Favorite Episode of Star Trek: DS9

[bowlwoman]

Ok, yes.  DS9.  My parents were Trekkies from the original old school, and I started watching TNG from the very first episode on the 13" b/w in my parents' bedroom (the only TV which would pull in the local independent station which broadcast TNG).  Loved me some Wesley Crusher (what can I say...I was 11), and I thought that no Trek was better than my beloved first series.  Until I watched DS9 on DVD.

Now, don't get me wrong, I have all 7 seasons of TNG on DVD.  I watch them semi-regularly.  But, that was the show of my youth.  DS9 was the show of my adulthood.  And even though every fanboy/girl out there will probably string me up by my thumbs or stone me, I think the series improved when Worf joined the cast.  Maybe because that's when the Federation went to war with the Klingons and the Dominion reared its ugly head.  I probably like it for the same reason I prefer amateur hockey to pro hockey:  more fights and more blood on the ice. 

The very first one I caught on TV one afternoon was The Ascent, and I do say it's a good one, once you are better versed in the Odo/Quark love/hate relationship.  The mirror episodes are usually fun, especially earlier ones, and Ferengi fun is usually good for a comic break.  The wedding eppy is good, but hey, who doesn't like Terri Farrell in a red leather dress?  HAWT!  I must say, the best, my most favoritest DS9 episode is a toss up between Trials and Tribble-lations and The Visitor. Both are good, classic Trek (one more classic than the other, though ).

So, what's your favorite DS9 eppy? 

[od0_ital]

First off, glad I wasn't the one who started this thread...    

Second, with DS9, I have to go season by season, just like with TOS & TNG, though just about any Odo-centric episode (aside from 'A Simple Investigation') is worth watchin', just 'cause its Odo-centric.

And third, my season by season breakdown of favorites!  Since my DVDs aren't handy (I have the first three seasons), I'm havin' to use StarTrek.com's episode guide...

- 'Emissary', 'Captive Pursuit', 'Progress', 'Duet' & 'In the Hands of the Prophets' (first DS9 episode for me) -

- The Circle Trilogy ('The Homecoming', 'The Circle' & 'The Siege'), 'Necessary Evil', 'Blood Oath', 'The Wire', & 'Crossover' -

- 'The Search, Parts One & Two', 'Defiant', 'Improbable Cause / The Die is Cast' & 'The Adversary' -

- 'The Visitor', 'Homefront / Paradise Lost', 'Crossfire', 'To the Death' & 'Broken Link' -

- 'Trials and Tribble-ations', 'Rapture', 'The Begotten', 'Children of Time' & 'Call to Arms' -

- 'You Are Cordially Invited...', 'Far Beyond the Stars', 'Inquisition', 'In the Pale Moonlight' & 'His Way' (love this one!) -

- 'Take Me Out to the Holosuite', 'Treachery, Faith, and the Great River', 'Chimera', 'Badda Bing, Badda Bang' & 'What You Leave Behind' -