Keywords:
	Spin-off Arc plotlines War / conflict

STARRING:
Avery Brooks -	Captain Sisko
Nana Visitor -	Major Kira
Rene Auberjonois -	Odo
Armin Shimerman -	Quark
Colm Meaney -	Chief O'Brien
Alexander Siddig -	Dr. Bashir
Terry Farrell -	Jadzia Dax
Michael Dorn -	Worf
Nicole DeBoer -	Ezri Dax

Season

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Transmitted:	January 1993 - June 1999	Seasons:	7
Overall Rating:		Last Updated:	23rd April 2010

My favourite of the Trek franchise by some distance, this is the one that Gene Roddenberry (original creator of Star Trek way back in the day) didn’t want to get made as he felt that the concept was too far removed from his original idea. Gone are the cosy chats, the perfect personalities and buddy buddy love-ins. In their place come conflict, arguments, personality clashes and real tension. Set aboard a space station, as opposed to a travelling vessel, the writers were forced to focus on continuity, both in terms of character development and plot arcing. There's religion and politics here too, something that was rarely covered in the two earlier series (Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation) except for very briefly. The ensemble cast is superb, each one suiting their roles perfectly, and the series goes from strength to strength as it progresses. As ever with Trek only sci-fi nuts will enjoy it, and that's a shame, as this is highly recommended.

Season 1	Season Rating:
Emissary Part 1 & 2	Commander Ben Sisko oversees The Federation taking command of Terok Nor, an old Cardassian station, recently abandoned, in orbit above the planet Bajor. A stable wormhole leading to The Gamma Quadrant is the reason for The Federation's interests, opening up new trading opportunities, as well as exposure to potential new allies. And threats. With the Bajorans worshipping the aliens that exist within the wormhole as Prophets, Sisko is seen as The Emissary as prophesise in their religion. A solid, if unremarkable opener.
A Man Alone	Security chief Odo, shapeshifter, is suspected of committing murder.
Past Prologue	Kira's shady past as part of the Bajoran Resistance comes knocking, in the guise of an active extremist intent on destroying the wormhole.
Babel	A booby trap hardwired into the station is triggered, releasing a virus into the life support system that induces Aphasia, a condition that results in the victim losing the power of coherent communication.
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Captive Pursuit	An alien comes aboard the station, the hunted in a deadly pursuit.
Q-Less	Q's requisite appearance, along with Vash from an equally poor TNG episode, Captain's Holiday. Terrible.
Dax	Dax's old host, Curzon, is accused of a crime he did not commit. Yawn.
The Passenger	When Bashir is possessed by an alien, Alexander Siddig must try to act. He fails. Miserably.
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Move Along Home	Quark's tendency to dissemble results in the crew being ensnared in a game that could end in their deaths. Poor.
The Nagus	The Grand Nagus, leader of The Ferengi, takes early retirement and passes the reigns to Quark.
Vortex	A criminal, under Odo's arrest, claims to be able to reunite him with his people.
Battle Lines	Powerful tale of a never ending battle, where the soldiers cannot die.
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The Storyteller	O'Brien becomes a spiritual leader on Bajor. Utter shite.
Progress	Kira's powers of diplomacy are tested to the limits in this absolute drivel.
If Wishes Were Horses	A terrible trio is completed when the crews dreams and fantasies start coming to life.
The Forsaken	Lwaxana Troi in not total crap episode shocker. Lwaxana's aboard and she takes a shine to Odo, even when they become trapped in a lift and Odo, unable to revert to his gelatinous form, begins to break down before her very eyes.
Dramatis Personae	When the crew are taken over by aliens, they must choose sides, Kira on one side, Sisko on the other.
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Duet	Awesome episode that sees a Cardassian arrested, suspected of war crimes against The Bajorans. Kira becomes locked in a battle of wits as she tries to unlock the truth. A stunning portrayal by both Nana Visitor and Harris Yulin as the Cardassian in question.
In The Hands Of The Prophets	The local Bajorans become unsettled by Keiko's science teachings at the station school, and the discontent swiftly escalated to violence and terrorism.
Season 2	Season Rating:
The Homecoming Part 1	A famous Bajoran Resistance Fighter is apparently alive, still held prisoner by The Cardassians. Kira leads a team to bust him out.
The Circle Part 2	Relieved of duty, Kira does all she can to expose The Circle, a terrorist group.
The Siege Part 3	The terrorists gain the upper hand, and Deep Space Nine is abandoned save for key personal, who lie in wait to establish a siege.
