
As Star Trek is 50 this year, I feel its my turn to tackle the task of favourite episodes of the franchise. And as you can tell I'm starting with my personal favourite incarnation of the series. Deep Space Nine ran between 1992 and 1999, catching onto the tail end of TNG and being prominent throughout Voyager's first 5 seasons. DS9 covered a variety of things we see in our world today. War, a refugee crisis, the effects of war, economy, racism, segregation and the continuing battle between good and evil. The show had stellar casting and for me, the stand out's are honestly a tie between Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko and Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat. Like many people cannot find anything wrong with Empire Strikes Back, I'm the same with Deep Space Nine. Sure there are some bad episodes but in this series, the good episodes out way the bad. The only thing I wish the series had was at least one episode that dealt with the Borg. Not just cameo's or passing mentions. As the franchise of Star Trek is 50 years old, I wish to take on the task of my personal favourite episodes of Deep Space Nine. You are free to disagree with me and with the introduction out of the way, here are my top 15 personal favourite episodes of the series.
15. Trials and Tribble-ations
Right now I'm sensing pitchforks and fires coming at me. Trials and Tribble-ations ran concurrently with Star Trek's 30th anniversary. The Defiant takes a human, Barry Waddle, who was on Cardassia when the Klingons invaded, back to the Federation. Also along for the ride is also the Orb of Time. An incident involving the orb sends the Defiant back to the 23rd Century and into the path of Kirks Enterprise during the events of "The Trouble with Tribbles." Turns out that Barry Waddle is actually Arne Darvin, a Klingon surgically altered to be human and was on Space Station K-7 during the original series episode and goes back to get revenge on Kirk and the DS9 crew go to save the legendary Captain. This episode coincided with Star Trek's 30th Anniversary which was incredibly good and the episode is in my opinion superior to Voyager's episode that coincided with the anniversary, "Flashback" (though I do enjoy Flashback). Trials is a great episode and slightly amusing seeing the DS9 crew in the original uniforms and gadgets. Bashir's and Sisko's reaction being the funnier examples. Another stand out moment is the interaction between Sisko and Kirk. Using superimposing technology, the special effects crew had the cast inserted into "Troubles" seamlessly, almost being part of the all together. Though the short conversation between the two and from the end of "Mirror Mirror" it's great for the two Captains to meet on the small screen.
14. Shattered Mirror
Part of a five episode arch in seasons 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 set in the mirror universe. Shattered Mirror is the third episode in this arch where after the events of "Mirror Mirror", Spock followed Kirks advice and revolutionised the Terran Empire. Yet his revolution ended up dooming the Empire and it was unprepared for a Klingon/Cardassian Alliance and the took over and conquered the majority of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant's. Inside all of this, a rebellion was born and took over Terok Nor, after our Sisko help the Rebellion in a season 3 episode. The mirror universe version of Captain Sisko's deceased wife, Jennifer, forces Sisko back to the mirror universe to help them defend the station by helping build their own version of the USS Defiant with an Alliance fleet heading their way to take the station back. And the person leading the fleet is Regent Worf. This episode is great. Some really well written moments with Avery Brooks and Felecia M. Bell and Michael Dorn as a almost crazy Worf is great as well. Seeing all the actors perform as their over exaggerated mirror universe counterparts is always a joy to see for me. The thing that makes this episode stand out is the action. The battle between the Defiant and the Regent's ship is great and when we follow the Defiant flying around the ship and damaging it is such a joy to watch.
13. To The Death
"To The Death" opens as the Defiant returning to the station and see's a upper pylon completely destroyed from an attack from rogue Jem Hadar. In pursuit of the rogues, the Defiant crew form an uneasy alliance with the Dominion as the work to stop the plans of the rogue Jem Hadar who control an Iconian Gateway. In Hollywood, one of the classic trends when films are set during the cold war are the uneasy alliance's forged between America and Russia. "To The Death" is another example of that though between Starfleet and the Dominion. There's clear distrust between the two parties and death threats thrown at both sides. Its great seeing the conflict between the groups during this period dubbed "The Dominion Cold War". For an episode of Star Trek, it's also a surprisingly violent episode. Granted that they use a large amount of bladed weapons, but a neck snap and vaporising Weyoun. Slightly excessive.
