10 Most Rewatchable Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Episodes
2. "In The Pale Moonlight"
This sixth season gem portrays a desperate Sisko abandoning his principles in a personal mission to save the Federation and is rightly cited as one of Deep Space Nine's crowning achievements. Told in the aftermath of events through Sisko's personal log, the story's hopeless mood and feeling of duplicity act in perfect contrast to the closing triumph of the Romulans joining the fight against the Dominion.
With its unique format and style, not to mention a fantastic script, "In The Pale Moonlight" never feels tired or played out, even after numerous viewings. And if that wasn't enough, powerful performances from Avery Brooks and Andrew Robinson go even further in making this episode a perennial favourite worth revisiting. What a treat.
Following a recent string of mounting losses, Sisko resolves to bring the Romulans into the war against the Dominion, even if it means compromising his principles and self-respect. He enlists the aid of Garak, who eventually persuades Sisko to simply fabricate evidence of Dominion plans to attack the Romulans. Fake it 'til you make it, I guess.
This deception threatens to backfire when their forgery's revealed, but trusty Garak is there to murder any witnesses and ensure the Romulans walk away convinced the Dominion are ready to invade them.
When an enraged Sisko confronts Garak over his actions, he's met with cool indifference. Garak explains Sisko knew deep down that getting the Romulans on side was always going to be a nasty business. That's why he wanted Garak's help. Because Garak was willing to do what Sisko wasn't capable of doing. And Sisko's guilty conscience is a small price to pay for saving the Alpha Quadrant.
"In the Pale Moonlight" undermined the notion that the Federation's utopian myth could weather the Dominion storm, not in shocking terms, but in a way that in the end came across as daringly believable. In a franchise that prided itself on depicting an idyllic vision of humanity's future among the stars, this was no small feat. Sisko's ability to move on from his misdeeds added more shades of grey to his character, further separating him from the likes of Kirk and Picard. The philosophical and moral issues raised by "In The Pale Moonlight" challenge the nature of Star Trek and make this episode a gift that keeps on giving.