Dax's death gave Star Trek: Deep Space Nine a near-impossible task for its final season, but the show succeeded in a big way. Behind-the-scenes conflict, an exhausting production schedule, and the offer of a role on Ted Danson sitcom Becker led to Terry Farrell departing the role of Jadzia Dax at the end of DS9 season 6. The character had become a much-loved member of the DS9 cast, and replacing her presented a daunting prospect. Fortunately, Jadzia Dax's Trill heritage allowed Farrell to be replaced with a new host, Ezri Dax, played by Nicole de Boer.
The Deep Space 9 approach to Trill allowed audiences the best of both worlds. Jadzia Dax was dead, and the impact of that loss was keenly felt by the DS9 crew throughout season 7. While Dax was replaced, therefore, the loss of Farrell's character was not glossed over. Because Trill symbionts move from host to host, Ezri Dax followed in Jadzia's footsteps, giving her old friend Benjamin Sisko counsel as the Dominion War came to a conclusion. It was this perfect balance between honoring the past and moving forward that allowed Nicole de Boer to achieve the impossible by receiving a positive reception from DS9 audiences despite replacing a fan-favorite.
How Ezri Dax Won Over DS9 Fans
Ezri was an emergency host who stepped in when the Dax symbiont's condition worsened after being removed from Jadzia's body. Ezri's difficulty coping with her new personality led to Dax being seen as a trans allegory, which resonated with Star Trek's LGBTQ+ fans. The new host was also markedly different to Jadzia - less confident and assured. Writer and executive producer Michael Piller (via Star Trek Communicator #124) felt that Ezri's conflicts and lack of self-esteem made her more endearing to audiences, even if the focus on selling this new character was felt to be a distraction from the Dominion War by certain quarters of Deep Space 9's fandom.
Generally, however, Deep Space 9 fans appreciated de Boer's performance as Ezri, and by pairing her with Julian Bashir, DS9 gave viewers the romantic coupling many had anticipated before Worf swept Jadzia off her feet. Even now, Star Trek fans debate which Dax they prefer - Jadzia or Ezri - which is testament to how strong an impression de Boer made in only one season of DS9. Worf grieving over the death of Jadzia cast a solemn pall over DS9 season 7, and this note of sadness meant Ezri was never presented as a mere cheap replacement, instead helping the Klingon deal with his loss.
Can Terry Farrell’s Jadzia Come Back (And Meet Ezri)?
Star Trek recently returned to Deep Space 9 in Star Trek: Lower Decks, and this crossover highlights an ongoing interest in bringing DS9 characters into modern Star Trek. Moreover, Terry Farrell herself confirmed a desire to return to the world of Star Trek during DS9's panel at the 56-Year Mission convention. Thankfully, the current state of the Star Trek franchise does indeed allow for Jadzia to return. Jadzia Dax may not be alive in any of Star Trek's multiple parallel timelines, but that doesn't mean she and Ezri can never meet.
The Trill have shown an ability to summon their previous hosts during the zhian'tara rite, leaving no canon reason Jadzia couldn't appear to Ezri in some form. In "Facets," the Deep Space 9 changeling Odo took on the form of Curzon Dax during Jadzia's zhian'tara, and the same ritual was used in Star Trek: Discovery to resurrect Gray into a synthetic body similar to Jean-Luc Picard's. It is possible that the zhian'tara could be deployed to bring Jadzia Dax, one of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's most beloved characters, back into the franchise fold.