12. The Jem Hadar
The Jem'Hadar finished off season 2 of DS9. What the series did well is a season didn't end with your typical cliffhanger ending. They episode ended naturally then it would start up a plot point that they followed up on the following season. In "The Jem'Hadar", during a trip to the Gamma Quadrant, Sisko, Quark and a Vorta named Eris are captured by the Jem'Hadar, soldiers of the Dominon. They say that the Dominion will no long stand by and let Alpha Quadrant ships enter the Gamma Quadrant via the wormhole. In response, Starfleet sends three of DS9's runabouts and the Galaxy-Class USS Odyssey to rescue the Commander. However, all four ships are attacked by the Jem'Hadar and while escaping with the rescued Commander and Quark, the Jem'Hadar perform a kamikaze run and destroys the Odyssey. Eris leaves the station revealing herself as a member of the Dominion. This episode is a great introduction to the Dominion. Throughout season 2, they had been alluded to and built up as a sustainable threat. Then you have this episode and this episode actually debuted a few weeks after the Next Generation finale, All Good Things, meaning in destroying a Galaxy-Class starship, the Jem'Hadar had enough firepower to destroy the Enterprise if they wanted. Yet I honestly think the way it went out in "Generations" was the better options.
11. Sanctuary
An alien race comes through the wormhole called the Skrreeans, searching for their fabled homeward Kentanna. Upon finding the planet is actually Bajor, the entire Skrreeans race comes through and the leader, Haneek, petitions for an island on Bajor. However with very little coming from the Bajoran Provisional Government and tensions building on the station, a group of Skrreeans make a run for Bajor with disastrous consequences. This episode is essentially an example of many refugee crisis' that we've seen throughout the years. This is also one of many examples of the allusion to the Dominion. Them being the reason of Skrreeans evacuation. The discussions between Kira and Haneek are great and the tragic ending that happens and the last conversation could be seen as how today we deal with situations like this and how no permanent solution is ever found.
10. Destiny
One of the things I believe DS9 always got right was Sisko and his experience of the Bajoran belief. Seasons 1-3 are where he's not to sure about accepting it and the plan of the prophets, come seasons 4-7 he had accepted it somewhat and his role as the Bajoran Emissary to the Prophets. In Destiny, a season 3 episode, while planning to deploy a sub-space transceiver in the Gamma Quadrant with the Cardassians, a Bajoran Vedek arrives claiming that the deployment of the device and working with the Cardassians will result with the destruction of Bajor, DS9 and the Wormhole as told in a prophecy. Sisko dismisses it. However Kira does not and slowly the signs from the prophecy start beginning to appear which could mean the destruction of the Wormhole. Destiny runs into the fascinating category for me. It entertaining as all hell and it's a puzzle as you put together the pieces of the prophecy together and link it with the signs in the episode. It isn't action heavy, yet it's one of my favourites.
9. For The Uniform
In the second episode of the Michael Eddington trilogy, former crew member Michael Eddington and his group of Maquis begin attacking Cardassian colonies. These attacks possibly leading to an open war with the Cardassian union, one the union would lose with their extinction. Sisko and crew give chase in a lobotomised Defiant and it's a game of cat and mouse resulting in a badass yet questionable move by Captain Sisko. This episode is great for it's action, dialogue and more importantly, the back and forth between Sisko and Eddington. Sisko's obsession with bringing Eddington in is a highlight and puts him almost in a villain's light for some of the episode. Sisko's action at the end I personally believe is justified and his monologue to Eddington about the Maquis after the attack on the USS Malinche is correct. In TNG and early DS9, the Maquis were a nausence to say the least. Sure they could cause damage and death but in my eyes not a major threat. However when they attacked a Federation starship they became a threat that need to be to be dealt with. The comment of them being terrorists became true.
