Can I watch star trek deep space 9 without watching the original and next gen series and not be lost?

yea sure. each series is each their own story though they do build onto each other. even jj's new trek movies that happen in an alternate universe.

though after seeing DS9...i would suggest at least watching the old series tribble show (maybe watch it back to back with ds9 tehehe) & the next generation's best of both worlds part 1 & 2 (this borg battle plays an epic part in benji's life during ds9..& it will explain even more the hate between sisko/picard) as wel ls the next generation's birthright 1 & 2....as dr bashir is on board the enterprise here for a bit..from ds9

also since you've seen enterprise...remember that last one with riker/deanna on the holodeck replaying enterprise archer's finale events? technically speaking this takes place in a few hours during the next generation's "the pegasus" so maybe check that episode out.

meh..watch all of next gen....they cross over into everything so you might as well pick up their story.

the old series & its cartoon & its 6 movies are great to.

in fact, again since you've seen enterprise. remmber that old ship defiant that was captured while the tholians were around? thats a TOS/E crossover...so perhaps you should watch that again & watch the old series episode "the thollian web"

meh..watch the whole old series/cartoon/first 6 movies to as they seem to get into everything as well..a few appearneces & a lot of times are at the least mentioned in other series lol

yeah, you can because there are not very many references to the original series (apart from trouble with tribbles/trials and tribelations deep space 9 and origional series crossover, but that is pretty self explanotory all you have to know is that the guy in yellow is kirk and the tall pointy eared vulcan in blue is spock)

there are some references to the next generation as several members of the crew on DS9 are from TNG. but all you really have to know is that sisko (captain of DS9) HATES picard (captain of TNG) and that there is a war going on... the two series are set during the same time period (24th century) but are at completely different sides of space.

when you do watch DS9 you should try and watch each episode in chronological order as there are a lot of story arcs in it and if you watch it out of order then you can get very very confused...

yes, none of those stories really follow much of the others.

NO