Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) In the Pale Moonlight (1998) User Reviews

Maybe DS9's finest.

[stormofwar · 10/10 · 29 July 2009]

Folks either hate this episode or love it. Honestly, I think it's of the best of the series, along with "Duet", "The Visitor", and "The Way of the Warrior".

To make a long story short, Sisko may have to sacrifice everything to save the Federation (and the Alpha Quadrant) from certain annihilation at the hands of the Dominion.

Andrew Robinson and Avery Brooks have tremendous chemistry in this episode, and it challenges everything that made Star Trek what is was. Make no mistake, few series can get away with it, let alone accomplish something like this.

The direction and script were fantastic in this episode, also producing a new canon ship and giving one the best one liners in Star Trek history.

This episode may not have the touching emotions of "The Visitor" or the dynamic action of "Way of the Warrior", but it is gritty, dirty, and makes you question what you would be willing to sacrifice to save something larger then yourself.

One of the Best Trek Episodes I've Ever Seen

[piratecannon · 10/10 · 31 May 2021]

I'm currently making my way through DS9 for the first time, and I've really enjoyed the series as a whole. There are a lot of outstanding episodes, but this is at the top of my list.

To me, this has just about everything you'd want from a great Trek story-questions surrounding the nature of morality, an expertly written script, great acting, and some of the best character development in all of Trek lore.

Breaks every screenwriting rule, but still works

[medelste · 10/10 · 8 August 2019]

Spoilers, obviously.

While ITPM has been rightly praised as among the entire franchise's best hours, I've yet to see the screenplay analyzed for what it ISN'T: i.e., textbook Hollywood writing. ITPM breaks two of the most important rules of screenwriting, and not only gets away with these violations, but benefits from them.

The first, of course, is voiceover narration. The episode is framed by Sisko's narration (both honest and otherwise) -- an approach which "normally" indicates a shortcoming in the action, which should be strong enough to explain itself to the viewer. Yet it's Sisko's unreliable and halting narration that carries us along with him on his journey of moral acquiescence.

The second 'violation' is even more glaring: the heavy use of Exposition, also known as "show, don't tell". Most if not all of ITPM's standard dramatic action takes place offscreen, with the audience subsequently learning about these events from character dialogue AFTER the fact. Posting casualty lists, battles with the Dominion, the assassination of Garak's operatives on Cardassia, the fall of Betazed, Tolar's murder, Vreenak's shuttle exploding: Typically these scenes would be front and center, trying to wow us with action, violence, and conflict. But no: the drama derives from our characters' REACTIONS to these quadrant-altering events. Think about it: Watching Sisko and Garak argue over the ethics of Vreenak's demise becomes far more riveting than actually watching his shuttle explode. I mean, whoa -- that is brilliant screenwriting.

As a huge Garak/Robinson fan, my favorite moment of this episode might be Sisko's first encounter with Tolar. The slippery forger is laying on the baloney super-thick, as one would expect. Then Sisko mentions Garak: "Garak... is HERE?" "Yes." Suddenly Tolar becomes a meek little mouse, slinking away in fear. Talk about a fearsome reputation! Brrrrrrr....

Kudos to the writing staff, especially Ron Moore, for knowing when and how to shatter the rulebook.

The apex of the antithesis

[sstought · 10/10 · 26 May 2006]

This episode stands out as the single best episode of any startreck series. The reason that it stands out it not for its being the 'perfect trek episode', but rather one that stands out for its seriousness, drama, and real thought. More importantly, it is an episode that goes against the grain of trek morality.

For many, this episode may be a rather banal conversational episode, completely devoid of any explosions or monsters. It also may be criticized as the abandonment of Gene Roddenbury's vision for this society. Well, that's true. This is a very atypical trek story.

But the way it is different is what makes it not only so unique, but also so powerful. Sisko must abandon his morality to succeed... and succeed he does. In most of the rest of star trek, the morality of the Federation is its most prominent trait. When other characters have abandoned their moral codes, their efforts have usually ended in failure. But not this time.

What results from this conflict is the framework of the whole story. It is narrated by a tortured Sisko, trying to work out where he went wrong. Throughout his story, Sisko grapples with the anguish he feels at abandoning the principles of the Federation he wished to protect... but at the end, he says that he can live with his choices.

Brook's acting throughout is among the finest in the franchises history. The plot is both complex and engaging. And more importantly... it manages to be gripping without resorting to explosions and monsters.

