Selective Viewing

[Too Much Fun]

So I started watching DS9 in 2008 (I can't remember when). It began with borrowing season 1 on DVD from a friend. I wasn't very impressed with the season overall, and as a result, I couldn't motivate myself to seek out the rest of the series for awhile. Then I caught "Invasive Procedures" on TV and gradually started appreciating the show more and more, until I felt compelled to start watching it regularly (yes, this means I haven't seen 'The Circle Trilogy' yet, but hope to remedy that soon). I continued watching every week up until season 6, when I had to move (temporarily) to where I am now, which is a place where I don't have cable television. This meant I had to get the episodes myself again, which allows me to watch them at my own pace, like I did with season 1.

When I started watching season 6, I decided to approach it selectively - since I wasn't watching the episodes on TV every day, I felt obliged to just pick and choose which ones to watch, since there wasn't much incentive to watch every single episode (i.e. it becoming a TV-watching routine). Once I came up with this plan, I started reading up on episode summaries and reasoned that it would be best to skip certain episodes. One thing I was certain of is that I'm not going to watch the season finale because of what happens to Dax in it.

I guess this is kind of immature (like insisting on believing in the tooth fairy as an adult or something), but I'd rather just be in denial of what happened there. I know it'll be hard with Ezri being around in season 7, but at least I'll be spared the pain of watching my favourite character get killed off (and in 'Tasha-riffic' fashion from what I've heard). I'm going to pretend Ezri is like, I don't know...her little sister or, um...Jadzia Dax reincarnated after dying of natural causes 100 years in the future...yeah, that'll do.

I looked at the summaries of some of the other final season 6 episodes and it looks to me like a lot of them are equally 'skippable'. I have no interest in some lame "Molly O'Brien grows up for one episode" nonsense, all this junk with the Pah Wraiths (I think the episode with Keiko getting possessed was enough for me), further Bajoran mythology (haven't enjoyed any of the episodes exploring Bajoran culture, unless you count "Fascination"), a Quark-in-drag episode, or something about Red Squad (again, I don't think I need to see anymore after enjoying a previous episode, in this case "The First Duty"). I've just finished watching "His Way", which I absolutely adored. It was light, entertaining, and significant continuity-wise for what it adds to the character arcs of Odo and Kira, so I believe that it's the best possible makeshift 'selective viewing season finale' for me.

I am not open to debate about this. That's my personal season finale and I'm sticking to it. I am, however, interested in any recommendations about other season 6 episodes I skipped. I might watch one of them futher down the line someday. Like I said, I picked which episodes to watch based on plot summaries, so after the arc that opened the season, I started my skipping around. I know for sure that I still don't want to see the apparent character assassination of Gul Dukat in "Waltz" or the mirror universe farce (which almost everyone here seems to agree is mediocre anyway) of "Resurrection", but I'm open to any other advice about what to watch between "Statistical Probabilities" and "His Way" that I haven't seen yet. So I put it to all of you Niners who have seen the entire series to advise me on what you would deem the best 'bonus' season 6 episode to add in my selective viewing experiment. Please vote in the poll and defend your choice!

 

[Jono]

I went with Inquisition due to it introducing Sloan and the group that will become more important towards the end of the show.

However, out of the episodes my favourite episode to watch is The Reckoning.

 

[Praetorian]

Really, rewatch the oppening season 6 arc, and have "You are Cordially Invited" as your *series* finale. It's not a bad place to do so. The Dominion suffered a heavy setback and Jadzia is happily married.
However if you choose to proceed just watch the whole damn thing, otherwise it seems pointless to me. Of course stuff like "Quark in a drag", "Mirror Bareil" and "Future Molly" can be skipped without any problem...but more than that I wouldn't really recommend...

Jadzia dying, Dukat going insane, Federation People acting like nutjobs/scheeming bastards and Prophets and Pagh Wraiths dueling? Those are essential things, Season 7 won't make any sense without them...(and even with them..=P)

Also judging an episode based on what others say and/or it's summary is not really a good thing to do I think...

 

[scottydog]

I agree mostly with Praetorian. You miss out on some good stuff if you skip an episode just because a single-sentence summary doesn't sound good. And I should listen to myself -- at times I skip over a silly Ferengi episode; it may not be the best episode in the world but there are essential details regarding the war arc in almost every episode.

 

[intrinsical]

Imho, seasons 5 and 6 are two of the best DS9 seasons. Most of the episodes are good, so watch as many as you can. Its been over a decade, so some of these episode names don't trigger any memories but these few do, which means they really stand out:

Statistical Probabilities (Good Bashir episode) One Little Ship (Quite a fun stand-alone episode, features Dominion)

Honor Among Thieves (Good O'Brien episode)
Valiant (Above average Nog episode)
Inquisition (MUST SEE Bashir episode)
The Sound Of Her Voice (Stand alone episode, emotional, strong performances from the entire cast)
Waltz (Some don't like it, but I absolutely love any Sisko-Dukat scenes which makes this MUST SEE for me)
Profit and Lace (DO NOT SEE. BAD. VERY, VERY BAD)

 

[TheGodBen]

I am not open to debate about this.

