Star Trek: The 10 Best Episodes of DS9 Ever, According To IMDb

Almost 30 years ago, in 1992, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine hit television screens. DS9 boldly went where no Star Trek show had gone before at the time, with characters, storytelling, and settings far from what was seen previously. It has since become one of the most popular entries of the franchise.

For seven seasons, the crew of the eponymous station and the USS Defiant entertained audiences with many adventures. These audiences have, in turn, spoken on which episodes were the best and highest rated according to IMDb.

The Die Is Cast (Season 3) – 9.0/10

Season 3 was when the Dominion as a superpower was introduced, but it was not until this episode and “Improbable Cause” that they returned in a big way. A joint Cardassian and Romulan fleet, headed by spymaster Enabran Tain, made a preemptive strike against the Dominion and their smart and devious Founders. The tailor Garak also had to choose whether to side with Tain or Constable Odo.

“The Die is Cast” not only had repercussions for all of the major factions, but it was also strong on the characters. The emotional highlight was when Garak was forced to torture Odo to solidify his allegiance to Tain. That he was deeply hurt and regretful for doing it was an excellent example of how the characters of DS9, even secondary ones, were developed well.

What You Leave Behind (Season 7) – 9.0/10

The ending storyline of DS9 was a whopping nine episodes, with the series finale clocking in at 90 minutes. The final battle of the Dominion War was nigh, with all the significant players prepared to put everything on the line for victory. Captain Sisko was also about to face his destiny alongside the villainous yet beloved Gul Dukat.

The extended runtime guaranteed that “What You Leave Behind” wrapped up almost all of the character arcs and conflicts. Unlike other finales, there were no promises of more adventures as the beloved crew went their separate ways. It was a bombastic, heartwarming, and bittersweet farewell after seven seasons.

The Way Of The Warrior (Season 4) – 9.0/10

One of the essential aspects of DS9’s predecessor, The Next Generation, was the modern reinvention of the Klingons into begrudging allies of the Federation. Worf thus was a crucial character, as he provided the audience more insight into his race. The fourth season of DS9 took the next step for both by reigniting tensions with the Klingons and reintroducing Worf as a series regular.

“The Way of the Warrior” raised the stakes for DS9 by adding the Klingons to the Federation’s enemies alongside the Maquis Resistance. This was clear when Klingon ships were involved in two altercations against the Federation and the station itself. It also helped that this episode was also at a 90-minute runtime, which gave plenty of opportunities for Worf to integrate himself into the cast.

Far Beyond The Stars (Season 6) – 9.0/10

Halfway through Season 6, Sisko was crushed by losing many of his colleagues to the war. When he was considering resignation, he was transported to the 1950s and turned into a writer named Benny. With no memories of his former life, Benny went about his typical day and dealt with all the troubles and widespread social unrest around him.

While episodes of The Original Series and The Next Generation presented episodes around racism using allegory, DS9 cut to the chase and showed the truth of this period as is. “Far Beyond the Stars” was not only a powerful presentation of a sensitive issue, but it was also a significant examination into Sisko. It fitted that the episode, in 1998, aired during Black History Month.

Call To Arms (Season 5) – 9.1/10

After the events of the two-parter “In Purgatory’s Shadow” and “By Inferno’s Light,” the newly-formed Dominion-Cardassian alliance made only a few scattered appearances to menace the heroes in a cold war-like fashion. This all changed by the season’s end when more Dominion forces arrived to bolster their numbers. To Deep Space Nine, it was clear that war was inevitable.

Season-ending, multi-part cliffhangers were popularized by The Next Generation, but DS9 handled its season finales differently. In the case of “Call to Arms,” it wrapped up the simmering hostilities with the Dominion and set the stage for Season 6 by showing the opening salvos of the Dominion War. It was a very effective finale that guaranteed Season 6 would be a whopper.

Sacrifice Of Angels (Season 6) – 9.1/10

The first six episodes of Season 6 formed a storyline of the DS9 cast scattered, with some forced to abandon the station. Others stayed behind and were forced to endure the occupation of the Dominion. With the start of the Dominion War not going well for the Federation, Sisko provided the only option to give the Federation a fighting chance: Retaking Deep Space Nine.

This episode was given the task of concluding the introductory arc of Season 6, and for the most part, it succeeded. The battle to retake the station was a thrilling action sequence, and it foreshadowed what was to come for the rest of the season. Even the primary villain, Dukat, had intense character moments and is the reason this episode was called “Sacrifice of Angels.”

Duet (Season 1) –  9.1/10

The initial premise of DS9 was for the Federation to assist Bajor after decades of brutal oppression from the Cardassians. Major Kira, a former freedom fighter, was outraged when a Cardassian linked to an internment camp visited the station. However, things took a turn when the Cardassian was not all he appeared to be.

“Duet” was the first to spotlight the Bajoran Occupation, and Kira’s stories and parallels to World War II are haunting and tragic. However, the performance of guest star Harris Yulin as the Cardassian Marritza deserved a standing ovation. The episode’s placement in Season 1 was vital because it was just the start of DS9’s popularity for years to come.

The Visitor (Season 4) – 9.2/10

One thing that made Sisko stand out among other captains was his son, Jake. This episode was a tale of Sisko being killed in a freak accident. What followed was Jake trying and failing to move on with his life as he obsessed over bringing his father back.

Despite being credited as a primary cast member, Jake, and his actor Cirroc Lofton, did not appear as often as the other characters. “The Visitor” allowed Lofton to shine in this tearjerker episode on the love between father and son. Particular praise goes to Candyman icon Tony Todd, who portrayed the elderly Jake and gave a stellar performance.

Trials and Tribble-Ations (Season 5) – 9.4/10

In this 30th anniversary special, what started as a routine trip took an unexpected turn when the USS Defiant was thrust back to the past by a Bajoran artifact. To make things worse, they were brought back to the time of The Original Series. To make things even worse, the mastermind of this plot had one nefarious goal: the assassination of Captain Kirk.

The respect and reverence “Trials and Tribble-ations” had for The Original Series was evident when the DS9 cast infiltrated the USS Enterprise. It was the perfect anniversary celebration for Star Trek and one of its best crossovers. Even 25 years later, the effects used to make this episode a reality combined with the original “The Trouble with Tribbles” is remarkable.

In The Pale Moonlight (Season 6) – 9.5/10

As Season 6 progressed, it was evident that the Federation may have retaken Deep Space Nine, but the Dominion War was far from over. The Federation was far from winning, with the causality count increasing. Only by getting the Romulans involved could the Federation have some chance at victory, but the problem was convincing them.

DS9 was considered the darkest Star Trek series, and this episode helped solidify that. Through flashback segments and his log, Sisko laid bare the lengths he went to give the Federation a chance to win the war. It perfectly encapsulates all the strengths and risks DS9 took, and it is no surprise why “In The Pale Moonlight” is ranked by IMDb as the best episode.

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