- Directed by Victor Lobl
- Story by Peter Allan Fields
- Teleplay by Michael Taylor
- Based on Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry
- April 13, 1998
- Syndication
Episode Cast
- Captain Benjamin ‘Ben’ Sisko-Avery Brooks
- Constable Odo-Rene Auberjonois
- Lt. Cmdr. Worf-Michael Dorn
- Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax-Terry Farrell
- Quark-Armin Shimerman
- Doctor Julian Bashir-Alexander Siddig
- Major Kira Nerys-Nana Visitor
- Garak-Andrew Robinson
- Weyoun-Jeffrey Combs
- Damar-Casey Biggs
- Grathon Tolar-Howard Shangraw
- Senator Vreenak-Stephen McHattie
- Station Computer-Judi M. Durand
Captain Sisko struggles with the morality of a plan he devises to help win the war against the Dominion.
As a Trek series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was more blatant in its dealings with complex moral issues than any other Star Trek show before. It got into shades of gray and how right and wrong are not always clear. At 40-ish minutes this gets surprisingly nuanced and honest at how a person might act or justify crossing ethical lines they would otherwise condemn others for doing.
It’s essentially a flashback episode with our Captain (Avery Brooks) narrating how he found himself compromising his principles and even those of the Federation. The point is how the path to Hell is paved with good intentions and one can do the wrong or questionable thing when trying to do right. We watch as Sisko with one logical decision after another finds himself in a place he would never want to go. He is doing something which goes against everything he believes he stands for.
In the Pale Moonlight takes place when the Federation is deep in the Dominion War and not doing all that well. Casualties are mounting in an increasingly futile effort. Reports of combat deaths are high telling all an infusion of something new is needed to change the tide. Sisko (Avery Brooks) knows that the currently neutral Romulans are the answer but that simply explaining why they should join in and fight on the side of one traditional enemy against another new enemy was not enough.
The reasons for Romulus staying neutral are better than to join in the fight. Peter Allan Fields and Michael Taylor handled this intelligently without lecturing or feeling implausible even in a world with faster-than-light ships and shapeshifters. Romulans have no love for the Dominion or the Federation and as explained in a debate between Sisko and Dax (Terry Farrell), this war they are watching will leave both enemies weaker and less of a threat to them. It’s also a very Romulan reason. They were nothing if not devious and long thinking.
Part of what makes this episode so effective is that Sisko’s heart starts in the right place. He wants his friends and the friends of his friends to stop dying stop dying. He doesn’t want to post casualty reports anymore and decides something must be done. He doesn’t start with a nefarious plot. He’s just looking for a Federation acceptable reason. He doesn’t go in underhanded and ends up crossing so many lines that he questions himself.
By necessity this is an episode that largely pairs the mysterious and always potentially dangerous Garak (Andrew Robinson) and Sisko. Garak was happy to deal in shades of gray with his ends-justify-the-means attitude and ‘why tell the truth when a lie will do’ view. That line often guided the character’s portrayal.
With ANY OTHER CHARACTER Sisko would never have logically done things the way he did here. Something brought up by any other would keep him on the straight and narrow if those doing the episode stayed true but not with humble tailor Elim Garak. He always made a very good case for a very bad thing. That’s a credit not only to Andrew Robinson who brought one of the best characters on DS9 to life but also to the writers who crafted the scripts.
Sisko is an upstanding Federation officer while Garak is a Cardassian of fluid morality. Garak is a tempter making a good case for the bad. Like Lucifer in the Garden, the small steps of wrong sound like good things until it is too late to turn back. Andrew Robinson may have made his mark in the Dirty Harry films, but he deserves vastly more praise for his performance as Elim Garak. Charming and dangerous with an air of uncertainty.
What I often overlook and I think others do as well is that in this case Starfleet was okay with Sisko’s plan. They were as desperate for an end to the war as he was. One line tells us that the captain approached them with the idea and they said “Yes.” It is further hammered home when DS9’s commanding officer has no fear of Bashir’s (Alexander Siddig) written protest.
Avery Brooks portrayed my second favorite Starfleet captain (who should’ve started the show as a captain). He spoke with authority when needed but also could be very human in his portrayal. The man was the magic that pulled together everything else and turned it into one of the finest of the Trek spinoffs. But I digress…
This is a very well-structured episode demonstrating the little things starting with this hypothetical discussion with Dax as a Romulan to help Sisko work out his vaguely define plan leads to a complete compromising of ideals. That’s where it all started. Romulans may be related to Vulcans, but they are emotional creatures who need more than cold logic to get them to do the right thing. Each shot with Brooks-as-Sisko telling his story shows a man filled with frustration and anger followed finally by resignation. In a bit of symbolism Brooks removes extraneous parts of Sisko’s uniform to show the character baring his soul.
It deals in hard truths such as success in even the best laid plans success is not guaranteed. As always Garak has a plan B that involves a scheme to cover the deception that Romulan Senator Vreenak (Stephen McHattie) discerned. That was the last moment Sisko could back out but is convinced otherwise and you are left thinking maybe he hates himself for it.
It must be said of the actor portraying Vreenak that he was ideally cast. Cold, condescending, and intelligent. What people seem to remember most about McHattie’s performance is when Vreenak confronts Sisko about the deception. The word ‘fake’ seems to go on for 20 seconds to the way he says it.
What makes this (and all good Trek) effective is that you are never lectured. There was always a side a story came down on but like all good storytelling it gave time to assorted POVs to give the show nuance. What you are to think is never told to you. Rather you are guided to it. It does so by focusing on characterization and demonstration over spoon feeding points to the viewing audience.
In the Pale Moonlight is an excellent Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode whose point is how hazy things can get in the fog of war and how simple actions can lead to individuals compromising their principles. One of many great episodes from the show.
Warren Watched A Movie 