Discussion on:

The five best Deep Space Nine episodes of all time

I think "The Visitor" is the best DS9 episode just because of the emotion and bond you see between Jake and Sisko.

But I think the best DS9 episode that isn't focused on father/son would be "In the Pale Moonlight" where Sisko basically has an official assassinated in order to get enemies to enter the war against the Dominion. In his mind, it had to be done for the greater good.

You really get a sense of how dark, dangerous and desperate the galaxy had become and really, that's what DS9 was all about - showing the gritty underbelly of the Star Trek universe.

I agree with your choice Jay.

War is what happens, when "The Rules" fail.
You have to fight to win, or you lose.

Love the piece, and I generally agree with your main points. However:

*originally had smooth foreheads
*Chekov
(Anton Chekhov was the famous Russian novelist who postulated that if an author introduced a pistol in the first act, it had to get fired in the third act.)

If you watch the behind the scenes things of DS9 they talked about how there really was no way to explain the major differance between the Klingons of the 60' and the Klingons of the 90's. So they decided to just do a tongue-in-cheek thing and have Worf just say "we dont talk about that to other species." lol


You know I never watched "Far Beyond the Stars" until it came out on dvd and I watched it just a few years ago. The funny thing was THAT was the episode that I realized that Benjamin Sisko was African-American. lol I never saw race in any of the characters in Star Trek. Everyone was either Human, Klingon, Bajoran, Cardassian. The color of the characters skin never entered my mind. I remember watching it thinking "Wait a min. But that means Sisko is...black? Well duh. How many episodes have you watched and NOW we realize this?" lol

Thanks, Mr. Garmon, your writing has overcome my lack of enthusiasm for DS9. I have texted this list back home to our entertainment system, and starting tonight my wife and I will begin watching the series in it's entirety, from the beginning. (I'm picking up the disks on the way home tonight)

Actually, we may start with these 5 in your order as listed, then tackle the whole series including these ones when they come along.

Your insight, and ability to put it into the written word in article form has convinced me there's more to DS9 than that 'European occupation' you mention. That arc irritated me whenever it reared it's head. But now I'll be looking for the humanity in Ben Sisko and where he breaks from the canon. (exemplified in Saint Picard)

Good job. Good writing. Thanks.

That is what drew me to DS9 and Babylon 5. Humans are NOT the crisp and clean race that has no faults. While it is a nice dream, the reality is that humans are fragile and full of faults.

Thanks for covering my favorite Star Trek in your "Best of" series (as well as your "Worst of"!). Some fans complain that it was boring for the storyline to be tethered to the space station, but I felt that setting the series among "ordinary people" rather than a starfleet vessel gave the series many more options for stong drama and nuanced characters. "Far Beyond the Stars" is my most favorite DS9 episode. Avery Brooks portrayal of Sisko was powerful - as much as I love all the ST captains, Sisko is my favorite.

Sisko ended up being my favorite of the captains, too. And IMO there is a clear worst amongst them, too, and I can tell you exactly which episode in which season made me abandon the series - that show provoked a HUGE debate in my office the next day.

The one Jay is about to do...

For those trying to find the episodes on their favorite streaming service???and who are uninclined or too lazy to click the links to StarTrek.com kindly provided by Mr. Garmon???here's a summary of the Season/Episode numbers and air dates:

1. In the Pale Moonlight S6/E19, 15 Apr 1998
   
2. Duet S1/E18, 13 Jun 1993
   
3. The Visitor S4/E2, 9 Oct 1995
   
4. Far Beyond the Stars S6/E13,11 Feb 1998
   
5. Trials and Tribble-ations S5/E6, 4 Nov 1996

But DS9 was my favorite Stat Trek Series. Just becasue not all the characters got along. The station was not clean and tidy and did not work just as the occupants wanted it to al the time. The bad guys were not totally bad and the good guys were not totally good. Things were not as clear cut and black and white. Just like they are not so in real life.