Favorite episodes for each character

[Not A Dominion Spy]

For each main character, which was your favorite episode that focused on them and why? You can include recurring characters as well if you would like.

Here’s my list:
Sisko: For The Uniform (the punching bag scene)
Odo: The Forsaken (Lwaxana is hilarious)
Jadzia: Facets (Audrid in Quark’s body and Curzon-Odo)
Jake: In The Cards (a happy and funny story and the fact that Weyoun kidnapped Jake to give him a baseball card)
O’Brien: Hard Time (probably the darkest episode of DS9)
Quark: Little Green Men (a funny episode and the broken UT scene)
Bashir: Inquisition (great introduction for Section 31)
Kira: Crossover (my favorite MU episode)
Worf: Change Of Heart (a beautiful episode and story)
Ezri: Field Of Fire (a good mystery and it shows a lot if character development)
Vic Fontaine: Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang (a casino heist in the middle of an interstellar war)
Nog: It’s Only A Paper Moon (made Nog a much more real character)
Garak: The Wire (sets up Garak’s background, makes him less mysterious and makes way for more stories)

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Sisko: Far Beyond the Stars -- the episode puts Sisko's journey, as the Emissary, into a broader historical context as well as connects Star Trek, DS9 in particular, to SF traditions

Kira: Rocks and Shoals -- the episode tests Kira's development, from Duet through season 5, and asks how she is committed to her principles

Jadzia Dax: Rejoined -- the perfect summation of Dax's attitude toward love and loyalty in the context of multiple generations

Odo: Necessary Evil -- Trek's best origins story, the episode perfectly explains Odo's Weltanschauung

O'Brien: Hard Time -- more generally a probe of PTSD, the use of O'Brien's character, especially his family, highlight how mental disorders can overwhelm the individual

Bashir: The Quickening -- another episode that tests the character, this time Bashir's professioanlism and ego; he emerges as the hero we wanted him to be

Jake Sisko: Nor the Battle to the Strong (in spite of the fact that The Visitor is the better episode) -- a third test episode, this one about how the non-heroic fit into heroic stories as well as what Sisko's role as a narrator is

Quark: Body Parts -- this is Odo's statement of purpose, showing his pride in being a Ferengi

Garak: The Wire -- of course

Worf: By Inferno's Light -- the episode explores the character's dogged determination, willing to sacrifice his body for the greater good

Rom: Bar Association -- this episode gave Rom meaning, showing his strengths

Nog: It's Only a Paper Moon -- of course

Ezri Dax: Penumbra -- this character wasn't well served, but it reveals where her immaturity leads her

Dukat: Waltz -- gets down to the core of the character, a Fascist who is only now suffering from his egomania

Fontaine: It's Only a Paper Moon -- of course

Kor: Once More Unto the Breach -- perhaps not the best character for this list, but it does wrap up Kor's development and his outlook

I left out a lot of characters that despite being great recurring characters, did not have an episode (or at least an A story) about them. Sorry, Damar.

There are also episodes that I think that were better uses and performances for each character that I did not regard as being dedicated to that character.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Sisko: Emissary (Understanding the representation of linear and non linear)
Odo: The Alternate (Dr. Mora was compelling)
Bashir: The Wire (Trying to save a life uncovers a history with Garak)
Jadzia: Playing God (She discovers her own Achilles heel)
Jake: Life Support (Jake's ethics differs from his best friend Nog)
O'Brien: Whispers (An interesting twist in character motivations)
Quark: House of Quark (A interesting angle in Klingon relationships and financial integrity)
Kira: Duet (probably the deepest episode of DS9)

 

[tomalak301]

Sisko: Rapture
Kira: Duet
Jadzia Dax: The Siege
Worf: Tacking into The Wind
Ezri Dax: Tacking Into The Wind
Bashir: The Quickening
Garak: The Wire
Quark: Body Parts
Odo: Begotten (He gets his powers back)
O'Brien: Hard Time
Nog: The Siege at AR-558 and It's Only a Paper Moon (This was a two parter of sorts)
Kai Winn: In the Hands of the Prophets
Vedek Bariel: In the Hands of the Prophets
Vic Fontaine: It's Only A Paper Moon
Rom: Call to Arms
Dukat: The Maquis II
Jake: Nor The Battle to the Strong
Martok: By Inferno's Light

If I forgot a character, I can edit this post. I think I got them all.

 

[kkt]

I don't think I can do all the characters at once!

Odo and Quark: Ascent

 

[Captain pl1ngpl0ng]

i need to think about this, nice idea for a thread.
edit:
Since i'm just started a rewatch of ds9 and just saw this scene:
Jake - learning Nog to read. S1E10 - The Nagus

i will do the rest of the characters as going forward. i will more than likely change my mind a thousand times during this rewatch but i will go with my first impulse, whatever make me laugh,tear up, biting nails.... etc...

edit2:
there are many favourite quark-episodes, but going with this one today.
Somehow these two creatures are developing something true and real between them.
Quark - S3E3 - the house of quark

 

[STEPhon IT]

I love that scene between Jake and Nog, and how Sisko sneaks to watch his son doing something that would make him so proud. It was these little touches which I appreciated DS9 so much.

