Chief O'Brien gives Deep Space Nine a character who can show what the rest of the crew does. A recalled joint operation with the Jem'Hadar contrasts their declarations about dying for the Dominion with O'Brien's insistence that his people survive. His role supplies an enlisted perspective alongside the commissioned officers. The absence of a comparable chief in Discovery and Picard is a specific criticism of those series.
Notable Point · 1:48:28-1:49:28
Chief O'Brien gives Star Trek's enlisted crew a visible role
Deep Space Nine's chief provides an enlisted perspective and a practical emphasis on keeping his people alive.