A Complex Man

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 7 November 2018]

This is a superb episode because Sisko finally realizes that there are things that commitment to rules don't accomplish. Look at the adversaries: The Dominion, the Cardassians, and the Romulans. What integrity do they have when it comes to codes of ethics. They are strictly embedded in conquest. What Sisko admits to in his log is the manipulating of the war, attempting to push the Romulans into battle with their allies. It is a strategy that Sisko finds reprehensible, but he also realizes that without action, he will continue to put name after name on his casualty board. He enlists Garak, who is awesome in this episode as the master manipulator and conniver. Don't miss this episode.

This Is Star Trek For Grownups

[ladymidath · 10/10 · 17 March 2013]

Having grown up with Star Trek as a child I was used to the Gene Roddenberry's vision of humanity having perfected itself. A fine vision indeed and a noble one.

But what happens if the Federation goes head to head with an implacable foe. No I am not talking about the Borg although they are scary enough. How would they be able to fight an enemy that can shape shift and infiltrate entire worlds?

Deep Space Nine gives you the answer and it is not necessarily a pretty one either.

The Dominion are probably among the best Star Trek villains ever devised and the are really put to good use here. Rick Berman and Ira Steven Behr are pretty much responsible for the direction that Deep Space None took. It is much darker in tone than either of it's predecessors and the stories were a lot deeper in nature.

In The Pale Moonlight was probably the darkest and definitely the best.

It starts out with Captain Sisko reciting into his personal log about previous events that worry him. After posting yet another Friday casualty list he decides to try and bring the Romulans who have taken a neutral stance into the war.

After speaking to Garak the Cardassian tailor and spy, they devise a plan that will work. The plan includes obtaining a Cardassian data rod, someone to forge false information onto it and tricking a Romulan Senator into believing it's real.

But thing become messy indeed resulting in, aiding a criminal, bribing Guark, obtaining bio metric gel for unknown and quite probably illegal purposes and the assassination of a Romulan senator and the murder of the forger.

A small price to pay as Garak points out and in the end, through all his misgivings and doubt, Sisko is forced to agree. A small price to pay indeed.

The plan ultimately works and even though Sisko has had to do some morally ambiguous things, as he says, knowing that it would help win the war, he could live with it.

A perfect episode with the most impressive acting I have ever seen. This was quite possibly Avery Brooks finest moment, his acting was spot on. Andrew Robinson as Garak was as usual superb and Stephen McHattie as Vreenak was excellent.

Victor Lobl directing was nothing short of brilliant as he managed to catch the truly desperate air of a Federation fighting and slowly losing to a dangerous enemy and of an honorable man being forced by necessity to do very dishonorable things.

In The Pale Moonlight was a standout episode along with Way Of The Warrior, The Visitor, Apocalypse Rising and Nor the Battle to the Strong just to name a few.

Deep Space Nine was always known as the Star Trek series that people that didn't like Star Trek watched. Here in Sydney, when it was first coming out on video, there was a waiting list to rent it and it had a huge following and even though the series is finished, there is still remains fans of the show.

Sadly though Gene Roddenberry would not have liked this episode simply because it was not in keeping with his vision of a perfect society. But Deep Space Nine shows what happens to that perfect society when put into real peril. It shows people having to sometimes compromise their ideas for the greater good.

Yes, this is indeed Star Trek for grownups.

Best Episode of DS9... Maybe Best of Any Star Trek

[devitoclub · 10/10 · 8 June 2021]

This is my all-time favorite episode, not only of Deep Space Nine, but of Star Trek as a whole. Avery Brooks is an incredible actor, and this episode is proof. And, he plays alongside Andrew Robinson, another stellar actor.

This episode is the epitome of what makes Deep Space Nine so wonderful. Other Star Treks, which are mostly comprised of lighter, stand-alone episodes with no real consequences, don't really lend themselves to the exploration of more serious topics. However, Deep Space Nine has a very dark story which, leads to morally grey characters. In the Pale Moonlight is the ultimate achievement of that difference. It explores not only the process of making a difficult decision that goes against your own moral code, but also the much less talked about topic of living with yourself after you've made that decision.

Everything about this episode is executed perfectly. The writing, the story, the actors' performances, everything. But by far the best part of the episode is Avery Brooks. I truly cannot overstate how phenomenal his performance in this episode is. I've seen this episode many, many times, and I STILL get chills watching it. Even though I know the episode forwards and backwards, Avery Brooks is such a remarkable actor that the weight of his speech fully comes across every single time.

I genuinely believe that this is the single best piece to come out of the entire Star Trek franchise. I can't recommend this episode enough.

Walking the thin line...

