The least disliked episode of DS9 - Season Seven

[BlueStuff]

This is a game that we play every few years or so, and it's generally a lot of fun, providing a chance to mentally revisit those episodes you may not have thought about in a while. With that in mind, why not play again?

So, 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 least favorite or the one you deem the 'worst.' 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, and wait at least 6 hours after your last vote, before voting again.

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
2011 - In the Pale Moonlight
2013 - In the Pale Moonlight
2017 -

Season Seven

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Take Me Out to the Holosuite
Chrysalis
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Prodigal Daughter
The Emperor's New Cloak
Field of Fire
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[Sakonna]

I'm tempted to start by kicking the one episode in the final arc that I haaaaaaaaaate, but hopefully I'll get to off that one later -- for now, I think ultimately I dislike Emperor's New Cloak a little more. What a misbegotten notion for an episode! It does everything wrong!

Unlike many, I was a fan of the MU on DS9 -- "Crossover" is among my series high points, and the others (until this one) are all varying degrees of good. To this day I'm baffled by how "Shattered Mirror" seems to indicate they have a plan for how to end this arc -- you feel all the pieces moving into place, everything is lined up for one spectacular final MU episode. I was so amped when "Shattered Mirror" ended! I couldn't wait for the next return to the MU! I was dying to see how it would all be wrapped up! Then nothing in season 5, a little side story in season 6, and then... this. It's just so slapdash and stupid. The basic concept is one of DS9's worst premises. Vic showing up. The offensive gay messaging. One of the smartest things about "Crossover" was only introducing counterparts for a handful of our characters, and they really put the final nail in that approach with the nonsense of Ezri showing up in the MU just as Jadzia dies. Ugh. It's all just so bad.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Take Me Out to the Holosuite
Chrysalis
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Prodigal Daughter
Field of Fire
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[JirinPanthosa]

So many genuinely terrible episodes in season 7 it might be a while before I can eliminate a popular one.

FIELD OF FIRE GO AWAY. It's kind of like somebody was doing a parody of crime procedural cliches with Star Trek characters. And it has possibly the dumbest exchange ever spoken in any Star Trek episode. "All the victims have pictures of smiling people in their quarters. The killer is a Vulcan!"

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Take Me Out to the Holosuite
Chrysalis
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Prodigal Daughter
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[DonIago]

I love most this season. But it's time to wrap up Chrysalis and ship it out... I never really cared for the Jack Pack, but I'm especially unimpressed by Bashir falling for his patient (does this one invoke the dreadful "Oh, I just released her from my care" line?). Unlike many, I also find the music bit just kind of cringeworthy.

Ironically, I'm kind of okay with how Sarina's handled in the novels, while that seems to be where many others have issues.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Take Me Out to the Holosuite
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Prodigal Daughter
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[Seven of Five]

My first elimination in season seven is Prodigal Daughter. Meh. I understand that the introduction of Ezri was like a new toy for the writers, but it was too much. This episode was very bland.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Take Me Out to the Holosuite
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[BigDaveX]

Strike three, Take Me Out to the Holosuite is out. We already had more than our share of holosuite stories with the Vic Fontaine episodes, but this doesn't even feel like it belongs on DS9 in the first place, it feels like something that'd have been more at home on Voyager.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

I'm getting rid of Badda-Bing Badda-Bang. Not a fan of the Vic Fontaine stuff, and this one had the really cringe worthy scene of Sisko singing...

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Chimera
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[Farscape One]

I am eliminating "CHIMERA". While I appreciate the idea of Odo fonding a fellow '100', it just feels flat to me. And the Kira/Odo relationship was basically bludgeoned to us here. I was never a big fan of that relationship.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[Seven of Five]

Wow Chimera is one of my favourites of the season. I loved the mature look at the Kira/Odo pairing, and the end makes me teary.

Also I know Badda Bing and Take Me Out usually go early in these games but I like both of them as well.

Covenant is still here, so that's next off for me. Despite a good first act of Kira/Dukat (and I really wish Kira killed Dukat in WYLB as opposed to the Pah-Wraith nonsense we had instead), I think the rest of the episode is dull.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[Armus]

I'm tempted to start by kicking the one episode in the final arc that I haaaaaaaaaate, but hopefully I'll get to off that one later -- for now, I think ultimately I dislike Emperor's New Cloak a little more. What a misbegotten notion for an episode! It does everything wrong!