Invasive Procedures	A Trill without a host takes Dax hostage, and plans to remove her symbiont and claim it as his own.
Cardassians	Custody shenanigans as The Cardassian parents of a child return to claim him from the Bajoran family who raised him as their own.
Melora	Bashir falls in love with a disabled alien. Truly dreadful.
Rules Of Acquisition	Quark is appalled when his new business partner turns out to be a female in disguise.
Necessary Evil	Fleshing out some backstory, here we see Odo recollecting a murder of some five years ago which Kira was suspected of committing.
Second Sight	Sisko finds love, though the woman in question may not be all she appears.
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Sanctuary	Aliens from The Gamma Quadrant claim Bajor as their rightful home.
Rivals	A conman ruffles Quark's feathers as he keeps stealing his customers.
The Alternate	The scientist who first worked on Odo claims to have found his home planet.
Armageddon Game	An alien race Bashir and O'Brien are trying to assist turn their weapons against them.
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Whispers	Upon returning from an away mission, it seems no-one aboard DS9 trusts O'Brien anymore.
Paradise	A colony of humans have turned their backs on all things technological.
Shadowplay	The inhabitants of a village on a remote planet are vanishing one at a time.
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Playing God	Dax must determine whether a potential host is worthy. Meantime, she discovers a micro-universe that is expanding, threatening life as we know it.
Profit And Loss	Ridiculous Quark in love story, pitching for comedy, coming out plain embarrassing. Not good.
Blood Oath	Dax must decide whether to honour a blood oath she took whilst in the body of a former host.
The Maquis Part 1 & 2	The episode that introduces The Maquis (crucial in the future, particularly with Voyager), here we see a high ranking Starfleet Officer joining their number to fight against the Cardassians.
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The Wire	Garak's implant begins to malfunction, leading to some highly erratic behavior. A stunning episode with a simply jaw-dropping performance from Andrew Robinson as the angry Cardassian tailor.
Crossover	First of the mirror universe episodes.
The Collaborator	Kira makes a horrifying discovery about her lover, Vedek Bareil.
Tribunal	The Cardassians put O'Brien on trial for crimes committed during battle.
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The Jem'Hadar	Oh yes, DS9's answer to the Borg make their first appearance: The Jem'Hadar, foot soldiers to their Dominion overlords, with the ability to phase, effectively rendering themselves invisible, these are a formidable foe indeed.
Season 3	Season Rating:
The Search Part 1 & 2	With the Dominion on the verge of a full scale invasion of the Alpha Quadrant, it seems The Federation are ready to form an alliance. Can Sisko warn his superiors it is a trick before the invasion begins?
The House Of Quark	Quark becomes the less than eager head of a Klingon House.
Equilibrium	Jadzia is traumatised by her past.
Second Skin	Kira is transformed into a Cardassian and informed that she is a sleeper operative for The Obsidian Order.
The Abandoned	Odo tries to raise a Jem'Hadar child to be, well, normal. The fool.
Civil Defense	An excellent episode, here, DS9's anti-insurgency defences initiate, a remnant of Cardassian rule, with potentially lethal consequences for those unlucky enough to be caught in the crossfire.
Meridian	Jadzia falls in love with an alien from a phase shifting planet. Trust me, it's even worse than it sounds.
Defiant	Thomas Riker pretends to be William to get his hands on The Defiant.
Fascination	Oh shit, it's this seasons Lwaxana episode. Dreadful matchmaking 'comedy' as a virus brings the crews desires to the surface. Rubbish.
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Past Tense Part 1 & 2	A transporter accident (of course) sends Sisko, Bashir and Dax back to the 21st Century.
Life Support	Vedek Bareil is critically injured in the middle of key negotiations. There is a procedure that can keep him alive, but he will never be the same again....
Heart Of Stone	Kira is trapped in crystal and, thinking that she is about to die, Odo confesses his love for her. Then she survives. Whoops.
Destiny	A Bajoran prophecy that claims the wormhole will be destroyed appears to be taking coming true.
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Prophet Motive	The Grand Nagus rewrites The Rules of Acquisition.
Visionary	O'Brien starts shifting through time. The lucky sod.
Distant Voices	Bashir must explore his own mind. What little there is of it.
Through The Looking Glass	This seasons mirror universe episode.
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Improbable Cause Part 1	Could the Romulans be involved when someone tries to take out Garak?
The Die Is Cast Part 2	The Romulans and Cardassians launch a combined attack on The Dominion.
Explorers	Sisko and Jake recreate an epic space journey, using only the power of solar wind.
