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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 2 Episode Guides
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Full Episode List
Season: 1234567
2x01: The Homecoming 2x02: The Circle 2x03: The Siege 2x04: Invasive Procedures 2x05: Cardassians 2x06: Melora 2x07: Rules of Acquisition 2x08: Necessary Evil 2x09: Second Sight 2x10: Sanctuary 2x11: Rivals 2x12: The Alternate 2x13: Armageddon Game 2x14: Whispers 2x15: Paradise 2x16: Shadowplay 2x17: Playing God 2x18: Profit and Loss 2x19: Blood Oath 2x20/21: The Maquis 2x22: The Wire 2x23: Crossover 2x24: The Collaborator 2x25: Tribunal 2x26: The Jem'Hadar
Kira helping stumbling prisoners escape
  2x01   Series Episode
20
Franchise Episode
273
ds9 combadge The Homecoming      
 
Kira rescues the resistance hero Li Nalas; Bajor ousts all non-Bajorans.

Arc: Bajoran Coup d'État (1 of 3)
     
   
 
Nitpickery: When about to embark on their mission, Kira says to O'Brien, "This mission can end only one of two ways -- either we bring back Li Nalas, or we don't come back at all." ... Why? Why are those the only two options? They could fail their mission but still escape. (Obviously, the dialog is just there to help establish the high stakes for the audience, but in-universe, it's a weird thing for Kira to say.)
   
Watch Recommendation: This is the first in a three-episode arc. Because serialized storytelling is key to this series, the next three episodes are all rated as "Recommended."
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


Recommended
FINAL SCORE
5.4
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 5.7

 

Sisko observing a Bajoran military general
  2x02   Series Episode
21
Franchise Episode
275
ds9 combadge The Circle      
 
Sisko and Odo work to reveal the true power behind The Circle's coup.

Arc: Bajoran Coup d'État (2 of 3)
     
Tear of the Prophets 2: Orb of Prophecy and Change, blue. (Orb 3 of 9)
It's unclear if this is the same orb as in the series premiere, but it does appear to be a different color. If it is different, it's unclear how the Bajorans obtained it since it was established that the Cardassians had 8 of the 9 orbs.
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: Wasting time untying Kira instead of calling for transport like he was told. In the time he wasted, at least 4 more people are shot, including himself!
   
Watch Recommendation: This is the second in a three-episode arc. Because serialized storytelling is key to this series, these three episodes are all rated as "Recommended."
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


Recommended
FINAL SCORE
5.4
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 5.7

 

Bashir, Quark, and others in a cramped maintenance tube
  2x03   Series Episode
22
Franchise Episode
277
ds9 combadge The Siege      
 
Sisko defends the station from The Circle; Kira & Dax take evidence to Bajor.

Arc: Bajoran Coup d'État (3 of 3)
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: Making entirely unnecessary smug commentary about thorium isotope while capturing prisoners.
   
Thoughts: This is the last episode in the series' first foray into using longer story arcs as opposed to purely episodic storytelling, and it was... just okay. Fortunately, they'll get better.
   
Watch Recommendation: This is the third in a three-episode arc. Because serialized storytelling is key to this series, these three episodes are all rated as "Recommended."
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


Recommended
FINAL SCORE
6.3
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 8  
Normalized IMDB rating: 6.2

 

Jadzia Dax and another Trill in sickbay awaiting surgery
  2x04   Series Episode
23
Franchise Episode
279
ds9 combadge Invasive Procedures      
 
A desperate Trill tries to steal the Dax symbiont.
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: "The operation was a complete success! Why are you sad?!"
   
 
Thoughts: This episode just doesn't work, for a number of reasons. There were any number of opportunities and ways to avoid performing the procedure, and they apparently needed Bashir to do it or their plan would have failed. After O'Brien is shot, Jadzia insists that the doctor perform the procedure, saying "I don't want anyone else hurt because of me." But it's not because of her, it's because a madman is going around shooting people and making demands. Capitulation was never the way to go here, and afterwards, it's just a lot of waiting around. The storm is contrived and seemingly doesn't cause any damage to the station, so it's unclear why they had to evacuate everyone and, lastly, Quark suffers no consequences for his role in this caper.
   
