federation hip. Picard tells Sisko that he's a "strong proponent" for Bajor's entry into the Federation. Sisko, however, believes that Bajor isn't ready, given the political unrest as warring factions disagree on the future of the planet. Sisko's role as Emissary to the Prophets affords him an influential role in Bajoran society, and he's forced to juggle that role with his diplomatic mission for the Federation. Picard has an unflinching loyalty to the Federation, but Sisko sees the larger picture and understands the drawbacks of Bajor's entry into the Federation.

5 Sisko Is More Open With His Deep Space Nine Crew

The cast of Deep Space Nine poses for a promotional image

Picard's Star Trek: The Next Generation arc was about him coming to see his crew as the family he never had, culminating in the TNG finale's iconic poker scene. Sisko is immediately more open and charismatic with his crew, largely because he can't rely on his Starfleet credentials to earn his authority. Deep Space Nine is a former Cardassian refinery, staffed by both Starfleet and Bajorans, with a revolving door of alien visitors. Sisko therefore has to engage with people on a more personal level, understanding other perspectives and working toward a common goal. Picard would always do this on his diplomatic missions, but he often found it harder to engage on a personal level with his crew and even his potential love interests.

4 Picard's Beloved Prime Directive Didn't Always Fit Deep Space Nine

Sisko and Picard looking serious as the reptilian Tosk is suspicious

In "Captive Pursuit", Sisko aids Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) in breaking Starfleet's Prime Directive. Making first with the Tosk, Sisko discovers that the species are bred for the sole purpose of being hunted by a species called The Hunters. Where Picard would have a moral and ethical dilemma before making the pained decision to allow the Hunters to take Tosk back as their prize, O'Brien breaks Tosk out, in an attempt to restart the hunt. Unbeknownst to the Chief, Sisko is quietly assisting Tosk's escape. Sisko gives O'Brien a dressing down, but it's purely a formality because ultimately he agrees with the Chief's decision. When Picard gives his crew a dressing down, however, it's because he firmly believes in Starfleet's regulations and he rarely allows himself a wry grin afterwards.

3 Sisko Was A Father First, A Starfleet Officer Second

Ben hugs his son Jake from Deep Space Nine

Captain Jean-Luc Picard was never interested in having a family, putting all of his energy into a career with Starfleet. This wasn't the case for Commander Benjamin Sisko, who was able to balance both his paternal responsibilities and his duties as a Starfleet officer. In doing so, Sisko proved that there was more to Picard's lack of a family than met the eye. That storyline was addressed in Star Trek: Picard season 2, revealing that Jean-Luc's traumatic childhood had impacted his anxieties about becoming a father. In "Emissary", Picard struggles to understand Sisko's desire to put the welfare of his son Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) first, but after the events of Picard season 3, he probably understands it a lot better.

2 Picard's Number One Was Starfleet, Sisko Insisted His Wasn't

In "Emissary", Sisko tells Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) specifically requested that he have a Bajoran Number One. This allowed him to have a more informed opinion on decisions relating to Bajor, enabling Sisko to balance his dual roles as Bajoran Emissary and Starfleet Commander. Kira was never afraid to stand up to Sisko and challenge him, which was also true of Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes). However, Kira's challenges held more weight as they interrogated Starfleet's intentions and offered a new perspective. This was exactly what Sisko needed during his delicate diplomatic mission to prepare Bajor for Federation entry.

1 Sisko Hit Q, Picard NEVER Hit Q

Q gets punched by Sisko and plays trumpet for Picard

In "Q-Less", Sisko is determined to eject the cosmic trickster from his station as soon as he possibly can. Having previously attended a Starfleet conference about Q, it's likely he felt that Picard was too indulgent of the omnipotent being and his games. Where Picard and Q embarked on a complicated friendship from the Star Trek: The Next Generation pilot to Star Trek: Picard season 2, Sisko nips things in the bud straight away. Demanding that Q return his missing crew, Sisko floors the god in a short-lived boxing match, communicating to the cosmic trickster that his shenanigans are not welcome in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.