Family Business	Quark's livelihood is put at risk when it is discovered that his mother made a profit. Being female, such activities are strictly forbidden.
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Shakaar	Kai Winn tries to play Kira off against a political rival.
Facets	Dax finds exploring the multiple facets of her Trill symbionts past life more challenging than expected.
The Adversary	A Changeling on board The Defiant threatens the lives of the crew. Sisko is promoted to Captain.
Season 4	Season Rating:
The Way Of The Warrior Part 1 & 2	Worf arrives on DS9 The Klingons arrive en masse, hell bent on kicking some Dominion butt.
The Visitor	Much lauded episode, this one leaves me cold as a corpse fuck. Jake tries to free his father from a time distortion when he flits in and out of normal time and space for his entire life.
Hippocratic Oath	When the Jem'Hadar capture Bashir and O'Brien, they want the doctor to find a cure for their physical addiction to Ketracel White without which The Dominion have ensured, they will die a slow, lingering death.
Indiscretion	Gul Dukat asks Kira for assistance, and reveals a dark secret from his all too dark past.
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Rejoined	Trill romance guff.
Starship Down	The Defiant is crippled and Sisko is seriously wounded by The Jem'Hadar.
Little Green Men	Quark, Nog and Rom are accidentally transported back in time....to Roswell, 1947.
The Sword Of Kahless	Angry but old Klingons, along with Dax, search for the eponymous sword.
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Our Man Bashir	Bashir goes all Bond on our asses in a rather daft holodeck tale.
Homefront Part 1	The Dominion are believed to have reached Starfleet HQ, in the form of Changeling imposters.
Paradise Lost Part 2	Earth is placed under martial law, as the search for the Dominion invaders continues apace.
Crossfire	Odo experiences pangs of jealousy when a relationship seems to be blossoming between Kira and Shakaar. Actually, not as utterly dreadful as it sounds.
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Return To Grace	Dukat must turn to Kira once more for assistance, this time to get him reinstated to the Cardassian Government. She won't. Will she?
Sons Of Mogh	Murg can't live with the shame of Worf's actions, and begs his older brother to kill him.
Bar Association	Rom defies Ferengi law and forms a union.
Accession	A Bajoran from millennia ago appears through the wormhole and purports to be the genuine Emissary. Sisko has mixed feelings.
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Rules Of Engagement	Off beat courtroom drama as Worf is tried for war crimes.
Hard Time	Another awesome O'Brien episode. This time, everyone's favourite Chief Engineer is imprisoned by an alien race who use an implant to force him to endure, to his perception at least, a full 20 years in conditions that would make Michael Schofield blanche.
Shattered Mirror	Another mirror universe episode. Not very memorable.
The Muse	It's the perennial dreadful Lwaxana episode. I tell you, if that bitch weren't Gene Roddenberry's wife, they'd have been long shot of her.
For The Cause	Captain Sisko discovers those close to him are in league with The Maquis
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To The Death	Renegade Jem'Hadar attempt to take control of a portal that will allow them to strike anywhere, anytime. The Defiant and a bunch if loyal Jem'Hadar get on the case, post haste.
The Quickening	A planet is made to suffer a terrible plague by The Dominion for disobedience, and Bashir races to find a cure.
Body Parts	An erroneous forecast of death sees Quark selling his body parts prior to death, as is customary. Problems arise, however, when he selfishly keeps on living.
Broken Link	When Odo is struck ill, The Defiant goes in search of The Founders, and find more than they bargained for.
Season 5	Season Rating:
Apocalypse Rising	The Federation believe Gowron to be a Changeling, and despatch the DS9 crew, disguised (badly) as Klingons to put a stop to his foul plottings.
The Ship	Searching a barren planet, an Away Team discover a crashed Jem'Hadar vessel....
Looking For par'Mach In All The Wrong Places	Quark and Worf fight for the affections of a Klingon Queen. Disposable fluff, but entertaining all the same.
...Nor The Battle To The Strong	Jake gets a taste of battle, and finds it harder to stomach than he expected.
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The Assignment	Keiko is possessed by an evil alien. Surprised anyone even noticed.
Trials And Tribble-ations	Knockabout comedy fun in this homage to the classic series classic...if you see what I mean.
Let He Who Is Without Sin...	Worf gets all judgemental on Risa. Rubbish.
Things Past	4 crew members are thrown into the past, when DS9 was still Terok Nor.
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The Ascent	Odo and Quark climb a mountain together.
