Just finished the series

[tafkats]

I just got all the way through DS9, having missed it in first run and never having watched past Season 3 until this year, and ...

Damn, that's some good television!

Every Trek series has had its turkeys, and some have had episodes that even the producers will call a "royal, steaming stinker." But it seems like DS9's worst episodes are generally agreed to be "Move Along Home" and "Profit and Lace" ... and even those are perfectly good.

Meanwhile, even though all of the Trek series had some good adventures, none as consistently had the good drama of episodes like "Duet," "In the Pale Moonlight" or "Inter Arma Enim Silent Legis."

It's interesting that most of the series ran concurrently with Voyager ... yet while DS9 started with a somewhat vague premise (they're on a space station, and ... then what?) and Voyager started with a clearly defined premise of a stranded crew trying to find their way home, DS9 ended up with great stories and arcs, while Voyager ended up aimlessly stumbling through seven years of pablum.

The finale packs more emotional punch than that of any other Trek series. It doesn't quite beat the Buffy the Vampire Slayer finale, but it's close.

I think I might have to go back and start with "Emissary" all over again.

 

[You_Will_Fail]

Wow, "pablum", haha great word.
And yes DS9 is a great show with a lot of depth which unfortunately appears to be its curse also. Although it got good audiences on its first run, in terms of potential new fans watching trek shows in reruns and deciding which series to watch, many more people gravitate towards Voyager instead of DS9 because DS9 is comparatively much more difficult to get into.

How long did it take you to finish DS9 btw? It took me about a month and it was an amazing month!

 

[tafkats]

How long did it take you to finish DS9 btw? It took me about a month and it was an amazing month!

I first bought Seasons 1-3 on DVD probably eight or nine years ago. Then after discovering Netflix had it, I got through the last four seasons in a little under a month.

 

[defiantfan]

Damn, that's some good television!

Yep!

But it seems like DS9's worst episodes are generally agreed to be "Move Along Home" and "Profit and Lace" ... and even those are perfectly good.

I don't really hate those episodes either!

Meanwhile, even though all of the Trek series had some good adventures, none as consistently had the good drama of episodes like "Duet," "In the Pale Moonlight" or "Inter Arma Enim Silent Legis."

Some of the smartest in all of television in my humble opinion.

It's interesting that most of the series ran concurrently with Voyager ... yet while DS9 started with a somewhat vague premise (they're on a space station, and ... then what?) and Voyager started with a clearly defined premise of a stranded crew trying to find their way home, DS9 ended up with great stories and arcs, while Voyager ended up aimlessly stumbling through seven years of pablum.

Ha hahaha HA!

The finale packs more emotional punch than that of any other Trek series. It doesn't quite beat the Buffy the Vampire Slayer finale, but it's close.

I am not sure if I can comfortably compare Whedon writing to Trek writing - I do know that I felt more misty-eyed at the DS9 ending personally

I think I might have to go back and start with "Emissary" all over again.

Awesome!

 

[You_Will_Fail]

DS9 was a far more consistently well written series than Buffy too.

 

[Fedor]

I spent over $800 on the complete Voyager series 5-6 years ago.

I remember DS9 on tv, but I missed a few episodes.

DS9 complete series will be by next purchase.

I am really looking forward to rewatching each episode.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

DS9 was the best Trek series (IMHO).

It had a darker edge to it, the characters were well written and brilliantly acted, the vast majority of the episodes were done brilliantly, whilst the sets gave the show a much more interesting look (not all so clean cut as TNG or VOY).

The one thing that worked really well for DS9 was that it was a station. They were in one place throughout almost the entire 7 seasons (she did move from Bajor's orbit in Emissary), which meant that once a decision was made and actions taken they would have to face the consequences and deal with the fall out, rather than just flying off to the next system.

The finale was excellently done as well, with all of the crew now heading off on different paths. It gave that added little realism at the end of it all, as things change and people move on. It just annoys me that they didn't continue on with it and give us an eight, ninth and tenth seasons, dealing with the aftermath of the war. Would love to have seen Colonel Kira in charge of the station, with her new crew.

I started off like VOY, but after Seven came on and everything revolved around her cat-suit clad chest, I lost interest, missing huge chucks of seasons six and seven and not really having all that much interest in going bad and seeing what I missed.

 

[Gary7]

When DS9 started, I liked it but preferred TNG. I missed all the traveling around in a starship with DS9. Over time, I began to appreciate it more. But then after a few rather "soap opera" like episodes, I started losing interest and stopped watching. When the Defiant was brought in, that helped lure me back. And then the epic wars were another attraction point. It was also terrific to see Worf reprise his role after TNG ended.

I generally like the space travel adventure stories, so VOY took precedence for me. But I have to say that in retrospect, upon watching some DS9 episodes in reruns, I have really grown to like it a lot more. Is it the best Star Trek? I actually loathe such a question. Each series has its own merits. And those merits will have more weight for certain people over others. I must take the neutral spot and say that ALL of the Star Trek series were enjoyable for their own reasons. Each series produced some terrific episodes that I'd say are favorable over the average episodes from any Star Trek series.

The only thing I would change is to give ENT more seasons. I think it was cut too early. As I saw it, the series was just starting to muster up some seriously great stories. It made a turning point in Season 3, just as TNG had. It's a shame they didn't get a chance to follow through for another 3 more seasons.

 

[MacLeod]

DSN was by far the most consistant in terms of quality most of it's episodes I would rate as Good or above.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

DS9 had its share of clunkers -- more than TNG in my book. But that's only because it took greater risks and experienced greater rewards than TNG. I may still prefer TNG (due, in no small part, to nostalgia), but there's no question that, overall, DS9 is the better series.

 

[BennyRussel]

I personally think DS9 is the best Trek series, but I want to give some respect to TOS.

With what they had to deal with (low budgets, low ratings, the threat of cancellation looming) and the fact that they were making it up as they went along - they did a hell of a job.

There's never been chemistry like that of Kirk-Spock-McCoy on any other series.

Could you imagine that cast and crew with today's special effects and the freedom to work on a cable channel like SyFy?

 

[Jetboogieman]

Gratz to you, I've never been able to watch all of it, I've seen all of season six and seven and the majority of episodes from the other series.

Still my favourite Trek series ever.

As Entertainment Weekly put it:

"The Greatest Show on TV that no one noticed".

For one of the best recaps of the show ever made check out this youtube video, you'll get goosebumps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s-nDssQRtI