Character Insight No. 236: Sarah Sisko

Welcome back to Character Insight! This week, we review Sarah Sisko, a recurring character from the final season of Deep Space Nine.

https://archive.org/details/CharacterInsightEp236


Sarah Sisko was the mother of Commander Ben Sisko, although he was not aware of this until he was in command of the DS9 station and in his 40s.  As described on the segment a few months ago on Ben's father Joseph Sisko, we find out in the episode Image in the Sand that Sarah had been possessed by a Prophet and forced to give birth to an Emissary, AKA Ben, shortly after marrying Joseph. 

She leaves Ben and Joseph after the Prophet stops possessing her, so she's not an active part of Ben Sisko's life.  However, she lives on in a sense thanks to the Prophet that had taken her over, as that Prophet continues to use Sarah's appearance and voice when interacting with Ben Sisko.  Indeed, this Prophet calls Ben "my son" and seems to have a parental kinship with the Commander, unlike any other Prophets we see in the episodes of this show.

QUOTE (from Shadows and Symbols):
Sarah Sisko: The Sisko's path is a difficult one.
Sisko: But why me? Why did it have to be me?
Sarah Sisko: Because it could be no one else.

The latter appearances of Sarah, which is really the Prophet that previously possessed Sarah, are an interesting mix of self-serving actions on behalf of the Prophets and motherly advice.  For example, Sarah warns Ben against marrying Kassidy Yates, although as far as the show is concerned, that marriage works out just fine in the end.  Sometimes parental figures can be wrong about such things!

However, there's also a good deal of guidance given by Sarah to Ben Sisko on tracking down and defeating the Pah-Wraiths who are trying to imprison the Prophets and take over the wormhole for themselves.  Aside from the Dominion War conflict that spans the final two seasons of this show, Sarah Sisko and the Prophet emulating her are vital characters who advance Ben Sisko to achieve all that was expected of the Emissary.  She does not provide much backstory to Ben Sisko, but she is key in the character arc and development.

Sarah Sisko was played by Deborah Lacey, who has also guested on many other shows over her 35 year career.  Lacey played Carla in Mad Men, which is what she is likely best known for outside Star Trek and these other bit roles on television.

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