8. The Darkness and the Light
Members of Kira Nerys' old resistance cell are being murdered in freak killings. After each death, an automated message is sent to Kira stating "That's one. That two." etc. When two more are killed on the station, Kira begins a hunt for the killer revealing it to be a victim of one of her operation's during Bajor's occupation. Throughout Deep Space Nine, the Bajoran resistance is not painted as heroes. Sure they won and drove off the Cardassians from Bajor, however a lot of harm was done. A lot of what Kira did she openly admits she's proud off but had to be done. This episode could be seen as a way for the resistance to get what they had coming. For the crimes they committed in the Cardassian eyes. There are some great moments in this and this is one of Nana Visitors best. Her speech to a character is one on the best and should be quoted more.
7. The Visitor
Pretty much all of these from now on except maybe one are the "no brainers". Told by an older Jake Sisko, after an accident shifts Ben Sisko out of reality we follow Jake over the next several decades of his life as he deals with the loss of his dad and how he dealt with his father moving in an out of reality at random points. One of my favourite moments is when Sisko reappears in his son's home, Jake breaks down in regret at the fact that his dad never got to see how far he'd come in life and his profession and for giving up on finding his dad. This episode is one of the damn best. Great performance's from Brooks, Loften and Tony Todd, who performed the older Jake. A great episode that didn't need action to tell part of it's story. Not much can be say about this episode other than go watch it.
6. The Way of the Warrior
To kick off Season 4 and DS9 2.0, the Klingons come to the station for "shore leave" however after altercations on the station and one in Bajoran space that involved taking out Ben Sisko's baby (The Defiant), Sisko realises that somethings up with the Klingons and calls on the assistance of LT Commander Worf and they discover that the Klingon Empire plans to invade Cardassia. What results is the end of the Klingon/Federation Alliance and the beginnings of war between the two powers, starting with an attack by a massive Klingon Fleet on Deep Space Nine. The Way of the Warrior is effectively a DS9 movie and should be see as one in my books. It has great action, great writing and the addition of Worf was a stroke of genius as it paved the way for character development for him and seeing him in a command situation as the series progress into the latter half. Can we quickly talk about that final battle? The battle is just perfect. A fantastic cross of models and CGI. The dialogue is relevant and there isn't any cutting to random pedestrians running into the battle. It's all battle tactics talk and status updates before an epic verbal exchange between Sisko, Worf and Gowron. Also the music. Something DS9 always got right was the music and by god was the music here outstanding.
5.
Like many people, some episodes every likes the same and i'm like that with these two and two more on this list. So at joint 5th is.......
Emissary
Several years after the Battle of Wolf 359 and the loss of his wife, Commander Benjamin Sisko is put in charge of the space station, Deep Space Nine, over the planet of Bajor. The planet has petitioned for membership into the Federation after 6 decades of occupation by the Cardassians. The Cardassians strip mined the planet of most of it's natural resources and were eventually driven off by a Bajoran resistance. The crew of the station discovers a wormhole leading to the other side of the galaxy in the Gamma Quadrant. Sisko is then taken by the aliens who reside within the wormhole, who must persuade them of his people's intentions with Bajor and overcome his past and the attachment there, while on the station, one that's not well armed, a stand off begins to build with three Cardassian ships. This for a pilot episode is really damn entertaining. Everyone is established well, its well written, the music is outstanding and the addition of Patrick Stewart guest staring as Captain Jean-Luc Picard is great to see. I have two favourite scenes here. The first being the exchange between Sisko and Picard and the hatred Sisko has for Picard but more for his persona as Locutus of Borg. The second is Sisko admitting that he's stuck at the past at the point of his wife's death and how he lives with that pain.
