C6 | DS9 Season 5 Episode Guide

5x01	Series Episode 97	Franchise Episode 419
Apocalypse Rising
Sisko, O'Brien, Odo, and Worf go undercover on the Klingon homeworld to expose a Changeling impersonating Gowron.


	Nitpickery: All Sisko had to do was push the button. I guess he really wanted that medal.

	Watch Recommendation: This episode provides a conclusion to the previous one, but it's only rated as "Recommended" since it doesn't really contain much vital information essential to the series.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation ✔ Recommended	FINAL SCORE 6.2
SF Debris rating:	5
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	8
Normalized IMDB rating:	7.2	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

5x02	Series Episode 98	Franchise Episode 421
The Ship
Sisko fights to keep a crashed Jem'Hadar ship that he's salvaged.


	Watch Recommendation: Eh. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 6.1
SF Debris rating:	7
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	6
Normalized IMDB rating:	6.4	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Quark lying on his back with Grilka over him, looking into his eyes

5x03	Series Episode 99	Franchise Episode 423
Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places
Worf helps Quark woo Grilka, Quark's Klingon ex-wife. B-plot: Miles and Kira get closer, creating awkwardness.

🙄	Annoying Bashir Moment: Overtly eavesdropping like an idiot
🔗	This episode is a sequel to DS9 3x03: The House of Quark, where we first meet Grilka.

	Watch Recommendation: It's optional if you want to see the second of two stories involving Grilka.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation ♦ Optional Quark & Grilka (2 of 2)	FINAL SCORE 4.9
SF Debris rating:	Unrated
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	3
Normalized IMDB rating:	5.7	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Jake Sisko talking to a gravely injured soldier lying in the dirt

5x04	Series Episode 100	Franchise Episode 424
Nor the Battle to the Strong
Bashir and Jake lend a hand to a Federation colony under attack by the Klingons; Jake experiences shell shock.

🙄	Annoying Bashir Moment: Smug babbling during the teaser. I liked the part where Jake's inner monologue drowns him out.

	Watch Recommendation: It's a decent enough episode, but it's a one-off that can be skipped without missing anything big. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★★★☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 6.6
SF Debris rating:	8
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	4
Normalized IMDB rating:	5.5	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Miles and Keiko O'Brien talk as the wormhole opens outside

5x05	Series Episode 101	Franchise Episode 425
The Assignment
A Pah-Wraith takes over Keiko's body and forces O'Brien to do her bidding... but not in a sexy way.


	Nitpickery: Did you notice, towards the beginning of the episode, Miles asks the Pah Wraith why it took over Keiko and not him, since he's the one who can perform all the work, but the Pah Wraith never answers the question because Julian conveniently interrupts the conversation by ringing the door chime? I love it when the writers get lazy.

	Watch Recommendation: It's okay, and it's another episode that is pretty inconsequential for the rest of the series, so there's no recommendation here.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 5.3
SF Debris rating:	Unrated
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	5
Normalized IMDB rating:	5.0	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Sisko, Bashir, and O'Brien wearing Kirk-era Starfleet uniforms

5x06	Series Episode 102	Franchise Episode 427
Trials and Tribble-ations
The Defiant crew accidentally go back in time to 2267 and find themselves in the TOS episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles".

🕖

Time Travel episode

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Universe Timeline
2264
2265	Star Trek [The Original Series] (TOS)
2266
2267		<< DS9: Trials and Tribble-ations
2268
2269	Star Trek
2270	The Animated Series (TAS)
2271

⌛

Tear of the Prophets 4: Orb of Time, purple. (Unnumbered orb of 9)

🔀

Crossover: Arne Darvin (played by the same actor who portrayed him in TOS), and The Original Series in general

Vice-Admiral Pips: Pips are awarded to episodes that are the most stand-out, representative examples of the series as a whole. This episode is a special tribute and a bit of a masterpiece. The only reason it didn't get full-Admiral pips is because it's not truly representative of the rest of the series. It is a one-off. A glorious one-off, but still a one-off.

Watch Recommendation: You might want to watch the Original Series episode TOS 2x15: The Trouble with Tribbles before watching this one, but you certainly don't have to do that in order to understand or appreciate this episode. This episode is truly something special, and really is a "Must Watch."