[ArnoudMeulendijks · 10/10 · 2 August 2017]

In this episode Captain Sisko must walk the thin line between right and wrong again. But here it is very well done, very well written, acted and directed. Here the stakes are much higher and the moral transgressions less grave than in 'For the Uniform'. And the way it is told, by Sisko wrestling with his conscience about what he has done is brilliant. There is more emphasis here on the moral issues, which make them more obvious to everyone. That is probably why some may think this is not a typical Star Trek episode. But it is precisely because of Sisko's struggle with those issues that makes this one of Star Trek's finest episodes.

Best episode of DS9

[dontron-775-87574 · 10/10 · 25 January 2016]

This one kept me on the edge of my seat! What a plot, what a tricky plot - usually I can see thru the episodes because most are "plot seen before" but this one is definitely a new one. I think i'm gonna put up a poster with Gareth what he did for the federation here. I'm still on a high while writing this. What is probably the best part of this is while Sisko is telling the story, he does not give anything away. This is so well written and so well acted by all! Ohh someone please make a new Star Trek series - I so miss the franchise!!! "So... I lied. I cheated. I bribed men to cover the crimes of other men. I am an accessory to murder. But the most damning thing of all... I think I can live with it...." oh goosebumps!!

10 to 20 years ahead of its time

[vonnoosh · 10/10 · 6 April 2020]

Star Trek captains have had to do the wrong things for the right reasons before but you never see them having to cross this kind of line and that makes this episode groundbreaking in Star Trek.

The damage had already been done from the start of the episode with Captain Sisko telling what happened in his personal log and the events unfold through his recounting of the events.

Stories like this in general are becoming much more common now in other genres but this was still a rare thing for the 90s on American television. Maybe that was only just beginning to change in 1998 but it was still rare in those days.

Every man has his price

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 19 August 2010]

This is probably the best episode of 'Deep Space Nine' and possibly the best episode of any 'Star Trek' series; it doesn't involve spectacular special effects and we aren't in any real fear for the protagonists' safety but we do see a character changing before us in a very believable way. The story is told in flash back as Captain Sisko records a log entry about something that clearly bothers him; we then see just what happened in the preceding two weeks. Fed up with constantly posting casualty reports the captain decides him must do something to persuade the Romulans to join the war on the side of the Federation; to this end he sees Garak and tells him that he will do what ever it takes to get the Romulans to join the war. Garak agrees to help and contacts his acquaintances on Cardassia, they are soon killed however. He has an alternative plan; he will arrange for a fake recording of Dominion plans to attack Romulus to fall into the hands of the Romulans. To do this he will need the help of a man the Klingons plan to execute and another who wants payment in a substance that could be used for several dangerous things. Sisko even has to bribe Quark not to press charges when one of these men attacks him. After all this it looks as if it was in vain when the Romulan senator who is given the rod realises it is a fake; this should be the end of the plan but his shuttle explodes as it leaves Dominion space following a meeting he had there leading to the Romulans entering the war on the side of the Federation as planned.

This was a fantastic episode featuring some great acting from Avery Brooks and Andrew Robinson as Sisko and Garak. We knew that Garak was an arch-manipulator who would do what it took to get the job done but it was a shock to see Captain Sisko going against his core principles to compete his task, the fact that he had few regrets about doing it made it all the more shocking.

He can live with it.

[thevacinstaller · 9/10 · 28 November 2021]

The episode manages to succeed in having Sisko be complicit in Garak's plan yet sympathetic because it was Garak that carried out the dirty work unbeknownst to Sisko. There is a line that Sisko will not cross and that is not an issue for Garak.

I am in the trek camp that prefers starfleet/federation portrayed as the 'good guys' and reflect our current or historical faults through aliens but this episode does a fine job of compromising Sisko's principles in a way that I can accept an evolved 24th century human succumbing to.

The conclusion of the episodes reminded me a lot of the ending of 'The Last Us' in how its perception is dependent upon personal values/beliefs.

It's one of the great ones.

Best episode of the entire Star Trek Franchise

[kmoore17110 · 10/10 · 10 September 2019]

The line that always gets me:

Garak: ... 'And if your conscience is bothering you, you should soothe it with the knowledge that you may have just saved the entire Alpha Quadrant. And all it cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet officer. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a bargain.'

Never in the Star Trek franchise was the drama so tense, the ramifications so massive, and the stakes so high. Deep Space 9 has been called 'Star Trek for grownups'. This episode is its best example.

My first 10 of 10 review

[johncarson-44057 · 10/10 · 10 March 2020]

After this episode, I blurted out "Wow that was amazing".. Its exciting from many standpoints. For one, the intense nature of the devious plan had you in anticipation. Then, this had some of the biggest stakes in any episode. The twist at the end was a welcomed surprised. Last the moral questions and implications is very relatable to choices any of us could have made. Probably one of my favorite episodes so far.

