So one of my favorite episodes (maybe my most favorite) of star trek is DS9 6:19 "In the Pale Moonlight".
I just rewatched it after several years and came to a few things that irritated me and made me come to a different conclusion who the real hero of the episode is: Garak!
Of course we are seeing the episode in retrospect from Siskos point of view as he records is personal log - which is a brilliant way to tell the story. But in reality, this only highlights how naive Sisko is through the entire episode. In fact, it is Garak who calls out the stakes and again and again has to convince Sisko what needs/ had to be done to succeed. In the end, he is proven right.
I certainly don´t want to downplay Avery Brooks performance of Sisko, but I assume it boils down to "bad writing". See, there are a few things that always annoyed me and I couldn´t quite put my finger on it until now, because it´s such a perfect episode with such an unfamiliar dark tone for Star Trek in general (not so much for DS9) that just shows us more realism of war, which DS9 is known for, yet other series lack and I would be hard pressed to find another Star Trek series that shows the actual realism of war & morality better than "In the Pale Moonlight".
To make my point, here are the things that always annoyed me in the episode:
- Sisko makes the hard decision(s) to make the Romulans join the war, yet he lacks conviction and has to convince himself again and again that it´s "the right thing" although immoral. Don´t get me wrong, it´s a great technique to show his thoughts and actions in his monologues as he records his pesonal log, yet Sisko comes away silly in it. A few examples what I mean: Why does he need to say stupid things like "Mr Garak, after I spent a week with you I aquired a thick skin"??? Just a few minutes before he convinced himself several times that he has strong doubts and he learned to push his feelings aside. So why this stupid line to make him seem jovial right before he meets Vreenak? How many times does he have to make these realizations that war and morals isn´t a game?
- Sisko should have played "hard to get" with Vreenak: In his short meeting with Vreenak (Stephen McHattie is SO good!) he more or less doesn´t much try to sell his point. I mean, the argument that the Romulan Empire will be surrounded by the Dominion is great, really, but he is too fast with forwarding the evidence and with him turning over the data rod. A few lines, a few pauses alon
... keep reading on reddit ➡I know this episode has been referenced many times before but I just got to it in my re-watch.
I like the title reference to Batman '89 and the Joker's signature question - "Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?" I was in my early 20s when that movie came out and seeing it referenced like this was my first "I got that ... I understood that reference." moment although I thought for sure it must be something else given Trek's preference for classical references.
That cold open really set the tone. Sisko's obvious distress and his reference to "What I've done ..." gives us serious pause. Something truly awful has happened, something that could change everything and our curiosity is piqued.
Sisko to Garak: "I'm already involved in a very messy, very bloody business..." Someone raised the idea that Garak manipulated this whole episode from the start but I prefer to think it really was Sisko's idea and Garak went along with it, although he was probably eager to be given the chance to use his skills to the fullest. He asks just enough questions to ensure that Sisko is really committed and then climbs on board.
The invasion of Betazed - I actually read "The Battle of Betazed" which was my first Trek novel in a long time and not half bad. This move effectively raises the stakes in the episode.
Garak: "I suggest we manufacture the evidence ourselves."
(Cut to Sisko's office)
Sisko "Maybe I should have put a stop to it right there ..."
I love the slow-growing intensity of this episode and the way it ratchets up the heat on Sisko at every point. There are phrases that are cleverly repeated like "The fate of the entire Alpha Quadrant" and "do whatever it takes" and a lot of quick cuts between scenes like this one and the appearance of Tolar immediately after Garak asks Sisko to get him out of prison. It moves them and the others along in a sort of dark but elegant dance that makes the title reference even more appropriate.
Garak's outfit in the Turbolift is strangely reminiscent of the Starfleet uniform in the first couple seasons of TNG. It's an interesting touch given the parody he's making of Starfleet principles in this episode.
Sisko harshly orders Bashir to deliver the biomemetic gel and threatens Tolar - the strain is really starting to show.
Garak to Tolar: "Why don't you go back to your quarters. I'll be along shortly to say .... hello."
Yeah, there's some history there. I'm willing to consider that Garak used
... keep reading on reddit ➡I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but the amount of non-dad jokes here in this subreddit really annoys me. First of all, dad jokes CAN be NSFW, it clearly says so in the sub rules. Secondly, it doesn't automatically make it a dad joke if it's from a conversation between you and your child. Most importantly, the jokes that your CHILDREN tell YOU are not dad jokes. The point of a dad joke is that it's so cheesy only a dad who's trying to be funny would make such a joke. That's it. They are stupid plays on words, lame puns and so on. There has to be a clever pun or wordplay for it to be considered a dad joke.
Again, to all the fellow dads, I apologise if I'm sounding too harsh. But I just needed to get it off my chest.
Do your worst!
I'm surprised it hasn't decade.
For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.
I said "hey look, an escaPEA"
No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!
Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂
It really does, I swear!
They’re on standbi
Pilot on me!!
Nothing, he was gladiator.
Dad jokes are supposed to be jokes you can tell a kid and they will understand it and find it funny.
This sub is mostly just NSFW puns now.
If it needs a NSFW tag it's not a dad joke. There should just be a NSFW puns subreddit for that.
Edit* I'm not replying any longer and turning off notifications but to all those that say "no one cares", there sure are a lot of you arguing about it. Maybe I'm wrong but you people don't need to be rude about it. If you really don't care, don't comment.
When I got home, they were still there.
What did 0 say to 8 ?
" Nice Belt "
So What did 3 say to 8 ?
" Hey, you two stop making out "
I won't be doing that today!
