The Most Disliked Episode of DS9, Season 5 - 2025 Edition...

[Frightscape One]

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 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"

 

[Frightscape One]

I'll begin season 5 with the end of season 5... "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.

This was not only the best season finale of DS9, but the best in the entire franchise. And yes, I am including "The Best of Both Worlds" in that assessment because while that TNG finale was damn good, it truly focused on only a couple characters. "CALL TO ARMS" gave EVERYONE a lot to do, and as you all should know by now, I am a big fan of episodes that utilize the whole cast.


"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"

 

[Captrek]

This may be a little premature, but I’m saving Nor the Battle to the Strong for giving Lofton one of his meatiest roles.

"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"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"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

I missed the whole of season 4! Oh well I have no qualms with the winner of that one.

Another season loaded with amazing episodes but then it is the undisputed champion of trek shows. Fight me.

Im saving The Darkness and the Light, a creepy and exciting murder mystery thriller.

"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE
WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS"
"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"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"

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

Another great season...

"FOR THE UNIFORM"

Not since "Star Trek II" has there been such a taut outing, and this one manages to do it in half the time. (But I do love TWOK's pacing, don't get me wrong as the two aren't quite the same contest.)

When Eddington runs amok, Sisko is cornered and has little resource but to fight fire with... fire... as a defensive mechanism and then finally Eddington gives in.

Plus, "Set course for Traken II" is one of the best subtle references ever, as Traken is a planet from the Doctor Who universe. Just don't overthink it, because the Master indirectly destroyed Traken and a bunch of other solar systems - for reasons opposite of Sisko's, obviously, but like I said, don't think into it too much. But you can't deny, inspiration is cool and can lead to interesting new things for shiny new sake.

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Controversial or not, it made for genuinely compelling drama taken to the next level.

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Well, that one's more tangential, but it never gets old. Avery Brooks rules.


What's left:
"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS"
"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"THE BEGOTTEN"
"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"

 

[Captrek]

Here I go with the two-parter again, saving By Inferno’s Light.

"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS"
"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"THE BEGOTTEN"
"IN PURGATORY"S SHADOW"
"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"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving "IN THE CARDS".

This was suchba simple story, but it is just perfect.

A truly feel good episode. Even Weyoun gets a shot at joy! It's a nice lesson on how little acts of kindness can have a ripple effect and do a greater good.

And when Ben hugs Jake at the end... you feel like you are being hugged, too.

Just an excellent episode. Definitely a 10!


"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS"
"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"THE BEGOTTEN"
"IN PURGATORY"S SHADOW"
"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"

 

[Pumpkin Bread]

I think that "The Begotten" gives us an interesting look at Odo's softer side, and a poignant ending for him and Kira.

Geez, S4 went fast.

APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"TRIALS AND TRIBBLE-ATIONS"
"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"IN PURGATORY"S SHADOW"
"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"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Trials and Tribble-ations is a damn fun time travel jaunt that never fails to make me smile.

"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"IN PURGATORY"S SHADOW"
"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"

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

There are (at least four) worse episodes this season (on edit: I'll get to those later as needed), and

"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."

at least dares and tries to tackle big ideas in DS9 fashion, bigger than in other episodes this season and I don't care if those feel more polished. Ideas also have to count or else it gets generic and DS9 is known for pushing the lore forward what with Klingon/Federation alliance ending and the rest.

Yes, this one stumbles. Yes, this one glosses over a few things when it shouldn't (even Harry Kim's case of cooties wasn't left behind as badly). But, yes, it raises big and fair points that was daring in its own right and that has to be acknowledged, as the Borg and Dominion were threats and challenging the idea that the Federation was Shinyhappypeopleland was long overdue for genuine dramatic themes. Again, that duck analogy where TNG shows it floating gracefully while DS9 shows manic paddling to make the veneer of grace look slick is so poignant for this spinoff...

