Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)

Miles Edward O'Brien is a character in the Star Trek franchise. He appears sporadically in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation and is a main cast member of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. O'Brien was originally the transporter chief of the USS Enterprise-D. He was later promoted to Chief of Operations of Deep Space Nine. O'Brien is the only major Star Trek character described as both ethnically Irish and born in Ireland. O'Brien is portrayed by actor Colm Meaney.

Miles O'Brien
First appearance"Encounter at Farpoint" (1987)
(The Next Generation)
Last appearance"What You Leave Behind" (1999)
(Deep Space Nine)
Created byGene Roddenberry
Portrayed byColm Meaney
In-universe information
SpeciesHuman
GenderMale
Position
  • Professor of Engineering (Starfleet Academy)
  • Chief Operations Officer (Deep Space Nine)
  • Chief Engineer (USS Defiant)
  • Lieutenant (USS Enterprise-D - TNG Season 2 Episode 2)
  • Transporter Chief (USS Enterprise-D – TNG Seasons 1–6)
  • Helmsman (USS Enterprise-D – TNG Season 1)
  • Tactical Officer (USS Rutledge – TNG prior to epp 186)
Affiliation
FamilyMichael O'Brien (father)
Significant otherKeiko O'Brien
Children
  • Molly O'Brien
  • Kirayoshi O'Brien

Casting

According to Colm Meaney, at first O'Brien "was just there, not really established as a character, and that went on for a bit."[1] He has a few lines in the pilot TNG episode, "Encounter at Farpoint". Appearing on and off in subsequent episodes, mainly operating the ship's transporters, it wasn't until the second-season episode "Unnatural Selection" that Meaney's character was named, and the second episode of season 4, "Family," before the character was given a first name, and his personal life began to be developed. However, Meaney came to like the arrangement of being hired on an episode-by-episode basis, and was hesitant to sign on as a regular on DS9.[2] Along with Worf, Miles O'Brien is one of the two characters that moved from TNG to be a main character on DS9.

Character postings
  • USS Rutledge
    • Junior tactical Officer
  • Setlik III - Skirmish with Cardassian forces during the Cardassian/Federation war
  • USS Enterprise-D
    • Transporter chief
    • Operations and engineering
  • Deep Space Nine (Federation administered Bajoran station)
    • Chief of Operations
    • Chief Engineer USS Defiant (Support starship assigned to Deep Space Nine)
  • Starfleet Academy - San Francisco, California, Earth
    • Professor of Engineering

Character story

Backstory

The backstory of the character states that Miles O'Brien was born in Killarney, a town in County Kerry in Ireland, Earth, in September 2328.[3] He claims descent from Brian Boru, the famous Ard Rí, or High King of Ireland (and founder of the O'Brien Clan). His father, Michael O'Brien, wanted him to play the cello, so he pursued this and was eventually accepted into the Aldebaran Music Academy (revealed in DS9 episode "Shadowplay"). However, a few days before he was scheduled to start classes there, he enlisted in Starfleet. O'Brien can also be seen playing the cello as part of Data's string quartet early in the TNG episode "The Ensigns of Command". In the DS9 episode "Invasive Procedures", it is revealed he has two brothers.

The TNG episode "The Wounded" establishes that O'Brien served as tactical officer aboard the USS Rutledge during the Cardassian War and that he was emotionally scarred by the Cardassians' massacre of hundreds of civilians on Setlik III. O'Brien does not remember how many Cardassians he killed, because he killed so many (Star Trek DS9: "The Inquisition"). In that episode, it is clear that the classic Irish tune "The Minstrel Boy" plays a major part of his journey as a character: an innocent man thrown into the destructive nature of war. He sings the song in this episode, and much later, in the final episode of DS9 "What You Leave Behind". "The Minstrel Boy" is the first musical theme to be heard in the flashback sequence.

In the DS9 episode "Bar Association", O'Brien jokingly claims to be a direct descendant of real-life Irish High King Brian Boru (according to Irish tradition, all people with the surname "O'Brien" are Boru's descendants). Later, he speaks more seriously of fictional ancestor Sean Aloysius O'Brien, a major player in one of the first United States workers' unions, who participated in the Coal Strike of 1902 in Pennsylvania and was shot, then dumped into the Allegheny River. In the episode "Rules of Engagement", it is revealed that during O'Brien's 22 years in Starfleet, he had fought in 235 separate battles and had been decorated by Starfleet on 15 occasions, and was considered to be an expert in starship combat.

Depiction in Star Trek: The Next Generation

O'Brien's first appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation as the battle bridge flight controller in The Next Generation premiere episode "Encounter at Farpoint", with his only other appearance in the first season being as a security guard in the episode "Lonely Among Us". Starting with the second-season premiere, "The Child", O'Brien began his regular role as the ship's transporter operator, a position which had usually been filled by the since-departed Tasha Yar in the first season. In the following episode, "Where Silence Has Lease", when Riker and Worf prepare to beam to the USS Yamato, Riker refers to him as a lieutenant and the character is wearing lieutenant collar pips. He still wears lieutenant pips in "Sarek", but in later episodes, the collar symbol has changed and O'Brien is referred to simply as Chief. (See "Rank" below).

