Summary

• The producers of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine originally planned for the character of Lt. Jadzia Dax to be a different alien species, but changed it to a Trill for budgetary reasons.
• Budget constraints prevented the realization of their original idea for the science officer, which included a low-gravity environment and an anti-grav wheelchair.
• The character that was initially conceptualized eventually became Ensign Melora Pazlar, who shared similarities with Jadzia and had a romantic storyline with Dr. Julian Bashir.

Trill design was changed for Deep Space Nine. Discussing the character of Dax in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, Michael Piller explained that "A Trill character would provide great potential for dichotomy and paradox." The first hint of this comes in DS9 season 1, episode 8, "Dax", in which Jadzia stands trial for the crimes of her symbiont's former host.

A Trill science officer meant that Terry Farrell could be recast when Star Trek: Deep Space Nine killed off Jadzia Dax at the end of season 6. However, things could have been very different for DS9's science officer if budgets had allowed for the producers to realize their original intentions. When Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and their team were conceiving Star Trek: DS9, they wanted to go in a different direction for the station's science officer, which would have provided a chance for positive disability representation on the show.

DS9’s Original, Very Different Idea For Dax Explained

In the early stages of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's conception, the character that would eventually become Lt. Jadzia Dax wasn't a Trill and was instead a brand-new alien. The original version of DS9's science officer was an alien who originated on a low-gravity world. This would mean that, in the standard gravity of a space station like Deep Space Nine, their limbs and muscles would be heavier, and they would need additional . As well as the anti-grav wheelchair that they would use, the writers planned to make the character's quarters a low-gravity environment.

The expense involved in realizing the low-gravity environment for multiple episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine eventually nixed the concept of the science officer. However, after this character was replaced by Jadzia Dax, DS9 producer Michael Piller did suggest revisiting the conceptual character for inclusion in a future episode. Evan Carlos Somers (who was also a wheelchair ) became aware of this idea while interning in the DS9 writers room, and was eventually commissioned to realize the character for season 2. The character became Ensign Melora Pazlar (Daphne Ashbrook), who appeared in the eponymous sixth episode of DS9 season 2.

Dax & Melora Had 1 DS9 Thing In Common

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 6, "Melora" pairs up Ensign Pazlar and Lt. Dax on a science mission to the Gamma Quadrant. By having the two characters share time together, it's an opportunity to see the similarities between Melora and Jadzia. Terry Farrell has had a season to ease into the character of Jadzia, so she's vastly different from the concept of a Melora-like alien first proposed for DS9 season 1. However, both women are incredibly confident and don't suffer fools gladly, and both Melora and Jadzia are love interests for Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig).

"Melora" is Dr. Bashir's first love story in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, so it's funny that his romance is with Jadzia's conceptual predecessor. Jadzia gave Melora some valuable advice on how to be more honest with Julian. Dax also noticed Julian's clear attraction to Melora from the start and gave the young doctor some gentle encouragement. Bashir and Melora's Star Trek: Deep Space Nine romance is a crucial moment in the young doctor's journey, and provided a refreshing change of pace from his relentless pursuit of Jadzia in season 1.

All episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+