FAVORITE EPISODES

prob Past Tense the 2 part one

Far Beyond the Stars of course. One of the most emotionally powerful & thought provoking installments in the entire franchise.
Sisko/Benny Russel's powerful nervous breakdown perfectly encapsulates the immense pain of marginalisation & dreams unfulfilled; the pain & toil of the creative process & the utopian vision of Star Trek:

"I'm a human being, dammit! You can deny me all you want! But you cannot deny Ben Sisko. He exists. That future, that space station, all those people. They exist. In here. In my mind! I created it and everyone one of you know it. You read it. It's here.
Do you care what I'm telling you? You can pulp a story but you cannot destroy an idea! Don't you understand? That's ancient knowledge. You cannot destroy an idea! That future! I created it! And its real! Don't you understand? It is REAL! I CREATED IT! AND IT'S REAL! It'S REAL! OH GOD!"

His eyes roll and he collapses.