The MOST Disliked Episode of DS9 - Season Three...

[Farscape One]

This is a twist on a game that is played here, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very curious to see the results.

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, wait six hours and 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..."

Season Three -

THE SEARCH, PART I
THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
THE ABANDONED
CIVIL DEFENSE
MERIDIAN
DEFIANT
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART I
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
IMPROBABLE CAUSE
THE DIE IS CAST
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Farscape One]

I will get the ball rolling with "CIVIL DEFENSE". This was a perfect example of fully utilizing the entire cast well. Everyone had great minutes throughout the entire episode, the jeopardy kept rising at a great pace, and the positioning of this episode in the series is EXACTLY where it should be to have the best impact all around. Garak, as always, was put to great use here, too. And Dukat... the look on his face when the Cardassian on the program destroyed his access codes was just priceless, one of my favorite moments in the entire series. This is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series.


THE SEARCH, PART I
THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
THE ABANDONED
MERIDIAN
DEFIANT
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART I
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
IMPROBABLE CAUSE
THE DIE IS CAST
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Garth Rockett]

Defiant. I loved the return of Tom Riker. I wished they had followed up on it later in the run. The episode also keeps the Maquis in the audience's mind as we approach the launch of Voyager, has some good scenes for Kira, and Riker's dismissal of O'Brien is a line that launched a thousand TrekBBS threads. Great episode.

THE SEARCH, PART I
THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
THE ABANDONED
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART I
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
IMPROBABLE CAUSE
THE DIE IS CAST
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[BigDaveX]

Improbable Cause. As has been said elsewhere, the two-parter can essentially be seen as the finale of DS9's early seasons, and it's one heck of a finale at that! The first half just about has the edge to me, with a bit more in the way of suspense and mystery.

THE SEARCH, PART I
THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
THE ABANDONED
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART I
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
THE DIE IS CAST
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[BlueStuff]

THE DIE IS CAST is saved. Tremendous drama.

THE SEARCH, PART I
THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
THE ABANDONED
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART I
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Saving The Abandoned. Season three belonged to Rene Auberjonois, IMO, and this episode was the first to elucidate his character's central dilemma. I think it is heartbreaking that he could not come to an agreement with the Jem'hadar. I also like that the hook to the episode isn't revealed right away.

THE SEARCH, PART I
THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART I
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Sakonna]

"The Jem'Hadar" was my BOBW, and when "The Search, Part 1" FINALLY arrived it did not disappoint. I was so excited for every minute of this! It builds the tension so expertly.

THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART I
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Garth Rockett]

Past Tense Part I. I love this two parter, it's such a classic Trek story. I'm picking Part I for the awesome cliffhanger moment where Sisko calls himself Gabriel Bell.

THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
VISIONARY
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Orac]

I've deleted Visionary, because I like seeing Deep Space Nine get blowed up.

THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
EQUILIBRIUM
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[tomswift2002]

Equilibrium. An interesting mystery story.

THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Saving Heart of Stone FOR THE B-STORY ALONE! Easily one of the most memorable, with Nog exploring cultural differences and parental expectations with tremendous poignancy.

THE SEARCH, PART II
THE HOUSE OF QUARK
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Tosk]

Who'd have thought it? A brave Ferengi. I vote for the House of Kwirk. Kwaark.

THE SEARCH, PART II
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
FASCINATION
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[Sakonna]

I will save "Fascination." I love this episode, and not even in a guilty pleasure way. Avery Brooks direction is FAN-TAS-TIC, the Promenade was never shot better. The O'Brien/Keiko story is some of the most honest, real relationship material in all of Trek, and it juxtaposes surprisingly well with everyone else's partner-swapping antics. Lwaxana continues to get her best material on DS9. And lastly, I love a holiday episode!

THE SEARCH, PART II
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
PAST TENSE, PART II
LIFE SUPPORT
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Removing Past Tense, Part II. The only Star Trek episode that takes us into a near enough future to be relatable, and picks a social issue that's only slightly overshoots how our culture actually turned out. And leaves us with a message that no matter how bad things get, human empathy can't be switched off forever, a message sorely needed with only six years to go before catching up to the episode.

THE SEARCH, PART II
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
LIFE SUPPORT
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[BlueStuff]

I'll save SECOND SKIN. A great Kira episode.

THE SEARCH, PART II
MERIDIAN
LIFE SUPPORT
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS
THE ADVERSARY

 

[BigDaveX]

The Adversary. A nice, efficient season finale, with plenty of tension to go around.

THE SEARCH, PART II
MERIDIAN
LIFE SUPPORT
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
EXPLORERS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS

 

[Farscape One]

I will save "EXPLORERS", for 3 reasons. First, I love the O'Brien and Bashir friendship, and this drunk scene was great. Reminds me of me and my best friend. Second, I always loved the family aspect of the Siskos. The closest thing to a father I had was my grandfather, so growing up and watching DS9 with moments, and entire episodes, like this... it let me live sort of vicariously through Jake. And third, we get to see Sisko BE an engineer, which was what he was trained as. We see his history of engineering as his background, but we so rarely ever see him DOING that. And this is, at heart, the reason why he worked so well as the station commander. What does an engineer do, basically? They build. Sisko was a BUILDER, not only of life on the station and his crew, but helping to rebuild society on Bajor. Not to mention building a life for his family. This episode and my previous save, "CIVIL DEFENSE", are probably my two favorite episodes of the season that I think don't get the recognition they deserve.

So... recognize!

THE SEARCH, PART II
MERIDIAN
LIFE SUPPORT
DESTINY
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS

 

[Tosk]

Destiny. I'd save it just for O'Brien's reaction alone.

THE SEARCH, PART II
MERIDIAN
LIFE SUPPORT
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
SHAKAAR
FACETS

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I'm saving Family Business. It's the only really good Moogie episode (different actress from the rest) and it ends up being an interesting examination of feminism from a different perspective.


THE SEARCH, PART II
MERIDIAN
LIFE SUPPORT
PROPHET MOTIVE
DISTANT VOICES
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
SHAKAAR
FACETS

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I'll remove Distant Voices. It's a flawed episode that gives us a good look at Bashir's inner demons, even if those revelations are ruined by the genetic augment twist two seasons later.

THE SEARCH, PART II
MERIDIAN
LIFE SUPPORT
PROPHET MOTIVE
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
SHAKAAR
FACETS