The least disliked episode of DS9 - season six

[Bad Thoughts]

A Time to Stand. It sets up the plot for the whole six part arc perfectly, but it doesn't do as much to establish the material and emotional journeys of the characters. Is that nitpicky? Yes, but little differentiates these episodes from one another.

Rocks and Shoals
Favor the Bold
Sacrifice of Angels
Far Beyond the Stars
In the Pale Moonlight

 

[DonIago]

Don't hate me...

"Far Beyond the Stars". It's obviously a great episode...but most of it is an examination of Sisko and deeper issues, with little attention given to the "here and now" of DS9 at the time. Which is to say the episode could have been in any other season and worked just as well, while the others pretty much need to be where they are.

Rocks and Shoals
Favor the Bold
Sacrifice of Angels
In the Pale Moonlight

 

[Terok Nor]

I'll take out Favor The Bold then. Sacrifice is the better episode of that 2 parter.

Rocks and Shoals
Sacrifice of Angels
In the Pale Moonlight

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Sacrifice of Angels. The battle is a little messy in its presentation. Also, I know that enough people fault this for being a deus ex machina resolution--it's not, but if the writing had been tighter, the critique would not come up.

Rocks and Shoals
In the Pale Moonlight

 

[Seven of Five]

In The Pale Moonlight wins! One of my favourite episode of DS9.

In the Pale Moonlight

 

[DonIago]

Can't argue with that.

 

[CrazyMatt]

I think "In The Pale Moonlight" was the best episode of the series, and I think Gene Roddenberry would have hated it!

 

[Paul Weaver]

I'm shocked Rocks and Shoals made it so far!

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I'm shocked Rocks and Shoals made it so far!

Why? It is classic DS9, exploring the heat of battle (like Starship Down, The Ship, Nor the Battle to the Strong, To the Death) and the nature of the enemy (To the Death, Hippocratic Oath). Moreover, it has great growth from Kira and one of Trek's most chilling scenes. It's more tightly written than Sacrifice of Angels, making it the best of the 6-part arc. It is only really surpased by Siege or AR-558.

 

[DonIago]

I was also really impressed by the effects of the ship falling toward the planet and then sinking into the sea. And we get Keevan, the only Vorta slimier than Weyoun.

I should also mention the great contrast between Kira starting her day at the beginning of the episode and Kira starting her day following the events of the episode.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Rocks and Shoals has one of the most stunning statements: "Evil must be opposed." I don't now where RDM got it, but I haven't seen it expressed in English without qualification. There are other bits of dialogue that have been more often quoted, some that reference powerful parts of stories ("... i can live with it ...") or that seem to be bigger than the episode itself ("It's easy to be a saint in paradise ..."). "Evil must be opposed" is equally ponderous and challenging.

 

[Seven of Five]

A Time to Stand and Rocks and Shoals are two of my favourites from the season. I think they offer a swift one-two punch to open the year in a desperate way. It really felt like it was all going to hell.

It's also why I dislike Sons and Daughters, as it really disrupts the flow these two episodes had. Alexander? Seriously? And they somehow made him more annoying.

 

[Terok Nor]

The A story in Rocks And Shoals is absolutely fantastic. The B story is okay but knowing Kira has dinner with Dukat in the very next episode makes the vedek's suicide a bit pointless in the immediate aftermath.