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The Most Disliked Episode of DS9, Season 4 - 2025 Edition...

F

Frightscape One

Admiral
Admiral
Welcome to our bi-yearly 'Most Disliked Episode' games! Now that the 'Least Disliked Episode' games hosted by BlueStuff (who inspired me to create these games, so thank you very much for paving the way) have concluded, we can begin the opposite side of that coin.

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"
2021 - "THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOAK"
2023 - "PROFIT AND LACE"
2025 -


Season Four -

"THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR"
"THE VISITOR"
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"INDISCRETION"
"REJOINED"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"LITTLE GREEN MEN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"HOMEFRONT"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
I'm going to go on record (for probably the 10,000th time) and say that DS9 season 4 is the closest thing to a perfect season the franchise ever got. Only the B plot of ONE episode in the whole season didn't work. The rest was just fantastic. It is so hard for me to choose my first. But I think I will start with "THE VISITOR".

I once put this one, along with "IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT', as the number 1 episode in the franchise, let alone for this season. This is what I wrote about it...


--------

With "THE VISITOR", everyone can relate or will relate at some point because everybody will lose someone they love at some point in their lives. And so many of us would very likely do exactly what Jake did to bring his father back. (Damn it, I'm already shedding a single man tear as I'm typing this.) The emotions here reach us on such a basic, universal level that it's impossible to not include this in a short list of the best of ST.

-------


A stunningly powerful episode that always leaves me a crying mess at the end. A beautiful story and a beautiful episode that transcends not just science fiction, but tv as a whole. A perfect 10, easily.


"THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR"
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"INDISCRETION"
"REJOINED"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"LITTLE GREEN MEN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"HOMEFRONT"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Me and two-parters… I’m saving Homefront.

"THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR"
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"INDISCRETION"
"REJOINED"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"LITTLE GREEN MEN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
"Little Green Men" is just plain fun. I think time travel (and things like the MU and Section 31) can be problematic if they are used too often but this works very well. The tie-in with the Roswell Incident is rather cunning and it's nice to see the scenes from both the pov of Our Heroes and their captors. The scene where Quark is tapping his ear because his UT isn't working and the interrogators think it's some form of communication manages to make a point about he difficulties of communicating with people who are very different from you as well as being funny.


"THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR"
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"INDISCRETION"
"REJOINED"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Saving "THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR".

Essentially the second pilot for DS9 for the back half of the series, this was just excellent.

Worf's introduction was superb, and everyone else was still well serviced and utilized well. Great story, great writing, great action... this episode was pretty much flawless.

DS9 truly was firing on all cylinders from this point on.


"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"INDISCRETION"
"REJOINED"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Indiscretion is a great Dukat episode. Fascinating character.

"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"REJOINED"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Rejoined is perhaps the best Dax episode in DS9, with a very plausible ROTW.

I also like how the taboo about reassociation tracks with homosexuality.


A very poignant episode.

HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
My next save should be no surprise (if you know my posting history)... "OUR MAN BASHIR".

This is my most rewatched episode in the entire franchise. It is just absolute fun from beginning to end.

This episode is full of homages to the spy movies/shows of yesteryear. The puns and names were fantastic. (Dr. Noah: an obvious nod to DR. NO, as well as his plan to flood the Earth and just have his 'ark' left. Mona Luvsit, Honey Bare... the puns were just awesome!) Proof that Ronald D. Moore is quite likely, on paper, the funniest writer in the franchise.

Avery Brooks was clearly having a blast filming this. He is an incredibly fun and effective villain!

And the best part? It's a 'holodeck gone wrong' episode without it ACTUALLY going wrong! Genius!

Add Garak in the episode, along with his own analysis of Bashir's personality, and it is just pure gold pressed latinum. ALWAYS a rewatch when it appears on tv.

This episode is a 10!





"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Oh, drat! I couldn't type quick enough to save "Our Man Bashir". Instead, I'll save "The Muse". Lwaxana and Odo more than make up for the slightly insipid Jake story, but I actually like both storylines. Odo's wedding speech to Lwaxana is really lovely and heartfelt, and I'm sorry that we didn't have at least one more Lwaxana and Odo episode before DS9 ended.

"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"PARADISE LOST"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Severed Heads said:
Rejoined is perhaps the best Dax episode in DS9, with a very plausible ROTW.

I also like how the taboo about reassociation tracks with homosexuality.


A very poignant episode.
Click to expand...
I disagree about the plausibility. From the way Jadzia talks about Curzon’s irresponsible behavior, it’s clear that they are two very different people. I wouldn’t expect somebody in love with one to be in love with the other. Dax’s feelings for Nelani Kahn shouldn’t automatically transfer to Lenara Kahn, and Kahn’s feelings for Torias Dax shouldn’t be expected to transfer to Jadzia Dax.

