10 Star Trek Episodes That Seriously Deserve A Second Chance
6. Hippocratic Oath
This episode falls into the 'O'Brien Must Suffer' camp, but perhaps only tangentially. Really, it is another example of why Bashir and O'Brien do so well together - they are the perfect foil for each other. It's also quite heartbreaking in moments, though that's often not a word one would assign an episode about the Jem'hadar.
The central theme of the episode - that the Jem'hadar are simply victims of addiction who need to be freed - is approached differently by both characters. Bashir immediately sets about curing them, while O'Brien plots a way to escape the planet they've been trapped on. The climactic argument between them - where O'Brien literally uses a disruptor rifle to save Bashir from himself - is one of the strongest moments from their friendship.
The episode does frame another point of view for the Dominion's footsoldiers, but ultimately it's an excellent example of why Alexander Siddig and Colm Meaney work so well together. They both capture their positions perfectly - that heartbreaking moment mentioned earlier involves Bashir pulling rank on O'Brien, the enlisted man. It is perhaps the lowest dig in their entire relationship - one that stings them both, and makes this episode a must-watch.