My rating:	★★★★★ 🏅 Special Award		Watch Recommendation 🕶 Must Watch	FINAL SCORE 10.0
SF Debris rating:	10
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	10
Normalized IMDB rating:	9.8	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Quark holding two horga'hn statues with Worf and Dax in a grassy area on Risa

5x07	Series Episode 103	Franchise Episode 429
Let He Who Is Without Sin...
Everyone acts like a bunch of jackwagons on Risa.

❌	Absurd actions with no consequences: Worf faced no consequences for what was at least "conduct unbecoming a Starfleet officer" but was probably actually an outright crime.
📃	Worf's RAP Sheet: Sabotage
🔗	Risa, the horga'hn statue, and jamaharon are first described when Captain Picard visits the planet in TNG 3x19: Captain's Holiday.

	Thoughts: Do not think that I am taking sides in the Dax/Worf conflict, because both of them act like children in this episode. The fundamentalists' arguments are specious, at best, and Spoiler » WORF LITERALLY COMMITS SABOTAGE AGAINST AN ENTIRE FEDERATION PLANET. HE RUINED THE VACATIONS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE BECAUSE HE WAS IN A BAD MOOD. And that stupid story from his childhood that came out of NO WHERE does not even come close to explaining his actions. Argh.

	Watch Recommendation: Ugh.

My rating:	0 stars		Watch Recommendation ✖ Notably Bad	FINAL SCORE 1.4
SF Debris rating:	1
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	5
Normalized IMDB rating:	1.0	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Dax, Sisko, Garak, and Odo in a holding cell wearing civilian clothing

5x08	Series Episode 104	Franchise Episode 431
Things Past
Sisko, Odo, Dax, and Garak find themselves trapped on Terok Nor, 7 years in the past.


	Watch Recommendation: This story has elements of how Deep Space Nine used to be while the Cardassians occupied it, and delves a little into Odo's history, but it's still not really important to the overall story. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 5.7
SF Debris rating:	8
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	4
Normalized IMDB rating:	5.3	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Odo and Quark staring up at a distant mountain peak

5x09	Series Episode 105	Franchise Episode 433
The Ascent
Marooned, Quark and Odo must climb a mountain to survive. B-plot: Jake and Nog become roommates and have some trouble getting along.

🔗	Quark offers to teach Odo how to play "fizzbin," which has the same name as a card game made up by Kirk in TOS 2x17: A Piece of the Action

	Nitpickery: In the B-plot, the writers make the new roommates, Jake and Nog, sort of like The Odd Couple. One is fastidious while the other is a sloppy "free spirit," and obviously this conflict is a formula for HILARITY! The stupid part that I can't get over is that Jake's messiness apparently comes in the form of him regularly taking out every article of clothing that he owns and tossing them anywhere there's an open spot. Either that or he changes clothes every hour or so. There's a shirt in the replicator... this isn't just being untidy, this is some kind of psychopathy!

	Thoughts: I get exhausted just watching this episode. The contrasting tropes of "two characters at odds must work together to survive against insurmountable challenges" and "two characters who were friends are now at odds" is a little tired, so I had to knock off a half-star from my rating of an otherwise average episode.

	Watch Recommendation: Neither of these stories matter in the long run. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★ ★☆ ☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 4.4
SF Debris rating:	6
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	2
Normalized IMDB rating:	5.3	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Sisko looking up and smiling at a Bajoran spire

5x10	Series Episode 106	Franchise Episode 436
Rapture
Sisko studies an ancient puzzle to find the lost city of B'hala.

⬆	Level-Up: New Uniforms
🔗	A probable interpretation for Sisko's visions will come to light in DS9 5x15: By Inferno's Light.
❕	Spoiler » This contains spoiler information for DS9 5x14: In Purgatory's Shadow. Come back after you've watched it. Continue anyway » In this episode, Dr. Bashir is actually a changeling impostor who apparently performs risky brain surgery on Sisko. Yikes!

	Watch Recommendation: It provides information about Sisko's role as a Starfleet captain and as the Emissary to the Prophets, so it is "Recommended."

My rating:	★★★★☆		Watch Recommendation ✔ Recommended	FINAL SCORE 6.0
SF Debris rating:	7
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	3
Normalized IMDB rating:	4.6	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Kira sitting under a bright light as a dark figure watches

5x11	Series Episode 107	Franchise Episode 437
The Darkness and the Light
Someone is murdering Kira's old Resistance comrades.

