Deep Space Nine

I've just finished the final episode of Deep Space Nine my first full premiere to finale viewing since it was initially broadcast in the UK. The main reason I picked up the boxset was a slow build of appreciation of the series from the various podcasts I listen to which dealt with Star Trek and a few which were dedicated to DS9 such as The Orb and In The Wilderness.

I don't think there is anything I could say that would really convey the scope of the series when viewed as a whole, it was an impressive achievement for the time only equalled by Babylon 5 and like that series the writers of DS9 managed to weave in strong series/season arcs something that doesn't always guarantee strong viewing numbers as even scifi fans can be fickle.

Deep Space Nine sets itself well apart from the other series within the franchise, first for it's overall reliance on significant arc based stories but the level of conflict within it's part of the Trek universe as well as conflict between the characters both main, recurring and guests from within the "family" and beyond. It's long been pointed out the Gene Roddenberry favoured the happy shiny people approach exemplified by the TNG crew so sitting down to DS9 could and probably did come as a bit of shock. The series however was excellently cast, top notch levels of production and once the early seasons had allowed them to find their feet and solidify the characters the show went from strength to strength.

DS9 still isn't my favourite Trek despite totally enjoying these seven seasons of the show but I can not deny that some of these stories and characters stand out not only within the Star Trek family of shows but in the whole of the scifi genre, you might even say forget scifi they are at heart dramatic and theatrical creations.

On looking back at the seasons I picked out a handful of episodes that I could consider worthy of simply rewatching just because they are that good or personify aspects of the show, don't read anything into the list it's purely my own picks:)

The same applies to the handful of characters I really enjoyed watching thanks to the actors performances, I really didn't dislike any of the main roles nor the recurring characters but a few for me stood out such as Garak (Andrew Robinson), Vic (James Darren) and Weyoun/Brunt etc etc (Jeffrey Combs). You know what I could on because putting aside the excellent regular cast members the guest stars really added so much to their roles which helped create this world especially those under so much prosthetics who relied on their eyes and voices to convey so much.

Qapla'

Season 1

• Emissary
• The Forsaken
• Duet
• In the Hands of the Prophets

Season 2

• Whispers
• Shadowplay
• Bloodoath
• The Wire
• Crossover

Season 3

• The Search
• The House of Quark
• Second Skin
• Through The Looking Glass
• Improbable Cause
• The Die is Cast

Season 4

• The Way of the Warrior
• The Visitor
• Little Green Men
• Our Man Bashir
• Shattered Mirror
• Body Parts
• Broken Link

Season 5

• Apocalypse Rising
• Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places
• Trials and Tribble-ations
• The Ascent
• Rapture
• In Purgatory's Shadow
• Soldiers of the Empire
• Children of Time

Season 6

• Sons and Daughters
• Sacrifice of Angels
• You are Cordially Invited...
• Far Beyond the Stars
• One Little Ship
• Wrongs Darker than Death or Night
• In The Pale Moonlight
• His Way
• The Sound of Her Voice
• Tears of the Prophets

Season 7

• Treachery, Faith and the Great River
• Once More Unto the Breach
• The Siege of AR-558
• It's Only a Paper Moon
• Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
• Strange Bedfellows
• The Changing Face of Evil
• When It Rains...
• Tacking Into The Wind
• The Dogs of War
• What You Leave Behind