Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - 10 Best Episodes Not About The Main Cast

8. Valiant

Star Trek Valiant
CBS

Valiant tells the story of the ill-fated Red Squad, the elite group of Cadets who had been caught behind enemy lines once the war broke out. The USS Valiant is another Defiant-class vessel, so when Jake Sisko and Nog see it arrive to save them from a Jem'hadar attack ship, they are first elated, then confused.

The episode deals with the hubris of youth and the belief that these people are good, they can't possibly lose a battle. Captain Tim Waters is, of course, completely inexperienced in command, so orders an assault on the far superior Jem'hadar battleship. Jake tries to get him to see sense, which only lands him in the Brig. Nog, at first caught up in the glamour of receiving a field promotion to Chief Engineer, begins to see the error in what's going on around him.

In the end, the cadets' hearts are in the right place but their fatal flaw was in listening to a man who felt the need to seek glory, rather than bring home vital information on the new type of enemy vessel. It is one of the great episodes regarding the Dominion War that shows what some of the other ships in the fleet experience.

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"