Are you taking some time during quarantine to rewatch (or finish watching) some fave shows? I recently rewatched the series premiere of Deep Space Nine (DS9). The first stable wormhole (in the ST universe) discovered by the DS9 crew is known to the Bajorans as the Celestial Temple of their Prophets. Sisko, as discoverer of the wormhole and its inhabitants, is called the Emissary of Bajoran prophecy. The wormhole’s other end is in the Gamma Quadrant, halfway around the galaxy from the planet Bajor (recently liberated from Cardassian occupation which lasted 70 yrs). Bajor is not ready to be a part of the Federation, as there is much conflict between government factions.
Series creators Rick Berman and Michael Pillar started out wanting to keep DS9 (which originally aired on TV from 1993-199) episodic, like TNG and TOS. In S3, Pillar left the head writing position; Ira Steven Behr (who became Executive Producer in 1995) and Ron Moore (Co-EP: 1997-1999), got more influence (starting S3) and developed the exciting/innovative Dominion War story arc (S5-7). The Dominion is led by “the Founders”, a race of shape-shifting Changelings in the Gamma Quadrant, the same species as security chief Odo. The Founders were once persecuted by non-shape-shifters (who they call “Solids”). The Founders seek to impose “order” upon any who could potentially harm them, incl. all Solids. They have created (or genetically modified) races to serve them: the Vorta (sly diplomats) and the Jem’Hadar (fearless troops). These races worship the Founders as gods.
Rules of Acquisition (S2) marks the first mention of the Dominion, but they are not fully introduced until the S2 finale, The Jem’Hadar. Some fans have noted that the actual fighting of the war doesn’t start until In Purgatory’s Shadow/By Inferno’s Light in S5, or as late as Call to Arms. Since I last saw eps from S6 (not sure where I stopped watching), I plan to stick to the list below. It includes first contact and the “cold war” period, as well as a few suggested eps. *This indicates episodes that involve the Jem’Hadar.
Season 2
E26: The Jem’Hadar
Season 3
E1 & 2: The Search (Parts I &II)
E6: The Abandoned*
E20 & 21: Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast
E26: The Adversary
Season 4
E1: The Way of the Warrior
E3: Hippocratic Oath*
E6: Starship Down
E10 & 11: Homefront/Paradise Lost
E22: To the Death
E25: Broken Link
Season 5
E1: Apocalypse Rising
E2: The Ship
E10: Rapture*
E14 & E15: In Purgatory’s Shadow/By Inferno’s Light
E21: Soldiers of the Empire*
E25: In the Cards*
E26: Call to Arms
Season 6
First six episodes
E10: The Magnificent Ferengi*
E14: One Little Ship*
E19: In the Pale Moonlight
E22: Valiant*
E26: Tears of the Prophets
Other Suggested Episodes (Season 6):
E9: Statistical Probablities
E11: Waltz
E16: Change of Heart
Season 7
E1 & 2: Image in the Sand/Shadows and Symbols
E6: Treachery, Faith and the Great River
E7: Once More Unto the Breach*
E8: The Siege of AR-558
E10: It’s Only a Paper Moon*
E14: Chimera*
E16: Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Final 8 episodes (including the series finale: What You Leave Behind)
Knightleyemma 