Star Trek: 10 Greatest Filler Episodes

10. The Visitor

The Visitor was written to explore the relationship between Jake and Ben Sisko, but it also comes right on the heels of The Way Of The Warrior. For the most part, it's a bottle episode, using almost no new sets. Frankly, it was cheap. Therefore, it serves as a good example of the difference between a 'bottle' episode and 'filler.'

Bottle episodes in Deep Space Nine alone include this, Duet, The Sound Of Her Voice, and Waltz. Would we consider any of those as 'filler'? Of course not. 

The Visitor serves to deepen the already beautiful father-son relationship between the Sisko men, features an incredible performance from Tony Todd, and does very little to contribute to the overall arc of season four - the Klingons go nuts. While Tony Todd himself would help with that arc, here the audience is treated to a beautiful meditation on what family truly means. 

Would it be made today? Perhaps, though it would face stiff competition.