All one need to is swap the inane snuu-snuu stuff with expanding the episode's main themes. This is the third time in trek's history where Worf's loyalties are challenged, and the second time when Worf has to make a big decision that feels like it might lead somewhere shocingly different -- unlike TNG, because we knew in "Redemption" he'd return because TV shows didn't pull stunts like that, not yet. Only DS9 added the gray area to genuinely keep viewers guessing.

Plus, Worf's childhood backstory alone holds up a lot, on top of his duality mindset of Federation vs noticing something something bigger. Give me this over "The Drumhead" in some ways. TNG was always shinyhappy. Stumble or not, DS9 is daring to show real complexities, even if everyone forgets at the end (which is a big minus for this episode as there's enough in this one to be a two-parter to iron out all the issues, or get rid of the "Here in startrekland, this is how we deal with our sex lives and in this spinoff it's ironically evert so simple" stuff...


What's left:
"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"IN PURGATORY"S SHADOW"
"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"

 

[Captrek]

Probably no surprise given my last save, In Purgatory’s Shadow

"APOCALYPSE RISING"
"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN..."
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"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"

 

[Pumpkin Bread]

I'll save APOCALYPSE RISING just for Klingon Sisko!

"THE SHIP"
"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"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"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving "THE SHIP".

Terrific episode and great 100th.

We so rarely get to see the cost of lives weighing on a captain at the end. This was just excellently done.

Also love Worf at the end... a part of me tbinks he just made up that ritual as a way to apologize to O'Brien and to honor his friend.

I just love this one. Another 10!


"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"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"

 

[Qonfounding Ghooool]

One of the few Ferengi comedy-styled episodes that actually worked for me and felt like it had more than just a ha-ha-bonk joke,

"LOOKING FOR PAR'MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES"

Somehow holds together a thin plot with all the right elements counterbalancing it and feeling satisfying.

It's also another great Quark episode where he gets to do something for different motivations. But I also like "Move Along Home" as it let Quark become more dimensional in that episode too.

What's left:
"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"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"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

Saving Doctor Bashir, I Presume. Some brilliant acting in this one. Good character development, great crossover episode.

"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"THE ASCENT"
"RAPTURE"
"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"

 

[Captrek]

The Ascent for giving us a whole episode of Quark/Odo.

"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"RAPTURE"
"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"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving "SOLDIERS OF THE EMPIRE".

Excellent look at different Klingons. And having Martok at the center is always a win for an episode.

Martok inviting Worf into his family... just such a great brotherhood scene.

Qapla'! Just a superb episode! A personal favorite!


"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"RAPTURE"
"A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION"
"BUSINESS AS USUAL"
"TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER"
"FERENGI LOVE SONGS"
"CHILDREN OF TIME"
"BLAZE OF GLORY"
"EMPOK NOR"

 

[Sakonna]

"Ferengi Love Songs" is one of my beloved guilty pleasure eps.


"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"RAPTURE"
"A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION"
"BUSINESS AS USUAL"
"TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER"
"CHILDREN OF TIME"
"BLAZE OF GLORY"
"EMPOK NOR"

 

[Detached Nacelle]

I was just typing out a saving of Ferengi Love Songs but got ninjad. So I will hop to the opposite side of the tonal spectrum and save Empok Nor instead. Tense, creepy, dramatic, wonderful.

"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"RAPTURE"
"A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION"
"BUSINESS AS USUAL"
"TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER"
"CHILDREN OF TIME"
"BLAZE OF GLORY"

 

[Frightscape One]

Saving "TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER".

Great Kira episode. Her burying Ghemor next to her father... Kira definitely has come a LONG WAY from the start of the show, as pointed out by Dax in the beginning.

Plus... Weyoun returns!

And in one of the best comedic expressions by Avery Brooks in the series: his reaction after Weyoun drinks the poisoned kanar! PRICELESS!!!



"THE ASSIGNMENT"
"THINGS PAST"
"RAPTURE"
"A SIMPLE INVESTIGATION"
"BUSINESS AS USUAL"
"CHILDREN OF TIME"
"BLAZE OF GLORY"