Is season 4 good for jumping in on Dominion War?

[Capn Nick]

I'm new here, but if I can put in my two cents: for me, at least, season 3 really sets up the tone well. Episodes like the Die is Cast but even Heart of Stone. Plus the impending and looming threat really builds up the tension. Even when I've researched DS9, I've felt more involved letting them tease the idea a little. My vote, if you are going to skip to have your friend watch it, start with the 3rd season at latest :-)

 

[somebuddyX]

Yeah I think MacLeod's list is the way to go for essential episodes, like in the same way if someone wanted to just watch X-Files alien mythology episodes only. But I feel DS9 is a pretty strong show, that I would say to someone who wanted to watch it, start with The Jem Hadar and then try it from there and just skip to the next episode if ain't jazzing you. The reason being there's some episodes that have effect on those arc episodes, like Defiant or Rapture, or a lot of the last few episodes with Season 5 where the escalation towards Dominion War is ramping up. Like Ties of Blood and Water sets the stage for the new Cardassian/Dominion status quo, or how that has now affected the Maquis in Blaze of Glory. And the B-Story of the Bajoran Non-Aggression Treaty in In the Cards which gets dealt with in Call to Arms. I also think The Jem Hadar is a pretty solid episode to start someone with, imo.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Here is my alternative list, organized categorically, that might help someone decide what episodes are essential

Conflict with Dominion: Politics and War (the most substantive episodes, very much for the Grognard):
Jem'hadar
The Search I/II
The Die is Casts
The Adversary
Starship Down
Homefront
Paradise Lost
Broken Link
Apocalypse Rising
The Ship
In Purgatory's Shadow
By Inferno's Light
Soldier's of the Empire
In the Cards
Call to Arms
A Time to Stand
Rocks and Shoals
Sons and Daughters
Behind the Lines
Favor the Bold
Sacrifice of Angels
One Little Ship
In the Pale Moonlight
Valiant
Tears of the Prophets
Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Once More Unto the Breach
Siege of AR-558
Penumbra
Till Death Us Do 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

The Dominion, Politics, Society and Culture
Rules of Acquisition
The Abandoned
Hippocratic Oath
To the Death
The Quickening
Statistical Probabilities
Magnifacent Ferengi
Treachery Faith and the Great River

The Founders
Necessary Evil
Heart of Stone
The Begotten
Chimera

Cardassians
Duet
Defiant
Improbable Cause
Ties of Blood and Water
Waltz
Covenant

Emissary and Involvement of Prophets
Destiny
Rapture
Far Beyond the Stars

Effects on Federation
The Way of the Warrior
Blaze of Glory
Inquisition
Change of Heart
It's Only A Paper Moon
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

 

[SPCTRE]

There are phantastic episode lists out there for the Dominion War, but I can never bring myself to skip episodes.

It makes me feel bad. Like a bad person.

 

[TheSeeker]

It makes me feel bad. Like a bad person.

It should.

 

[DonIago]

Well, you know, Let He Who is Without Sin...

(ducks)

 

[Clym]

you either watch DS9 from the beginning or you don't watch it at all