In 2367, he confronted Capt. Benjamin Maxwell, his former commanding officer on the USS Rutledge, when Maxwell attacked Cardassian ships and outposts without authorisation and threatened the peace between the Federation and the Cardassian Union (TNG: "The Wounded").

During the Klingon Civil War, O'Brien is assigned to the bridge as tactical officer due to Worf's resignation from Starfleet and the temporary reassignment of officers to other ships in a fleet led by Capt. Picard (TNG: "Redemption Part II").

O'Brien marries Keiko Ishikawa aboard the USS Enterprise-D in the TNG episode "Data's Day". They have a daughter, Molly, who is delivered by Worf in "Disaster".

O'Brien appears in over 50 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation:

  • "Encounter at Farpoint"
  • "Lonely Among Us"
  • "The Child"
  • "Where Silence Has Lease"
  • "Loud As A Whisper"
  • "Unnatural Selection"
  • "A Matter Of Honor"
  • "The Measure Of A Man"
  • "The Dauphin"
  • "Contagion"
  • "The Royale"
  • "Time Squared"
  • "The Icarus Factor"
  • "Pen Pals"
  • "Q Who"
  • "Up The Long Ladder"
  • "Manhunt"
  • "The Emissary"
  • "Shades of Gray"
  • "The Ensigns of Command"
  • "The Bonding"
  • "Booby Trap"
  • "The Enemy"
  • "The Hunted"
  • "A Matter of Perspective"
  • "Tin Man"
  • "Hollow Pursuits"
  • "The Most Toys"
  • "Sarek"
  • "Transfigurations"
  • "The Best of Both Worlds" (Part I and Part II)
  • "Family"
  • "Brothers"
  • "Remember Me"
  • "Legacy"
  • "Data's Day"
  • "The Wounded"
  • "Clues"
  • "Night Terrors"
  • "Half a Life"
  • "The Mind's Eye"
  • "In Theory"
  • "Redemption II"
  • "Darmok"
  • "Disaster"
  • "The Game"
  • "Power Play"
  • "Realm of Fear"
  • "Rascals"
  • "All Good Things..."

Depiction in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Colm Meaney (right) with Deep Space 9 co-stars Marc Alaimo (left) and Armin Shimerman (center), who portrayed the characters of Gul Dukat and Quark, respectively.

The character of Miles O'Brien was transplanted from TNG to DS9 at the beginning of the latter show. In the story, Miles O'Brien transfers from the Enterprise-D to Deep Space Nine in the DS9 premiere episode "Emissary", to serve as the station's chief of operations.

O'Brien's character is unique in the Star Trek universe. As well as being a non-commissioned officer, he is also a family man with a wife and children. He is often portrayed as being less patrician, and more pragmatic and down-to-earth than his colleagues. The producers would routinely put O'Brien under intense psychological pressure in episodes jokingly dubbed "O'Brien must suffer". O'Brien was regularly chosen for such storylines because it was felt people could empathise with him.[4]

With the help of Jadzia Dax,[5] he devised a way of moving the station from orbit around Bajor to the site of the newly discovered wormhole, allowing Bajor to take possession. He would later assume an additional role as chief engineer of the USS Defiant, which is assigned to Deep Space Nine in the episode "The Search".

While at DS9, he meets Dr. Julian Bashir, who initially irritates O'Brien (Episode: "The Storyteller"), but the two characters eventually become best friends. In particular, they frequently play darts and fight historical battles in the holosuites.

Miles is reprimanded for violating the Prime Directive when he helps an alien from the Gamma Quadrant, escape from other aliens are hunting him in "Captive Pursuit".

In 2370, he is arrested by the Cardassians and charged with supplying weapons to the Maquis. The charges are dismissed when it is revealed to be part of a conspiracy to discredit the Federation (Episode: "Tribunal").

Miles is temporarily relieved of duty after a visit to the planet Argratha. O'Brien has been falsely accused of espionage and is given the simulated memory of a 20-year prison sentence. O'Brien becomes paranoid and emotionally distressed upon his return to the station and attempts suicide (Episode: "Hard Time").

In 2373, he has a son, Kirayoshi, delivered by surrogate Kira Nerys in the episode "The Begotten".

At the end of Deep Space Nine, O'Brien and his family depart the station to move back to Earth, where Miles is to serve as an engineering professor at Starfleet Academy. The soundtrack accompanying these moments on screen is to the tune of "The Minstrel Boy".

