Star Trek Deep Space Nine Feature Length Episodes: Ranked

In the closing days of the Dominion War, something had to give. Season six had finished with the death of Jadzia Dax, displaying the cost of war on the crew. To kill another main character would have been too risky (this was Star Trek after all) but a huge loss had to take place so that the Federation Alliance would remember the threat their enemies faced. Sadly, it was the USS Defiant that paid that price, exploding after its destruction by the Dominion and their new allies, the Breen.

This multi-part story varies in strength from some of the best that Deep Space Nine had to offer to some of the arguably drawn out. Extreme Measures, while a fine episode, spends entirely too long trying to wrest the cure for the Founders' disease from Sloane, at a time when the show should have been concentrating on wrapping up the war.

It's all balanced by excellent character development. The rise of Damar, from a lonely lost man to leader of a rebellion is highly engaging and Casey Biggs sells it. Dukat's embracing of the Pah-wraiths and his partnership with Kai Winn is beautifully twisted. Sisko's marriage to Kassidy, a long time coming, occurs with a warning of great sadness from the Prophets. And Rom becomes the Grand Nagus!

The episodes are an excellent rush toward the finish and a successful foray into serial TV.