Emissary
DS9's epic premiere ably blends together many of the elements that would make the show unique: the less-than-pristine nature of the station, the exotic mix of alien races, and the intriguing spiritual elements, as embodied by Bajoran leader Kai Opaka and the mysterious Prophets (or wormhole aliens). It's also refreshing to see a commanding officer who's less than driven (the embittered Benjamin Sisko) and a second-in-command who's less than trusting (the prickly Kira Nerys). We're given some truly epic moments, such as Kira making the fateful decision to move the station closer to the wormhole, as well as a few tantalizing glimpses into our characters' back stories, as when an orb-induced vision has Jadzia recalling her first moments with the Dax symbiont. And it's worth noting that Avery Brooks holds his own in his all-too-brief scenes with Patrick Stewart.

Past Prologue
This stellar sophomore outing holds a microscope up to the fractious state of Bajoran society, as well as introducing one of DS9's best-loved supporting players. When one of Kira's cronies from the Bajoran underground asks for asylum, Sisko gives it to him — but remains suspicious of the man's motives. The episode nicely conveys Kira's sense of conflict as she wonders what really is best for her people — a theme that would continue throughout the series' run. Meanwhile, we get our first glimpse of Garak, who immediately makes an impression by insisting he is nothing more than a "plain and simple" tailor, even as he somehow guides Dr. Bashir to a terrorist plot involving familiar Star Trek: The Next Generation faces Lursa and B'Etor. His motives for doing so remain deliciously mysterious at the hour's end, neatly hooking us in for more.

Captive Pursuit
The top-notch TNG hour "The Wounded" gave us an inkling that Miles O'Brien could be so much more than an average Joe supporting character. This episode takes that potential and runs with it, all while exploring an intriguing new alien culture. "Captive Pursuit" has O'Brien befriending Tosk, a lizard-like alien being who was bred to serve as prey for a species known as the Hunters. When the Hunters track Tosk down on DS9, Sisko must deal with a thorny Prime Directive dilemma, and O'Brien must figure out how to protect his new friend. It's fascinating to watch both of them wrestle with their respective issues in this situation, and O'Brien is finally given a proper showcase — the first of many.

Dax
Original Series scribe D.C. Fontana penned this episode with Peter Allan Fields, and it certainly has that classic Trek feel of an intriguing moral conundrum wrapped up in a sci-fi-style dilemma. We also get a bit more insight into the enigmatic Trill, as Jadzia Dax stands trial for a murder that previous host Curzon may have committed. Through this plot twist, we get a fascinating, multi-layered look at the ways in which Trill hosts are both distinct individuals and inextricably linked to their symbionts and past hosts. Terry Farrell gives a delicately nuanced performance, laced with just the right amount of melancholy. Trek favorite Fionnula Flanagan appears briefly as Curzon's old lover Enina Tandro.

The Nagus
When DS9 first premiered, one of its most unlikely twists had it presenting a Ferengi as a major character. Was it possible for the Ferengi — previously used mostly as comic relief and notable only for their overwhelming greed — to sustain a full storyline? This episode gives us the answer to that question: Yes — but they'll always be greedy. This outing introduces another great recurring character — the Ferengi Grand Nagus, played with slithery panache by veteran character actor Wallace Shawn. In addition to beefing up Quark's character, we also get some nice development for both Rom (who shows surprising daring in trying to assassinate Quark) and Nog (who bonds further with Jake, continuing their interesting cross-cultural relationship).

The Storyteller
This one demonstrates DS9's ability to explore multiple storylines at the same time, often in the course of a single episode. On the one hand, we have O'Brien becoming the spiritual leader of a Bajoran village; on the other, we have some inspired Jake and Nog antics. Both storylines also give us even more insight into some previously unexplored facets of Bajoran culture. It's interesting to watch O'Brien — who would seem to be the least likely person for such a task — accidentally assume the mantle of the Sirah, who protects his small Bajoran village from the dangerous Dal'Rok. Meanwhile, Jake and Nog befriend Varis, the teenaged leader of a Bajoran faction, and the trio gets into all sorts of trouble — the most amusing moment has a mischievous Nog pretending that a bucket of oatmeal is actually a slumbering Odo.

Progress
This character-driven episode boasts some excellent interplay between Kira and obstinate Bajoran farmer Mullibok (played by veteran actor Brian Keith). Kira must convince Mullibok to evacuate his home on the Bajoran moon of Jeraddo, but he refuses. The two form a touching bond as Kira realizes that Mullibok is much like the Kira of the pre-DS9 days — stubborn, hard-headed and unwilling to compromise. In the end, Kira is forced to take a good look at how much she has changed since becoming first officer of DS9 — a nice scene with a sympathetic Sisko neatly contrasts their fiery interaction from the first few episodes. We also get yet another amusing Jake and Nog sub-plot, wherein the duo attempts to become entrepreneurs. In their own way, they actually succeed.

The Forsaken
The character of Lwaxana Troi is one that elicits various responses from those she encounters. For viewers as well, it's not always one of sympathy. Until TNG's "Dark Page,” where we saw her inner turmoil revealed, Lwaxana was usually present for her man-eating comic relief more than anything else. But continuing with a more sympathetic slant on the Betazoid, "The Forsaken” delves even further into her character's character. What we find is someone who is loving and perhaps not as selfish as she sometimes appears. A great character episode where one of the longest serving — and by rights one of the most important — members of the Trek community gets some real, honest to goodness respect. Great performances from Rene Auberjonois and the inimitable Majel Barrett Roddenberry make this an episode for the ages.

Duet
This is still, hands down, one of the best hours DS9 ever committed to film. The spotlight is once again on Kira, who is finally forced to confront her own prejudices. In the episode, the crew of DS9 encounters and imprisons Cardassian Aamin Marritza, who Kira comes to believe is actually the notorious Gul Darhe'el, the brutal commander of a Bajoran forced labor camp. The twist is that the man actually is Marritza, posing as Darhe'el in the hopes that the Cardassians will finally admit to the numerous atrocities they subjected the Bajorans to. In the end, Kira finds herself impressed and moved by a man she has been conditioned to hate. The episode is made even more wrenching by its devastating coda, which has Marritza being murdered by a Bajoran just as he's about to be released. Both Nana Visitor and guest star Harris Yulin give amazing performances.

In the Hands of the Prophets
DS9's first season finale brings many of the recurring themes of the season full circle, as a Bajoran religious leader objects to Keiko's secular teachings, and the Bajorans' religious beliefs once again clash with the science of Starfleet. We are also introduced to two key supporting characters — the deliciously evil Vedek Winn (Louise Fletcher) and the gentle Vedek Bareil (Philip Anglim), both hoping to become the next Kai. These two characters offer an intriguing look at the wide spectrum of Bajoran spirituality, which would be explored even further in Season 2. We also get an excellent sense of how far the Bajorans and the Federation have come in terms of understanding each other, as demonstrated in the evolving relationship of Sisko and Kira. The final scene, which features the two of them finally coming to an understanding of sorts, neatly caps off a top-notch freshman season.

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