The idea of a Trill taboo prohibiting rekindled romance between former spouses was conceived by Michael Piller. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 28, No. 4/5, p. 44) He suggested it early in the run of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. René Echevarria later recalled, "He felt they'd have a very strict taboo, in order to avoid an aristocracy of the joined. Otherwise, they'd only want to hang out with each other, their dear old friends from five hundred years ago and it would become a really screwed up society." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 279) The DS9 writing staff in general accepted the notion that renewed attraction between former spouses was forbidden in Trill society. "We always suspected that was a Trill cultural taboo," reflected Robert Hewitt Wolfe. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 28, No. 4/5,