26 "Essential" episodes

[MikeS]

This is a follow up to a thread from last year in the TNG forum: What episodes would you choose to include in a DS9 "essential viewing, beginners guide, series in a season".

As a suggestion, try to include all the major arcs - The Dominion war, Sisko's destiny, the Cardassian and Bajoran backstory. Maybe then try to include a character episode for each of the crew and throw in a couple of personal and fan favourites for good measure. It's all up to you, but try to explain your choices!

Remember, this isn't your personal favourites, it's the 26 episodes that best show what DS9 is all about to a casual viewer. A "series in a season". Two-parters can count as one episode. I will have a think about my choices and get back to you with them.

Cheers.

 

[Admiral Shran]

1. Emissary (Obviously because it's the first episode, and it kicks off several of the arcs - Sisko as Emissary, the Bajoran backstory, Kira's relationship with the Federation.)
2. Duet (A great Kira episode which also furthers the Bajoran arc.)
3. In the Hands of the Prophets (The introduction of Bareil and continuation of the Bajoran arc.)
4. The Homecoming/The Circle/The Siege (The resolution of the Bajoran arc.)
5. Necessary Evil (A great Odo and Kira episode which fleshes out the Cardassians.)
6. The Maquis I and II (The introduction of the Maquis, which helps set the stage for the Dominion War.)
7. Tribunal (A great O'Brien episode.)
8. The Jem'Hadar (The opening of the Dominion arc.)
9. The Search I and II (Really the continuation and resolution of The Jem'Hadar.)
10. Heart of Stone (Another great Odo and Kira episode which starts the Odo/Kira relationship.)
11. Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast (A continuation of the Dominion arc.)
12. The Way of the Warrior (The introduction of Worf and a major event in the Dominion arc.)
13. Homefront/Paradise Lost (Continuation of the Dominion arc.)
14. Hard Time (Simply an outstanding O'Brien episode.)
15. Trials and Tribble-ations (A fan favorite.)
16. Rapture (A continuation of the Sisko as Emissary arc.)
17. For the Uniform (A continuation of the Maquis arc.)
18. In Purgatory's Shadow/By Inferno's Light (The conclusion of the Klingon arc and beginning of the Dominion War arc.)
19. Blaze of Glory (A continuation of the Maquis arc.)
20. A Time to Stand - Sacrifice of Angels (I'll include these all as one episode as it's all the opening rounds of the Dominion War.
21. Waltz (The beginning of the end.)
22. In the Pale Moonlight (The turning point of the whole series.)
23. His Way (The consummation of the Odo/Kira relationship.)
24. Images in the Sand/Shadows and Symbols (The introduction of Ezri and a continuation of the Sisko as Emissary arc.)
25. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges (The Section 31 arc. Though it's a crime not to include Inquisition as well for this arc.)
26. Penumbra - What You Leave Behind (I'll also include these nine episodes as one since they resolve so many of the arcs.

 

[Ro_Laren]

Why 26?

 

[Admiral Shran]

All of DS9's seasons, except for the first one, had 26 episodes.

 

[Distorted Humor]

This is a follow up to a thread from last year in the TNG forum: What episodes would you choose to include in a DS9 "essential viewing, beginners guide, series in a season".

As a suggestion, try to include all the major arcs - The Dominion war, Sisko's destiny, the Cardassian and Bajoran backstory. Maybe then try to include a character episode for each of the crew and throw in a couple of personal and fan favourites for good measure. It's all up to you, but try to explain your choices!

Remember, this isn't your personal favourites, it's the 26 episodes that best show what DS9 is all about to a casual viewer. A "series in a season". Two-parters can count as one episode. I will have a think about my choices and get back to you with them.

Cheers.

