Which Episode Would You Suggest?

[Kate Nichols]

My Sister and her husband want to give it a chance. I don’t think “Emissary” will catch them. I’m going to suggest a particularly riveting episode and then they can go back to the beginning. I’ve thought about it and have decided upon “For the Uniform,” as I believe that episode, due to the rather riveting and dramatic script and the excellent acting of Sisko and Eddington . . . and I think it would be interesting even if not familiar with the characters. Unless someone has a better suggestion . . .

 

[HaventGotALife]

"The Search, Part I and II." It's the beginning of the great conflict of DS9 without confusion of the changes in the races. It has action, political drama, summarizes Sisko's growth through Dax, and Odo's return to his people is heartfelt and heart breaking. It is a great starting point. Then, they can see where the show is headed before going into Bajoran politics.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Duet

 

[kkt]

I'll second Duet. For the Uniform is a great episode, but it works better if you've seen the episodes leading up to it.

 

[Packard]

Yes, definitely Duet.

 

[Crewman6]

Yup. Duet for sure.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I'll fifth Duet. Followed up by In The Pale Moonlight and The Visitor.

 

[HugeLobes]

I’m not so sure about Duet. It’s a great episode, but I think it’s best seen after getting to know Kira and the whole Bajoran situation. Also not a very typical episode, so it might not give the most accurate impression. Same with In the Pale Moonlight.

I’d honestly stick with Emissary. Plenty has aged badly, but it’s still a great introduction to characters with lots of good dialogue and action. Failing that, perhaps Past Prologue as a shorter intro without the wormhole stuff or The Maquis for a great example of everything DS9 does best without getting into any of the main story.

I’d probably go for The Maquis if you don’t want to start with The Emissary.

 

[Crewman6]

I'll fifth Duet. Followed up by In The Pale Moonlight and The Visitor.

To politely disagree, "In the Pale Moonlight" is better appreciated when you get to it - once you know the characters better and are invested in the Dominion War storyline. Watching a character who you don't really know or care sell out his integrity for the greater good has little weight when you barely know the guy.

"The Visitor" is a good standalone story, though it would certainly be enhanced by being more invested in the Jake/Ben relationship.

"Duet" works well because it's still early in the season's life.

 

[Crewman6]

"Whispers" is a terrific early season episode that is a total standalone.

 

[Discofan]

The Way Of The Warrior: We see many characters intervene there (every regular plus a great many of the recurring ones) plus a great battle scene if they're not much into dialogues.

 

[HaventGotALife]

The Way Of The Warrior: We see many characters intervene there (every regular plus a great many of the recurring ones) plus a great battle scene if they're not much into dialogues.

I almost posted this one. It summarizes where Ben ends up as he guides Worf. You'd have to tell them that the big bad in DS9 is the Dominion, the Changelings just said they infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant from the Gamma, after a wormhole is discovered. Xenophobia and fear are everywhere, Odo is of course, the only Changeling that is not an enemy. But, I ultimately decided against it because it is so integral, and gives away too much of what I'd to come.

 

[Prax]

I would only recommend Way of the Warrior if they were in to TNG, and liked all the klingon stuff in that show. If they are not into Star Trek at all, I would avoid all the klingon stuff and look for a good, emotional standalone without too much focus on goofy looking aliens.

 

[Discofan]

I would only recommend Way of the Warrior if they were in to TNG, and liked all the klingon stuff in that show. If they are not into Star Trek at all, I would avoid all the klingon stuff and look for a good, emotional standalone without too much focus on goofy looking aliens.

But at the same time, you need an episode which is representative of the series or they could be disappointed to find that the others are not at all like the one they first watched.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

But at the same time, you need an episode which is representative of the series or they could be disappointed to find that the others are not at all like the one they first watched.

With a series that's 25 years old and that has more than a hundred episodes, representative is far more important than other consideration. Way of the Warrior gives a good indication of where the series is going, introduces all the characters is much the same manner as a pilot, and summarizes the main story lines up to that point. Knowing that Odo's species, the Founders, are the leaders of the Dominion is a small prices to pay if it gets people watching the series.

