We've had the process of elimination as a group with the "least disliked" episode threads, which was interesting (and sometimes painful) to watch. So here's a positive twist on that experiment. Let's have a good old fashioned vote on your favorite episode from each season. After we're done with each season, we'll vote for the favorite overall. The poll will be open for a week to give as many people a chance to vote as possible. Comment on your favorite, but don't forget to vote! --------------- For season 1, I was torn between "Emissary," an incredible pilot episode and just fantastic way to introduce the characters and the premise of the show (this episode was even better for me after I had watched the entire series), and "Duet," a well-written episode with some of the best acting and best scenes of the series. I'm going with "Duet."
Dramatis Personnae I doubt anybody else will agree with this as their favorite, but if tell me I can watch one and only one episode from the first season that would be it. I love the weirdness of it, how it addresses so many things in the characters that have been bubbling beneath the surface. As crazy as it sounds there is a lot of character development. We see how easily Sisko can be driven to obsession, something that would be a factor several times throughout the series; O'Brien as the ever-loyal soldier; Kira's past as a dangerous hothead, how big a part of life memory is to Dax, etc. It's all exaggerated and over the top because of the outside influences, but it also gives you a lot of insight into who these people are at a time when everything wasn't so clear.
There are many awesome episodes, but I think my favorite is the finale, In the Hands of the Prophets. The Bajoran situation from Emissary was finally getting realized and it made for modern day allegory about what is acceptable to teach in schools. It also set up the Circle Trilogy (Some of my favorite episodes of the entire series) really well. Heck, this 4 episode arc (ITHOTP and the Circle Trilogy) might have been as close to the series ever got in terms of realizing the promise of the Bajorans and all the politics that went into it.
I don't think it's the tightest story of season 1, but In the Hands of the Prophets stands out as something different for Star Trek.
At the time, something different for Star Trek is a very good thing, and this is a very good episode. Duet was great from a two actors just chewing up the scenery point of view, but for a first season finale, ITHOTP took DS9 in an entirely different direction and told everyone we're not going to be TNG.
I hate these kind of things, simply because DS9 had too many great episodes its hard to just pick one! Granted there were one or two lemons in among it, but their ration of good-to-bad episodes weighs heavily towards the former--if only VOY had taken notice.
Duet. Who cares if it was a bottle episode. This one shows you can have a powerful and emotionally captivating episode without any flashy effects. To say nothing of a message that should resonate in our own times about hatred.
Has to be "Duet" doesn't it? It really was the best of the season and one of the best ST episodes to date (at that point) and certainly in the top 50 episodes of all time.
This poll is closing in 30 minutes or so, so get your vote in now if you haven't already! Some interesting results here in this very non-scientific poll.
After the "least disliked" games are done I will run a "most disliked" in which you save your favourite, rather than eliminate your least favourite. It's easier in that game. For this poll I voted Duet, and it's an easy choice.
The winner of this poll with 17 out of 32 votes (53.13%) is... DUET So to celebrate that amazing episode, here are a few scenes found on youtube: [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVHR0UPHERQ[/yt] [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l9N237kvHI[/yt] From the wikipedia article on "Duet":