It’s been over 30 years since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered, so which are the best episodes of that first season?
When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered in early 1993, it was a huge deal. Back then, a new Trek series was a daring idea, and the question of whether fans would accept it. There was also the unique setting, a space station around Bajor, a planet just freed from Cardassian occupation. The series was promoted as the idea of Starfleet and the unique locals mixing together.
The two-part premiere introduced the wrinkle of a wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant halfway across the galaxy, affording new storytelling options. There was also how Sisko was supposedly the “Emissary” of the Prophets, the powerful aliens residing in the wormhole.
The series is notable in that, unlike TNG, its first season is quite strong. Sure, a few duds (“Move Along Home”) and some so-so ones (“Q-Less”), yet the writers instantly captured how to make the series work. Narrowing it down is hard, but here’s how the five best episodes of the first season of DS9 rank to showcase how it always had the goods for a great Trek series!
5. Captive Pursuit (Episode 6)
Before DS9 turned Chief O’Brien into a punching bag for trauma, this early episode gave him a fun showcase. The station welcomes their first alien visitor from the Gamma Quadrant, a lizard-like alien named Tosk (popular Star Trek utility player Scott MacDonald). Tosk and O’Brien quickly form a friendship, which is tested when another race comes to the station and reveals Tosk is bred to be the prey for a hunting party.
There’s the conflict with the Prime Directive keeping Sisko from interfering and the fact that Tosk is ready to accept what he assumes is his only purpose in life. O’Brien won’t take that with Colm Meaney showing the first signs of the maverick spirit. It’s a strong episode that brings up the best in Trek’s messages of acceptance and good action while putting an early spotlight on O’Brien.
4. Progress (Episode 15)
Kira had gotten a couple of focus episodes before this. However, this story truly addresses how it feels for Kira, who had fought all her life as a rebel, to suddenly be part of the “establishment.” Kira is among the crewmembers overseeing the evacuation of a moon that is going to be mined for much-needed energy to Bajor. But one stubborn farmer named Mullibok (veteran actor Brian Keith) refuses to leave his home.
Keith and Kira bounce off each other wonderfully with the farmer’s bluster and long-winded stories making him endearing despite his crankiness. You feel for the guy who spent his life suffering under Cardassians and won’t leave his home now. Kira sees the parallels to her life in the resistance and is now stuck in an authority position. The conclusion is a bittersweet one with Visitor doing a fabulous job showing Kira having to make harsh choices for the greater good for an often underrated episode.
3. In the Hands of the Prophets (Episode 20)
This late-season episode began the long arc of DS9, where the science-based Federation clashed with the faith of the Bajorans. It starts off innocently enough as Keiko opens a school for the kids on the station. When she teaches that the Prophets are simply aliens, not gods, that gets the attention of Kai Winn. From her first scene, Oscar-winner Louise Fletcher owns the role as Winn slowly but surely shifts from a well-meaning figure to a duplicitous extremist.
Kira is also good here as she has to question her own faith. It’s interesting how Kira at first agrees with Winn and sees her side only to have her eyes opened to Winn’s true nature. There’s drama with a fire at the school and an action ending. Yet the real power is the themes involving religion, Sisko’s place as the Emissary, and, of course, the introduction of what would become one of the series’ best villains that makes this a standout story.
2. Emissary (Episodes 1&2)
Some Star Trek series take a while to find their footing. DS9 hit the ground running with a terrific two-part premiere. The opening scene sucks you in instantly, showing the Battle of Wolf 359 as the Borg (led by Picard as Locutus) destroy the Federation fleet, with Sisko losing his wife in the conflict. That sets the tone for the entire show.
We get the setup with the introduction of the characters we’ll come to love (or hate in the case of Gul Dukat), the wormhole, the Prophets and more. The way we instantly know who these people are and how they connect is well-written to add to the drama. It’s the best premiere for any Star Trek show and got DS9 off on a perfect note for its run.
1. Duet (Episode 19)
While previous episodes had touched on the brutality of the Cardassians’ decades-long occupation of Bajor, this stunning installment brought it front and center. Kira believes a Cardassian prisoner (Harris Yulin) was once the sadistic operator of a prisoner camp. This sets up a wicked battle of wits between them that brings up the Cardaassians’ countless crimes.
It’s a stellar showcase for Nana Visitor, with Kira facing her trauma and how it shaped her into this warrior. She also has to face her own prejudices of blaming every Cardassian equally for the actions of the monsters.
Yulin is one of the best one-episode guest stars in Star Trek history, brilliantly shifting the character from quiet to boasting of his crimes before the big twist to his identity comes up. The heartbreaking ending closes out not just the best episode of DS9’s first season but one of the best of the series and holds up as a powerful nearly two-person show.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine streaming on Paramount+.