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

[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 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 get the ball rolling with "WHISPERS". This episode was excellent all around. I remember watching it the first time it aired, I genuinely was surprised by the ending. Even after a quarter of a century later and knowing the ending, the mystery holds up today. Well acted, great premise, and quite creepy at times, this was one of the best of early DS9.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
NECESSARY EVIL
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
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

 

[Orac]

I've deleted Shadowplay from the list, an episode so good elements of the plot were recycled 8 years later in an episode of Enterprise.

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

 

[tomswift2002]

Invasive Procedures. An interesting Dax episode.

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

 

[BlueStuff]

NECESSARY EVIL is a fascinating noir giving us a look at life on Terok Nor.

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

 

[Sakonna]

The Maquis, Part 1. This is the hinge point of DS9, where everything clicks and they hit upon their key formula of exploring moral ambiguity and deconstructing the values of the Federation. It also initiates one of the all-time great runs of Trek episodes -- the last seven installments of this season are all winners, and they take you on such a great tour through the worlds of DS9. These episodes provide a perfect showcase for all the qualities that make this my favorite Trek series.

Heh, and just before clicking post I realized -- this is the show that gives us Sakonna! So I guess I really HAVE to save it first... can't have the episode that introduces my namesake end up as Most Disliked.

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

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Eliminating Tribunal. A combination of great concept and great execution. A legal system that has trials that are basically a theatre production to create the feeling of justice and absolute loyalty to the state. Just the right level of 'plausibility in a fascist world'.

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

 

[Tosk]

The Wire. Okay, that's two Garak saves in a row for me, but I do not apologize. A great ep.

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

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

Eliminating “Crossover”. I’ve always liked the MU, and this was a great way to re-introduce it.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
BLOOD OATH
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
THE JEM'HADAR

 

[Farscape One]

It is honorable to save "BLOOD OATH". It was great seeing Kang, Koloth, and Kor make a return, and it was a great Dax episode.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR
THE JEM'HADAR

 

[BigDaveX]

The Jem'Hadar. It was the episode that changed basically everything about the show, and despite some pacing problems early on, remains a strong story in its own right.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[BlueStuff]

I find RIVALS to be fun. I enjoy the Bashir/O'Brien plot and the main plot is entertaining too.

THE HOMECOMING
THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[Sakonna]

The opening three-parter was also a big step for the show. I'll save "The Homecoming", it sets everything up beautifully. The introduction of the Circle, with the graffiti and then the attack on Quark, is creepy as hell.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
PROFIT AND LOSS
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Removing Profit and Loss, because I like the completely different side of Quark it shows us.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[Farscape One]

"ARMAGEDDON GAME" survives the end. One of my favorite aspects of DS9 was the friendship of O'Brien and Bashir. It was such a real portrayal of friendship. I feel this was the episode that cemented it for them, which was shown in pieces over the previous season and a half. And O'Brien... every episode that centers on him is a great win for me. Partly because Colm is such a good actor and partly because as a blue collar man myself, so much of himself is a part of who I am.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I'm saving Maquis II. Great dialogue all around, from the rather arrogant Dukat to the paradise speech. This is another great episode about conflicted ethics and Realpolitik.

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[tomswift2002]

THE CIRCLE. The opening trilogy was great and when you add in Season 1’s final episode it makes for an interesting 4-part story


THE SIEGE
CARDASSIANS
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[BigDaveX]

Cardassians. While a little on the slow side at points, it's a good outing for Garak, does some nice world-building with regards to Bajor and the Cardassian occupation, and further establishes Dukat's duplicitous nature.

THE SIEGE
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
SANCTUARY
THE ALTERNATE
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[Sakonna]

"Sanctuary" is an interesting one, in that there are many execution problems in the setup, yet the core of the story really works and that last scene is always a powerful emotional gut-punch.

Extra points for:
-- casually matriarchal aliens
-- 2nd mention of the Dominion is very slickly done. They did such a good job with that, introducing this new threat casually in the background and then slowly raising the simmer all year until it's suddenly a raging boil...

THE SIEGE
MELORA
RULES OF ACQUISITION
SECOND SIGHT
THE ALTERNATE
PARADISE
PLAYING GOD
THE COLLABORATOR

 

[Armus]

I select Paradise. It's a solid adventure show and Alixus is a great villain. This episode marks the return of Hans Beimler and Richard Manning, two of my favorite writers from TNG's early seasons. There's some finely written and acted verbal sparring between Sisko and Alixus.

"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