The Most Disliked Episode of DS9, Season 5: 2021 Edition...

[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"
2021- "THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOAK"


Season Five -

APOCALYPSE RISING
THE SHIP
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY"S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
DOCTOR BASHIR, I PRESUME
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR
IN THE CARDS
CALL TO ARMS

 

[Farscape One]

I'll start season 5 with the season finale... "CALL TO ARMS".

This had EVERYTHING you could want in a season finale, and then some. Great moving of the overall story, great action, character beats for everyone, including the secondaries. The station battle was one of the last to use stop-motion, and what a way to end that era. Just breathtaking.

And that final shot... damn! My jaw dropped when it first aired, and it still never ceases to impress me. That summer was grueling, waiting for season 6.

Behr and Wolfe wrote very, very well together, and this is just another example of their scripts working flawlessly. With Allan Kroeker directing, they hit gold.

Definitely the best season finale of DS9, and I put it on par with TNG's season 3 cliffhanger, which has been the gold standard for season finales in the franchise. In fact, in several ways, it surpasses TNG's.



APOCALYPSE RISING
THE SHIP
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY"S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
DOCTOR BASHIR, I PRESUME
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR
IN THE CARDS

 

[Oddish]

I'm rescuing the ever-delightful Trials and Tribble-ations!

APOCALYPSE RISING
THE SHIP
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
DOCTOR BASHIR, I PRESUME
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR
IN THE CARDS

 

[Brobdingnag]

"DOCTOR BASHIR, I PRESUME" because it makes sense, at least to me. It explains how Bashir was able to play the James Bond like Character of "Our Man Bashir" so convincingly.

APOCALYPSE RISING
THE SHIP
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR
IN THE CARDS

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Removing Business As Usual. Maybe best Quark episode. Bonus points for quoting Orson Welles on The Third Man.

APOCALYPSE RISING
THE SHIP
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR
IN THE CARDS

 

[Sakonna]

"In The Cards", Star Trek's most brilliant working of both comic & serious tones -- until Lower Decks, of course.

APOCALYPSE RISING
THE SHIP
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Farscape One]

"IN THE CARDS" and "TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS" were going to be my next saves.

My next one is "THE SHIP", DS9's 100th episode. It gave us a rare look at the cost of command decisions when Sisko is talking with Dax at the end. Excellent scene. Bonus points for Worf's 'apology' at the end in the form of him standing watch with O'Brien to keep the predators away. I could never tell if it was a real thing or something Worf made up as his way of not just apoligizing to O'Brien but also honoring Muniz.

Superb episode, all around. My favorite 100th episode of the franchise. (The others being "Redemption" and "NOTHING HUMAN" and "TIMELESS", depending on whether you go by production order or airdate.)


APOCALYPSE RISING
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Oddish]

I'll save "Apocalypse Rising" just for having Avery Brooks be a Klingon. The plot twist at the end wasn't bad, either.

LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Sakonna]

I'll save "Apocalypse Rising" just for having Avery Brooks be a Klingon. The plot twist at the end wasn't bad, either.

Ever since Disco revealed Klingon's have two dicks, I have a lot more questions about the transformations Bashir performs on Sisko and O'Brien in this episode.

I'll next save "In Purgatory's Shadow." This episode is perfect! And such a great example of DS9's gift at telling huge, epic, galaxy-threatening stories, via a collage of personal subplots that gave it a compelling grounding and makes it feel like there are real stakes here.

I wish Disco would realize someday they could also tell huge, epic, galaxy-threatening stories in this impactful way, rather than the current approach of just having every character constantly scream "WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE, EPIC, GALAXY-THREATENING STORY!!!"

LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Saving Nor The Battle. One of the two DS9 episodes to show the emotional reality of war. And I like the choice to have Jake run away then get credit for accidentally saving the day by firing randomly.

LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
THE ASSIGNMENT
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Brobdingnag]

"THE ASSIGNMENT" is a variation on the let's torture O'Brien theme, with the "by possessing his wife by a demon" twist. I quite liked it, regardless of the inconsistencies... Some divorcees I know could definitely sympathize with Miles in that episode.

LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Seven of Five]

By Inferno's Light is great. We have Garak, Julian, Martok, and Worf trying to survive the detention center, we have Dukat in bed with the Dominion, and the Klingons are suddenly getting heavy losses having to fight those Dominion forces. It's just a shame that the resolution was a tad swift.

Could have been a trilogy of episodes.

LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
CHILDREN OF TIME
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Sakonna]

"Children Of Time" is always an emotional knock-out.

LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
RAPTURE
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Saving Rapture . This used to get a lot more love, appearing high on franchise best lists. I used to love this. It's still a good look at religiosity, but it is also one if those great works, like Call to Arms, showing Wolfe's ability to develop multiple story lines and conflicts.

LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
FOR THE UNIFORM
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Qonundrum]

Two stories come to mind. The better of the two is easily:

FOR THE UNIFORM

The episode is not afraid to tackle a rather hefty issue and it's a great take on a revenge-themed plot that's also done in a way as refreshing as it is shocking.

So many plot twists and curves, it never lets up - and is so much the better for it because it knows when just to change pacing and when to go back to it.

If I had any issue, it's that Sisko is believed by his crew a little too quickly with his orders to torpedo the chalesdickens out of Traken II - but the scene shows how he is in command and you follow the orders, and as Sisko hasn't been brainadoped by incorporeal critters of the week (unlike the times when Kirk and Picard are, usually in order to bypass the gravity of the situation), it makes the scene that much more tense, dramatic, and thought-provoking. This is good and ideal Trek, and is as close to Sisko's take on the Kobayashi Maru as one can get, there's no cutesie explanation on how the test had 3 answers at one point until someone made a 4th or changed simulation conditions and so on, and is also the franchise's best take on a Khan-style character ever since the original hit the screens in "Space Seed" and ST2TWOK (noting they also had classic novel references and other parallels, without coasting on established ones as well.) Just enough hints of inspiration, but making the story its own instead. It's very well done, indeed. This episode proves variations on a theme need not be cornball or resting on nostalgia.

You can guess my other episode, but until then here's what's left:

LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
THINGS PAST
THE ASCENT
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Brobdingnag]

Ok so now we get to the episodes that are not so great. "THE ASCENT" is a decent Quark/Odo episode though it could have been better.

LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
THINGS PAST
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
THE BEGOTTEN
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I'll save The Begotten. Most of the episodes left are on the 'Bad' list and there's nothing wrong with The Begotten, see another side of Odo and have him come to terms with the difficult decisions Dr Mora made.

LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
THINGS PAST
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Brobdingnag]

...see another side of Odo and have him come to terms with the difficult decisions Dr Mora made...

For the second time... Deja vu, anybody?

 

[Qonundrum]

Well,
LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...

Gets my next vote. No, it's not a perfect story. Yes, it needed a polishing up of some scenes. And, no, it's not the worst of this list. Yeah, it glosses over Worf's taking sides with the New Essentialists' machinations (and even walks out before their intent on taking it to a far worse level.)

But despite some heavy-handed schlock and uneven when not disjointed with its scripting, it is another episode dealing with topics that TNG wouldn't go anywhere near and that alone makes it worth saving. I'd rather see a potentially good idea flounder than an hour of uninspired muck buoyed by sappy muzak and over the top visual effects. And even for all its bumps in the road, I fail to see what makes it so allegedly godawful.

Worf's backstory about the soccer game incident is a nifty underrated reminder that "it's not you, it's me" is often not considered. (Just pretend the Worf/Troi shippin' never took place. Which is fine by me, that was one of the most pointless decisions TNG made. Well, not quite pointless - they were scrambling to throw anything at the wall to see if it'd stick to it as well as Junior's boogers had at that point but it's still a daft idea... Few of DS9's dafty ideas aren't as daffy and "SIN" doesn't even come close...)

Even better: One little draft for revisions could have tied together everything discussed in it, as well as elevating it to being one of the greats... the potential is there and I can sense a possible running theme with its subplots... Even including tying in the soap opera relationship subplot between Leeta and Bashir's breakup with the pottery* using a parallel running theme. I got the impression the episode had an unwanted deadline. There's a lot of meat to this story, that should come together to make quite the tasty deli, but something does feel disjointed - too much iceberg lettuce and just where you don't want it. I get the impression there was a proper story begging to be told but didn't due to time constraints. I should look that up one day...

* for which they spent tons more money on that pottery they smash than Worf thrashing that cheap vacuum-formed plastic Horgon to the tune of "Whip It" (and other assorted Devo tracks, especially from their album "New Traditionalists".)​

And it's got Monte Markham - who played Blanche's gay brother in The Golden Girls and, of course, that other bionic dude nobody talks about:

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(Before you get too bored, skip to 3:39 for the best bit that he exclaims to Steve... Unless you like watching men in fashionably-tight jeans rolling around in slo-mo 35mm film, in which case it's not as bad.. )




What's left:
LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
THINGS PAST
THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER
FERENGI LOVE SONGS
SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE
BLAZE OF GLORY
EMPOK NOR

 

[Bad Thoughts]