If ever there were an episode meant to capture the spirit and wonder of deep space exploration, “Explorers” would be it. From start to finish, it is a testament to curiosity, ingenuity, adventure and the indomitable desire to experience something new. For the most part, the story is a sublime one, opting for muted tones and conflicts in favor of a more mature, refined and meaningful voyage of discovery. It’s the kind of episode that can be too easily overlooked because it isn’t “dark” or full of major conflict. And yet, at the end of the day, it’s a tale about the sense of wonder we all carry – from our earliest moments – and how important it is to hold on to those sensibilities for as long as we can, regardless of those who might doubt us.

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“The Die Is Cast” is the kind of episode you are meant to enjoy. As a direct continuation of the previous installment, “Improbable Cause,” it features an epic storyline, plenty of action, and some powerfully intimate characterizations. From start to finish, the episode is meant to play out in grand style. But this is a case where the devil is in the details. And for a series that has so often defined itself by its attention to character details, the missteps – simply for the sake of creating false drama – are inexcusable. The result is a rousing, entertaining installment that rings more hollow than it ought to have.

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“Improbable Cause” is a thoroughly entertaining and immersive episode of Deep Space Nine — though, I’m not so sure it’s as good as many DS9 fans claim it to be. True, the episode has an explosive beginning, and its dialogue, mysteries and characters are all well-developed. But the slow pacing and unfolding of the plot are also a hindrance. To be fair, though, the ending of the episode carries powerful character revelations – which are likely the cause for many fans to remember the whole outing so fondly.

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“Through The Looking Glass” is an episode which, despite its uneven presentation, becomes a thoroughly compelling and moving experience, thanks to its character-driven focus. To be sure, it’s an obscure kind of story which, without knowing the backstories of the characters, tends to lose a bit of its immediacy and impact. But for those who have been following the series from the start, there are some legitimate and profound payoffs.

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“Distant Voices” is a maddeningly painstaking episode to watch. Good, compelling moments seem to hover just beyond the edge of consciousness and, all the while, there’s a kind mental detachment between the story and the characters that populate the story. This isn’t a terrible installment of DS9, however, it’s far too uneven and unmistakably contrived to be either a compelling mystery or valuable character analysis. And that’s not to say that there’s no mystery or no character work being done. It’s just that DS9 has experienced much greater success in both areas in previous episodes than it does in this one.

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“I hate temporal mechanics.” – O’Brien

Ahhh … what a way to summarize “Visionary” – an episode which dabbles, then fully immerses itself in the honor and majesty of time-shifting technobabble. In truth, the episode is hopelessly esoteric in its narrative construction, forcing audiences along obscure and literally meaningless theoretical plotlines. It’s an exercise in the obscure, with almost nothing to ground the story in any semblance of realism. Fortunately, though, DS9 has spent a great deal of time and energy on developing its characters. And it is the minor, almost forgotten character moments that make the entire installment worth watching – even if it is … well … hopelessly esoteric.

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