The Most Disliked Episode of DS9, Finals - 2025 Edition...

[Frightscape One]

So now it is time for the final part.

*RULES*

Give what you consider to be the best/your most favorite episode ONE point, and briefly explain WHY. Be sure to copy and paste the list with your point added. When an episode reaches 4 points, it is eliminated. Then a NEW round begins (in this thread) with the numbers restored to 0. Vote ONCE per round. And enjoy!


Season 1 Winner - "THE STORYTELLER"
Runner up - "VORTEX"
Season 2 Winner - "SECOND SIGHT"
Runner up - "THE ALTERNATE"
Season 3 Winner - "MERIDIAN"
Runner up - "PROPHET MOTIVE"
Season 4 Winner - "HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
Runner up - "CROSSFIRE"
Season 5 Winner - "RAPTURE"
Runner up - "BLAZE OF GLORY"
Season 6 Winner - "SONS AND DAUGHTERS"
Runner up - "CHANGE OF HEART"
Season 7 Winner - "PRODIGAL DAUGHTER"
Runner up - "AFTERIMAGE"


"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH" - 0
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"RAPTURE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Frightscape One]

My first vote goes to "HIPPOCRATIC OATH".

A good challenge of their friendship, and it's clearly a great one because they DO remain best friends. One of the cornerstones of this series is the O'Brien/Bashir friendship, and any time it's front and center in an episode, it's a win.

Also, good B story with Worf trying to adjust his mindset to station life. Completely believeable and a necessary story to be told. It was well done.

Plus, no 4th season episode should win this game.



"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"RAPTURE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Bad Thoughts]

My save goes to Rapture. It does not deserve to be on the list, sometimes cited as one of the best DS9 episodes. It deals with religion in an interesting way. Excellent acting from Brooks, Lofton, and Johnson.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"HIPOCRATIC OATH" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"RAPTURE" - 1
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Detached Nacelle]

My first vote is for Prophet Motive because fun Ferengi episodes deserve saving.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"HIPOCRATIC OATH" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"RAPTURE" - 1
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Severed Heads]

Rapture is an excellent episode, with Kai Winn of all people showed in a positive way.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"HIPOCRATIC OATH" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"RAPTURE" - 2
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Cyfa]

I managed to miss the last 3 or 4 games and I'm surprised by some of the episodes here. Still, "Rapture" gets my vote this time because I love pretty much any Bajoran mythology/religion/prophecy story, and especially Sisko in full on Emissary/Prophet Puppet mode!

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"HIPOCRATIC OATH" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"RAPTURE" - 3
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Captrek]

Another vote for HO.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"HIPOCRATIC OATH" - 2
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"RAPTURE" - 3
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Sakonna]

I will save "Rapture", which is fantastic -- every time they do Sisko and Emissary stuff it's fantastic.

And I'll give my point for the next round to "Hippocratic Oath", which is also just a knockout episode. Great A story and great B story.

This is like the most high-quality episodes we've ever had in any finals.

Maybe four or five of them I would consider dogs.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Frightscape One]

I will vote for my HO...

As in, "HIPPOCRATIC OATH".

Same reasons as before.


"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH" - 2
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Prophet Motive again. Same reason.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH" - 2
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Frightscape One]

I will save "Rapture", which is fantastic -- every time they do Sisko and Emissary stuff it's fantastic.

And I'll give my point for the next round to "Hippocratic Oath", which is also just a knockout episode. Great A story and great B story.

This is like the most high-quality episodes we've ever had in any finals.

Maybe four or five of them I would consider dogs.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

This is a high quality list because it's DEEP SPACE NINE. Even the dregs of this series are a step above a lot of regular episodes of others.

 

[Captrek]

I too am voting for HO. That’s actually the fourth vote, Sakonna miscounted.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Frightscape One]

I too am voting for HO. That’s actually the fourth vote, Sakonna miscounted.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

Actually, Sakonna was correct.

When an episode gets eliminated, all other episode counts reset to 0, which begins a new round.

I have restored the list, but added your vote, making "HIPPOCRATIC OATH" having 3 votes.



"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH" - 3
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 0
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Severed Heads]

Ill save Hippocratic Oath. It was good to see O'Brien and Bashir in conflict.

Next round I'm voting for Blaze of Glory, the excellent send off for Eddington.

STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 1
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Frightscape One]

Voting "BLAZE OF GLORY" this round.

Eddington got a good death, and I love the B plot of Nog trying to earn Martok's respect. And he did!



"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 2
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Captrek]

Ditto.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 0
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 3
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Faintly Macabre]

I saved "Vortex" in the original game and I'm going to vote for it now for the same reasons. It gives us Odo's need to know about from where he came which becomes an important part of DS9, and of Odo's development. Odo and his interest in justice rather than "the rules" is shown.


"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 1
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 0
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 3
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Detached Nacelle]

It wont make a difference this round but sticking to me guns.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 1
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 1
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 3
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0

 

[Sakonna]

I can't quite get behind "Glory" next. Instead I will do "Prophet Motive." This was a very clever way to reintroduce the Prophets to the series for the first time since the pilot.

"THE STORYTELLER" - 0
"VORTEX" - 1
"SECOND SIGHT" - 0
"THE ALTERNATE" - 0
"MERIDIAN" - 0
"PROPHET MOTIVE" - 2
"CROSSFIRE" - 0
"BLAZE OF GLORY" - 3
"SONS AND DAUGHTERS" - 0
"CHANGE OF HEART" - 0
"PRODIGAL DAUGHTER" - 0
"AFTERIMAGE" - 0