Watch Recommendation: It's not good enough for any sort of recommendation. You aren't missing anything by skipping it.
My rating: ★★☆☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
3.8
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 3.8

 

A Cardassian boy watching Sisko and Dukat argue
  2x05   Series Episode
24
Franchise Episode
281
ds9 combadge Cardassians      
 
After discovering a young Cardassian in the care of a Bajoran, Garak and Bashir investigate abandoned war orphans on Bajor.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: Though it does give some insight into Gul Dukat, there are plenty of other, better episodes to learn about him. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★☆☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
4.5
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 6  
Normalized IMDB rating: 5.5

 

Bashir and Melora floating in zero-G
  2x06   Series Episode
25
Franchise Episode
283
ds9 combadge Melora      
 
Bashir falls for Melora, an alien officer who prefers low gravity.
B-plot: An old associate of Quark's arrives on the station intending to kill him.
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir moment: Actually, compared to Melora, Bashir seems like the reasonable one here.
   
Watch Recommendation: We'll never see Melora or any other member of her species again. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
4.5
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 4  
Normalized IMDB rating: 2.9

 

Quark and his assistant negotiating with two aliens
  2x07   Series Episode
26
Franchise Episode
285
ds9 combadge Rules of Acquisition      
 
Pel helps Quark open negotiations in the Gamma Quadrant for Tulaberry Wine.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: Eh, it's a Ferengi-heavy episode that is pretty forgettable. And guess what? We'll never see this new Gamma Quadrant species ever again, either! No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
4.8
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 3  
Normalized IMDB rating: 5.3

 

Odo questioning a mysterious woman
  2x08   Series Episode
27
Franchise Episode
287
ds9 combadge Necessary Evil      
 
Odo reopens a 5-year-old investigation into the murder of the station's chemist.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: This episode provides important backstory for both Odo and Kira and shows us what the station used to be like when it was under Cardassian control. Besides all that, it's a delightful detective story and one of my favorites, earning it a rating of "Highly Recommended."
My rating: ★★★★
Personal Favorite
  Watch Recommendation

✔+

Highly
Recommended
FINAL SCORE
7.7
SF Debris rating: 9  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 6.9

 

Sisko and a young woman enjoying a view of the station
  2x09   Series Episode
28
Franchise Episode
289
ds9 combadge Second Sight      
 
Sisko falls for Fenna, who keeps disappearing.
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: "I find the annoying man very entertaining!"
   
 
Thoughts: I found Fenna and Gideon to both be compelling characters. It had all the makings of a good "thing-of-the-week" episode, but the conclusion fell flat. By the way, Sisko's last line, "She was just like you," ...was that just some last attempt on his part to get with Nidell??
   
Watch Recommendation: It's a one-off and not great. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
3.9
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 2  
Normalized IMDB rating: 2.4

 

Several aliens asking Kira for help
  2x10   Series Episode
29
Franchise Episode
291
ds9 combadge Sanctuary      
 
Skreean refugees pour through the wormhole in search of a new home.
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: "All of them??"
   
Thoughts and Nitpickery: There's a problem with how the Skreeans are written at the beginning of the episode when the universal translator is still not able to translate their language. Instead of being portrayed as reasonable people who just don't speak the local language, they're shown to be confused and irrational, wandering aimlessly on the promenade, stopping to repeatedly comment on a dress and defiantly picking up items that Major Kira obviously wants them to put down. It's not until the translator starts working that they appear to be rational and very concerned about the rest of their people. Also, it's a little goofy how the translator starts working, especially when it manages to translate the word "million" without any frame of reference to distinguish it from another quantity like "hundred" or "thousand."
   
Watch Recommendation: Another alien species we'll never hear from again. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
4.3
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 3  
Normalized IMDB rating: 3.1

 

A man showing Quark a strange hand-held device from across the bar
  2x11   Series Episode
30
Franchise Episode
293
ds9 combadge Rivals      
 
A con artist opens a casino; Bashir and O'Brien start a racquetball rivalry; everyone starts having bad luck.
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: His stupid "battle warmup."
   
Watch Recommendation: This episode is dumb. Skip it.
My rating: ☆☆☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
1.7
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 2  
Normalized IMDB rating: 2.9

 

Odo and Dr. Mora analyzing an unknown sample
  2x12   Series Episode
31
Franchise Episode
294
ds9 combadge The Alternate      
 
Dr. Mora, the scientist who helped Odo develop, arrives with evidence of others of Odo's kind.
     
