10 Most Rewatchable Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Episodes
1. "Trials And Tribble-ations"
This fifth season love letter to the original Star Trek series let viewers live vicariously through the Deep Space Nine cast by watching them interact with classic characters like Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Playing with footage from "The Trouble with Tribbles", "Trials and Tribble-ations" offered a delightfully entertaining story of its own while paying tribute to the show that started the entire Star Trek franchise. This is the perfect episode for a rainy day and one guaranteed to put a smile on your face no matter how many times you've seen it. What are you waiting for?
When the Bajoran Orb of Time sends the Defiant crew back to the events of "The Trouble with Tribbles", they must work to stop the stowaway Arne Darvin from assassinating Kirk. Darvin is still sore about Kirk exposing him as a Klingon spy modified to look human, which he claims ruined his career and left him an outcast.
Foiling Darvin's plans while preserving the existing timeline is paramount, so Sisko and the team go undercover clad in original Star Trek uniforms. The ensuing scenes are a lark, chief among them a memorable interaction where Worf is asked why the Klingons of this time period appear so different. In a brilliant cheat later ruined by Enterprise, Worf answers curtly, "We do not discuss it with outsiders." Well, okay then.
Of course those adorable tribbles are back too. In fact, when the Defiant returns to the 24th century after saving Kirk, a few of the hitchhiking critters quickly take over Quark's bar. Looks like somebody wanted a synthale!
Whether by reintroducing the Mirror Universe or reviving the character Kor, Deep Space Nine was often willing to explore the original Star Trek series in a way that The Next Generation never quite seemed comfortable. "Trials and Tribble-ations" is the pinnacle of that nostalgia, yet never feels empty or lazy.
Enjoying the fifth season's highest ratings, "Trials and Tribble-ations" brought Deep Space Nine to a wider audience - and for good reason. The episode's radiant tone and comedic touch showcased Star Trek at its most fun. Like so many of the franchise's finest moments, "Trials and Tribble-ations" is absolutely timeless and never fails to disappoint. And if you need a laugh, even better. This one's got you covered.