The Most Disliked Episode of DS9, 2023 Edition - Season 6...

Welcome to our bi-yearly 'Most Disliked Episode' games! Now that the 'Least Disliked Episode' games hosted by BlueStuff (who inspired me to create these games, so thank you very much for paving the way) have concluded, we can begin the opposite side of that coin.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "PROFIT AND LACE"
2018 - "LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
2019 - "THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOAK"
2021 - "THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOAK"
2023 - "PROFIT AND LACE"


Season Six -

"A TIME TO STAND"
"ROCKS AND SHOALS"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"THE MAGNIFICENT FERENGI"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"FAR BEYOND THE STARS"
"ONE LITTLE SHIP"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TIME'S ORPHAN"
"THE SOUND OF HER VOICE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I'm going to start season 6 with a very obvious one... "IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT".

This isn't just one of the best episodes of DS9, it's one of the best episodes of TELEVISION. Period. Along with "THE VISITOR", this is, what I believe, the number one episode in the franchise. This is what I wrote in another thread about absolute best in ST...


-------

With "IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT", this was so brilliantly written, acted, and directed... it's quite literally FLAWLESS. Every scene is littered with nuance and directness. Every bit of dialogue was spotless. This episode should be taught and broken down at film schools because everything about this episode is just perfect.

--------



Excellent script, excellent dialogue, excellent acting, excellent directing... I can't say enough good things about this one. And having Sisko play off Garak was a stroke of genius. In every possible way, this was brilliant.

ALWAYS a rewatch.



"A TIME TO STAND"
"ROCKS AND SHOALS"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"THE MAGNIFICENT FERENGI"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"FAR BEYOND THE STARS"
"ONE LITTLE SHIP"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TIME'S ORPHAN"
"THE SOUND OF HER VOICE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I'm currently watching Season 6 in full for the first time, (I've seen bits and bobs of 6, and seen all of Season 7). I'll save "Rocks and Shoals" great episode.

"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"THE MAGNIFICENT FERENGI"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"FAR BEYOND THE STARS"
"ONE LITTLE SHIP"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TIME'S ORPHAN"
"THE SOUND OF HER VOICE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Quite a few good ones, but...

"THE SOUND OF HER VOICE"​

was my first thought as to what to go save.

Obviously we all want the person at the other end of the communications relay to survive. The plot twist is surprisingly effective, quite a shock, and Debra Wilson steals the show. She needed to, as the episode revolved around Miles' phone pal and she's marvelous.

And because the only video clips I could find involve a big plot spoiler for this ~25 year-old episode, and because I'm part of no crowd, the next best thing with a similar title is this:




What's left:
"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"THE MAGNIFICENT FERENGI"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"FAR BEYOND THE STARS"
"ONE LITTLE SHIP"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TIME'S ORPHAN"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Thanks for saving "ROCKS AND SHOALS", CitadelZombies... that was going to be my next pick. My favorite of the beginning arc of season 6.

My next save is "THE MAGNIFICENT FERENGI".

Best Ferengi comedy of the series. Everything was just brilliant... Sisko's reaction to Quark and Rom entering his office, the five Ferengi looking away from Keevan at the same time, Keevan the puppet. And you have Iggy Pop! His stooges were the Jem'Hadar.

Always instant laughs and smiles anytime this episode comes on.




"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"FAR BEYOND THE STARS"
"ONE LITTLE SHIP"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TIME'S ORPHAN"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I'm saving "One Little Ship". It's just... fun.

"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"FAR BEYOND THE STARS"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TIME'S ORPHAN"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I'll save "Far Beyond the Stars".
Possibly the best episode of a scripted TV series ever.
That leaves:

"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TIME'S ORPHAN"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I don't often go for family faff and emotional tugging for the sake of it, but

"TIME'S ORPHAN"

Has a high-concept twist that is actually quite engaging.

Though the big moral piece is a bit contrived and cod - how many times can they redo this? Time travel stories are fun, but this use - as its own microcosm - has cons as well as pros. You just can't keep dipping your hand in the well and hoping to pick up a green bauble instead of purple, I suppose. That said, Keiko and Bashir both raise two very poignant points, and who can blame Miles for wanting the original Molly back so she would be spared - does she not get a voice? But then, there'd be no story - and the reason for exploring such a horrific idea needs to be explored before the reset button is tapped - and they get the original article back at the end, because you know they do. And that's a good thing.

BASHIR: Well, there's no doubt about it. The DNA sequences match. This is definitely Molly. My readings suggest that she's eighteen years old.
O'BRIEN: We pulled her out ten years too late.
BASHIR: It's a miracle you managed to get her back at all, Miles.
KEIKO: Maybe if you tried again you could pull her out when she was still a little girl.
BASHIR: If you do that, there'll be no one to grow up and become this Molly. You'd be erasing her existence.
O'BRIEN: Yes, but we'll have our Molly back.
KEIKO: Miles, this is our Molly. Just because we missed the last ten years of her life doesn't give us the right to take those ten years away from her.
BASHIR: She's been deprived of human contact for a long time. It's not going to be easy for her to reassimilate. Her language skills are rusty. In fact, you two are the best hope we have of helping her recover them.
KEIKO: She doesn't remember us.
O'BRIEN: She was so scared I doubt she even got a good look at us.
BASHIR: It's possible that she's blocked out all memories of her earlier life in order to cope with her isolation.
KEIKO: So what do we do?
BASHIR: I'm going to keep her under sedation until we get back to Deep Space Nine. I've asked Captain Sisko to create a safe environment for her. He's having one of the cargo bays converted. I want you two to be there with her when she wakes up.
KEIKO: What happens then?
BASHIR: A case like this, there are no rules. We'll just have to feel our way through the process.​

What's left:
"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"WALTZ"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Saving "WALTZ".