 

[HugeLobes]

With a series that's 25 years old and that has more than a hundred episodes, representative is far more important than other consideration. Way of the Warrior gives a good indication of where the series is going, introduces all the characters is much the same manner as a pilot, and summarizes the main story lines up to that point. Knowing that Odo's species, the Founders, are the leaders of the Dominion is a small prices to pay if it gets people watching the series.

This is a fair point. I hesitated over recommending Way of the Warrior because of the spoilers, but on second thought they wouldn't be such a big deal.

The only problem I'd have with Warrior is that it's often a bad idea to start with the best episode, and you could argue that's exactly what it is. First Voyager episode I was shown was Year of Hell. Thought I'd love the series going by that episode alone, but I did not. If you're trying to get someone into a series, I think starting with above average is better than starting with the best. I know there's a difference since Year of Hell is often considered a lot better than the rest of Voyager, but still.

Honestly, I'm not sure why you wouldn't just start with Emissary. I think you can pretty well gauge how someone will enjoy the series as a whole based on their reaction to Emissary.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Honestly, I'm not sure why you wouldn't just start with Emissary. I think you can pretty well gauge how someone will enjoy the series as a whole based on their reaction to Emissary.

Ideally, Emissary would be the best place to start. It is a strong pilot, and Avery Brooks shows tremendous pathos in exploring his grief over the memory of his wife. The problem, I fear, is that the episodes that follow directly thereafter don't seem connected as well to the pilot. Sisko, our lead, is just an ordinary Starfleet officer for much of the first season. Kira gets some good episodes, although I don't know if they are enough or too intense to convince newcomers to watch.

It's fair to wonder if the series' best episode would be a waste. I don't think WOTW is the best, but it does have one of the more elaborate battles in the franchise. Of course, the same questions would arise if people started with Duet, whom many argue is the best dramatic episode of the series. Probably no one episode is better than any other, and the OP should take our suggestions as suggestions, using her knowledge of her family to tailor their experience.

 

[HugeLobes]

It's fair to wonder if the series' best episode would be a waste. I don't think WOTW is the best, but it does have one of the more elaborate battles in the franchise. Of course, the same questions would arise if people started with Duet, whom many argue is the best dramatic episode of the series. Probably no one episode is better than any other, and the OP should take our suggestions as suggestions, using her knowledge of her family to tailor their experience.

Even personally, it's hard to choose a favorite, but Way of the Warrior is the one I see pop up most often in people's lists, and it's more representative of DS9 than Duet. Put it this way: if there was an award for best overall show that I wanted DS9 to win, I'd put forward Way of the Warrior in a second.

The problem, I fear, is that the episodes that follow directly thereafter don't seem connected as well to the pilot.

I think Emissary, Past Prologue, A Man Alone, and, to a lesser extent, Babel are very strong episodes. You get a follow-up on the Bajoran situation, a great introduction to Odo, and a cool little sci-fi concept episode. After that, I guess you're right. I find the middle of season one pretty poor, with things picking up again at the end with Dramatis Personae, Duet, and In the Hands of the Prophets.

 

[Discofan]

I don't know. "Emissary" could offend people who like TNG as Sisko goes a little hard on Picard. I don't think it's a good way to start a new series. Imagine if the first TNG episode was about Picard vituperating against Kirk and accusing him of being the cause of the death of his wife along with hundreds of other people. I am sure it would have vexed TOS fans.

 

[HugeLobes]

I don't know. "Emissary" could offend people who like TNG as Sisko goes a little hard on Picard. I don't think it's a good way to start a new series. Imagine if the first TNG episode was about Picard vituperating against Kirk and accusing him of being the cause of the death of his wife along with hundreds of other people. I am sure it would have vexed TOS fans.

Feel you’d have to be a pretty zealous TNG fan to be offended by that, and I can’t imagine any such fan wouldn’t have seen DS9 already. Also, TNG fans generally eat up anything that eludes to Picard’s time as a Borg, so they’d probably love his scenes.