I'm kinda fond of "Unleashed."  Classic monster story from the monster's POV, likable enough guest star, weird Buffyverse-only wrinkle with the restaurant, Fred being awesome but not superheroic, and the team getting wistful.

Well, he can get a touch-up from the other one with the Chinese menu in his hand.

I'm surprised to say this, but if he can keep up this level of flow, RJS will be my favorite of the DS9 gimmick posters.

I'm surprised to say this, but if he can keep up this level of flow, RJS will be my favorite of the DS9 gimmick posters.

Wonderful write-up, Zack.  And I'm glad you like "Progress" as much as I do - it's kind of a forgotten gem of early DS9 finding its legs.  And I think you'll find that neither of this week's episodes is exactly a preview of what DS9 post-S1 is like, but as the series goes on, there'll be more episodes involving two…

Noel, you are not allowed to re-start these without telling anyone!  Next time you do that, I'll… um, wait until two days later to post again, I guess.  And it seems this is the last season.  Balls.

Also, although THOQ is a Quark episode, it's not a "Ferengi episode." (This is a very good thing.)

THERE CONTINUE TO BE SPOILERS IN THIS SUB-THREAD

Both Quark and the Ferengi as a whole improve, while the designated "Ferengi episodes" arguably keep getting worse and worse.

I think you'll find it's a running trend that Quark's most positive character moments happen in episodes in which he's not the main character.  Quark-centric episodes, unfortunately, tend to follow the formula of surrounding him with Ferengi and making everything a farce.  I kinda like "The Nagus" because it doesn't…

Allamaraine - count to four!
Allamaraine - then three more!
Allamaraine - if you can see…
Allamariane - …you'll come with me!

That bit about whitewashing the walls would have been a great fit for one of the DS9 stories.

Ha ha , "can we all agree?"  No.

You'll get all sorts of different answers, but my bare-minimum S1 list is "Emissary," "Duet," and "In The Hands Of The Prophets."  Maybe also throw in "The Nagus" and "Battle Lines" if you want "somewhat important" episodes that have ramifications down the line.

LOVE

Since Phil Farrand's _Nitpicker's Guide_s were mentioned upthread… he made the argument that the DS9 writers should have just called Dax's species something different, or made her a different race of Trill or something.  There are just such a huge number of contradictions between "The Host" and DS9.

Only in the U.S.

SPOILERS CONTINUE

I'd take offense at your characterization of humans, but somehow I suspect that you'd just smile at having successfully baited me into a reaction, followed probably by some strange quip with a triple meaning.

Heads up, Zack:  The "majority" opinion is that S1 gets worse before it gets better, so prepare accordingly!