❌	Absurd actions with no consequences: Kira goes off half-cocked, risking her own life and the life of the O'Brien baby, and it's never addressed. She also strikes not one but THREE fellow officers, nearly vents an entire section of the station into space, and steals a runabout... but we'll never speak of this incident again.
❕	Spoiler » This contains spoiler information for DS9 5x14: In Purgatory's Shadow. Come back after you've watched it. Continue anyway » In this episode, Dr. Bashir is actually a changeling impostor who repairs Kira's placental perforation. Yikes!

	Thoughts: This story has some real unrealized potential, if only they had run with it instead of wrapping it all up in one episode and never mentioning it again. Kira's emotions are obviously running high, but she also has a baby to think about. I would have liked to see some confrontation between the O'Briens and Kira over this, as well as some more fallout from Kira's loss, but the events of this episode are literally never mentioned again.

	Watch Recommendation: While the episode does build some character for Kira and goes into some of her history as a member of the Bajoran underground, it's not a good episode, and it's frustrating to watch Kira make so many poor choices. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★☆☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 3.4
SF Debris rating:	Unrated
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	3
Normalized IMDB rating:	4.1	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Odo and Dr. Mora looking at an infant changeling in its liquid state attempting to form a face

5x12	Series Episode 108	Franchise Episode 440
The Begotten
Odo tries to teach a sick, infant Changeling how to shape-shift. Kira gives birth to the O'Brien child.

❕	Spoiler » Odo is transformed from a solid back to a changeling in this episode. He was changed to a solid by the Founders back in DS9 4x26: Broken Link.
❕	Spoiler » This contains spoiler information for DS9 5x14: In Purgatory's Shadow. Come back after you've watched it. Continue anyway » In this episode, Dr. Bashir is actually a changeling impostor who delivers the O'Brien baby and allows an infant changeling to die. Yikes!

	Watch Recommendation: This episode is "Recommended" because it gives insight into Odo's past.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation ✔ Recommended	FINAL SCORE 5.6
SF Debris rating:	5
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	6
Normalized IMDB rating:	6.2	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Sisko and Eddington staring each other down

5x13	Series Episode 109	Franchise Episode 442
For the Uniform
Sisko obsessively pursues Michael Eddington.

❕	Spoiler » This contains spoiler information for 5x14: In Purgatory's Shadow. Come back after you've watched it. Continue anyway » Dr. Bashir doesn't appear in this episode, but he is still a changeling impostor at this point. (Yikes!)
🔗	This is part 2 of 3 in the Sisko vs. Eddington story arc. The first episode is DS9 4x22: For the Cause and the last one is DS9 5x23: Blaze of Glory.

	Nitpickery: We've never seen Sisko do any boxing before. We'll never see Sisko do any boxing again. But we need a way to show that he's frustrated and apparently we couldn't think of anything but the old punching-bag trope!
	Watch Recommendation: Because it's an important part of the Eddington arc, this episode is a "Must Match."

My rating:	★★★★☆		Watch Recommendation 🕶 Must Watch	FINAL SCORE 7.1
SF Debris rating:	7
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	7
Normalized IMDB rating:	6.2	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

5x14	Series Episode 110	Franchise Episode 444
In Purgatory's Shadow
Worf and Garak investigate a coded message that suggests Enabran Tain is still alive. Part 1 of a two-part story.

	Admiral Pips: Pips are awarded to episodes that are the most stand-out, representative examples of the series as a whole.
❕	Spoiler » Surprise! Dr. Bashir has actually been a changeling impostor for the last five episodes!
💁‍♀️	The actress portraying Ziyal changes for a second time, this time played by Melanie Smith, who will continue to play the part for Ziyal's last six appearances in the series.

	Watch Recommendation: This two-parter reveals a lot of important information and is essential to the overall storyline, so these two are rated as "Must Watch."

My rating:	★★★★★		Watch Recommendation 🕶 Must Watch	FINAL SCORE 8.9
SF Debris rating:	8
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	8
Normalized IMDB rating:	8.3	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Garak lying down and looking ill as Bashir, Worf, and Martok look on

5x15	Series Episode 111	Franchise Episode 446
By Inferno's Light
Worf, Garak, and the other prisoners prepare to escape from the Dominion internment camp while Sisko foils a plot to destroy the Bajoran sun. Part 2 of a two-part story.

	Admiral Pips: Pips are awarded to episodes that are the most stand-out, representative examples of the series as a whole.
🔗	Spoiler » The Dominion fleet, along with Dukat's ship, leaving the station and heading to Cardassia is likely the meaning behind the vision of locusts that Sisko saw in DS9 5x10: Rapture.