Rapture	Sisko gets all mystical, much to the consternation of his Federation bosses, as he warns Bajor not to join The Federation.
The Darkness And The Light	Kira is taken hostage by a deranged lunatic and terrified to the very inch of her mortal soul. A cracker, this.
The Begotten	Odo and his scientist father, Dr. Mora Pol, fight over custodianship of a Jem'Hadar child. A yawn-fest, and no mistake.
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For The Uniform	Sisko becomes more than a little obsessed in his quest to take Eddington into custody.
In Purgatory's Shadow Part 1	The Dominion are intent, once more, on invading The Alpha Quadrant. Imprisoned, Garak and Worf discover that Bashir has been replaced by a Changeling.
By Inferno's Light Part 2	As battle becomes imminent, it seems The Cardassians have chosen sides, allying themselves with The Dominion.
Doctor Bashir, I Presume?	Doctor Bashir, it turns out, was genetically modified. So how come he can't act for shit, then?
A Simple Investigation	Odo's in love. That can only mean one thing: A dreadful episode.
Business As Usual	Quark's business enterprises become more dodgy than usual as he takes up arms dealing.
Ties Of Blood And Water	Kira must defy her own instincts to confront a Cardassian who may be able to help in the war against the Cardassian / Dominion Alliance.
Ferengi Love Songs	Holy shit, one of the worst episodes of TV I've ever seen. Quark's mother is having an affair with The Grand Nagus...with hilarious consequences.
Soldiers Of The Empire	General Martok leads a demoralised Klingon crew against The Jem'Hadar but has Martok lost his nerve for battle?
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Children Of Time	The Defiant encounters a planet inhabited by their own descendants.
Blaze Of Glory	Eddington returns to taunt Sisko once more.
Empok Nor	An away mission to investigate Empok Nor, DS9's sister station, to salvage spare parts turns into a paranoid nightmare as Garak's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and two Cardassian elite soldiers are awakened from stasis.
In The Cards	Jake wants to buy his Dad a baseball card to cheer him Bless.
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Call To Arms Part 1	With war looming, Sisko plans to mine the wormhole to prevent Dominion reinforcements being deployed, but all does not go to plan and soon, they are forced to abandon the station and hand it over to their enemy.
Season 6	Season Rating:
A Time To Stand Part 2	With The Federation losing the war, Sisko must take the recovered Jem'Hadar craft into the Gamma Quadrant to destroy the facility which produces Ketrecel White, used by The Founders to control The Jem'Hadar.
Rocks And Shoals Part 3	Sisko is forced to crash land on a planet in The Gamma Quadrant and they are soon discovered by a troop of Jem'Hadar. The soldiers take them to their Vorta, who has a most unsavoury proposal for Sisko to consider.
Sons And Daughters Part 4	Alexander still doesn't want to be a Klingon warrior. Not that anybody actually gives much of a shit one way or the other.
Behind The Lines Part 5	Kira must work from within on the station to ensure The Dominion cannot disable the minefield and bring in fresh troops from The Gamma Quadrant.
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Favor The Bold Part 6	Odo's ties with The Link lead to him neglecting his duties, endangering The Resistance work and landing Rom with a charge of sabotage, for which the penalty is execution.
Sacrifice Of Angels Part 7	The final showdown between the crew of DS9 and The Dominion with only two possible outcomes: victory or death.
You Are Cordially Invited...	Dax and Worf get married.
Resurrection	Bareil emerges from The Mirror Universe to bore us all into submission.
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Statistical Probabilities	Bashir is tasked with integrating some rather unusual genetically enhanced individuals into regular society.
The Magnificent Ferengi	Comedy Ferengi episode that sees 7 brave souls attempting to rescue Quark's mother from The Dominion and, unusually for this type of episode, this one actually works well enough.
Waltz	Stranded on a planet, alone with Gul Dukat, Sisko's life is in peril as The Cardassian begins to experience overpowering hallucinations instructing him to kill The Federation officer.
Who Mourns For Morn?	Morn is alleged to have died, with all his wealth transferred to Quark but, the sudden acquisition leads to more problems than it is worth.
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Far Beyond The Stars	Sisko finds himself in 50's America as a science fiction writer struggling for recognition.
One Little Ship	When a runabout containing Dax, O'Brien, and Bashir is shrunk to a fraction of its usual size, only the tiny craft and its miniature occupants can save DS9 from Cardassian occupation.
Honor Among Thieves	When O'Brien is required to infiltrate The Orion Syndicate, his loyalties are tested when his actions may lead to the death of a friend.