4. The Changing Face of Evil
Part 4 of the 9 part story arc that would end the show. The Dominion, now allied with the Breen, launch an attack on Earth. With Starfleet picking it's wounds, the new enemy alliance launches an attack on Chin'toka, the Federation's only foothold in enemy territory, and the Breen show off their power by disabling then destroying several ship including the Defiant. Meanwhile, Legate Damar's rebellion begin to be born and Kai Winn, the spiritual leader of Bajor, begins reading forbidden texts. This episode is so damn good. It contains one of my favourite pieces of music on the DS9 soundtrack. The Defiant's "death" is handled so well. In DS9, I found that the writers treated the Defiant as a character and in this battle, we see the ship being blown apart, she flies backwards as if providing cover for the fleeing escape pods as well as giving off a final scream as she dies. Incredibly effective in giving off an emotional response from your audience. I'm a huge fan of Damar's final speech at the end. Reminds me of speeches giving by Winston Churchill during World War II. Speeches of hope and inspiration that are really well implemented and Sisko's final line of the episode is very engaging and a great hook into making people tune into the next episode. "Legate Damar maybe the key to saving the Alpha Quadrant."
3. Afterimage
I didn't realise how much I really liked this episode until after a recent rewatch. Following the death of Jadzia Dax, the Dax Symbiont is placed within a young trill named Ezri Tigan. Now Ezri Dax, she has to adjust to her new life and new situation. Worf is not being the most helpful in that adjustment as he is not so kind to Ezri throughout most of the episode, dealing with his grief. Meanwhile Garak is suffering claustrophobic attacks and Ezri is tasked with helping him. I'm not gonna turn this into a Jadzia vs Ezri contest but here are my thoughts on Ezri. Nicole De Boer is fantastic as Ezri throughout the seventh season and she has some great moments in this episode. Her first being the opening and how she hangs near the Bajoran temple on the station as if drawn there but afraid to go in as it's where she died previously. The second is actually really comedic in where she uses an alternate door to get into Sisko's office in order to avoid Worf. I thought it was kinda funny. I get a kick out of it every time. The next is her after she is insulted by Garak who is suffering from a claustrophobic attack. she retreat to the temple and begins to cry. I gotta admit I feel for her and understand her pain. I feel that a lot of people actually are annoyed by Worf's attitude towards his crew members and Ezri but I actually sympathise with him as we all say things that we don't mean when we're hurt. The music is great again, especially during the opening near the temple and at the end at the silent scene between Worf and Ezri. No words just a raise of the mug and a smile from our favourite Klingon. Come to think of it, Worf smiling is kinda freaky.
2.
Again two episodes share this spot.
Call to Arms
With more and more Dominion ships coming through the wormhole and more systems signing no aggression pacts with the Dominion, war seems inevitable and Sisko decides to mine the wormhole to prevent more ships from the Gamma Quadrant. This, in turn, will be effectively a declaration of war against the Dominion. As the Dominion sends a fleet led by Gul Dukat against the station, Sisko provides a distraction while the Defiant mines the entrance to the wormhole. Once done, Starfleet abandons the station, leaving it in Dukat's hands. But the sight of Sisko's baseball, signalling he's coming back, and the Defiant joining a massive Federation and Klingon fleet, War has been declared. This episode is one of the all time greats due to the tone of dread, the amazing action pieces especially between the DS9 and the Dominion fleet and the music piece to go with it is a fantastic to behold. Those final few minutes are some of the best in my opinion. What I feel is that most seasons of Deep Space Nine ended on either sombre or a "oh crap" feel. Call to Arms, every time I see that fleet, gets me pumped for season 6, even though I've watched through DS9 so many times.
Sacrifice of Angels
With the minefield close to being taken offline, Sisko rallies a fleet and charges to take back Deep Space Nine from Dukat and the Dominion. What results is a spectacle of a battle, the DS9 and the Defiant vs thousands of Dominion ship and victory for the crew. Meanwhile on the station, the resistance launches it's attack in attempt to stop the minefield detonation and Dukat goes insane.
What can be said about Sacrifice? This episode hit all the right beats. The action is outstanding, the dialogue on point, the tension builds at all the appropriate moments and the show makes you feel for Dukat. I'm a big music fan (can't you tell) and that final fanfare at the end and that sense of t. triumph is a great feeling after what the viewers have to sit through effectively six weeks worth of war. If you haven't go see Sacrifice of Angels.
Before number 1, here are some honourable mentions in no particular orde:
Yeah this was pretty much a no brainer.