	Thoughts: It occurred to me during this episode that whenever a Starfleet officer is taken prisoner by anyone, their combadges are always confiscated, but they always seem to keep their rank pips. Starfleet should probably hide some tech in those pips that can be used to aid in escape!

	Watch Recommendation: This and the previous episode are rated "Must Watch."

My rating:	★★★★★		Watch Recommendation 🕶 Must Watch	FINAL SCORE 8.9
SF Debris rating:	8
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	8
Normalized IMDB rating:	8.6	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Dr. Zimmerman, Bashir, and the Bashir hologram having a conversation

5x16	Series Episode 112	Franchise Episode 448
Doctor Bashir, I Presume
Bashir is selected as the template for the Long-term Medical Hologram, and his long-kept secret is inadvertently revealed.

🔀	Crossover: Lewis Zimmerman and the Mark 1 EMH (VOY)
🙄	Annoying Bashir Moment: I mean... honestly, mostly the entire episode.

	Thoughts: It has been four and a half seasons, and it seems the writers just don't know what to do with Dr. Bashir (other than having him get captured and replaced by a changeling, twice). And then someone came up with this episode. Spoiler » The big reveal is that Dr. Bashir's parents had him genetically altered as a child because he wasn't keeping up with other kids his age. They had his physical and mental abilities enhanced to turn him into the successful doctor he is today. Since genetic alteration is illegal in the Federation (see: Khan Noonien Singh), Bashir's career was suddenly at risk when his secret was discovered. A deal was struck where Julian's father would go to prison for two years so Julian could stay in Starfleet (and we'll never see or hear from his parents again after this episode). Now, what purpose did this plot twist serve except to make Bashir even more aloof and annoying? Someone who is naturally brilliant and smug about it is annoying enough, but now we know that Bashir's intelligence was unnaturally engineered, making all those times he was singing his own praises even more infuriating! And that is why I rated this episode lower than others have rated it.

	Watch Recommendation: I'm trying not to have too many episodes rated "Must Watch" so this one is only "Recommended." It's not one of my favorites, but there is an important REVEAL that you should probably know about. So give it a watch if you want to see some fun Robert Picardo crossover action, or you can just keep up-to-date by revealing the spoiler above.

My rating:	★★☆☆☆		Watch Recommendation ✔ Recommended	FINAL SCORE 5.1
SF Debris rating:	6
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	7
Normalized IMDB rating:	6.0	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

5x17	Series Episode 113	Franchise Episode 451
A Simple Investigation
Odo falls for a mysterious woman who seems to be in trouble.


	Thoughts: Every now and then, my opinion seems to differ with others who rate the episodes. I thought this one was a fun watch, but seems like others didn't like it. To each their own, I suppose!

	Watch Recommendation: It is a one-off episode and the reviews are, uh... mixed. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★★★☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 5.0
SF Debris rating:	Unrated
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	1
Normalized IMDB rating:	3.4	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Quark, Gaila, and a third man testing several rifles

5x18	Series Episode 114	Franchise Episode 452
Business as Usual
Quark's cousin Gaila offers him a job as a weapons dealer. B-plot: Miles' baby won't stop crying.


	Watch Recommendation: It's an average episode with little impact on the rest of the series. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 5.2
SF Debris rating:	6
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	4
Normalized IMDB rating:	4.8	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

5x19	Series Episode 115	Franchise Episode 454
Ties of Blood and Water
Kira provides final care for Tekeny Ghemor.

🙋‍♂️	This episode introduces Weyoun 5. Weyoun 4 was previously killed in DS9 4x23: To the Death.

	Watch Recommendation: This episode is the second featuring Tekeny Ghemor (the first being DS9 3x05: Second Skin), so I'm marking this one as Optional if you'd like to see this follow-up to his story.

My rating:	★★★★☆		Watch Recommendation ♦ Optional Tekeny Ghemor (2 of 2)	FINAL SCORE 6.4
SF Debris rating:	6
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	6
Normalized IMDB rating:	4.6	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Quark's mother and the Grand Nagus embracing

5x20	Series Episode 116	Franchise Episode 455
Ferengi Love Songs
Quark's mother and Grand Nagus Zek have fallen in love. B-plot: Tensions arise as Rom and Leeta's wedding draws closer.


	Watch Recommendation: The synopsis above gives you the important points. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★☆☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 3.5
SF Debris rating:	Unrated
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	4
Normalized IMDB rating:	3.6	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

5x21	Series Episode 117	Franchise Episode 457
Soldiers of the Empire
As first officer of the Rotarran, Worf must question Martok's honor.