Change Of Heart	Worf agonises over a decision of the heart. Quick, someone, pass me the bile bag.
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Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night	A dark secret revealed by Gul Dukat sees Kira peering into the past to confirm his allegations.
Inquisition	Has Bashir inadvertently been supplying strategic information to The Dominion? Well, has he?
In The Pale Moonlight	Sisko and Garak concoct a plan to drag The Romulans into the war against The Dominion and The Cardassians.
His Way	Odo tries to woo Kira. It's worse than it sounds, folks.
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The Reckoning	A sacred relic is discovered on Bajor, which Sisko promptly destroys, releasing energy beings that may spell disaster for Bajor and the wormhole aliens.
Valiant	Sister ship to The Defiant, The Valiant, is manned by Red Squad, the whippersnappers from Starfleet Academy viewed the best cadets. Loathsome individuals, then. Despite Jake's protests, the crew decide to fulfill a mission in The Gamma Quadrant that looks set to kill them all.
Profit And Lace	More Ferengi comedy misfiring. Woeful.
Time's Orphan	When Molly is sucked into a time vortex, by the time she is recovered 18 years have passed in her time, all of which she spent alone on a hostile planet. And she's not happy about it at all.
The Sound Of Her Voice	A distress signal from a stranded Starfleet Captain ends up being more cathartic than anyone could have predicted.
Tears Of The Prophets Part 1	As Starfleet launch an attack on the Cardassian/Dominion alliance, Gul Dukat is possessed by a Pah'Wraith and attempts to destroy the wormhole, killing Dax in the process, though her symbiont survives. As the wormhole seems to implode in on itself, the Bajoran orbs of prophecy suddenly go dark.....
Season 7	Season Rating:
Image In The Sand Part 2	Visions of his deceased mother lead Sisko to believe he can reopen the wormhole and save the Bajoran Orbs.
Shadows And Symbols Part 3	The Romulans are using a Bajoran moon to build a base, claiming it to be a hospital. The gang reactivate those pesky Bajoran Orbs.
Afterimage	Ezri Dax finds it hard to integrate with her crewmates.
Take Me Out To The Holosuite	A Vulcan Captain challenges Sisko to a game of baseball.
Chrysalis	Bashir falls in love with a patient. Yep, it's dreadful.
Treachery, Faith And The Great River	A clone of Weyoun decides to defect. A mysterious virus is killing The Founders.
Once More Unto The Breach	Worf leads The Klingons in a strike against The Dominion.
The Siege Of AR-558	Sisko plans an audacious strike that will give them access to The Dominion's communication system. Nog loses a leg.
Covenant	On Empok Nor, Dukat tries to get Kira on side with the Pah'Wraiths.
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It's Only A Paper Moon	Suffering depression due to his amputation, Nog retreats into the holodeck.
Prodigal Daughter	Ezri goes to visit her family. Tedious drivel.
The Emperor's New Cloak	Mirror universe capers with The Grand Nagus.
Field Of Fire	A serial killer is at work on DS9. Maybe Ezri can find him.
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Chimera	One of the 100 Changelings sent out to explore the universe is located and soon sets about trying to turn Odo against Solids.
Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang	Holosuite nonsense with Vic Fontaine. Dreadful.
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges	Sloan, of Section 31, requires Bashir to gather intelligence on The Romulans.
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Penumbra Part 1	Ezri goes searching for Worf who has vanished. A Prophet warns Sisko not to marry Kasidy.
'Til Death Do Us Part Part 2	The Dominion/Cardassian Alliance is strengthened when The Breen join forces. Dukat has been surgically altered to look Bajoran.
Strange Bedfellows Part 3	Ezri and Worf face execution by The Dominion. Kai Winn begins to worship The Pah'Wraiths, just as Dukat does.
The Changing Face Of Evil Part 4	The Breen attack Starfleet HQ. Winn and Dukat try to release The Pah'Wraiths.
When It Rains... Part 5	Damar continues to work to free Cardassia from Dominion rule, even working alongside Kira, though reluctantly. Gowron deposes Martok as leader of the Klingon fleet. Bashir makes a startling discovery about The Founder's disease.
Tacking Into The Wind Part 6	All are becoming more desperate as the war intensifies.
Extreme Measures Part 7	O'Brien and Bashir delve into Sloan's mind.
The Dogs Of War Part 8	Quark is briefly appointed the successor to Grand Nagus Zek, before the decision is overruled and Rom is appointed instead.
What You Leave Behind Part 1 & 2	The Dominion war reaches its conclusion in a cracking good end to the series.
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