One of the top 5 episodes of ANY Trek Series

[shooter7507 · 10/10 · 5 January 2021]

Throughout my watching of DS9 I have had a few episodes that I've considered really good. Sisko has never been one of my favorite characters, in fact, he's definitely towards my bottom. Garik on the other hand is definitely one of my favorites, however this is the first episode where I actually respected Sisko and was happy to see him do what needed to be done. And Garik is always willing to get things done, one of the reasons I love him. If you can get past Sisko's over acting and drawn out dialogue, the inner struggle and turmoil makes it worth it. By far the BEST DS9, and easily in the top 5 of all episodes of any of the Treks.

An episode with teeth...

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 23 January 2015]

manufacture evidence situational ethics

I like the various "Star Trek" shows. However, one problem that they occasionally had was being too nice and showing the human race was way too noble--so much so that it seemed very unrealistic. So, because of that, episodes when the humans cheat, connive and behave very human are quite welcome--and it's why I like "In the Pale Moon Light" so much.

The show begins with Sisko in his quarters. He's wrestling with some moral quandary and he begins talking his problem our loud to his personal log. As a result, we see a series of flashbacks that explain what's happened. It seems that the Captain is getting sick and tired of the war with the Dominion and he sees that unless something happens soon, the tide will forever be against the Federation and Klingon Empire. So, he comes up with an idea...is there any way to bring the Romulans into the conflict? So far, this old enemy is content to sit back and just watch the destruction. So how can they push the Romulans to abrogate their non-aggression treaty with the Dominion? The only possible answer is to convince the Romulans that the Dominion is planning to invade them. But, since there is no real evidence of this, perhaps, with the help of some unsavory friends, they can manufacture the evidence!

The show is wonderfully devious. But, what I liked best is the ending and how Sisko plans of dealing with this moral dilemma. Well worth seeing and incredibly different from the old 'let's all be friends' style show we had seen in many previous episodes.

The best ever

[nuddywizz · 10/10 · 29 January 2021]

This is a wonderful episode probably the best of the Star Trek shows excluding the horrible discovery and picard shows which don't hold a candle to any of the previous Star Treks. Everything just falls into place organically such a well crafted story you just can't fault it

A lesson in the ethics of the greater good

[Man_in_the_Top_Hat · 10/10 · 25 May 2020]

I think it goes without saying that this is almost universally viewed as the best episode of DS9. It remains as compelling as it was when it originally aired. We see the noble Captain Benjamin Sisko compromise himself in ways he did not think possible. But he "can live with it" because the price he paid on his soul saved everything he cared about.

This wasn't the first time the ethics of Star Trek was directly challenged, but I would say it was the most poignant.

Take it in the eye Star Trek Discovery

[dnovo-141-24243 · 10/10 · 7 June 2019]

I just saw this episode again, after not having seen it for a number of years, and it shows so well why long time Star Trek fans are disenchanted, (to say the least), with the current showings of the Star trek franchise, (Ahem, Kelvin timeline and Discovery). Star Trek has always been about exploring the human condition in an idealized future. DS9 was the first show to go to the darker side of that exploration with great success I think. It shows how you can make a darker and grittier Star Trek without losing what makes the franchise great. You watch this episode and then try to compare it to 2 years of Star Trek Discovery and..... and.... well, there are no words, suitable for a decent review, to describe the outcome. I truly wish there is more writing like what is shown in this episode in the upcoming Star Trek Picard... but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Captain Sisko's Dark Side.

[kirknowin · 10/10 · 16 October 2010]

One of my favourite episodes of DS9 which was the most different and unique of all the Star Trek series. I liked this episode in particular because you get to see a side to Captain Sisko that you don't usually see to an extent. There are many highlights in this episode. Garak who is a wonderful character makes this episode more enjoyable. I like the fact that Sisko gets physical with Garak. The fact that Sisko is willing to sacrifice his starfleet ideals in order to save the Alpha Quadrant. I liked that entire scene and dialogue at the end of the episode where he says he will learn to live with what he is done. Captain Sisko suits the darker tone of DS9.

The Best Trek & One of the Best Episodes of ALL TV

[GarakStarkX · 10/10 · 23 June 2022]

"In The Pale Moonlight" is simply stunning, so good, so flawless that it shames all other Trek. IMO, it is as good in terms of writing and acting as the very best of "The Wire" "The Sopranos" and "Breaking Bad".

