Help me watch the Dominion War

[c0rnedfr0g]

Hello,

I've seen more than a few DS9 episodes, but that was years ago, and I'm much less familiar with it compared to TOS and TNG. Anyway, a friend and I are wanting to watch DS9; specifically, the Dominion War. We're planning to watch all of Seasons 5-7... what else? Should we watch Season 4 first? What about key episodes before that? From memory, I recall 2x26 "The Jem'Hadar" and 3x21 "The Die is Cast" should be watched prior to Season 4-5. Other recommendations? Hoping for maybe 10 suggestions for Seasons 2-3 (don't really need main cast introduction episodes from Season 1).

Thanks in advance!

 

[M.A.C.O.]

From my DS9 abridged list.
Season 2

The Jem'Hadar

Season 3

The Search part 1-2
The Abandoned
Improbable Cause
The Die is Cast
The Adversary

Season 4

The Way of the Warrior 1-2
Hippocratic Oath
Indiscretion
Homefront
Paradise Lost
For the Cause
The Quickening
Broken Link

Season 5

Apocalypse Rising
The Ship
The Rapture
The Begotten
For the Uniform
In Purgatory's Shadow
By Inferno's Light
Doctor Bashir, I Presume
Soldiers of the Empire
Blaze of Glory
Empok Nor
Call to Arms

Season 6

A Time to Stand
Rocks and Shoals
Sons and Daughters
Behind the Lines
Favor the Bold
Sacrifice of Angels
The Magnificent Ferengi
Statistical Probabilities
Waltz
Far Beyond the Stars
Inquisition
In the Pale Moonlight
His Way
The Reckoning
Valiant
Tears of the Prophets

Season 7
Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Treachery, Faith and the Great River
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Penumbra
'Til Death Do Us Part
Strange Bedfellows
The Changing Face of Evil
When It Rains...
Tacking Into the Wind
Extreme Measures
The Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind 1-2

 

[Tosk]

That seems like a pretty solid list to me.

 

[GameOn]

I'd add season 3's Heart of Stone and season 4's To the Death to that list. I don't think Empok Nor, The Magnificent Ferengi, Valiant or Afterimage are really necessary.

 

[Iamnotspock]

I'd recommend starting at the beginning with Emissary, to refresh your minds of the set-up, the characters and the Prophets (and Sisko's relationship to them) before skipping to The Jem'Hadar. After all, these elements do play important roles later on (the resolution to Sacrifice of Angels and the culmination of the series in What You Leave Behind spring to mind).

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

^^ Muchas gracias, everyone!

Are there other prophet-specific or otherwise mythological episodes that we should watch to better understand the series' conclusion (episodes not already mentioned)? I do know that DS9 dealt heavily in that matter.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

I think the episode "The Rapture" for season 5 you need to watch. I put the list together and forgot to add it in my first post. I have edited to reflect it's addition.

 

[HaventGotALife]

I would watch "Battle Lines," "In the Hands of the Prohphets," and "The Collaborator" to know about Kai Winn. You might want to watch "Accession" if you are looking for an important Wormhole alien episode. If you pay attention to all that is said by the Prophets, there is a set-up that pays off in season 7.

 

[GameOn]

You might want to watch "Accession" if you are looking for an important Wormhole alien episode. If you pay attention to all that is said by the Prophets, there is a set-up that pays off in season 7.

There's also season 5's The Assignment which deals with the the Wormhole aliens and the Pah-wraiths.

 

[Tosk]

They said in the first post that they'd be watching all of seasons 5-7.

 

[LiLiKitty]

If you have time, I suggest Season Four "Return To Grace." It's not absolutely necessary, but it does provide some clues to Dukat's and Cardassia's motivation for what they do later on.

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

Many thanks to all of you that helped me muddle through Seasons 1-3 of DS9 . The episodes we (my friend and I) saw were all enjoyable and pertinent to our viewing experience. For those that are interested, we watched the following episodes, most of which per y'all's suggestions:

Season 1
Emissary
Past Prologue
Duet (fantastic episode)
In the Hands of the Prophets

Season 2
Cardassians
Blood Oath (I'm a TOS fan and had to see it)
The Maquis
The Jem'Hadar

Season 3
The Search
The Abandoned
Meridian (upon watching, not necessary. The brief episode description I read had me hoping it would be a hidden Dominion planet of some sorts)
Defiant
Life Support
Heart of Stone
Visionary
Improbable Cause
The Die is Cast
Facets
The Adversary

All in all, we definitely ended up watching more episodes from seasons 1-3 than I had originally planned, but there are so many complex and overlapping story lines / character arcs that I determined it was necessary to watch so many episodes to truly enjoy and understand the show. For anyone who is curious, we have been watching a few episodes every Monday night (assuming our schedules align and permit), and have just started Season 4. From here on out, we plan to watch all the episodes. Who knows how long it will take to finish the series...!

Thanks again, all!

 

[R. Star]

Good call on just watching then all, especially by season 4. For the most part the plot does become serialized. It's not a race, so if you can only watch a couple episodes a week, no problem. It's not a race, DS9 will always be there. Have fun with it.

 

[dub]

Please do yourselves a favor and go back to watch "The Wire" from season 2 and "Second Skin" from season 3. They're both excellent character episodes which I promise will be worth your time. Character arcs will help you better appreciate the plot arcs.

 

[Relayer1]

I'd also suggest Progress. It makes no difference whatsoever to the plot arc, but it's a great little character piece.

To be honest, I'd watch the whole series from start to finish. Imho it's the best Trek show and a bit lighter on crap episodes than the others. The first two seasons aren't great though...

 

[Lindley]

I'm glad you included Defiant even though it wasn't suggested. To me, it adds another layer to Improbable Cause/The Die Is Cast.