I know this might be a controversial choice, but I genuinely love this episode. And I feel everything from this point on was a natural progression because he was such a narcissistic man. All pretensions he bothered to show about being reasonable went out the window because he alone knew what was needed to be done. A layered villain still, despite many seeing him as more one dimensional from thus point forward. (I disagree with that assessment, but that's a thread unto itself.)


"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"WHO MOURNS FOR MORN?"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

One person's controversy is another person's looking at it from a different viewpoint that isn't necessarily contentious (but sometimes is, but for me that isn't' the case for "Waltz" ).

Also, chocolate pudding tastes better than rice pudding but some will disagree with me on that. Both are puddings, which are loaded with sugar and are best ingested sparingly and/or with a special friend on Risa, but I digress.

 

“Who Mourns For Morn?” Probably the last good Quark episode?

"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"VALIANT"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I always liked this one:

"VALIANT"

The topic to explore this week include, but are absolutely not limited to:

• the stresses of command
• inexperienced for command but put into the deep end
• poppin' drugs
• Cult mentality
• Enemy disinformation
• David vs Goliath
• A room full of fresh young Gen-X actors
• Red kangs' Squad is the best!
• Not-quite-the-death-star design flaw
• lots of purple pew-pews
• but no purple horseshoes
  

and quite a handful of other tidbits, are all handled in a rather thoughtful script by Ronald D Moore - a person (like JMS) who would be on my shortlist of folk who'd be even remotely any good at doing any "Blake's 7" revival that isn't steeped in pastiche parody. But before I digress...

Could some of the acting be better? Inevitable. Is it detracting from the story? Nope. The worst of the acting's a lot better than from a lot of reality shows too.


Oh look, it's a scene whose plot points are copy'n'pasted from "Star Trek First Contact"! Except it's not the Enterprise, it's Valiant! Woohoo!


Ouch. Those Dominion ships must be built better than Borg cubes...


Captain Kiddo reminds me of Kirk at times, only Kirk's fate was different. (And I prefer the first ending to GEN, since it didn't feel as inauthentic as what was made official best test audiences didn't like the tragic ending and instead wanted a ridiculously overly long speech before Picard covers him in a bunch of small rocks, as if they wouldn't stop the local animals from getting at a free happy meal and the prize is the insignia pin... but I digress.)


"BAD AND BAD, WHAT IS BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


What's left:
"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"BEHIND THE LINES"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I'll save Behind the Lines. The resistance, such as it is, on DS9, Odo's seduction. Damar becoming more and more aware that Dukat has betrayed Cardassia yet also feeling hero worship for Dukat as his mentor.


What's left:

"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"INQUISITION"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Saving "INQUISITION" next.

I love the idea of Section 31. (Until DISCO ruined it.) It makes sense that an organization like this exists.

Casting William Sadler is never a bad move. Excellent actor. He was fantastic as Sloan.


"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"SACRIFICE OF ANGELS"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Saving Sacrifice of Angels. Because it should have been done already. And you are shirking your responsibilties. And space battles. And spooky wormhole ghosts. And baseball. And Rom being a hero. And cool stuff with Bajoran militia. And ...





"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Saving "You Are Cordially Invited". Farrell's best episode and amazing costume. Kira refusing to shut down the party. Rom's dance. Sirella v Dax. What more could you want?

What's left:
"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"HIS WAY"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Saving "HIS WAY" next.

Vic Fontaine was a wonderful addition to the recurring cast. And Odo melts his glacier and finally gets with Kira.

It makes sense to have a character and music like here in DS9's war arc. WWII was definitely an inspiration for some of the Dominion War, and that kind of music is often paired with WWII movies, shows, etc.

Also, it was a nice setting away from the War on occasion. DS9, more than any other show, knew how to balance its dark stories with light-hearted and comedic episodes. It's needed, particularly in a war setting... otherwise, it would be mentally exhausting for the audience.



"A TIME TO STAND"
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

A Time to Stand was a serviceable season opener, and set up the Occupation arc nicely. Plus, some of Trek's best villains are hanging about. Easy save.

"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"FAVOR THE BOLD"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

I'll save Favor the Bold because I mostly love the Occupation Arc, and Favor the Bold is essentially setting up all of the good stuff in Sacrifice of Angels.

"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"
"TEARS OF THE PROPHETS"

 

Saving "TEARS OF THE PROPHETS".

A solid season finale. The Battle of Chin'toka was really well done.

Sad to see Jadzia killed, and her final scene with Worf is so sad.

And Weyoun is always a delight on screen. His evaluation of Dukat's 'improvement' was hilarious.


"SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
"RESURRECTION"
"STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES"
"HONOR AMONG THIEVES"
"CHANGE OF HEART"
"WRONGS DARKER THAN DEATH
OR NIGHT"
"THE RECKONING"
"PROFIT AND LACE"