Anyway, I saved Homefront, now time for Paradise Lost. I’m surprised it has lasted this long.

"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"OUR MAN BASHIR"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"THE MUSE"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"THE QUICKENING"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Saving "THE QUICKENING".

It was good to see Bashir get his ego dropped down a notch when he failed to save the group of patients that Quickened. And Dax was right when she said it was MORE arrogant of him to say there was no cure just because he couldn't find it.

But that didn't stop him. He stayed just to help Ekoria deliver her son. And despite not creating a cure, he did succeed in making a vaccine. And he STILL was working on trying to cure the Blight completely at the end.

This is the best character episode for Bashir, and helps underscore why he is my favorite doctor in the franchise.

And I really loved Ekoria... she was heroic. She literally died to give her child life, and in doing so, she gave her race new life and hope. In a world that looked at death as a release and something to look forward to... which in itself was a great idea and story to go into. It's a bittersweet ending for her, but I am glad she got to live long enough to see her son did not have the Blight. (I'm actually starting a single man tear thinking about that scene as I type this.)

There is a lot to agree with about Trevean's point of view. He thinks of himself as a healer because he DOES take away others' pain. I can't actually disagree with him on it.

I simply LOVE this episode, and for me, it is most certainly a 10.

"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"SONS OF MOGH"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
"TO THE DEATH"
"BODY PARTS"
"BROKEN LINK"
 
Two instantly cross my mind, but

"SONS OF MOGH"

has one of the best damn Sisko speeches of all time and one of the better speeches put out on television for that matter.

Yeah, the memory wipe is a little corny as TNG did it a few times (only the first time was good and then Data leaves behind the shell, but whatever) but considering how this is also DS9 where they generally get a lot more shocking and gruesome, this ending is actually heartwarming and charming. A shocker in its own right, making it that much more compelling.

The other episode I'll definitely shout out regardless of if I get to save it or not.

What's left:
HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"HARD TIME"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"FOR THE CAUSE" a
"TO THE DEATH"
 
I wanted to save "BODY PARTS" on my wife's behalf, but I'm glad it was already saved. I even prewrote my reason. (Nevertheless, I will put down what I wrote in spoiler tags.)

Saving "BODY PARTS".

This is more on behalf of my wife than myself. (Though I love this episode, too.) This is one of her favorites.

Great A and B stories. And THE most creative way of incorporating a real life pregnancy into a series I have ever seen before or since.

But the main reason this gets saved? The final scene.

My wife absolutely LOVES this scene, and so do I. In fact, I use this scene as an example of why DEEP SPACE NINE is not only the best spinoff of TOS, but also the best example of the core principles of the franchise. Quark, bankrupt and defeated, suddenly finds himself surrounded by the station's community. Everyone there is doing their part to help Quark back up on his feet. In doing so, this sent the message: "It doesn't matter who you are, or if you are an outcast of even your own people. You are welcome here beside us and you are a part of our community. We all belong together and will help each other." Honestly, what better message is there than that?

It's scenes like this that illustrates exactly why DS9 is so awesome, and why this series means so much to me.


Saving "HARD TIME".

Colm Meaney was just EXCELLENT here. He always brought it, but here... he was simply above and beyond. That cargo bay scene was the most rock bottom we have ever seen a lead character in the franchise, and it was superbly done. Another time that we see how one of the cornerstones of the series, the friendship of O'Brien and Bashir, is so important to the series.

It's no surprise the man is constantly working and acting all these years after DS9 ended when he delivers performances like this.

And the final scene of Molly rushing to hug him saying 'daddy's home'... that just gets me to single man tear mode every time.


"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"CROSSFIRE"
"RETURN TO GRACE"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"FOR THE CAUSE" 
"TO THE DEATH"
 
Return to Grace for Dukat.

"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"STARSHIP DOWN"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"CROSSFIRE"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"FOR THE CAUSE" 
"TO THE DEATH"

BTW, how is it Jadzia could speak with authority of Torias’ love for Nelani but didn’t know of Curzon’s love for her?
 
Frightscape One said:
My next save should be no surprise (if you know my posting history)... "OUR MAN BASHIR".

This is my most rewatched episode in the entire franchise. It is just absolute fun from beginning to end.

This episode is full of homages to the spy movies/shows of yesteryear. The puns and names were fantastic. (Dr. Noah: an obvious nod to DR. NO, as well as his plan to flood the Earth and just have his 'ark' left. Mona Luvsit, Honey Bare... the puns were just awesome!) Proof that Ronald D. Moore is quite likely, on paper, the funniest writer in the franchise.

