Could you start watching deep space nine from series 3?

[RocksW]

Hi I am interested in getting into deep space nine but the earlier episodes seem like a lot of filler.

I have watched up to the episode of "Q-Less" in season 1 and i'm just wondering if I could skip to season 3 (the war stuff) without missing too much? Is there any series 1/2 episode I should really watch first? Is there much given away about the Dominion in these earlier episodes?

The reason i'm asking is if I dont skip it will take me months to get through the earlier seasons.
Thanks

[The Dominion]

You could, I would recommend skimming the first and second seasons though. The first season has some essential episodes but is the most skimmable, season two is better and a good place to start if you want.

[TheGodBen]

RocksW wrote:

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I have watched up to the episode of "Q-Less" in season 1 and i'm just wondering if I could skip to season 3 (the war stuff) without missing too much?

The "war stuff" doesn't really start in season 3, that comes later in the show. The only differences between seasons 2 and 3 are that the Dominion reveal themselves and the USS Defiant is introduced. In fact, some fans (including myself) believe that season 2 is slightly better than season 3 overall.

I would personally advise against it, but if you really want to skip the first season while getting all the important background information for future seasons then I'd suggest watching these episodes:

The Nagus (It's not a great episode but it introduces Grand Nagus Zek)
Vortex
Battle Lines
Duet
In The Hands of the Prophets

Then watch the second season. If you still struggle through the second season then you can come back and we can provide you with a list of essential episodes from that year.

[MacLeod]

I'd add in the S2 finale "The Jem'hadar", as it does set up the S3 premiere.

[RocksW]

MacLeod wrote:

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I'd add in the S2 finale "The Jem'hadar", as it does set up the S3 premiere.

I actually skipped to that one, I watched it and the one after it last night.

Felt a bit guilty about it actually lol

[DevilEyes]

MacLeod wrote:

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I'd add in the S2 finale "The Jem'hadar", as it does set up the S3 premiere.

TheGodBen suggested that the OP watches a select few from season 1 and then the entire season 2, which I agree with. (In addition the list, maybe the OP could also watch The Forsaken from season 1 because Lwaxana comes back a few times in later seasons and her relationship with Odo builds on The Forsaken.)

Season 2 does have a few clunkers but so does season 3, and it's not bad overall as season 1. I'd list Melora, Second Sight, Sanctuary, Rivals as season 2 episodes that aren't essential in any way and can be skipped (though there are people who like Melora).

[Bisz]

...I would say skip Melora, watch Rivals...

Its hard to answer your question RocksW because different people like different things.

Yes, you can skip entire seasons but then you are loosing a lot of what makes DS9 so great - the characters.

I would recommend that you go through all of the seasons, but skip just certain of the lesser episodes. These threads have people "saving" their favourite episodes of the first three seasons, which means that the lists near the bottom of the threads contain the weaker episodes, if you have to, skip those.

S1: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=147698
S2: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=147710
S3: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=147736

[Sandoval]

If you want to skip over the first two seasons then do so, but I'd watch the final episode of season two before you start on series three.

[TheGodBen]

DevilEyes wrote:

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(In addition the list, maybe the OP could also watch The Forsaken from season 1 because Lwaxana comes back a few times in later seasons and her relationship with Odo builds on The Forsaken.)

Oh yeah, I forgot about Lwaxana. I suppose it should be watched for completeness, but her other two appearances are fairly skippable too.

[bbailey861]

Yes you could, but why would you. Start from the beginning and go through all the episodes, warts and all, as I think you will gain a far better appreciation for the characters and their development as you move across the years with them.

[Ln X]

If you want you could. But you would miss out from some good episodes like: The Emissary, Duet, In the Hands of the Prophets, The Maquis, The Wire, The Jem'Hadar and about half a dozen others.

Though the first two seasons of DS9 are a little shaky in direction, the third season brings in the Dominion, and if you like that, then you will get the DS9 bug. Still watch the two seasons, only ten percent of the episodes are really bad in those two seasons.

[Stephen!]

I originally did. I didn't really like DS9 at first, but got into watching it during season 3. I think it was the Thomas Riker episode that piqued my interest, having already watched TNG.

Then again, I didn't start watching TNG until the later seasons. Didn't really watch Voyager until season 2. And wasn't really into Enterprise until watching "Regeneration" and the S2 finale.

[Ln X]

Stephen! wrote:

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Then again, I didn't start watching TNG until the later seasons.

Good move! Season 1 of TNG is horrible! The only good episodes are Datalore and Conspiracy. No I think it's best to watch from the beginning, that way the rest of the series seems better because it isn't as bad/horrible/so-so/average as the first season (or two).

[billcosby]

Absolutely. Start with 3. There are plenty of stinkers in 1 and 2 to skip 'em.
If you're hooked by the end of the series and crave more, go back and watch 1 and 2.

[Trek Survivor]

Well, you can start watching from whenever you feel like it.

However, "the war stuff" doesn't really kick off till season 4/5.

Also, DS9 seasons 1 and 2 contain some absolute classic episodes. You'd be losing out on a lot. To me, much of season 2 is better than season 6/7.