I've been watching through DS9...

[Jean-Luc Picard]

Although I've seen patches of DS9 and have read the relaunch, I've never even seen the majority of the show, so I've recently begun buying the boxsets and watching through them. At first, to be honest, I was unimpressed. Season One had some gems - "Emissary", "Duet", "In the Hands of the Prophets" - but overall it was disappointing and sub-par.

I recently started Season Two and really enjoyed the opening three-parter, but then I found that it lapsed back into lower quality. I know people say the show doesn't really get going until Season Three, so I laboured on through until "Necessary Evil" - which wowed me. I don't know if it was because I simply wasn't expecting such a great episode, but I loved it.

To have Kira, a main character, be revealed as Vaatrik's murderer is a gutsy move. I didn't think her past as, essentially, a terrorist would be developed so sharply, but this episode has really shown me how much potential the show has. I was meandering through the season a little, but this has really encouraged me to watch through, if only to get into the good stuff.

 

[Evil Twin]

Yeah, I'm not too fond of season 2 myself. "Necessary Evil" is a rare gem in a sea of "meh" that is mid-season 2. Only other standout for me is the wonderful, Twilight Zone-esque "Whispers." But things get better towards the end of the season starting with "The Wire" so hang in there! And season 3 is quite possibly my favorite season. It's season 3 onwards, not the first two, that make DS9 my all-time favorite show!

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Necessary Evil is a masterpiece. Perhaps my favorite Trek episode, bar none. A true DS9 show, as it would not have worked on the other shows.

 

[Tomalak]

Necessary Evil is a masterpiece. Perhaps my favorite Trek episode, bar none. A true DS9 show, as it would not have worked on the other shows.

Yeah, it doesn't get much better than that. Odo as the film noir, hard-boiled detective is brilliant.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

S1 was pretty meh. S2 does have worthwhile episodes, especially towards the second half: Cardassians, Armegeddon Game, Whispers, The Maquis I & II, The Wire, The Collaborator, Crossover, Tribunal and The Jem'hadar - as well as the opening trilogy and Necessary Evil, which everyone else has already mentioned as one of DS9's best - keep forging ahead!

 

[Aaron McGuire]

"The Jem'Hadar" is the best non-cliffhanger season finale of any Trek series, hands down. The introduction of the Dominion is a watershed moment for the series. With a few exceptions, it only gets better from here.

Aaron McGuire

 

[wade8069]

I am interested in the DS9, I think it's much better than voyager.

 

[Trekwatcher]

There is definitely a crescendo/decrescendo feeling to the series. S1 and S2 are relatively weak (although "Duet" is, IMHO, their best episode ever) but the series gets better and better peaking at seasons 4-6. S7 has it's moments but they lose some of the momentum they built up on the way to the big finish.

 

[anti-matter]

DS9 didn't put the hook into me until the Circle arc.

 

[Tomalak]

I don't think the first season is that bad, but it did rely a bit too much on the alien of the week visiting the station and causing trouble - there wasn't really any direction. Still, in terms of finding its feet and establishing the characters, it does a good job.

There aren't many actively bad episodes either, unlike TNG's first season. Move Along Home isn't brilliant, and If Wishes Were Horses is moronic, but they are like Hamlet and King Lear compared with Justice and Code of Honour.

 

[willg]

I felt that things don't really "heat up" until the introduction of the Defiant, which as many know was the reason for introducing the ship so that every setting did not have to be at the station. I always felt like the addition of Worf gave a new dimension to the show plus the war with the Klingons and Dominion. I know that some don't like DS9 for that very reason, but it made it unique as a Star Trek series.

 

[warduria]

DS9 is one of my favorite star trek tv shows, it's plot and actor usually can hook me in.

 

[troisboobs]

I'm doing the same thing right now! I had a bit of a marathon today..watched the last 4 episodes of season 2 and the opening "The search" Part 1 & 2 of season 3.

In season 2 I most enjoyed "Whispers", the 2 Part "Maquis," and "Crossover." I have to say, its been great watching it straight through. Everything makes a lot more sense now, and I can enjoy it much more

 

[Navaros]

Although I've seen patches of DS9 and have read the relaunch, I've never even seen the majority of the show, so I've recently begun buying the boxsets and watching through them. At first, to be honest, I was unimpressed. Season One had some gems - "Emissary", "Duet", "In the Hands of the Prophets" - but overall it was disappointing and sub-par.

Almost all DS9 fans agree with that. Season 1 is by far the worst of DS9. I'd add "Captive Pursuit" to your list of great episodes in Season 1, but other than that, yeah, its pretty much no better than TNG in Season 1.

Season 2 has a higher ratio of good episodes than Season 1, but still is nowhere near as good as the later Seasons.

Seasons 3-7 all have 5 or 6 really bad episodes in them, but overall, they are exceptionally good and blow the early seasons out of the water. Point being, the show gradually escalates to ever higher levels of greatness as the Seasons progress. You ain't seen nothing yet! Lucky you!

 

[Cali]

I've had a bit of a marathon lately with DS9 (have watched all of seasons 1 and 2 not very much time at all) and if it's going to get better then I can't wait! I'm very impressed already with the show. I particularly love the Cardassians.

From season one I enjoyed 'Emissary' and 'Duet' in particular and from season two 'Whispers', 'The Wire' and 'Crossover' stood out for me. I've got seasons three and four due to arrive in the post sometime this week, what episodes should I look out for in them?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I loved Season 2. Some of my favourites are from that season - "Armageddon Game", "Whispers", "Tribunal" (), "Necessary Evil", "Rivals" (yes, I know O'Brien is in most of them and that last one is generally regarded by most people as being up there with "Move Along Home" - but I liked that one too ), "The Maquis", "The Wire", and of course "The Jem'Hadar".

I've got seasons three and four due to arrive in the post sometime this week, what episodes should I look out for in them?

Plenty. While I'll leave you to discover the gems of season 3, the season's undoubted high point (and arguably one of the high points of the whole series) is "Improbable Cause" and "The Die Is Cast".

As for season 4... well, it doesn't really get better than the opening episode, "The Way of the Warrior". Oh, wait, it does... try watching "The Visitor" on Father's Day without a box of tissues... if you dare...