Avery Brooks was clearly having a blast filming this. He is an incredibly fun and effective villain!

And the best part? It's a 'holodeck gone wrong' episode without it ACTUALLY going wrong! Genius!

Add Garak in the episode, along with his own analysis of Bashir's personality, and it is just pure gold pressed latinum. ALWAYS a rewatch when it appears on tv.

This episode is a 10!
Click to expand...

The Treknobabble to set up the situation is borderline lame, BUT it's brief enough and if you roll with it, the payoffs are tremendous and great fun. For the audience and all the actors as this is a true ensemble piece where, the lack of one person, even those trying to imitate Natasha and Boris in their hunt for Moose and Squirrel, would create a narrative imbalance. Even the Treknobabble in place, it's still a well-deserved 10/10, that's how good the payoffs are.

Even more so if you're a fan of James Bond.

Avery Brooks, as always, steals the show with his presence (all the best Trek captains have a certain knack and even Shakespearean quality/training, which is tantamount IMHO) and Avery knows the line between the various facets of emotions, including degrees of OTT and he's simply perfect as the Dr Noah persona. (great wordplay too, doubly so when you remember 1967's "Casino Royale", hehehe!)

Frightscape One said:
Saving "THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR".

Essentially the second pilot for DS9 for the back half of the series, this was just excellent.

Worf's introduction was superb, and everyone else was still well serviced and utilized well. Great story, great writing, great action... this episode was pretty much flawless.

DS9 truly was firing on all cylinders from this point on.
Click to expand...

Seasons 1 through 3 were hit or miss but clearly had enough on their own. Then comes this soft reboot where they actually move the universe forward, what with the Klingon alliance ending and all, and that is what really adds intrigue and "Dayum, where are they going to go with this!" Unlike the TNG films, there was no easy reset button and DS9 took the time to do it right. So not all mid-/late-90s entertainment was shlock.

Worf's introduction felt almost a retread as the well of "divided loyalties" was explored in "Redemption" but TWOTW handles it so much better that it's more than the sum of its parts, even if there was more emotional wringing out of the TNG episode. We knew Worf would stay and not because of the opening credits (he still could have went with the Klingons and be a regular in that regard, but this far into the franchise's life it's a given that he'd likely be on the Federation side... then again, given how DS9 is the best anti-TNG out there in terms of balancing the underpinnings (e.g. that duck philosophy where TNG represents the duck floating while DS9 represents the work needed to keep it floating and it's not always shiny happy people there), anyone guessing that he might have gone to the Klingon side would have some valid reasons in doing so.)

The battle was also excellent, even if there are shades of a certain musical score from "Generations". It all still gelled wonderfully.
 
What might Woody Woodpecker say?

"STARSHIP DOWN"

Ha ha-ha hah-hah! I get to save this one too! 🥳

I loathed this at first because it felt like a low-rent copy of TNG's just-named "Disaster", from which the influences are definitely there. But in rewatching both the DS9 innovation and the TNG progenitor over the years, DS9 just nails it with a more refined reason for what it was doing, as well as having characters remain truer to their traits. As a result, it feels far more satisfying, even if the incidental music wasn't the greatest at times (most post-jones Trek was more miss than hit).

This episode has become a near-classic for me over time, whereas I'd much rather sit through even Star Drek like "Justice" over "Disaster", as at least "Justice" has a stronger grasp on the characters and more accurately too, even if the underlying story is pants. Well, it and "Descent" are both utter pants, just for different reasons. "Justice" isn't as bad but "Starship Down" rises well above both the others I'd mentioned.


What's left:
"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"CROSSFIRE"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"FOR THE CAUSE" 
"TO THE DEATH"
 
"STARSHIP DOWN" was literally going to be my next save. :beer:


So instead, it will be "TO THE DEATH".

An excellent look at what makes the Jem'Hadar tick. These are a fantastic species. The more you get to know them... the more you want to run away. These are dangerous guys.

But they are the ultimate soldiers. And I would actually be honored to have them serve as my soldiers.

But wothout all that, there is one reason why this episode is saved by me...

Weyoun. Jeffrey Combs was so good as Weyoun that the writers made the Vorta clones just so they can bring him back. And the franchise is all the better for it.



"HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"CROSSFIRE"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"SHATTERED MIRROR"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
 
Still really spoilt despite the reduced list.

Shattered Mirror is the last great MU episode so has to bs saved.

The scene with the Sisko men at Jennifer's death bed for the second time adds a bittersweet moment during the victory.

HIPPOCRATIC OATH"
"THE SWORD OF KAHLESS"
"CROSSFIRE"
"BAR ASSOCIATION"
"ACCESSION"
"RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
"FOR THE CAUSE"
 
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