Unlike many, I was a fan of the MU on DS9 -- "Crossover" is among my series high points, and the others (until this one) are all varying degrees of good. To this day I'm baffled by how "Shattered Mirror" seems to indicate they have a plan for how to end this arc -- you feel all the pieces moving into place, everything is lined up for one spectacular final MU episode. I was so amped when "Shattered Mirror" ended! I couldn't wait for the next return to the MU! I was dying to see how it would all be wrapped up! Then nothing in season 5, a little side story in season 6, and then... this. It's just so slapdash and stupid. The basic concept is one of DS9's worst premises. Vic showing up. The offensive gay messaging. One of the smartest things about "Crossover" was only introducing counterparts for a handful of our characters, and they really put the final nail in that approach with the nonsense of Ezri showing up in the MU just as Jadzia dies. Ugh. It's all just so bad.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Take Me Out to the Holosuite
Chrysalis
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Prodigal Daughter
Field of Fire
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

I hate how casually Mirror Kira killed Brunt, as if her Ferengi homicidal tendencies are a joke we should laugh at...the whole episode is in bad taste. Crossover and Through The Looking Glass were good, they should have stopped there.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I hate how casually Mirror Kira killed Brunt, as if her Ferengi homicidal tendencies are a joke we should laugh at...the whole episode is in bad taste. Crossover and Through The Looking Glass were good, they should have stopped there.

All the series had problems maintaining originality in later seasons, but they took a "rinse/repeat" form when it came to DS9.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Eliminating Afterimage.

All the really terrible episodes are already taken care of, so on to the mediocre ones. It feels kind of like an obligation episode. "We need to get Ezri officially in the crew, how can we make up a need for a counselor?" "I'm on it. You take care of taking Worf's understandable resentment of Ezri to childish openly hostile extremes that make you want to punch him."

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[DonIago]

I will exercise extreme prejudice and nuke Extreme Measures. Sloan deserved a better exit, the episode invokes the typical "Oh wait, we're not really out of his head yet!" scenario, and aside from some nice Bashir-O'Brien interaction I don't feel the episode has a great deal to offer.

I believe that's the first episode to go in the final run. Well, I'm happy to wield the scalpel.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[BigDaveX]

Treachery, Faith and the Great River is next to go. There's actually not much wrong with the main story; it's the B-plot that drags it down, as not only was it done better back in Season 1's "Progress," Nog's antics feel like the sort of thing he'd have done early-mid series, not after the better part of two years actively serving in Starfleet.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
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
Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

 

[Sakonna]

I believe that's the first episode to go in the final run. Well, I'm happy to wield the scalpel.

And I'll take care of my haaaaaaaaaated final arc installment -- "The Dogs Of War." After "Emperor's New Cloak", this really is the worst episode of the season for me.

It does have the Cardassia material, which is good. But all the other plot threads are terrible! Immediately giving us another Defiant ruins the impact of it's destruction a few episodes earlier. Bashir and Ezri getting together is written in such a juvenile way. And there's not a single story beat in the Ferengi resolution that doesn't feel completely and resoundingly false.

And all these problems are amplified by the fact that it's the SECOND TO LAST EPISODE! A crucial moment to not fail! So that makes everything already bad about this episode even worse.

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
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
What You Leave Behind

 

[Farscape One]

I will erase the "IMAGE IN THE SAND". While I can understand and appreciate the somewhat low-key opening to a season, I felt the final season deserved more than a low-key approach. I still enjoy the episode, but it felt less like a season opener and more like the middle episode of a trilogy... which it really is, but it should not be the season premiere.

Shadows and Symbols
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
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
What You Leave Behind

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll get rid of Penumbra next. It has a lot of good stuff in it but it's mostly a setup episode, and thus isn't as strong as others here.

Shadows and Symbols
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
It's Only a Paper Moon
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Til Death Do Us Part
Strange Bedfellows
The Changing Face of Evil
When It Rains...
Tacking Into the Wind
What You Leave Behind

 

[Sakonna]

Covenant is still here, so that's next off for me

Covenant is a brilliant episode. The secret: tons of weed.

The glassy-eyed followers are fun throughout, but my fav bit is that crazy speech from Dukat, trying to sell the creepy animatronic baby as a miracle, over all the terrible "oh yeah, that makes sense!" acting from the extras -- I nearly laughed myself to a rib injury.

Pair it with "Sub Rosa" from TNG and it's the perfect Double Bill...

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Eliminating Shadows and Symbols. The Sarah Sisko thing was never quite satisfying.

Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
It's Only a Paper Moon
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Til Death Do Us Part
Strange Bedfellows
The Changing Face of Evil
When It Rains...
Tacking Into the Wind
What You Leave Behind

 

[DonIago]

Once More has fallen Unto the Breach...

Having Kor back with his friends was great in "Blood Oath", but "Sword of Kahless" didn't leave anyone looking very good (and Toral's appearance here was just so random...), and I was never a huge fan of the Klingoncentric episodes in general, though I can appreciate the window they gave us into that culture. In any case, there's better stuff to be found in this season.

The Siege of AR-558
It's Only a Paper Moon
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Til Death Do Us Part
Strange Bedfellows
The Changing Face of Evil
When It Rains...
Tacking Into the Wind
What You Leave Behind