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Serialized Deep Space 9 Episode Guide
- /u/Darth_Rasputin32898
Introduction
The goal of of this guide is to provide an episode order to watch Deep Space 9 (DS9) that will deliver maximum impact of the series' overall story arcs in a minimum of episodes. My personal motivation in this matter was to introduce someone I know to Star Trek, a person interested in Star Trek who overwhelmingly favors non-episodic story-telling (a fan of HBO's Game Of Thrones). As such, I decided DS9 would be most appropriate.
Put another way, the purpose of this guide is enable new viewers to quickly 'rush' through the DS9 series without losing the benefits of essential plotlines or character development. No prior Trek experience is required, though reference to the 'Background' section may be helpful initially. All you need is simply the patience to sit through about the first and/or second seasons, which are quite abbreviated in this guide (since they're more episodic and generally considered lower quality).
The total number of episodes by my count is 125.
About Spoilers
This is a non-spoiler guide. Spoilers for any given episode will not be used in the Key Points for that episode. Spoilers for episodes may be included in the Key Points for episodes after that episode. These details will be contained in the spoiler code. Here is an example:
So, if you'd seen episode Y of season X, you'd be able to view that spoiler.
Background
The year is 2369. Humans have, over the past three and a half centuries, have made contact with aliens and helped form an interstellar government, the United Federation of Planets (simply, Federation) that is at the time of DS9 one of the major powers of the known galaxy. It is a post-scarcity, democratic, idyllic society dedicated peaceful to contact with other species and other inter-species governments. Its 'navy,' so to speak, is Starfleet, a 'peacekeeping and humanitarian armada,' jointly operated by its members. It is an exploratory organization, and the main focus of all Star Trek.
Unfortunately, most other known interstellar governments are not as peaceable. The chief rivals of the Federation at present are the Klingon Empire, Romulan Star Empire, and the more recently encountered Cardassian Union. All of these are expansionist military powers, and all of them have been at war with the Federation at some point. (However, the Klingons are now allied with the Federation.)
Anything else important is quite clearly shown in episode 1.
Episode List
Right! On to the episodes at last!
Season 1
| Episode | Title | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1&2 | Emissary | This is the pilot of the series. It is often cut as a single feature-length episode, so don't panic if it's only shown as one. This episode does have spoilers for one of the best Star Trek: The Next Generation two-parters, but addressing those would far overcomplicate things. |
| 3 | Past Prologue | Introduction of Garak: a very important character. More development of Cardassian-Bajoran history. |
| 4 | A Man Alone | Keiko begins a school at DS9, and Odo deals with an odd murder case. |
| 11 | The Nagus | Background on the Ferengi and Quark. Introduction of Zek. |
| 12 | Vortex | Odo character development and background and more visitors from the Gamma Quadrant. |
| 13 | Battle Lines | One of the best early DS9 episodes. Changes up the dynamic in the Bajoran government for future seasons. |
| 19 | Duet | This is often considered the best episode of season 1. It's more development of Kira and the Occupation of Bajor. |
| 20 | In The Hands Of The Prophets | Tensions mount between traditionalist Bajorans and the Federation citizens on DS9 regarding Keiko's school. Important episode in the SE1EP13. |
Season 2
| Episode | Title | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Homecoming | Bajoran extremism and history with the Cardassians. The first multi-part episode of DS9. |
| 2 | The Circle | A continuation of the story begun in Homecoming. |
| 3 | The Siege | A continuation of the story begun in Homecoming and continued in The Circle. |
| 5 | Cardassians | More Dukat development and Cardassian/Bajoran history. An excellent dilemma regarding orphaned Cardassians left on Bajor. |
| 7 | Rules of Acquisition | First mention of the 'Dominion.' Pay close attention to the Gamma Quadrant developments. |
| 8 | Necessary Evil | Odo and Dukat development and background; includes flashbacks to the Occupation. |
| 10 | Sanctuary | More visits from the Gamma Quadrant and mentions of the 'Dominion.' |