At this point in the Dominion war, the Klingons and the Federation are losing the war, badly. Every power in the Alpha Quadrant has joined the Dominion or signed a no aggression pact with them. Told in flashback from Sisko's point of view and his front room (never thought i'd say that), He admits to conspiring with Garak to create a deception that would bring the Romulans into the war. Pale Moonlight is effectively a confession from a good man of all the crimes he committed. Yet it was all for the greater good of the quadrant. This episode is what happens when everything and a person is push to the limit and what they do in that situation. It's one of Avery Brooks' outstanding performances, one of Star Trek's best and a great character piece for Ben Sisko.
What makes this episode stand out to me is how it's paced and the revelation at the end. When a dramatic moment hit the audience, we cut back to Sisko in his living room and he describes his reaction perfectly. Some of the best moments of episode are Sisko on his own, in his living room and the greatest moments of the episode and the show, if put in that situation again, Sisko would do it all over again. And live with it.
Well those are my personal favourites of Deep Space Nine. A fantastic show from start to finish. Outstanding performances all round and an engaging story. If you have not seen it, I do strongly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.
13. To The Death
"To The Death" opens as the Defiant returning to the station and see's a upper pylon completely destroyed from an attack from rogue Jem Hadar. In pursuit of the rogues, the Defiant crew form an uneasy alliance with the Dominion as the work to stop the plans of the rogue Jem Hadar who control an Iconian Gateway. In Hollywood, one of the classic trends when films are set during the cold war are the uneasy alliance's forged between America and Russia. "To The Death" is another example of that though between Starfleet and the Dominion. There's clear distrust between the two parties and death threats thrown at both sides. Its great seeing the conflict between the groups during this period dubbed "The Dominion Cold War". For an episode of Star Trek, it's also a surprisingly violent episode. Granted that they use a large amount of bladed weapons, but a neck snap and vaporising Weyoun. Slightly excessive.
12. The Jem Hadar
The Jem'Hadar finished off season 2 of DS9. What the series did well is a season didn't end with your typical cliffhanger ending. They episode ended naturally then it would start up a plot point that they followed up on the following season. In "The Jem'Hadar", during a trip to the Gamma Quadrant, Sisko, Quark and a Vorta named Eris are captured by the Jem'Hadar, soldiers of the Dominon. They say that the Dominion will no long stand by and let Alpha Quadrant ships enter the Gamma Quadrant via the wormhole. In response, Starfleet sends three of DS9's runabouts and the Galaxy-Class USS Odyssey to rescue the Commander. However, all four ships are attacked by the Jem'Hadar and while escaping with the rescued Commander and Quark, the Jem'Hadar perform a kamikaze run and destroys the Odyssey. Eris leaves the station revealing herself as a member of the Dominion. This episode is a great introduction to the Dominion. Throughout season 2, they had been alluded to and built up as a sustainable threat. Then you have this episode and this episode actually debuted a few weeks after the Next Generation finale, All Good Things, meaning in destroying a Galaxy-Class starship, the Jem'Hadar had enough firepower to destroy the Enterprise if they wanted. Yet I honestly think the way it went out in "Generations" was the better options.
11. Sanctuary
An alien race comes through the wormhole called the Skrreeans, searching for their fabled homeward Kentanna. Upon finding the planet is actually Bajor, the entire Skrreeans race comes through and the leader, Haneek, petitions for an island on Bajor. However with very little coming from the Bajoran Provisional Government and tensions building on the station, a group of Skrreeans make a run for Bajor with disastrous consequences. This episode is essentially an example of many refugee crisis' that we've seen throughout the years. This is also one of many examples of the allusion to the Dominion. Them being the reason of Skrreeans evacuation. The discussions between Kira and Haneek are great and the tragic ending that happens and the last conversation could be seen as how today we deal with situations like this and how no permanent solution is ever found.