  Thoughts: I'm not really revealing anything terribly interesting here, but I guess I'll be safe: Spoiler » Doctor Bashir sums up this episode perfectly right at the end when he says, "I'm not going to try and explain exactly what happened to you, Odo, because I haven't the vaguest idea" ...and neither do we, the audience. The gang goes to a planet we will never see again, they find a proto-lifeform that they brought back to the station and essentially killed because it couldn't survive in that environment, they also bring back a spire that was never deciphered and that we will never talk about ever again, and when they remove the spire, it triggers an Indiana Jones-style tremor and gas leak that knocks everyone unconscious and makes Odo go mad. And none of it is ever explained or revisited.
   
Watch Recommendation: This is another episode that makes you think we're going to learn something more about Odo's origins, but in reality, nothing is learned. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
4.7
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 4  
Normalized IMDB rating: 3.6

 

O'Brien and Bashir in a laboratory
  2x13   Series Episode
32
Franchise Episode
297
ds9 combadge Armageddon Game      
 
O'Brien and Bashir help aliens destroy their bioweapons, only to be hunted down.
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: "Marriage is for suckers!"
   
Watch Recommendation: It's a pretty good episode, but it isn't integral to the whole series. These two new species? Do you think we'll ever see them again? Of course not! No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★★   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
6.9
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 7  
Normalized IMDB rating: 5.3

 

O'Brien rolling his eyes while Bashir performs a medical exam on him
  2x14   Series Episode
33
Franchise Episode
299
ds9 combadge Whispers      
 
O'Brien finds everyone acting strangely after he returned from the Parada system.
     
"Keiko... tell her... I love...... coffee, Jamaican blend, double strong, double sweet."
   
Watch Recommendation: Good episode, but it has no consequences for the rest of the series, and there's EVEN MORE new aliens we'll never hear from again. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★★   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
7.7
SF Debris rating: 8  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 8  
Normalized IMDB rating: 6.9

 

O'Brien and Sisko standing outside with two farm workers
  2x15   Series Episode
34
Franchise Episode
301
ds9 combadge Paradise      
 
Sisko and O'Brien are trapped on a world where technology doesn't work and the human inhabitants' leader is kind of a dick.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: A self-contained, not so great episode. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★☆☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
3.6
SF Debris rating: 3  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 3.4

 

Odo and Dax standing with two men dressed in beige robes and beads
  2x16   Series Episode
35
Franchise Episode
303
ds9 combadge Shadowplay      
 
Dax and Odo investigate the disappearance of members of a small colony.
B-plot: Vedek Bareil visits Kira on the station.
C-plot: Jake starts an apprenticeship with Chief O'Brien.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: An average episode with no consequences for the series. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
5.0
SF Debris rating: 4  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 5.0

 

A man staring into his drink while Dax watches
  2x17   Series Episode
36
Franchise Episode
305
ds9 combadge Playing God      
 
A Trill initiate arrives to be mentored by Dax.
     
   
 
Thoughts: I like Dax, overall, but I don't like Dax in this episode.
Watch Recommendation: A not-great episode that you can surely miss. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★☆☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
2.9
SF Debris rating: 3  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 2  
Normalized IMDB rating: 2.9

 

Quark and a Cardassian having a discussion
  2x18   Series Episode
37
Franchise Episode
307
combadge Profit and Loss      
 
A former Cardassian fling of Quark's arrives on the station.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: I rather liked it, but if you skip it, you aren't missing anything vital. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★★   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
5.8
SF Debris rating: Unrated  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 3  
Normalized IMDB rating: 4.8

 

Dax in a cave with three Klingons
  2x19   Series Episode
38
Franchise Episode
309
ds9 combadge Blood Oath      
 
Dax joins Kor, Koloth, and Kang to seek revenge.
     
🔀
Crossover: Kor, Koloth, and Kang (TOS)
   
Watch Recommendation: I'm marking this one as "Optional" if you want to see the Klingon trio from the Original Series, but this episode isn't necessarily important to the rest of Deep Space Nine.
My rating: ★★★★   Watch Recommendation


Optional
Kol, Koloth, and Kang
FINAL SCORE
6.7
SF Debris rating: 7  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 6.2

 

Dukat, Sisko, and Cal Hudson looking concerned
  2x20 and 2x21   Series Episode
39 & 40
Franchise Episode
311 & 313
ds9 combadge The Maquis (Parts I and II)      
 
Sisko finds himself at odds with his old friend Cal Hudson, trying to prevent a war between the Cardassians and the Maquis.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: While not my favorite two-parter, it introduces the terrorist group known as the Maquis, which plays an important role in the coming seasons. Therefore, this episode is rated "Must Watch".
My rating: ★★★★   Watch Recommendation

🕶

Must Watch
FINAL SCORE
7.1
SF Debris rating: 8  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 6  
Normalized IMDB rating: 6.2

 

Garak yelling at Dr. Bashir
  2x22   Series Episode
41
Franchise Episode
315
ds9 combadge The Wire      
 
Bashir helps Garak overcome withdrawal from an implant in his brain.
     
