10 Greatest Star Trek Season Finales
6. Tears Of The Prophets - Deep Space Nine Season Six
The sixth season of Deep Space Nine saw the Dominion War truly explode throughout the Federation. While the fifth season finale (more on that later) set the stage, Tears Of The Prophets completed several arcs, offered the first true on-screen offensive by the Federation-Klingon-Romulan Alliance, and saw the departure of Terry Farrell's Jadzia Dax.
While the unfortunate details of the behind-the-scenes issues that led to her departure have since become clear, there is little doubt that the death of Jadzia ranks as one of the most shocking, upsetting scenes in the show's entire run. It's actually difficult to rewatch the episode without a growing sense of dread once she enters that Bajoran shrine, but Farrell's performance makes the effort worth every moment.
Aside from this, the spectacular Battle Of Chin'toka, as well as the return of Gul Dukat, and Sisko's final scene scrubbing oysters in New Orleans offer some of the most thrilling, affecting scenes, proving that a season that contained such greats as The Sacrifice Of Angels, Far Beyond The Stars, and In The Pale Moonlight could still go out with a bang.
It may have been tinged with tragedy, but Tears Of The Prophets was still, in its own way, very much a triumph.