10. Destiny
One of the things I believe DS9 always got right was Sisko and his experience of the Bajoran belief. Seasons 1-3 are where he's not to sure about accepting it and the plan of the prophets, come seasons 4-7 he had accepted it somewhat and his role as the Bajoran Emissary to the Prophets. In Destiny, a season 3 episode, while planning to deploy a sub-space transceiver in the Gamma Quadrant with the Cardassians, a Bajoran Vedek arrives claiming that the deployment of the device and working with the Cardassians will result with the destruction of Bajor, DS9 and the Wormhole as told in a prophecy. Sisko dismisses it. However Kira does not and slowly the signs from the prophecy start beginning to appear which could mean the destruction of the Wormhole. Destiny runs into the fascinating category for me. It entertaining as all hell and it's a puzzle as you put together the pieces of the prophecy together and link it with the signs in the episode. It isn't action heavy, yet it's one of my favourites.
9. For The UniformIn the second episode of the Michael Eddington trilogy, former crew member Michael Eddington and his group of Maquis begin attacking Cardassian colonies. These attacks possibly leading to an open war with the Cardassian union, one the union would lose with their extinction. Sisko and crew give chase in a lobotomised Defiant and it's a game of cat and mouse resulting in a badass yet questionable move by Captain Sisko. This episode is great for it's action, dialogue and more importantly, the back and forth between Sisko and Eddington. Sisko's obsession with bringing Eddington in is a highlight and puts him almost in a villain's light for some of the episode. Sisko's action at the end I personally believe is justified and his monologue to Eddington about the Maquis after the attack on the USS Malinche is correct. In TNG and early DS9, the Maquis were a nausence to say the least. Sure they could cause damage and death but in my eyes not a major threat. However when they attacked a Federation starship they became a threat that need to be to be dealt with. The comment of them being terrorists became true.
8. The Darkness and the Light
Members of Kira Nerys' old resistance cell are being murdered in freak killings. After each death, an automated message is sent to Kira stating "That's one. That two." etc. When two more are killed on the station, Kira begins a hunt for the killer revealing it to be a victim of one of her operation's during Bajor's occupation. Throughout Deep Space Nine, the Bajoran resistance is not painted as heroes. Sure they won and drove off the Cardassians from Bajor, however a lot of harm was done. A lot of what Kira did she openly admits she's proud off but had to be done. This episode could be seen as a way for the resistance to get what they had coming. For the crimes they committed in the Cardassian eyes. There are some great moments in this and this is one of Nana Visitors best. Her speech to a character is one on the best and should be quoted more.
7. The Visitor
Pretty much all of these from now on except maybe one are the "no brainers". Told by an older Jake Sisko, after an accident shifts Ben Sisko out of reality we follow Jake over the next several decades of his life as he deals with the loss of his dad and how he dealt with his father moving in an out of reality at random points. One of my favourite moments is when Sisko reappears in his son's home, Jake breaks down in regret at the fact that his dad never got to see how far he'd come in life and his profession and for giving up on finding his dad. This episode is one of the damn best. Great performance's from Brooks, Loften and Tony Todd, who performed the older Jake. A great episode that didn't need action to tell part of it's story. Not much can be say about this episode other than go watch it.
6. The Way of the Warrior
To kick off Season 4 and DS9 2.0, the Klingons come to the station for "shore leave" however after altercations on the station and one in Bajoran space that involved taking out Ben Sisko's baby (The Defiant), Sisko realises that somethings up with the Klingons and calls on the assistance of LT Commander Worf and they discover that the Klingon Empire plans to invade Cardassia. What results is the end of the Klingon/Federation Alliance and the beginnings of war between the two powers, starting with an attack by a massive Klingon Fleet on Deep Space Nine. The Way of the Warrior is effectively a DS9 movie and should be see as one in my books. It has great action, great writing and the addition of Worf was a stroke of genius as it paved the way for character development for him and seeing him in a command situation as the series progress into the latter half. Can we quickly talk about that final battle? The battle is just perfect. A fantastic cross of models and CGI. The dialogue is relevant and there isn't any cutting to random pedestrians running into the battle. It's all battle tactics talk and status updates before an epic verbal exchange between Sisko, Worf and Gowron. Also the music. Something DS9 always got right was the music and by god was the music here outstanding.
