I know that this might be hard, but I'm interested in seeing what your favorites are. I'll accept two-part episodes as being one.
For me, it goes:
1. Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast - I think that this is really when DS9 achieved greatness. We saw the first joint mission between the Obsidian Order and the Tal'Shiar, and we witnessed their destruction.
2. The Wire - You really get to understand Garak for the first time. Up until this point, and even very much so afterwards, Garak was a bit of a mystery. There was a lot of lies hidden with other lies.
3. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - I loved every Section 31 episode and combining that aspect of DS9 with the Romulans, it was too good to be true.
4. The Jem'Hadar - We had heard about the Dominion in a prior episode, but this is when we finally experienced the Dominion as the monster it really was. Watching Sisko and Quark interact was priceless. "I'm about to put my fist in your opinion!"
5. The Search Part I/The Search Part II - A direct follow up to The Jem'Hadar. We're introduced to the Defiant for the first time and learn even more about the Dominion. This two-parter really started to give momentum to the DS9 story.
For me, it goes:
1. Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast - I think that this is really when DS9 achieved greatness. We saw the first joint mission between the Obsidian Order and the Tal'Shiar, and we witnessed their destruction.
2. The Wire - You really get to understand Garak for the first time. Up until this point, and even very much so afterwards, Garak was a bit of a mystery. There was a lot of lies hidden with other lies.
3. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - I loved every Section 31 episode and combining that aspect of DS9 with the Romulans, it was too good to be true.
4. The Jem'Hadar - We had heard about the Dominion in a prior episode, but this is when we finally experienced the Dominion as the monster it really was. Watching Sisko and Quark interact was priceless. "I'm about to put my fist in your opinion!"
5. The Search Part I/The Search Part II - A direct follow up to The Jem'Hadar. We're introduced to the Defiant for the first time and learn even more about the Dominion. This two-parter really started to give momentum to the DS9 story.