The Most Disliked Episode of DS9 - Season 2...

[Farscape One]

This is a twist on a game that is played here, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Here's the game. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. I'll provide a list of the episodes for each season and you need to eliminate your most favorite or the one you deem the 'best.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed. Finally, leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode because you feel they would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win. Pretty simple. Enjoy!

Hall of Champions (or Failures?)
2011 - "PROFIT AND LACE"
2018 - "LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
2019 - "THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOAK"

Season Two -

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
NECESSARY EVIL
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
PARADISE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
BLOOD OATH
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE WIRE
CROSSOVER
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL
THE JEM'HADAR

 

[Farscape One]

I will start the season by saving "THE WIRE". This season had some great episodes, but this one was just outstanding. Excellent performances, particularly Andrew Robinson. Garak appearing in an episode automatically elevates it, but an episode devoted to him? Absolute gold... pressed latinum.

"They're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."

THIS is why Garak is a one of a kind character.


THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
NECESSARY EVIL
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
PARADISE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
BLOOD OATH
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
CROSSOVER
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL
THE JEM'HADAR

 

[Terok Nor]

Crossover.

The best DS9 Mirror episode. I did like the ones with Professor Sisko but this one felt like a TOS episode.

 

[Armus]

So many great episodes in season 2. I have a soft spot for PARADISE, the episode where Sisko and O'brien have to take down a fanatic who hates all technology. Alixus was a great nemesis for Sisko.

"That's the first core behavior I've seen from you since you arrived."
"Core behavior? Does that chapter come before or after sexual procurement?"

- Alixus and Sisko


THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
NECESSARY EVIL
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
BLOOD OATH
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
CROSSOVER
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL
THE JEM'HADAR

 

[BigDaveX]

The Jem’Hadar, as it was the point where the show became about something much more serious than just the residual bad blood between the Bajorans and Cardassians.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
NECESSARY EVIL
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
BLOOD OATH
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I'm removing Necessary Evil. It's the best origin story in the series, and shifts moods with ease. Great interaction between Auberjonois and Visitor.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
BLOOD OATH
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[PSGarak]

"Cardassians" Has a lot of high points for me. Garak is always an obvious one, but I liked the opportunity to delve further into Bajor's history with the Occupation, the conflict between Garak and Dukat, Sisko's dressing down of Bashir, Rugal's predicament, all of it. I liked that it ended in a way that implied more trouble down the line and did not neatly tie up. These were the sorts of conflicts we would continue to see, the show promised, and it delivered on so many levels.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
BLOOD OATH
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Farscape One]

I vow to save "BLOOD OATH". Great Dax story, and nice tying this series into the grander STAR TREK mythology by bringing Kang, Koloth, and Kor. My wife does not like Klingon episodes because she feels they are mere caricatures, and she is right about them sometimes... but I enjoy a lot of them.

Qa'pla!!!

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll save The Homecoming. A very good start to the opening trilogy, and probably the strongest episode for Li Nilas.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART I
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Armus]

THE MAQUIS Part I. The messiness of frontier politics and border treaties is explored nicely. It felt very believable. There are some good scenes between Sisko and Dukat.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Sakonna]

A lot of sentimental favorites in season 2. I'm going to save "Armageddon Game." A fabulous reboot for Bashir/O'Brien, a favorite DS9 relationship of mine, after their initial showcases were the terrible "Storyteller" and "Rivals." I enjoy how much they stepped up the hair to compensate for no prosthetics on the aliens-of-the-week. And that slide-whistle ending with Keiko is the best.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
WHISPERS
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Discofan]

I am saving "WHISPERS", that poor O'Brien clone never realized the truth until it was too late. However, I thought they were a bit insensitive toward a sentient being, especially the true O'Brien.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[PSGarak]

"Profit and Loss." More convoluted Cardassian politics, Mary Crosby's deft turn at dissident Natima Lang, a very Bogey and Bacall love story between Quark and Lang, giving more depth to Quark and a side of him we hadn't really seen before, plus more hints at Garak's possible backstory which was still very much a mystery at the time it aired. I thought Shimmerman and Crosby both did an amazing job of selling their emotional connection through thick prosthetics. That takes skill.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[BigDaveX]

Rules of Acquisition, for managing to make something decent out of the caricatured description of Ferengi women that we got over on TNG.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
MELORA
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Discofan]

"INVASIVE PROCEDURES" as it allows us to learn a little about the Dax symbiont...

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
MELORA
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
TRIBUNAL

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll save The Collaborator this time. I really enjoy the search for the truth, even though it doesn't do Bareil any favours politically.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
MELORA
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
THE MAQUIS, PART II
TRIBUNAL

 

[Discofan]

I'll save The Collaborator this time. I really enjoy the search for the truth, even though it doesn't do Bareil any favours politically.
...

I don't like this episode's implication that by betraying her own kind Kai Opaka did a good thing. She did a horrible thing and should have suffered the consequences, instead, she got the underserved loyalty of Bareil who did nothing wrong. Stupid plot!

 

[Sakonna]

I will save part II of "The Maquis", for having Sakonna in it!

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
MELORA
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD
TRIBUNAL

I thought Shimmerman and Crosby both did an amazing job of selling their emotional connection through thick prosthetics.

Seriously. DS9 overall is a boon of brilliant prosthetic acting, but this episode is a notably impressive example of it. I also love how weird & perfectly alien their banter is about the sexy picnic they had where the insect landed on her face & got stuck there ("His wings were beating almost as fast as my heart") At first you're like "what is this bizarre writing?", then you realize she's a lizard, he's a swamp rat -- insects getting them all riled up & frisky tracks.

 

[Discofan]

"TRIBUNAL" as it shows another aspect of the Cardassians, specifically their justice system (if we can call it that)

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
MELORA
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD

 

[Armus]

RIVALS is an extremely enjoyable 42 minutes of TV.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
MELORA
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
SHADOWPLAY
PLAYING GOD