5.
Like many people, some episodes every likes the same and i'm like that with these two and two more on this list. So at joint 5th is.......
EmissarySeveral years after the Battle of Wolf 359 and the loss of his wife, Commander Benjamin Sisko is put in charge of the space station, Deep Space Nine, over the planet of Bajor. The planet has petitioned for membership into the Federation after 6 decades of occupation by the Cardassians. The Cardassians strip mined the planet of most of it's natural resources and were eventually driven off by a Bajoran resistance. The crew of the station discovers a wormhole leading to the other side of the galaxy in the Gamma Quadrant. Sisko is then taken by the aliens who reside within the wormhole, who must persuade them of his people's intentions with Bajor and overcome his past and the attachment there, while on the station, one that's not well armed, a stand off begins to build with three Cardassian ships. This for a pilot episode is really damn entertaining. Everyone is established well, its well written, the music is outstanding and the addition of Patrick Stewart guest staring as Captain Jean-Luc Picard is great to see. I have two favourite scenes here. The first being the exchange between Sisko and Picard and the hatred Sisko has for Picard but more for his persona as Locutus of Borg. The second is Sisko admitting that he's stuck at the past at the point of his wife's death and how he lives with that pain.
What We Leave Behind
As the Dominion War reaches it's climax, so did the series in this incredible, emotional finale. The Federation Alliance comprised of Starfleet, The Klingons and Romulans as well as support from the Cardassian Rebellion led by Legate Damar, Garak and Kira, an all out attack is launched against the Dominion on Cardassia and in space. It also ends the battle between Sisko, Dukat, the Prophets and the Pah Wraiths in the fire caves of Bajor. It's an all out final attack and the end of 7 years of a compelling and engaging story. Every one of the characters gets a moment to shine, showing how far they've come on the station that has changed their lives and what will be missed when they move on in their lives. Avery Brooks has his shining moment in Ben Sisko's sacrifice in the end and for me the highlight scene is the final shot of DS9 spinning away into the final frontier. This is a great finale to a great pilot. This has some great moments with writing, effects and music. It's one of the most satisfying finales to a series i've seen and ends 7 years of awesome,4. The Changing Face of Evil
Part 4 of the 9 part story arc that would end the show. The Dominion, now allied with the Breen, launch an attack on Earth. With Starfleet picking it's wounds, the new enemy alliance launches an attack on Chin'toka, the Federation's only foothold in enemy territory, and the Breen show off their power by disabling then destroying several ship including the Defiant. Meanwhile, Legate Damar's rebellion begin to be born and Kai Winn, the spiritual leader of Bajor, begins reading forbidden texts. This episode is so damn good. It contains one of my favourite pieces of music on the DS9 soundtrack. The Defiant's "death" is handled so well. In DS9, I found that the writers treated the Defiant as a character and in this battle, we see the ship being blown apart, she flies backwards as if providing cover for the fleeing escape pods as well as giving off a final scream as she dies. Incredibly effective in giving off an emotional response from your audience. I'm a huge fan of Damar's final speech at the end. Reminds me of speeches giving by Winston Churchill during World War II. Speeches of hope and inspiration that are really well implemented and Sisko's final line of the episode is very engaging and a great hook into making people tune into the next episode. "Legate Damar maybe the key to saving the Alpha Quadrant."
3. AfterimageI didn't realise how much I really liked this episode until after a recent rewatch. Following the death of Jadzia Dax, the Dax Symbiont is placed within a young trill named Ezri Tigan. Now Ezri Dax, she has to adjust to her new life and new situation. Worf is not being the most helpful in that adjustment as he is not so kind to Ezri throughout most of the episode, dealing with his grief. Meanwhile Garak is suffering claustrophobic attacks and Ezri is tasked with helping him. I'm not gonna turn this into a Jadzia vs Ezri contest but here are my thoughts on Ezri. Nicole De Boer is fantastic as Ezri throughout the seventh season and she has some great moments in this episode. Her first being the opening and how she hangs near the Bajoran temple on the station as if drawn there but afraid to go in as it's where she died previously. The second is actually really comedic in where she uses an alternate door to get into Sisko's office in order to avoid Worf. I thought it was kinda funny. I get a kick out of it every time. The next is her after she is insulted by Garak who is suffering from a claustrophobic attack. she retreat to the temple and begins to cry. I gotta admit I feel for her and understand her pain. I feel that a lot of people actually are annoyed by Worf's attitude towards his crew members and Ezri but I actually sympathise with him as we all say things that we don't mean when we're hurt. The music is great again, especially during the opening near the temple and at the end at the silent scene between Worf and Ezri. No words just a raise of the mug and a smile from our favourite Klingon. Come to think of it, Worf smiling is kinda freaky.
