The political episodes

DS9 is my second favourite sci-fi series, and my favourite of the "original five" Star Trek series (TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY & ENT).

And the main reason for that was the political side of the show, as opposed to the...... Star Trek side. It was like after Gene Roddenberry's death, the show grew up and was allowed to expand beyond its original remit, which made it more than it could be. Then when Voyager came along it shrank back into its shell and became a children's show again.

Dukat and Winn between them defined the show for me, with Sisko playing off them -- the three of them (and Kira) were the backbone of the best episodes, and without them then the show would have been wildly different and a great deal worse.

It's why I've watched it eight or nine times all the way through (Netflix!!) while TNG and Voyager have rated 2 or 3 (I think)