Hello, I've seen more than a few DS9 episodes, but that was years ago, and I'm much less familiar with it compared to TOS and TNG. Anyway, a friend and I are wanting to watch DS9; specifically, the Dominion War. We're planning to watch all of Seasons 5-7... what else? Should we watch Season 4 first? What about key episodes before that? From memory, I recall 2x26 "The Jem'Hadar" and 3x21 "The Die is Cast" should be watched prior to Season 4-5. Other recommendations? Hoping for maybe 10 suggestions for Seasons 2-3 (don't really need main cast introduction episodes from Season 1). Thanks in advance!
From my DS9 abridged list. Season 2 The Jem'Hadar Season 3 The Search part 1-2 The Abandoned Improbable Cause The Die is Cast The Adversary Season 4 The Way of the Warrior 1-2 Hippocratic Oath Indiscretion Homefront Paradise Lost For the Cause The Quickening Broken Link Season 5 Apocalypse Rising The Ship The Rapture The Begotten For the Uniform In Purgatory's Shadow By Inferno's Light Doctor Bashir, I Presume Soldiers of the Empire Blaze of Glory Empok Nor Call to Arms Season 6 A Time to Stand Rocks and Shoals Sons and Daughters Behind the Lines Favor the Bold Sacrifice of Angels The Magnificent Ferengi Statistical Probabilities Waltz Far Beyond the Stars Inquisition In the Pale Moonlight His Way The Reckoning Valiant Tears of the Prophets Season 7 Image in the Sand Shadows and Symbols Afterimage Treachery, Faith and the Great River The Siege of AR-558 Covenant It's Only a Paper Moon Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges Penumbra 'Til Death Do Us Part Strange Bedfellows The Changing Face of Evil When It Rains... Tacking Into the Wind Extreme Measures The Dogs of War What You Leave Behind 1-2
I'd add season 3's Heart of Stone and season 4's To the Death to that list. I don't think Empok Nor, The Magnificent Ferengi, Valiant or Afterimage are really necessary.
I'd recommend starting at the beginning with Emissary, to refresh your minds of the set-up, the characters and the Prophets (and Sisko's relationship to them) before skipping to The Jem'Hadar. After all, these elements do play important roles later on (the resolution to Sacrifice of Angels and the culmination of the series in What You Leave Behind spring to mind).
^^ Muchas gracias, everyone! Are there other prophet-specific or otherwise mythological episodes that we should watch to better understand the series' conclusion (episodes not already mentioned)? I do know that DS9 dealt heavily in that matter.
I think the episode "The Rapture" for season 5 you need to watch. I put the list together and forgot to add it in my first post. I have edited to reflect it's addition.
I would watch "Battle Lines," "In the Hands of the Prohphets," and "The Collaborator" to know about Kai Winn. You might want to watch "Accession" if you are looking for an important Wormhole alien episode. If you pay attention to all that is said by the Prophets, there is a set-up that pays off in season 7.
If you have time, I suggest Season Four "Return To Grace." It's not absolutely necessary, but it does provide some clues to Dukat's and Cardassia's motivation for what they do later on.
Many thanks to all of you that helped me muddle through Seasons 1-3 of DS9 . The episodes we (my friend and I) saw were all enjoyable and pertinent to our viewing experience. For those that are interested, we watched the following episodes, most of which per y'all's suggestions: Season 1 Emissary Past Prologue Duet (fantastic episode) In the Hands of the Prophets Season 2 Cardassians Blood Oath (I'm a TOS fan and had to see it) The Maquis The Jem'Hadar Season 3 The Search The Abandoned Meridian (upon watching, not necessary. The brief episode description I read had me hoping it would be a hidden Dominion planet of some sorts) Defiant Life Support Heart of Stone Visionary Improbable Cause The Die is Cast Facets The Adversary All in all, we definitely ended up watching more episodes from seasons 1-3 than I had originally planned, but there are so many complex and overlapping story lines / character arcs that I determined it was necessary to watch so many episodes to truly enjoy and understand the show. For anyone who is curious, we have been watching a few episodes every Monday night (assuming our schedules align and permit), and have just started Season 4. From here on out, we plan to watch all the episodes. Who knows how long it will take to finish the series...! Thanks again, all!
Good call on just watching then all, especially by season 4. For the most part the plot does become serialized. It's not a race, so if you can only watch a couple episodes a week, no problem. It's not a race, DS9 will always be there. Have fun with it.
Please do yourselves a favor and go back to watch "The Wire" from season 2 and "Second Skin" from season 3. They're both excellent character episodes which I promise will be worth your time. Character arcs will help you better appreciate the plot arcs.
I'd also suggest Progress. It makes no difference whatsoever to the plot arc, but it's a great little character piece. To be honest, I'd watch the whole series from start to finish. Imho it's the best Trek show and a bit lighter on crap episodes than the others. The first two seasons aren't great though...
I'm glad you included Defiant even though it wasn't suggested. To me, it adds another layer to Improbable Cause/The Die Is Cast.