2.
Again two episodes share this spot.
Call to Arms
With more and more Dominion ships coming through the wormhole and more systems signing no aggression pacts with the Dominion, war seems inevitable and Sisko decides to mine the wormhole to prevent more ships from the Gamma Quadrant. This, in turn, will be effectively a declaration of war against the Dominion. As the Dominion sends a fleet led by Gul Dukat against the station, Sisko provides a distraction while the Defiant mines the entrance to the wormhole. Once done, Starfleet abandons the station, leaving it in Dukat's hands. But the sight of Sisko's baseball, signalling he's coming back, and the Defiant joining a massive Federation and Klingon fleet, War has been declared. This episode is one of the all time greats due to the tone of dread, the amazing action pieces especially between the DS9 and the Dominion fleet and the music piece to go with it is a fantastic to behold. Those final few minutes are some of the best in my opinion. What I feel is that most seasons of Deep Space Nine ended on either sombre or a "oh crap" feel. Call to Arms, every time I see that fleet, gets me pumped for season 6, even though I've watched through DS9 so many times.
Sacrifice of AngelsWith the minefield close to being taken offline, Sisko rallies a fleet and charges to take back Deep Space Nine from Dukat and the Dominion. What results is a spectacle of a battle, the DS9 and the Defiant vs thousands of Dominion ship and victory for the crew. Meanwhile on the station, the resistance launches it's attack in attempt to stop the minefield detonation and Dukat goes insane.
What can be said about Sacrifice? This episode hit all the right beats. The action is outstanding, the dialogue on point, the tension builds at all the appropriate moments and the show makes you feel for Dukat. I'm a big music fan (can't you tell) and that final fanfare at the end and that sense of t. triumph is a great feeling after what the viewers have to sit through effectively six weeks worth of war. If you haven't go see Sacrifice of Angels.
Before number 1, here are some honourable mentions in no particular orde:
Far Beyond The Stars
For The Cause
Waltz
Past Prologue
Life Support
Duet
The Magnificent Ferengi
The Reckoning
By Inferno's Light
And Number 1 is.........
In the Pale Moonlight
Yeah this was pretty much a no brainer.
At this point in the Dominion war, the Klingons and the Federation are losing the war, badly. Every power in the Alpha Quadrant has joined the Dominion or signed a no aggression pact with them. Told in flashback from Sisko's point of view and his front room (never thought i'd say that), He admits to conspiring with Garak to create a deception that would bring the Romulans into the war. Pale Moonlight is effectively a confession from a good man of all the crimes he committed. Yet it was all for the greater good of the quadrant. This episode is what happens when everything and a person is push to the limit and what they do in that situation. It's one of Avery Brooks' outstanding performances, one of Star Trek's best and a great character piece for Ben Sisko.
What makes this episode stand out to me is how it's paced and the revelation at the end. When a dramatic moment hit the audience, we cut back to Sisko in his living room and he describes his reaction perfectly. Some of the best moments of episode are Sisko on his own, in his living room and the greatest moments of the episode and the show, if put in that situation again, Sisko would do it all over again. And live with it.
Well those are my personal favourites of Deep Space Nine. A fantastic show from start to finish. Outstanding performances all round and an engaging story. If you have not seen it, I do strongly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.






