   
Nitpickery: In the opening teaser, Bashir and Garak have a conversation while looking for somewhere to eat. When Garak seems to experience some pain and abruptly leaves, Kira comes out of nowhere to say "What was that all about?" even though she clearly wasn't a witness to any of the previous conversation. Later, Bashir asks O'Brien for help retrieving the old Cardassian medical files. O'Brien says it will take two or three weeks, and Bashir just dismisses the idea. That's pretty shortsighted of him - two or three weeks might be too late for his current needs, but what if he comes across another reason to access them a month from now?
   
Watch Recommendation: I don't want to have too many episodes marked as "Must Watch"... but I reeeally think you should watch this one. Garak has been quite the mystery so far, and we finally get a glimpse into some of his history. Or do we? This episode is "Highly Recommended."
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation

✔+

Highly
Recommended
FINAL SCORE
6.2
SF Debris rating: 8  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 5  
Normalized IMDB rating: 7.2

 

Kira staring at an alternate version of herself
  2x23   Series Episode
42
Franchise Episode
317
terran insignia Crossover      
 
Kira and Bashir accidentally travel to the mirror universe.
     
🙄
Annoying Bashir Moment: Every excruciating moment of his shuttle ride with Kira. It was such a pleasure to see Odo slap him across the face!
🔗
The Mirror Universe is visited in several different Star Trek series. It was first explored in the Original Series episode, TOS 2x10: Mirror, Mirror.
   
Watch Recommendation: Deep Space Nine takes an interesting look into the Mirror Universe, and this is the first of five episodes where we get to "cross over." It's always fun watching people play alternate versions of themselves, so I'm marking this one as "Recommended."
My rating: ★★★★   Watch Recommendation


Recommended
FINAL SCORE
6.7
SF Debris rating: 5  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 7  
Normalized IMDB rating: 6.2

 

Kira, Bareil, and Winn on the Promenade
  2x24   Series Episode
43
Franchise Episode
319
ds9 combadge The Collaborator      
 
With elections for the Kai imminent, Bareil is accused of being a collaborator.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: This is the lowest-rated episode that is on the "Must Watch" list because of important context surrounding the election of a new Kai and the relationships between Kira, Bareil, and Winn. It might not be the best episode, but it is fairly important to the overall story of this series.
My rating: ★★☆☆☆   Watch Recommendation

🕶

Must Watch
FINAL SCORE
3.8
SF Debris rating: 4  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 4  
Normalized IMDB rating: 4.3

 

O'Brien on the witness stand in a Cardassian court
  2x25   Series Episode
44
Franchise Episode
321
ds9 combadge Tribunal      
 
O'Brien is accused and put on trial by the Cardassians.
     
   
Watch Recommendation: It's an ok episode, but it's not important in the grand scheme of things. No recommendation.
My rating: ★★★☆☆   Watch Recommendation


-
FINAL SCORE
5.7
SF Debris rating: 6  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 6  
Normalized IMDB rating: 5.5

 

Sisko and an alien speaking with a Jem'Hadar
  2x26   Series Episode
45
Franchise Episode
322
ds9 combadge The Jem'Hadar      
 
On a camping trip, Sisko, Jake, Quark, and Nog meet the Jem'Hadar.
     
👽
First Contact: the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar
   
Nitpickery: This episode famously introduces the Vorta as having some sort of telekinesis, an ability that they will never demonstrate again for the rest of the series.
   
Watch Recommendation: Since this is a season finale and our first introduction to the (very important) Vorta and Jem'Hadar species, this episode is rated "Must Watch."
My rating: ★★★★   Watch Recommendation

🕶

Must Watch
FINAL SCORE
7.2
SF Debris rating: 6  
Ex Astris Scientia rating: 7  
Normalized IMDB rating: 7.6

 

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"Franchise Episode" tells you the order in which episodes from ANY/ALL Star Trek television shows aired or streamed for the first time. This number excludes movies, TOS's "The Cage", and the "Very Short Treks" web shorts.
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