In the Pale Moonlight
Encyclopedia
"In the Pale Moonlight" is the 19th episode of the sixth season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
. The episode has an average rating of 4.8/5 on the official Star Trek
website (as of November 2, 2009), one of the highest rated episodes out of all of the Star Trek series on the website.
Sick of the losses the Federation is taking in the war
, Sisko enlists Garak's help in getting the Romulan
s to join the Federation against the Dominion
. Sisko soon learns that in order to save the Federation, he must violate the values for which it stands.
An exploration of compromising morality to achieve an end, this episode was juxtaposed with the previous episode: "Inquisition", where the characters condemned the attempts of the covert organization Section 31
to break the laws of the Federation in order to protect it. Those opinions are questioned and put to the test in this episode.
The name of the episode, "In the Pale Moonlight", is a nod to the 1989 Tim Burton
film Batman
, wherein the Joker
asks victims "Ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" Dancing with the devil is a metaphor
for being or working close to something that is the antithesis of what you believe or for which you stand.
, worried over events of the last several days, recites an entry into his personal log which is revealed as flashbacks. He realizes that the price of war with the Dominion
has been costly for the Federation
and its allies. Presented with a bad situation that is expected to turn worse, he concludes that the only chance for success is to bring the neutral Romulan Empire to their side.
To do this, Sisko plots with former Cardassian
spy Garak
to obtain evidence of Dominion plans to invade the Romulan Empire, but Garak's allies are killed before they find that information. Lacking other legitimate methods, Garak offers an alternative solution of forging a recording of Dominion officials planning to conquer the Romulan Empire onto a Cardassian data rod. The data rod would then be given to the Romulans as evidence to provoke them to war.
Hesitant of the plan but driven forward by the Dominion's recent conquest of Betazed, Sisko allows Garak to continue and assists him by securing the release of a criminal forger named Grathon Tolar from Klingon
execution as well as providing a large quantity of rare bio-mimetic gel to trade for an authentic data rod. Sisko's actions are questioned by his fellow crewmembers, as the gel is extremely dangerous and can be used to make biological weapons, but Sisko refuses to discuss the details.
Once Tolar has created a convincing holographic
record of a Dominion meeting between Damar and Weyoun
discussing plans involving a Romulan attack, Sisko invites Vreenak, an influential Romulan senator, to Deep Space Nine
in secret. Sisko shows Vreenak the recording and gives him the data rod to verify its authenticity.
However, Sisko discovers shortly afterwards that Vreenak has recognized the recording as a fake, after which Vreenak quickly departs the station. As Sisko prepares to face the possibility that his actions may force the Romulans to join with the Dominion once Vreenak returns to the Empire, he learns that Vreenak's ship was destroyed en route. Sisko assaults Garak, who admits he planted a bomb on Vreenak's ship as an assurance that his plan would work; when the Romulans scan the wreckage, they will find the data rod, and attribute any signs of forgery to damage from the destruction. This evidence would be enough to implicate the Dominion, with Dominion protests of innocence only serving to further convince the Romulans of their guilt.
Garak also reveals he had Tolar killed in order to keep his work secret. Garak argues to Sisko that the Alpha Quadrant has been saved at the small cost of "the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet
officer", which, considering all circumstances, is "a bargain." Garak's plan unfolds as he intended and the Romulans join with the Federation against the Dominion. At the end of the flashbacks, Sisko admits that Garak was right, and states that he can live with his decision for the better of the Alpha Quadrant. Repeating that he can live with his decision, he orders the computer to delete the log entry.
as one of the best dramatic shows of the season. In it, Captain Sisko is forced to betray his ideals to save the lives of millions on a galactic scale at the cost of one petty criminal and one ambassador of dubious loyalty. On the surface, no contest but Brooks (Sisko) played the role with depth and feeling unusual in a science-fiction series."
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
. The episode has an average rating of 4.8/5 on the official Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
website (as of November 2, 2009), one of the highest rated episodes out of all of the Star Trek series on the website.
Sick of the losses the Federation is taking in the war
Dominion War
The Dominion War is an extended plot concept developed in a number of story arcs of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, an American science-fiction television series produced by Paramount Pictures...
, Sisko enlists Garak's help in getting the Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
s to join the Federation against the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
. Sisko soon learns that in order to save the Federation, he must violate the values for which it stands.
