The Most Generic DS9 Episode...

[Sakonna]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

THE SEARCH, PART I
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
THE DIE IS CAST
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

A TIME TO STAND
BEHIND THE LINES

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"EQUILIBRIUM" Another of DS9's weird tangent episodes -- it's the only time we run off to Trill for the week.

 

[Discofan]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

THE SEARCH, PART I
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
THE DIE IS CAST
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

A TIME TO STAND

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"BEHIND THE LINES" crosses a line. The only time Odo betrays the Federation. He once was guilty of negligence but this is a completely different animal. He betrays his comrades (including Kira) and by inaction causes Rom's capture and the failing of the plan. Kira will have a hard time to forgive that and I can certainly understand that. It'll take THREE EPISODES!!! Wow! That's the Kira who almost killed her OWN MOTHER for less than that!!! That's the Kira who let her dad die alone to take revenge!!!! Talk about double standard!!!

 

[JirinPanthosa]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
CARDASSIANS
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

THE SEARCH, PART I
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

A TIME TO STAND

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

Eliminating The Die Is Cast, because series defining episodes like that are never generic.

 

[Sakonna]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

THE SEARCH, PART I
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
BUSINESS AS USUAL
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

A TIME TO STAND

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"CARDASSIANS" It really helps build out the DS9 world in a notable way -- the war orphans, the re-introduction of Garak as a recurring character, the first suggestion that Dukat is going to expand beyond his role as a threatening face on the viewscreen.

 

[Discofan]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

THE SEARCH, PART I
SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

A TIME TO STAND

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"BUSINESS AS USUAL" is bankrupted. Quark becomes an arms dealer and for the first (and only time) is hated by everyone (including himself on some level). In the end, he makes amends though, proving that deep down Brunt was right, he really is a philanthropist...

 

[Tosk]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

A TIME TO STAND

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

Surprised to find THE SEARCH, PART I still on the list. One of several times DS9 reasserted itself, this time with the introduction one tough little ass-kicking ship. Odo meets other shapeshifters. And Dax gets new but short-lived high-hair.

 

[Farscape One]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
INVASIVE PROCEDURES
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"A TIME TO STAND" sits down. This is the first time in the franchise that an actual war involving the Federation happens for more than an episode or a casusl mention. This was also the start of the 6 part arc of the season, something never attempted on that scale before. This was the writers' training for the 10 part finale next season.

 

[DonIago]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
MERIDIAN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

I've performed an invasive procedure on "Invasive Procedures". The only time in the series that Jadzia loses Dax for a prolonged period of time, and a glimpse into what Dax can really bring to another host. It's a shame that we didn't get to see Ezri pre-Dax later in the series.

Also one of the few times that Quark's mischief hits a more serious level.

 

[Sakonna]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
PROGRESS
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"MERIDIAN" First appearance of Jeffrey Combs. I don't think any other episode of DS9 asks us to invest so much in a ROTW with so little justification for it.

 

[Discofan]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS
THE ADVERSARY

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"PROGRESS" is stopped. Kira has the difficult task of trying to convince one of her own people to leave his home for good. (1) it's a Kira episode (2) it's Kira against her own kind episode (3) it's Kira almost failing her mission episode because of some variant of the Stockholm syndrome (Puts me in mind of TNG's Preemptive Strike and makes me imagine how much better Michelle Forbes would have been in that role!!! ) Anyway, un-generic-hood is definitely achieved here!

 

[Farscape One]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS

INDISCRETION
SHATTERED MIRROR

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"THE ADVERSARY" has been thwarted. I am surprised this episode took this long to be eliminated, because it's the ONLY episode in the franchise where the series star gets promoted TO captain instead of starting off the series as one.

And the only time a lead character becomes Cain in their society. (Odo being the only Changeling to harm another Changeling in their history.)

 

[DonIago]

Perhaps not quite on the level of Cain, but Worf begs to differ.

 

[Sakonna]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
HEART OF STONE
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS

INDISCRETION

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"SHATTERED MIRROR" I wanted to remove one of the remaining MU installments, those definitely stick out. I'll pick this one for being the only MU ep to try such a low-stakes (initial) justification for the travel between universes -- Jennifer has come over just to say hey! She thought maybe they'd catch up, have dinner. A totally normal reason to travel between parallel universes, think nothing of it and ask no follow-up questions.

 

[Farscape One]

Perhaps not quite on the level of Cain, but Worf begs to differ.

I meant as essentially the father of murder, since he performed the first murder of his own kind. Like how Cain is portrayed in SUPERNATURAL. (Side note: Great casting of Cain over there. A real shame he didn't appear more.)

But I get how Worf would be an example. It's just not what I meant. I guess I should have been clearer in my elimination.

 

[DonIago]

No worries. There've been and likely will be more tenuous reasons for an elimination.

 

[Discofan]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
ARMAGEDDON GAME
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS

INDISCRETION

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"HEART OF STONE" is broken. First time Odo admits that he's in love with Kira, In universe that is, out-of-universe it's likely the first time the idea even exists. Anyway, Odo threatens to kill the "female" changeling (does "male" and "female" even have a meaning in the world of changelings? We never had a clear answer to that like to so many other things...) Anyway, the first time Odo's love for Kira is introduced to the general plot has to be non-generic.

 

[Sakonna]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
FAMILY BUSINESS

INDISCRETION

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"ARMAGEDDON GAME" The only time we ever see the T'Lani and the Kellerun! An ill-advised addition to DS9 canon, given that we are told they're in a centuries-long war in what seems to be the stations immediate backyard. That is far too TNG-ish a setup to not feel weird on DS9.

I do like how they let the hair do the work on making them alien, though.

 

[Discofan]

PAST PROLOGUE
VORTEX
THE FORSAKEN

THE CIRCLE
THE SIEGE
RULES OF ACQUISITION
RIVALS
THE ALTERNATE
THE MAQUIS, PART II
THE COLLABORATOR

SECOND SKIN
DESTINY
VISIONARY
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

INDISCRETION

APOCALYPSE RISING
IN PURGATORY'S SHADOW
BY INFERNO'S LIGHT
TIES OF BLOOD AND WATER

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
PENUMBRA
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
WHEN IT RAINS...

"FAMILY BUSINESS" is made public. We're introduced to Brunt (who'll become a recurring character) as well as the FCA. We get a glimpse into Ferengi society and get to see their planet, their homes and the tower of commerce. We're introduced to Ishka and her ability to make money under the worst of conditions. The Ferengi must have a public fund for failing businesses because apparently Quark's father spent all his life losing money on terrible deals and managed not to be completely destitute!!! Or is that just writers pulling things out of their asses without putting any thought into them? Anyway, non-genericness is definitely achieved here.

 

[DonIago]

I'm starting to wonder whether, this being DS9 and all, the most "generic" episodes are actually the most non-generic ones.

 

[Discofan]

I'm starting to wonder whether, this being DS9 and all, the most "generic" episodes are actually the most non-generic ones.

You have to expect some disagreement about that. A lot of it rests on personal perception.