A few months ago, my wife and I did a marathon of the entire series of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Rewatching every episode it only confirmed what I already believed: DS9 is the best of all the Star Trek shows.
After we had finished, I attempted to do a Sunday Best with the top 10 episodes, but I found that there were too many. I then expanded it to the Top 25, but I had trouble ranking them, because they were good for so many different reasons.
So instead of ranking them in order of quality, I simply ranked them chronologically.
What I found interesting was how many of the top episodes belonged to which seasons. It broke down as such:
Season 1 - 1 episode
Season 2 - 3 episodes
Season 3 - 4 episodes
Season 4 -4 episodes
Season 5 - 2 episodes
Season 6 - 6 episodes
Season 6 - 4 episodes
So, without further ado, here are the Top 25 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes;
(major spoilers below)
1. 1.18 "Duet"
In this episode, Kira thinks that she has caught an old war Cardassian war criminal. What at first plays out like Silence of the Lambs, slowly becomes a meditation of the horror of war and the pain of survivor's guilt.
2. 2.05 "Cardassians"
This one plays out as a political and family melodrama. It is a custody battle between a Cardassian officer and the Bajoran parents who adopted his child. One of the things that makes this story great is that the writers refuse to take the easy way out on any of the problems at hand, whether it be the question of natural parent rights or adopting across cultures. It is powerful and painful to watch.
3. 2.08 "Necessary Evil"
One of the things lurking in the background of the this show is the occupation of Bajor by the Cardassians. Though it is much talked about, this was the first episode to really give you an experience of what it was like. It also was an intensely good character study of the relationship between Odo and Kira
4. 2.14 "Whispers"
This episode is the closest that the series came to a Twilight Zone episode. O'Brien notices how everyone is treating him differently and begins to suspect some kind of Invasion of the Body Snatchers situation. The story pushes to the shocking conclusion that makes you reframe the entire episode.
5. 3.03 "The House of Quark"
I'll admit that Quark turned out to be one of my favorite characters. Episodes centered around him turn out to be delightful romps. And this episode where he has to enter into Klingon intrigue with a Ferengi sensibility is hysterical.
6. 3.07 "Civil Defense"
This might be one of the best episodes of the entire series. The constant harangue of the recorded Gul Dukat saying "Attention Bajoran workers" and then following it up with some new calamity was a strong narrative device. But I laughed so hard when Dukat tried to beam off the station. What followed was so deliciously ironic that I could not help but be delighted by the twist.
7. 3.14 "Heart of Stone"
This was a turning point episode for the character of Odo. While his feeling for Kira were observable to the audience, his admission of his feelings is incredibly powerful, as it almost seems to wound him to speak the words. All the while the episode remains one of intrigue and tension. And B-story also turns out to be a turning point for Nog.
8. 3.26 "The Adversary"
This is a story of complete and utter paranoia as DS9 truly began to utilize the full dramatic potential of the Changelings as enemies. This episode has long-running ramifications for the series.
9. 4.02 "The Visitor"
This is how you use a time travel story to is maximum emotional effect. An elderly Jake Sisko recounts the story of his father who has been unstuck in time. This episode his heartbreaking in the best possible way as a father watches his son waste his life away for love of him.
10-11. 4.10-11 "Homefront" "Paradise Lost"
In this two-parter, the show takes the paranoia from "The Adversary" and applies it to the entire planet earth. It is frightening to see how destabilizing paranoia can be to an entire society.
12. 4.18 "Hard Time"
This is a also a devastating character study as O'Brien is forced to live simulated decades of imprisonment. He is not only damaged by the trauma of the jailing, but he is faced with his own capacity for evil. It makes him question if he even is a good man.
13. 5.06 "Trials and Tribble-ations."
Just a fun episode that is full of nostalgia for the original series.
14. 5.22 "Children of Time."
The crew crashes on a planet and are jolted in time to see their descendants who are the result of them being marooned. The crew plans on returning home, but this would wipe out the entire population. Either chose presents a gut-wrenching ethical dilemma.
15-16. 6.05-6.06 "Favor the Bold" "Sacrifice of Angels"
This was when the show fully felt like a war show with epic space battles and intrigue on the station. Loyalties become tested and the conclusion is explosive.
17. 6.10 "The Magnificent Ferengi"
Again, I love the Quark episodes and this one is no exception. I love the take on The Magnificent Seven in a way that is pure Ferengi.
18. 6.13 "Far Beyond the Stars"
Sisko's vision of middle 20th Century America was an intersting change of pace and an exploration of sci-fi and culture of that time. It was also nice to watch all the characters play different roles.
19. 6.16 "Change of Heart."
This was an episode whose conclusion I did not see coming. Once again, what makes this show work so well is that it places the characters in horrible dilemmas and they act in ways that absolutely make sense, but will have devastating consequences. What do you do when duty and true love come into conflict? The answer is turmoil.
20. 6.19 "In the Pale Moonlight"
Some consider this to be the greatest episode of the series and I can understand why. As I mentioned, DS9 is a war show. This forces the characters to make horrible decisions of life and death that may compromise their ethics. Sisko embarks on a deal with the devil that takes him further than he ever imagined. Is he right, is he wrong? You are left to decide.
21. 6.20 "His Way"
There is a part of me that loves the relationship elements of a TV series. The "will they/won't they" of Kira and Odo finally comes to a head here in a way that is both comical and satisfying.
22-23 . 7.08 "The Siege of AR-588" "It's Only a Paper Moon"
While these episodes aren't technically a two-parter, it feels that way. The first is a gritty war story about standing your ground against impossible odds. Fighting is heavy and so are the casualties. This is especially true for the young and idealistic Nog who walks away from this battle more broken than before. The second episode is all about dealing with Nog's post-traumatic stress. Not able to deal with his life the way it is, he retreats into the holodeck world of Vic Fontaine. You can feel the bond growing even as Vic begins to realize that it is becoming increasingly unhealthy for him.
24. 7.15 Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang
This episode is pure fun as the gang must do an Ocean's 11-style heist in the holosuite to save their artificial friend Vic from an artificial mob boss.
25. 7.25 "What You Leave Behind."
An excellent episode to wrap up the series that is both incredibly satisfying and wonderfully bitter-sweet. All the loose threads are taken care of and we are able to make a proper goodbye.
Thoughts?
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