Cool idea, though right now I am at about 50 episodes

time to the problem is that there is the final 10 episode arc....So I am going to count that as ONE arc

Here it is..my 26

1. Emissary - Starts the show, sets up a lot of Arcs, and Intros all the characters.
2. The Homecoming/The Circle/The Siege - This concludes the main Bajorian Arc.
3. Necessary Evil - Odo and Kira episode, and shows what life was before we got there.
4. The Maquis - Sets up the marquis, sets some of the dominion stuff in order.
5. "Crossover"- This is our Mirrior Universe episode example
6. The Jem'Hadar - Welcome to the dominion arc
7. "The Search" - I/II - Gives a idea of the Dominion arc episodes Also intro the defiant
8. "Civil Defense" - Gul Dukat, dark humor, and good Father Son Episode.
9. "Visionary"- The O'brian episode I went with. (Whispers, hard time, or a number of other episodes would of worked)
10. "Defiant" - Marquis, Dominion, and TNG crossover theme Setting up....
11. Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast - Key episodes.
12. "The Way of the Warrior" - Klingon Federation war arc begins, also worf joins the cast.
13. "Little Green Men" - Had to Include a ferengi episode, and a fan fave episode.
14. "Our Man Bashir" - Fan service episode, and also has Eddington, who important later.
15. Homefront/Paradise Lost - Key arc episodes for the dominion war.
16. "For the Cause" - Marquis arc
17. "Nor the Battle to the Strong" - example of DS9 "War stories" episodes. Thought this was better then some of the other ones going over the nature of war.
18.. Rapture Sisko and Bajorian faith Episode
19. In Purgatory's Shadow/By Inferno's Light - End of Klingon war, begining of Dominion war
20. "Blaze of Glory" - shows the end of the Marquis, and the power of the Dominion.
21. A Time to Stand - Sacrifice of Angels - Dominon war Arc
22. In the Pale Moonlight - Turning point of the war, "Dark Trek" shining example.
23. His Way - Nic Fontain and Odo/Kira
24. Images in the Sand/Shadows and Symbols - Sisko as Emissary and Esri
25. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - Section 31
26. Penumbra - What You Leave Behind - End of show arc.

Wow, I did it!!!

 

[Eyes]

Interesting topic. Here's what I'd suggest, in chronological order:

1. Emissary - obviously, to introduce all the characters

2. Duet - Brilliant Bajoran/Cardassian dynamic, and Kira and her Cardassian opposite are class in this one. A must-see. (I think everyone will tell you that)

3. In The Hands Of The Prophets - More on the Bajorans, introduces Winn and Bareil, focuses on Sisko as the Emissary.

4. Necessary Evil - The best Odo-focused episode, focusing on his past, and yet more Cardassian-Bajoran stuff.

5. The Wire - Garak. Is. Awesome. That is all. Also gives us the Bashir/Garak dynamic. Pretty much, this is must.

6. Crossover - The mirror universe sub-plot. Really, this is the only one I could do, the others are too immersed in what happened before, so watching the others would be confusing.

7. The Jem'Hadar - Shows a clear departure from the TNG format (by blowing up a Galaxy), and introducing the new enemy, the Dominion.

8. The Search - The follow-up to Jem'Hadar, this is good for finding out more about the Dominion and Odo.

9. Equilibrium - Dax episode. And it's also good.

10. Second Skin - A Kira episode. Kind of a follow up to Duet, with her relationship with the Cardassians. Carries on Garak's ruthlessness.

11. Past Tense - A fantastic episode for both being Star Trek and the darker DS9 side, giving the majority of the cast something to do, and it's quality as well.

12. Destiny - Sisko's Emissary line, and gives a lot of the crew something to do.

13. Visionary - A classic O'Brien must-suffer episode, and slightly more light-hearted than the other one on this list.

14. Improbable Cause/The Die Is Cast - Needed on here, and gives Garak and Odo huge amounts of screentime.

15. The Visitor - While it may not be so emotional, given that you've only known the characters for 14 episodes, Jake and his father's relationship is one of the most important on DS9, and this episode is quintessential for that.