If you're really not open to debate then the episode that you 100% have to watch is Inquisition. Not only is it a great episode but it introduces the character of Sloan and his organisation and they play a critical part in the final chapter of the show. You would be doing yourself an incredible disservice by not watching this episode.

But really you should try to watch all the episodes of the season because season 6 is is one of the best seasons in all of Star Trek and there is some really good episodes that you're going to miss out on because of your impatience.

 

[Thor Damar]

I am not open to debate about this.

If you're really not open to debate then the episode that you 100% have to watch is Inquisition. Not only is it a great episode but it introduces the character of Sloan and his organisation and they play a critical part in the final chapter of the show. You would be doing yourself an incredible disservice by not watching this episode.

But really you should try to watch all the episodes of the season because season 6 is is one of the best seasons in all of Star Trek and there is some really good episodes that you're going to miss out on because of your impatience.

Agreed, however I'm casting a vote for Statistical Probabilities purely because of Damar and his reactions to the other characters on the show.
(and the scene where the Jack Pack analysis Damar's rise to 'power' is a sheer delight to watch)

 

[TheGodBen]

^ Statistical Probabilities is a very close second for me. Another great episode which moves the plot along by introducing Damar as the new Cardassian leader, and the antagonism between him and Weyoun that begins in this episode also plays a huge role in the final chapter. Not to mention that the Jack pack were a delight to watch interact with the crew. You'd be mad to skip it.

 

[Thor Damar]

^ Statistical Probabilities is a very close second for me. Another great episode which moves the plot along by introducing Damar as the new Cardassian leader, and the antagonism between him and Weyoun that begins in this episode also plays a huge role in the final chapter. Not to mention that the Jack pack were a delight to watch interact with the crew. You'd be mad to skip it.

QFST.

Also if you want an example of great comic timing you should listen to how Casey Briggs delivers Damars first line when he steps foot on to DS9 in that episode.
I think that Damar was always an unintentionally funny character, in the best possible sense of the term.

 

[Navaros]

Statistical Probablitilies, Honor Among Theives, One Little Ship, Inquisition and Valiant are all great episodes.

Wronger Darker than Death and Night and The Sound of Her Voice are both unwatchable schlock IMO.

The Reckoning is mediocre.

Your opinions might be a lot different than mine though, as they are about Jadzia; I can't stand Jadzia Dax, and was glad to see her character go.

I wouldn't advise skipping episodes that has some stuff you don't like it. If you skip all the episodes with Pah-Dukat stuff then you are also missing out on a huge assortment of other great elements of the series which also play out within those same episodes.

Time's Orphan is an abomination; you did right to skip that.

 

[Montresor]

I agree with Inquisition, probably my favorite of the episodes listed, but One Little Ship is great as well.

 

[Jaespol]

Seriously dude, just watch it all.
More season 6 episodes = more lovely Jadzia, what's wrong with that?
Have you seen "Change of Heart"? Its an excellent episode!

 

[I am not Spock]

Just bought season 6 last week. it's a great season overall, with so many awesome episodes.

The opening 6 episode arc, 'In The Pale Moonlight', 'Inquisition', and 'Statistical Probabilities' are highlights for me. 'Far Beyond The Stars' is excellent, as well.

 

[Too Much Fun]

Seriously dude, just watch it all.
More season 6 episodes = more lovely Jadzia, what's wrong with that?
Have you seen "Change of Heart"? Its an excellent episode!

Of course I saw that one, there's no way I was going to skip that one, and that's part of the point. Episodes like that are the exact reason I'd rather not put myself through the massive bummer of watching as she's offed at the end. Thank you for the suggestions, people, keep 'em coming. Like I said, I'm happy to let "His Way" be my season finale for now, but I think I'll try to track down and check out the winner of the poll at some point before I finish watching the series.

 

[kitsune]

One Little Ship is a bit silly, but it's fun, and I'm a fan of size-changing plots.

 

[Jaespol]

Yeah I went with One Little Ship.
I hope you're gonna watch all the DS9 episodes you missed or you're missing out.
Btw, I was literally crapping myself all thru season 6 cuz I knew Jadzia was gonna die at some point but I didn't know when. The fact she was near death several times made it pretty nerve wracking. I had a familiar experience with Voyager season 3.

 

[Too Much Fun]

Thank you again for all the thoughtful comments, folks. I've decided that I will definitely take a break from my watching Season 7 for the first time and check out "Inquisition". Perhaps I'll do that right before I start watching the huge arc of episodes that wrap up the series. This episode better be good.

 

[tomalak301]

Thank you again for all the thoughtful comments, folks. I've decided that I will definitely take a break from my watching Season 7 for the first time and check out "Inquisition". Perhaps I'll do that right before I start watching the huge arc of episodes that wrap up the series. This episode better be good.

It's my favorite Bashir episode. Hope you love it.