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One of the biggest mysteries in Star Trek ever since the end of Deep Space Nine in 1999 was what the heck happened to Sisko when he went off to join the Prophets. Let's remember that throughout DS9, Sisko had proven himself to be an attentive and devoted father to his son, Jake. And at the time of the DS9 finale, Sisko's wife was pregnant with their daughter, Kasidy. Given that Sisko is one of the most beloved captains in Star Trek history, the end of DS9 for him understandably had a lot of Trekkies concerned. 

That said, the newest Star Trek show, Starfleet Academy, is set to explore this mystery with the fifth episode of the season. Specificially, the Thursday, February 5, 2026 episode follows the regular holographic character named Sam as they try to find out the truth of what happened to Sisko. (No, we're not going to tell you the answer; that's what the episode is for.)

That's all well and good, but what about the man himself, Avery Brooks, who originally played Sisko all those years ago? Despite Brooks previously claiming that he would never return to the role, he recorded a new voice that's noticeable at the end of the episode. It wouldn't be a Sisko affair without Jake Sisko either, and fortunately, Cirrox Lofton is back to reprise his DS9 role in Starfleet Academy. 

It's curious to see a Star Trek show directly try to answer the mystery of the DS9 finale when the recent Star Trek comics, written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, have picked up directly after the end of DS9. And before you come at me with the "but the comics aren't canon!" allegations, the Lower Decks show directly referenced the Day of Blood story written by Kelly and Lanzing. It seems that the lines between what's "canon" and what "isn't but still is something that every Trek fan should read" are quite blurry now. But regardless, Kelly, Lanzing, and artist Ramona Rosanas' series was the first Star Trek comic to ever be nominated for an Eisner Award. To quote Russell Crowe's character in The Pope's Exorcist, "the books are good." You, dear reader, should read the books. 

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming now on Paramount+.

Space may be the final frontier, but there's no end to Popverse's love of the Star Trek universe. Hop aboard the starship Enterprise with our Star Trek watch order, explore strange new worlds with our upcoming Star Trek TV shows and movies list, seek out the new life of the franchise, and boldly go where no Star Trek film has ever gone before - with Quentin Tarantino?