Favourite Standalone Episode?

[Warp 10 (Pepperoni)]

I've only seen the majority of DS9 episodes once and am going to start a rewatch. I don't usually go in order but rather pick and choose whichever sounds the most interesting to me at the time. Appreciate that's trickier in the later seasons where there's more of an overarching plot.

What are some of your fave episodes that I can jump straight into?

Thanks!

 

[BlueStuff]

Three that I love -

Civil Defense - insanely fun, often hilarious. Probably the most "standalone" of these three.
In the Cards - it is set in the backdrop of the developing war, but it also serves as a break from the bleakness.
Badda Bing, Badda Bang - again, the war is taking place around this (in retrospect, a little odd that this episode came when it did) but it's a brilliant light-hearted holosuite adventure. Of course, your enjoyment depends on your tolerance for Vic Fontaine.

 

[no2catsuitKira]

First Season: Emissary, Duet, In the Hands of the Prophets

 

[Oddish]

Overall: There's "The Visitor", and then a long space, and there's everything else. Yeah, it's that good.

More comprehensive list later.

 

[Ragitsu]

More comprehensive list later.

 

[Warp 10 (Pepperoni)]

Answering my own prompt but from memory I absolutely love (and will likely more watch today) Children of Time, where they discover their own descendants

 

[kkt]

"Far Beyond the Stars" is at the top of the list for me.

 

[Oddish]

I am SO copy-pasting that picture, and in multiple places.

A few more from me...
Whispers
Shadowplay
Civil Defense
Defiant
Distant Voices
Facets
Accession
To the Death
The Quickening
Trials and Tribble-ations
Field of Fire
Badda Bing, Badda Bang

 

[DS9forever]

Whispers.

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll cheat and do a top 10.

The Visitor
Duet
Necessary Evil
The Quickening
Trials and Tribble-ations
Far Beyond the Stars
Accession
Defiant
Badda Bing, Badda Bang
Rejoined

 

[Qonundrum]

I've only seen the majority of DS9 episodes once and am going to start a rewatch. I don't usually go in order but rather pick and choose whichever sounds the most interesting to me at the time. Appreciate that's trickier in the later seasons where there's more of an overarching plot.

What are some of your fave episodes that I can jump straight into?

Thanks!

While I will find something in any story to nitpick, that doesn't mean I don't love or don't like the story. But putting nitpicks aside, my standalone favorites - in no order - are:

1. For the Uniform
2. Far Beyond the Stars
3. The Visitor
4. Move Along Home
5. Let He Who Is Without Sin
6. Paradise
7. The Emissary
8. The Die is Cast
9. In the Pale Moonlight
10. The Way of the Warrior
11. Our Man Bashir
12. Trials and Tribble-ations
13. Little Green Men
14. One Little Ship
15. Time's Orphan
16. The Sound of Her Voice
17. Valiant
18. A Man Alone
19. Duet

Yup. Fan consensus ain't my thing. I like what I want for my own reasons. Just don't see the list in my profile on any dating site...

 

[vulcancicada]

The Emissary is a favourite of mine because it's a really good exploration of trauma, PTSD, and linear time.

Some others: babel, Q-less, second skin, defiant, fascination, time's orphan, improbable cause, the die is cast, rejoined, favour the bold, sacrifice of angels.

I am a complete sinner: I am underwhelmed by 'the visitor' while loving the much-maligned mirror universe episodes, especially through the looking glass and the emperor's new cloak.

 

[Bynar0110]

Trials and Tribbleations
Little Green Men
I don't know the episode title off hand but the one were Sisko starts the bell riots.

 

[kkt]

Trials and Tribbleations
Little Green Men
I don't know the episode title off hand but the one were Sisko starts the bell riots.

Past Tense (in two parts. Only 16 months away!)

 

[Farscape One]

An interesting topic question, because DS9 had a lot of outstanding arc and standalone episodes.

I created a list of my favorites that have no ties to the Dominion arc, Bajor, Cardassia, or the Maquis. In production order...

"CAPTIVE PURSUIT"
"MOVE ALONG HOME"
"DUET"
"NECESSARY EVIL"
"WHISPERS"
"SHADOWPLAY"
"BLOOD OATH"
"THE WIRE"
"THE HOUSE OF QUARK"
"CIVIL DEFENSE"
"EXPLORERS"
"THE VISITOR"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"HARD TIME"
"THE QUICKENING"
"TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS"
"SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE"
"ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH"


There are many more I love that belong on this list (mainly in seasons 5-7), but I had to take out due to the parameters I set. A few here even do have a little bit of a tie the parameters ("DUET", for example, can definitely be tangentially about Bajor due to the war crimes), but I did my best to make the list as standalone as possible. This was actually trickier than I thought it would be.

 

[Oddish]

I am a complete sinner: I am underwhelmed by 'the visitor' while loving the much-maligned mirror universe episodes, especially through the looking glass and the emperor's new cloak.

That's Ok... I freely admit to being less than enthusiastic about "Duet", though I recognize its merit. I'd rather watch "The Storyteller" or "If Wishes Were Horses".

I have even admitted to having a bit of a soft spot for "Shades of Gray", widely considered to be Berman era Trek's worst effort.

 

[Farscape One]

That's Ok... I freely admit to being less than enthusiastic about "Duet", though I recognize its merit. I'd rather watch "The Storyteller" or "If Wishes Were Horses".

I have even admitted to having a bit of a soft spot for "Shades of Gray", widely considered to be Berman era Trek's worst effort.

That's definitely a BOGO of a controversial opinion.

 

[Oddish]

That's definitely a BOGO of a controversial opinion.

They don't call me "Oddish" for nothing.

 

[vulcancicada]

That's Ok... I freely admit to being less than enthusiastic about "Duet", though I recognize its merit. I'd rather watch "The Storyteller" or "If Wishes Were Horses".

I have even admitted to having a bit of a soft spot for "Shades of Gray", widely considered to be Berman era Trek's worst effort.

Being odd is the best

Shades of Grey is just one of those lazy clip shows we grew up with. It's kind of soothing in a weird way. It's not the worst thing in Berman trek for me (Seven and T'pol's jumpsuits probably hold that title).

I LOVE if wishes were horses and definitely would rate that over Duet.

 

[Jellico]

Take Me Out To The Holosuite.