An exploration of compromising morality to achieve an end, this episode was juxtaposed with the previous episode: "Inquisition", where the characters condemned the attempts of the covert organization Section 31
Section 31
In the Star Trek fictional universe, Section 31 is an autonomous intelligence and defense organization. It is presented as a special security operation, manned by Federation citizens, that is not subject to the normal constraints of Starfleet ethical protocols...
to break the laws of the Federation in order to protect it. Those opinions are questioned and put to the test in this episode.
The name of the episode, "In the Pale Moonlight", is a nod to the 1989 Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
film Batman
Batman (1989 film)
Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Tim Burton. The film stars Michael Keaton in the title role, as well as Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl and Jack Palance...
, wherein the Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
asks victims "Ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" Dancing with the devil is a metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
for being or working close to something that is the antithesis of what you believe or for which you stand.
Episode summary
Captain SiskoBenjamin Sisko
Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
, worried over events of the last several days, recites an entry into his personal log which is revealed as flashbacks. He realizes that the price of war with the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
has been costly for the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
and its allies. Presented with a bad situation that is expected to turn worse, he concludes that the only chance for success is to bring the neutral Romulan Empire to their side.
To do this, Sisko plots with former Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
spy Garak
Elim Garak
Elim Garak is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J. Robinson. In the series, Garak is an exiled spy from the Cardassian empire and a former member of a prestigious Cardassian intelligence group called the Obsidian Order...
to obtain evidence of Dominion plans to invade the Romulan Empire, but Garak's allies are killed before they find that information. Lacking other legitimate methods, Garak offers an alternative solution of forging a recording of Dominion officials planning to conquer the Romulan Empire onto a Cardassian data rod. The data rod would then be given to the Romulans as evidence to provoke them to war.
Hesitant of the plan but driven forward by the Dominion's recent conquest of Betazed, Sisko allows Garak to continue and assists him by securing the release of a criminal forger named Grathon Tolar from Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
execution as well as providing a large quantity of rare bio-mimetic gel to trade for an authentic data rod. Sisko's actions are questioned by his fellow crewmembers, as the gel is extremely dangerous and can be used to make biological weapons, but Sisko refuses to discuss the details.
Once Tolar has created a convincing holographic
Holography
Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that when an imaging system is placed in the reconstructed beam, an image of the object will be seen even when the object is no longer present...
record of a Dominion meeting between Damar and Weyoun
Weyoun
Weyoun is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Jeffrey Combs. In the series, Weyoun is a diplomat and advisor of the Vorta species who is a member of the ruthless and militaristic Gamma quadrant state the Dominion.Combs, who also...
discussing plans involving a Romulan attack, Sisko invites Vreenak, an influential Romulan senator, to Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
in secret. Sisko shows Vreenak the recording and gives him the data rod to verify its authenticity.
However, Sisko discovers shortly afterwards that Vreenak has recognized the recording as a fake, after which Vreenak quickly departs the station. As Sisko prepares to face the possibility that his actions may force the Romulans to join with the Dominion once Vreenak returns to the Empire, he learns that Vreenak's ship was destroyed en route. Sisko assaults Garak, who admits he planted a bomb on Vreenak's ship as an assurance that his plan would work; when the Romulans scan the wreckage, they will find the data rod, and attribute any signs of forgery to damage from the destruction. This evidence would be enough to implicate the Dominion, with Dominion protests of innocence only serving to further convince the Romulans of their guilt.
Garak also reveals he had Tolar killed in order to keep his work secret. Garak argues to Sisko that the Alpha Quadrant has been saved at the small cost of "the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
officer", which, considering all circumstances, is "a bargain." Garak's plan unfolds as he intended and the Romulans join with the Federation against the Dominion. At the end of the flashbacks, Sisko admits that Garak was right, and states that he can live with his decision for the better of the Alpha Quadrant. Repeating that he can live with his decision, he orders the computer to delete the log entry.
Reception
According to the 1999 book, Science Fiction of the 20th Century by author Frank M. Robinson, "...'In the Pale Moonlight'--was mentioned by TV GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
as one of the best dramatic shows of the season. In it, Captain Sisko is forced to betray his ideals to save the lives of millions on a galactic scale at the cost of one petty criminal and one ambassador of dubious loyalty. On the surface, no contest but Brooks (Sisko) played the role with depth and feeling unusual in a science-fiction series."