The screenplay with an uncredited major rewrite by Ronald D. Moore is perfection. His talents in the dark arts would later come to full bloom as showrunner of Battlestar Galactica. ITPM is a fitting preview for the dark storylines of BSG.

The episode is centered on the interplay between Sisko and Garak. After many many rewatches and chats on Reddit, it became clear to me that Garak was in complete control and basically used and manipulated Sisko to carry the plan to success.

Everything that Garak tells Sisko is a lie, designed to draw him further into the plot and to ensure that Garak succeeds in his actual hidden plan, the assassination of Romulan Senator Vreenak.

Garak told Sisko that his contacts on Cardassia were killed, that was a lie. Garak lied about needing biomimetic gel to trade for the data rod. In reality, he already had the rod and needed the gel to build his bomb that killed Vreenak. Garak knew that his fake holo-recording wouldn't fool Vreenak. It was a ruse and bait to lure Vreenak to DS9.

Sisko, in the end, understands that he was manipulated by Garak. But he accepts the costs--- to his conscience, his Starfleet morality, the murders of Vreenak and Tolar. Sisko will forever be emotionally scarred but understands that Garak's devious plan saved everyone -- The Federation, the Klingons, the Cardassians and even the Romulans from slavery and extermination at the hands of the Dominion.

ITPM is anathema to the basic concept of Star Trek. That diplomacy and benevolence will win the day, resulting in peaceful and happy endings. DS9, the Dominion War and specifically ITPM are pointedly opposed to this outlook. They argue that the peaceful path only works among decent actors. When you are faced with a malevolent violent foe, like the Dominion, you will inevitably be forced to play by their rules. War, subterfuge, lies and misdirection.

ITPM basically argues that an amoral expert in the dark arts like Garak, like Section 31, is necessary in order to survive in a universe that does not share the Federation's benevolent and peaceful ideals.

Best Star Trek Episode From Any Series

[christopherdarveaux · 10/10 · 29 July 2020]

This episode is the reason why, when asked if I prefer kirk, or picard, I say sisko.

It is very different from Gene Roddenberry's vision of humans being peacekeepers in that it examines the dark side of human nature when their doorstep is darkened by certain doom.

How far are we truly willing to go for the greater good? This is a question that forces us as humans to examine our own ethics, like for example: dropping a bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in order to force an end to World War II.

(Spoiler paragraph of plot without the ending) The episode begins with Sisko recording a captains log as he explains that it is hard for him to see a growing casualty list knowing the pain that families feel if their sons or daughters might be on that list. Sisko knows what it would be like for him to lose Jake, so he enlists Garak's help in plotting a scheme that will spark a war between the Romulans and the Dominion, who currently have a non-aggression pact before the start if this episode. (Spoiler paragraph of plot without the ending)

I wont give away the ending, but I will say this is the best acting I have seen from a main character in any star trek series. Better than Picard, who never had to make any tough decisions. Better than kirk, who was nothing more than a hotshot womanizer. Better than Janeway, who does weird things with her hands. The moral compass examined in this episode and Sisko's dilemma of how far he is willing to go in order to save lives is truly what makes this episode tick, and for that reason, it gets a golden 10/10.

Top notch performance

[pasquinades · 10/10 · 5 August 2019]

Avery Brooks' performance in this episode is absolutely phenomenal.

The best of the series

[Blumanowar · 10/10 · 28 December 2021]

The best of the series Without a doubt Fun show Garakcand Sisko the heroes.

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The best of the series Without a doubt Fun show Garakcand Sisko the heroes.

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The road to hell...

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 9 June 2023]

As the war produces more casualties, Sisko contemplates drastic measures.

This is a classic episode with a compelling plot and some great performances.

It do not think it is one for the Roddenberry purists who like Trek to be governed by the Federation principles. The writers take more of a realist approach by showing a society protected by individuals willing to compromise those principles for the "greater good". What you think of this aspect of the story might affect your opinion of it. Gene might possibly have hated it but we will never know.

For me, when it comes to morality of allowing certain events to occur I think the writers focus on certain issues at the expense of others. The fate of certain individuals is central, yet the potential impact upon the Romulan people if certain events come to pass is not addressed thoroughly enough.

Putting aside the Trek philosophy, it is an excellent episode of television with a clever plot that I will not spoil with details. Aspects of Sisko's narration almost recalls the Walter Neff's confession in 'Double Indemnity'.

Sisko and Garek have the best of the material, but others characters appear for appropriate contributions. Avery Brooks and Andrew Robinson are both outstanding, particularly Robinson. Guest star Stephen McHattie is also very good as Vreenak.

For me it's a 9.5/10, but I round upwards.