 

[Captain pl1ngpl0ng]

It was these little touches which I appreciated DS9 so much

100% agree, what an incredible beautiful serie.

 

[HaventGotALife]

For each main character, which was your favorite episode that focused on them and why? You can include recurring characters as well if you would like.

Here’s my list:
Sisko: Far Beyond the Stars (I am a human being, Dammit!")
Odo: The Search, Part II. It is the crucible of Odo--a resolution to his question of who his people are, and the introduction of a new conflict--his guilt of returning home ("I am Home.")
Jadzia: Rejoined (The Dax and Sisko scene discussing Jadzia reuniting with Lenara. It's great for both characters as Jadzia faces what Sisko might do if Jennifer were ever to reappear in his life. But, the taboo as a means of oppression, the assertion in tears that Ben in her bestest from seven lifetimes, etc. really earn some of worst acting and overstaged direction of the show).
Jake: The Visitor (The powerful relationship, between son and father, summarized by the lines of "Jake, My Sweet Boy.").
O’Brien: Hard Time (As someone with PTSD, and I have been suicidal, it's a dramatization, but a nice introspection by O'Brien talked down by Bashir, earning his stripes).
Quark: Crossfire (If Bashir learns who Garak is when he has the explosion in his shop, this one shows Quark and Odo at their best. "Nah.").
Bashir: Inquisition (Mental abuse. Doubt. "I'm tired of your lies, Doctor").
Kira: Rocks and Shoals--while not solely her episode, She's a collaborator. (Evil Must be Opposed").
Worf: Change Of Heart (a beautiful love sonnet. The scenes before the mission are life goals).
Nog: Siege at AR-558. His glorified heroism of war, his loss of it. "Look around, Nog..."
Garak: The Wire (I love this show's themes).

 

[dupersuper]

Ben Sisko: In the Pale Moonlight
Jake Sisko: Nor the Battle to the Strong
Kira: Duet
Odo: Things Past
Miles O'Brien: Hard Time
Bashir: Doctor Bashir, I Presume
Jadzia Dax: Facets
Ezri Dax: Afterimage
Worf: Rules of Engagement
Nog: Heart of Stone
Rom: Bar Association
Quark: Body Parts
Dukat: Waltz
Garak: The Wire

 

[Jayson1]

Sisko=Emissary=Great story about a man stuck in a past drama finally being able to let go and move forward from the pain.

Jake=Nor the Battle to the Strong=

Kira=The Darkness and the Light=Has to face her past actions as a terrorist while also dealing while also dealing with the responsbility of a child inside.

Odo=Crossfire=

Quark=Body Parts

Bashir=Doctor Bashir I Presume

Garak=The Wire

Chief O'Brien=Whispers

Jadzia=Facets

Worf=Change of Heart

Nog=Heart of Stone=One of the best B-Stories ever.

Martock=Once More Unto the Breach

Weyoum=Treachery,Faith and The Great River

Damar=Taking in the Wind


Jason

Dukat=Waltz

Ezri=Prodigal Daughter

Rom=Doctor Bashir I Presume

 

[Oddish]

These might not be absolute faves, but here are some ones I like.
Sisko: Accession
O'Brien: Whispers
Kira: Crossover
Odo: Shadowplay
Ezri: Field of Fire
Kira: Defiant
Jake: The Visitor
Worf: The Way of the Warrior

 

[Kilana2]

I don't think I can do all the characters at once!

Odo and Quark: Ascent

This was epic!

 

[kkt]

This was epic!

QUARK: I just wanted you to know I meant every word of it.
ODO: So did I.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

Ben Sisko: Through the Looking Glass
Kira Nerys: She's one of my favorites, yet I'm drawing a blank. "Civil Defense," maybe?
Quark: Who Mourns for Morn, House of Quark, the Magnificent Ferengi...too many to pick!
Jadzia Dax: You Are Cordially Invited
Ezri Dax: Field of Fire
Worf: The Sword of Kahless
(Actually this episode doesn't do any favors for Worf's character, but I don't care about Worf. This just happens to be my favorite Worf-centric episode.)
Odo: Any episode that doesn't involve an appearance from Odo-With-Tits
Garak: By Inferno's Light
Julian Bashir: "Our Man Bashir" was fun, but "Dr. Bashir I Presume" made me cry, plus the Voyager crossover....
O'Brien: the Assignment

 

[kkt]

Kira Nerys: Progress. The episode presented her with a genuine difficult choice, forced her to confront some of her prejudices, and grow as a person.

 

[Kilana2]

Weyoun: Treachery, Faith and the Great River.

 

[Oddish]

Jadzia: To the Death. Because in a casual conversation with a Jem'Hadar, she finds out an enormous amount of relevant information.