Star Trek: The Mirror War did what Deep Space Nine producers couldn’t

IDW’s Star Trek: The Mirror War brought a character to Deep Space Nine.

It’s nearing the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is about to launch its first season and the crux of the series was to focus on The Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Producers of Deep Space Nine wanted to land Michelle Forbes to reprise her role as Ro Laren and serve as the number two on the space station behind Benjamin Sisko.

Laren would of course bring her hatred of the Cardassians to the table, as well as being a constant annoyance for Sisko and Starfleet due to her Maquis ties, and of course, being a Bajoran herself. She seemed perfect for the role, not just as an actress, but as a character too. She had established ties already to Star Trek. She also had a continuing story arc from Next Generation to Deep Space Nine which could’ve helped bring Next Gen fans over to DS9.

Yet, Laren’s actress Forbes opted to not do the show. So producers went with Nana Visitor as Bajoran military officer Kira Nerys. Kira was essentially a surrogate for what the show wanted to do with Laren, minus the rich back story Laren was to come in with.

It would all work out though, as Kira Nerys was one of the more interesting characters in the series and her issues with the Cardassians became as complicated as they were entertaining.

Star Trek: The Mirror War finally brings Ro Laren to Deep Space Nine

Ro Laren finally made it to Deep Space Nine, but in Star Trek: The Mirror War #2 writers Scott and David Tipton have finally placed her on the Deep Space Nine bridge crew, albeit in the Mirror Universe.

The series follows Jean-Luc Picard’s Mirror Universe double as he tries to salvage the Terran Empire. This of course will have him running afoul with other living members of the Mirror Universe, like the aforementioned Ro Laren, Benjamin Sisko, and Kira Nerys.