Star Trek: 10 Greatest Genre Episodes Ever
2. Heist: Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine appears again as we discuss heist as a genre. According to Masterclass.com:
A heist movie centers on the planning and execution of a robbery.
There is a simple, easy example of the best heist in Star Trek, and that is Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang from Deep Space Nine's seventh season. Not only is it a tremendously fun episode, it is also the last episode in the show's run before the final Dominion War arc kicks off.
In Vic's lounge, something is wrong. The program has glitched, gangsters have appeared, and things look grim for everybody's favourite crooner. Rather than reset the program and risk permanent damage to Vic, the crew decide to play things out within the confines of the holosuite. That is to say - they're going to rob the casino, force the gangsters out, and give Vic his home back.
It's a riot from start to finish with almost all of the major players joining in. Worf may sit this one out, but watching Sisko toss stacks of dollars into the air is worth the price of admission alone. The clock is ticking as Nog tries to crack the safe, while Kassidy does her best to distract the guard outside.
Bashir plays his Bond fantasy, Kira plays footsie under the table, and Odo does the 'neck trick' to great amusement. Not even a poisoned 'Bobby' Reilly can spoil the day, and the heist goes off without too much of a hitch.
High-stakes at the casino are low stakes in the Alpha Quadrant, but Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang is easily the greatest heist in Star Trek - and that includes the theft of a Jem'hadar fighter than followed mere episodes later.