PATRON TIER LIST - DS9 S1E1-2 - Emissary

I definitely agree that as a pilot, “Emissary” was far better than “Encounter at Farpoint”. When it premiered, the Wolf 359 opening was the most kicka** thing any of us had seen in an episode.

S-tier Trek pilot. Probably an A episode.

Solid B The stuff with Sisko talking to the wormhole beings took up a little too much time, would have been an A otherwise. Loved getting another perspective of Wolf 359 at the beginning.

I had forgotten how cringe Bashir was at the start of this series. It's good for a pilot, and everyone for the most part is established at least a little bit. 'B'.

Best series but far from the best episode.

Plot 1&2 was a good B tier. The story was a bit drug out, the acting was mah for most of the cast. Sisko was the full-on star of the cast from the start, even though I didn't like the wishy-washy do I want this job or not coming from the character.

It’s only an S tier when you consider the series as a whole!

Low A or high B. The stuff with the Prophets goes on for way too long. I think they could have been established with fewer scenes. It's fine for a pilot but it's not one of the stronger DS9 episodes.

Better than Encounter at Farpoint

Solid start to a show that becomes so much better down the line. Can't wait to see the boys come to appreciate and get behind what I think is the best show in Star Trek's pantheon!

A very good pilot. I appreciate how it's bringing in all these elements. A complicated setup with the Cardassians and Bajorans, then the Wormhole and the Prophets, with characters including those outside of Starfleet with backstories that need setting up. This pilot has a LOT to do and it does it well. I appreciate it more coming back to it after watching more of the show.

For me, it's the strongest pilot of the TNG era shows. I'd put it at an A but I understand, especially on a first watch, putting it lower. I do think it's one of those that hits a bit harder on a rewatch. Unlike the TNG pilot which is worse with each viewing.

I found this an outstanding pilot. The mystery around the prophets added a lot, for me. However, by the time season two came around, I had no interest in watching anymore. I'm the only person I know with this reaction. People either love or hate this show. With me, I found the first few episodes fresh and intriguing, but got turned off by it as it found it's feet.

Sadly I cannot give this a higher grade than B personally. Its saving grace is that without it we do not get everything else that follows, it is the foundation stone upon which the entire monument is built. In and of itself however, difficult to be as praiseworthy…although maybe that’s the same type of post viewing vibe as with the start of next gen - where once everyone gets to s3 onwards it makes it easier to see how low by comparison s1-2 are…

One of the stronger series opening episode(s). I think it does a great job introducing the characters and station. Not a big fan of the drawn-out prophets section, but it's good character growth for Sisko.

It was a decent pilot, because it focused on Sisko, and actually gave background on the main character, which Trek really hasn't done. Pilots are usually very raw. They are what they are, and you have to stick with the show for a season or two before you really know if you like the characters or not. It was a very slow pilot, except for the attack on the station. And the episode could have used a little more action and tension throughout, and its slow nature almost made it boring, but they spiritual nature of it made it different enough to make it interesting to consider. Not bad, but not great.

I thought this was an extremely solid pilot, particularly compared to others we’d seen for prior Star Trek series.

DS9 is my favorite Star Trek series in the franchise.