16. Indiscretion - Kira and Dukat dynamic here. Also introduces Ziyal.

17. Hard Time - This one is one of the most poignant and emotional episodes in the whole franchise, and it is more of the darker side of DS9.

18. The Quickening - One for Bashir, this time, and it again is brilliant.

19. ..Nor The Battle To The Strong - My personal favourite, and this one shows us some of the horrors of war, and gives Jake something on here.

20. The Magnificent Ferengi - Something rather more light-hearted, and it gives Quark, and the other Ferengi, some screentime.

21. Far Beyond The Stars - A classic.

22. Change Of Heart - The Worf/Dax relationship, really.

23. Inquisition - Section 31 is one of the main things that set DS9 apart from the other Treks, so Inquisition is really needed here.

24. In The Pale Moonlight - Really exemplifies what DS9 is all about, and a very good moral dilemma. An excellent episode.

25. The Sound Of Her Voice - A nice quiet one with the cast, and helps flesh out a few of them.

26. The Siege of AR-558 - A final war episode to round things off, and the horrors of war particularly. Dark DS9 at it's height.

I realise I'm a little short on light episodes there, but so many of the good episodes that are what DS9 is about are dark. I've also avoided a lot of the later seasons and significant episodes in those later seasons, as this is a beginners guide, so I'm assuming, if after these 26 episodes, the viewer likes what they see, they'll try and see more.

 

[Ro_Laren]

All of DS9's seasons, except for the first one, had 26 episodes.

Gotcha. For some reason I was thinking that the "average" number of episodes per Star Trek Season was 24... not that that number is very different than 26.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Actually, most of the seasons from the spin-off series have 26 episodes.

Only 5 of the 25 seasons don't (one from TNG, one from DS9, one from VOY, and two from ENT), all of which were cut short for one reason or another.

 

[Jono]

1. Emissary- Introduces the main characters and the wormhole.
2. The Nagus - The first real look into the Ferengi.
3. In the Hands of the Prophets - Winn, Bariel and things hit the fan.
4. Homecoming/The Circle/The Siege - shows Starfleet is there for the long haul
5. Rules of Acquisition - Hints at the Dominion, a bit of exploration of the GQ and Ferengi
6. The Maquis, Part 1 & 2 - Introduces the Maquis.
7. Crossover - Look its the Mirror Universe!
8. The Jem'Hadar - Here comes the Dominion.
9. The Search, Part 1 & 2 - The Founders and answers Odo's origin question.
10. The Adversary - The Founders are here!
11. The Way of the Warrior - Worf comes in and the Klingons be...Klingon.
12. To the Death - Good look at the Jem'Hadar and first look at Weyoun.
13. Broken Link - Sets up Fed-Klingon conflict and Odo as solid.
14. Apocalypse Rising - Ends war, Martok changeling reveal.
15. In Purgatory's Shadow/By Inferno's Light - Cardassia joins the Dominion
16. Doctor Bashir, I presume... - Bashir is genetically enhanced is revealed. Rom and Leeta get together.
17. Call to Arms - The Dominion War starts
18. Favors the Bold/Sacrifice of Angels - They get the station back.
19. Waltz - Dukat goes bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s.
20. Inquisition - Section 31 intro.
21. In the Pale Moonlight - Romulans join.
22. Tears of the Prophets - Jadzia dies, Dukat goes evil.
23. Image in the Sands/Shadows and Symbols - Ezri joins.
24. The Changing Face of Evil - Breen joins in.
25. Tacking into the Wind/Extreme Measures - I'm joining these to as an Odo is sick and cured. Important for the final episode.
26. What You Leave Behind - Wraps things up.

Had to drop most of the Maquis and Ferengi stuff. Missed a lot of my favourite episodes.

 

[heavylids]

It's really hard to include every important episode of DS9 in a limited list of 26. It seems like Admiral Shran really hit the spot, but if there were more slots available, some Ferengi episodes would have to make an appearance. I'm rewatching DS9 now and I just realized how much I love those episodes. They offer a great contrast to the darker side of DS9.