	Watch Recommendation: An okay Klingon episode. No recommendation.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 5.9
SF Debris rating:	7
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	6
Normalized IMDB rating:	5.7	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

An image of Quark on a computer screen teaching a lesson to two school children

5x22	Series Episode 118	Franchise Episode 459
Children of Time
Due to time hijinks, the crew of the Defiant discover their own descendants.

🕖	Time Travel/Time Hijinks episode

	Watch Recommendation: It's a fun little time-paradox episode, but it isn't important to the rest of the series, so I'm not making a recommendation.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 6.4
SF Debris rating:	6
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	8
Normalized IMDB rating:	6.9	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Sisko and a handcuffed Eddington talking in a runabout

5x23	Series Episode 119	Franchise Episode 461
Blaze of Glory
Sisko brings an imprisoned Eddington to lead him to a missile launch site. B-plot: Cadet Nog stands up to the Klingons.

🔗	This is part 3 of 3 in the Sisko vs. Eddington story arc. The first two episodes are DS9 4x22: For the Cause and DS9 5x13: For the Uniform.

	Watch Recommendation: Closing out the Eddington arc, this is a "Must Watch."

My rating:	★★★★☆		Watch Recommendation 🕶 Must Watch	FINAL SCORE 6.8
SF Debris rating:	7
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	6
Normalized IMDB rating:	5.5	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

O'Brien, Garak, and Nog talking in a darkened room

5x24	Series Episode 120	Franchise Episode 463
Empok Nor
O'Brien and his team scavenge for needed parts on Empok Nor.

😱	Scary Episode (Of that genre, anyway. Actual fright not guaranteed.)

	Nitpickery: It bothers me that the away team categorizes items they need into three groups: "must haves," "could use," and "would be nice," but O'Brien splits the group into three teams and assigns one of those lists to each of the groups, essentially devoting equal resources to each list instead of prioritizing them appropriately.

	Watch Recommendation: If you want something "haunted" to watch, enjoy! But it doesn't have much impact on the rest of the series, so I'm not giving a recommendation.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 6.0
SF Debris rating:	6
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	7
Normalized IMDB rating:	6.0	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Jake and Nog studying a PADD while another man works at a computer

5x25	Series Episode 121	Franchise Episode 465
In the Cards
With Nog's help, Jake tries to buy a baseball card to cheer up his dad. B-plot: Weyoun offers Bajor a non-aggression treaty. Arc: Dominion Invasion / DS9 Occupation (Part 1 of 8)


	Watch Recommendation: While this episode is considered to be the beginning of an 8-episode arc, it really is mostly focused on this silly one-off story about the baseball card, so I think you can safely skip it without having to fear the soulless minions of orthodoxy. The next episode is much more important.

My rating:	★★★☆☆		Watch Recommendation -	FINAL SCORE 4.8
SF Debris rating:	5
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	2
Normalized IMDB rating:	6.0	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Weapons fire and explosions surrounding the station

5x26	Series Episode 122	Franchise Episode 466
Call to Arms
Rom and Leeta get married; Sisko mines the mouth of the wormhole; Dukat launches an assault on DS9. Arc: Dominion Invasion / DS9 Occupation (Part 2 of 8)

	Vice-Admiral Pips: Pips are awarded to episodes that are the most stand-out, representative examples of the series as a whole.
🔗	If Sisko hadn't prevented Bajor from joining the Federation in DS9 5x10: Rapture, Bajor would not have been able to independently sign a non-aggression pact with the Dominion in this episode.

	Thoughts: It's important to not think too hard about that magic infinite minefield made with magic infinite mines that blow up ships and also magically create more mines so there's always more magic infinite mines to blow up more ships. Also, they're cloaked for some reason.

	Watch Recommendation: It's a very important season finale and a "Must Watch!" It's also the sixth episode on the "Bare Minimum" list.

My rating:	★★★★★		Watch Recommendation 🕶 ‼ Must Watch Bare Minimum	FINAL SCORE 8.8
SF Debris rating:	7
Ex Astris Scientia rating:	8
Normalized IMDB rating:	9.1	Understanding Ratings and Recommendations

Full Episode List
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Full Episode List
Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7

Full Episode ListSeason 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7

Full Episode ListSeason 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7

Full Episode List
Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7

Full Episode List
Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7