| 12 | The Alternate | Great Odo background and character development. Some more exploration of the Gamma Quadrant. |
| 20&21 | The Maquis | This is a two-part episode and is hugely important. It establishes a new political force and a new source of conflict between the Federation and the Cardassians. |
| 22 | The Wire | Garak gets a headache... |
| 24 | The Collaborator | It all comes down to this: SE1EP13. |
| 25 | Tribunal | One of the first 'O'Brien must suffer' episodes. Development of Cardassian culture and background. |
| 26 | The Jem'Hadar | The title is self-explanatory: the Jem'Hadar species is introduced. More about the Dominion is revealed. |
Season 3
| Episode | Title | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1&2 | The Search | The DS9 crew gets a new toy, and a new officer, Michael Eddington. More development for Odo, the Founders, and the Dominion. |
| 5 | Second Skin | A really mindbending Kira episode. More Cardassian background and development. |
| 6 | The Abandoned | Extensive background on the Jem'Hadar, Founders and Dominion. |
| 9 | Defiant | Commander Will Riker (from the Enterprise in The Next Generation) pays DS9 a visit. The Maquis story progresses, and Federation-Cardassian politics become more tense. |
| 13 | Life Support | The winner of the election for Kai needs the runner-up's help in important negotiations with the Cardassians. |
| 14 | Heart of Stone | Odo, Kira, Founder, and Nog development. |
| 20 | Improbable Cause | Further advancement of the Alpha-Gamma Quadrant tensions. |
| 21 | The Die Is Cast | The second part to 'Improbable Cause.' |
| 22 | Explorers | This episode is more stand-alone then most, but introduces an important new character (Kasidy Yates), has more background on the Bajorans and Cardassians, and has more Sisko relationship development, like in the Visitor. |
| 24 | Shakaar | Shakaar is introduced. The election for First Minister of Bajor begins. |
| 26 | The Adversary | Sisko development, and advancement of Founder-Federation tensions. |
Season 4
| Episode | Title | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1&2 | The Way of the Warrior | An old friend arrives on DS9 as the new Strategic Operations Officer. Tensions with the Klingons and the Founders escalate. |
| 4 | Hippocratic Oath | More development of the Jem'Hadar, O'Brien, and Bashir. |
| 5 | Indiscretion | Kira/Dukat development. Introduction of Tora Ziyal. Kasidy moves to DS9. |
| 11 | Homefront | Founders step up interference in the Alpha Quadrant. The crew goes to Earth. Brilliant 9/11 terror allegory, even though this episode is from 1996. |
| 12 | Paradise Lost | Continuation of Homefront. |
| 13 | Crossfire | Odo, Kira, and Shakaar development. Follows up on SE3EP24. |
| 14 | Return to Grace | Further development of Cardassian-Bajoran SE2EP24 and tensions with the Klingons. |
| 15 | Sons of Mogh | Except for a bizarre and off-putting decision by Bashir and Sisko, this is a very good Klingon-centered episode. |
| 16 | Bar Association | Rom takes a stand against Quark's exploitative business practices. |
| 17 | Accession | Development of Bajoran culture, the Emissary, and Miles O'Brien. |
| 22 | For the Cause | Is a member of the DS9 crew a Maquis? Garak/Ziyal development. |
| 23 | To the Death | Introduction of Weyoun. Jem'Hadar tensions escalate. Further development of the Jem'Hadar. |
| 25 | Body Parts | Quark, Kira, and O'Brien family development. |
| 26 | Broken Link | Odo and Founder development. Essential advancement of the Klingon plot. |
Season 5
| Episode | Title | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apocalypse Rising | The DS9 crew's response to what they learned at the very end of Broken Link. Advancement of the Klingon plot and tensions with the Gamma Quadrant. |
| 10 | Rapture | Is Bajor ready to join the Federation? |
| 12 | The Begotten | Odo development and plot advancement. |
| 13 | For the Uniform | Further development of the Maquis. |
| 14 | In Purgatory's Shadow | Dominion tensions advance. Development of Garak. |
| 15 | By Inferno's Light | The continuation of In Purgatory's Shadow. |
| 16 | Doctor Bashir, I Presume? | As the title indicates, Bashir development. Very important Bashir development. |
| 19 | Ties of Blood and Water | Kira and Cardassian development. |
| 21 | Soldiers of the Empire | Worf, Martok, and Klingon development. |
| 23 | Blaze of Glory | Maquis and Dominion plot advancement. |
| 24 | Empok Nor | More of a standalone episode than most, this still sets up a plot device which becomes important later on. Cardassian development. |
| 25 | In The Cards | Advancement of Dominion tensions. |
| 26 | Call to Arms | Advancement of Dominion tensions. |