DS9, in particular, makes mention and the use of Miles' many years of experience in Starfleet as a device to allow the character to play a major part in various storylines and as further justification for his holding what is, essentially, a command-level position while still being a non-commissioned officer. Indeed, Miles has as much as, if not more, command experience than those officers he works with. For instance, during a formal extradition hearing regarding Lt. Commander Worf, O'Brien is declared an expert in starship combat owing to his experiences and is asked to critique Worf's actions. Also, Miles offered Worf some guidance about commanding and managing others during a crisis. Miles' style of command can be classified as generally hands-on with an emphasis on "thinking on your feet" when solving problems. However, Miles is not above asserting his authority when required. All that said, Miles uses a straightforward and common-sense approach toward the issues he faces.

Mirror Universe

Miles O'Brien of the Mirror Universe was a Terran slave who worked for the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance aboard station Terok Nor. In 2370, O'Brien was working in the station's ore processing center. O'Brien was also occasionally recruited to repair Benjamin Sisko's raider when it was docked at the station. Sisko claimed he hated the name Miles, and instead nicknamed O'Brien "Smiley". Miles was known on the station for being an excellent "tinkerer and putterer".

When Smiley met a Julian Bashir from another universe in the ore processing center, he initially thought that Bashir's "wild" tales of his counterpart being Chief of Operations was simply a ruse to get him to help Bashir. However, Bashir was able to persuade him to help after he realised that anything had to be better than being a slave. Smiley agreed to help Bashir try to escape from the station only if he could go back with him to the other universe. When Captain Sisko defied Intendant Kira Nerys who commanded the station, Smiley changed his mind and decided to join Sisko's crew, deciding that there was something worth staying for after all (Episode: "Crossover").

When Mirror Sisko was killed by the Alliance in early 2371, Smiley took charge of the Terran Rebellion. To complete Sisko's last mission, he recruited Benjamin Sisko to take the place of his deceased counterpart long enough to convince Jennifer Sisko to leave the Alliance and start working for the Rebellion (Episode: "Through the Looking Glass").

While he was aboard Deep Space 9, Smiley took the opportunity to download a large portion of the station's database, including the schematics for the USS Defiant. Smiley used the stolen specifications to build a warship, which they named Defiant. After the rebels managed to capture Terok Nor from the Alliance, the Alliance prepared to recapture the station. Smiley once again recruited Sisko to help them finish construction of the Defiant in time. After successfully defending the station, Smiley sent Sisko back home (Episode: "Shattered Mirror").

In 2375, Smiley was in command of the Defiant when it pursued Brunt's ship as it stole a cloaking device from the station, and later negotiated Regent Worf's surrender and capture (Episode: "The Emperor's New Cloak").

Rank

During the story progression of TNG and DS9, O'Brien wears black silver-rimmed insignia, or lieutenant junior grade (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint"), lieutenant insignia ("Redemption, Part II", "Data's Day", etc.), and then black gold-rimmed insignia (DS9: "Emissary"). Sergey Rozhenko calls him a Chief Petty Officer in "Family" (TNG) but he had been referred to in previous episodes as Lieutenant. Eventually, O'Brien receives a distinct senior chief petty officer's insignia and his rank is emphatically identified in "Hippocratic Oath" (DS9).

Reception

In 2009, IGN rated Miles the 17th best character of all Star Trek up to that time.

In 2016, Miles O'Brien was ranked as the 17th most important character of Starfleet within the Star Trek science fiction universe by Wired magazine.[6] In 2018, CBR ranked Miles O'Brien the 15th best Starfleet character of Star Trek.[7] (Starfleet is a fictional organization within the Star Trek science fiction universe.)

In 2016, ScreenRant rated Miles O'Brien as the 20th best character in Star Trek overall as presented in television and film up to that time, highlighting the character's role in episodes such as "Hard Time", "Tribunal", "The Wounded", and "Time’s Orphan".[8][9]

In 2017, IndieWire ranked Miles as the 13th best character on Star Trek: The Next Generation.[10]

gollark: Assuming by "higher low frequencies" you mean "more intensity at the lower frequencies".
gollark: Yes.
gollark: That seems about right.
gollark: Lower frequencies become *less* dominant?
gollark: Just put in the temperature of the sun and a red dwarf, and see which one has the most area under the line around the infrared bits.

References
  1. "Because there was not much for him to do, with the computer and all", Hal Schuster, The Trekker's Guide to Deep Space Nine: Complete, Unauthorized and Uncensored. Roseville, California: Prima Publishing (1997): 52
  2. Schuster (1997): 53
  3. Okuda, Michael & Denise, Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future New York: Bantam Books (1996): Appendix B
  4. Crew Dossier: Miles O'Brien, DS9 Season 5 DVD, Special Features
  5. Episode TimeStamp: Season 1 Episode 1 Time 00:57:43
  6. McMillan, Graeme (5 September 2016). "Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  7. "Star Trek: The 25 Best Members Of Starfleet, Ranked". CBR. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  8. "The 20 Best Characters In Star Trek History". ScreenRant. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  9. Movies, I. G. N. (8 May 2009). "Top 25 Star Trek Characters". IGN. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  10. Miller, Liz Shannon; Miller, Liz Shannon (30 September 2017). "'Star Trek: The Next Generation': Ranking the Crew, From Picard to Pulaski". IndieWire. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
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