Top 50 Episodes #11-9

EPISODES 11-9

# 11. IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT

Deep Space Nine, Season 6

Episode Number 143

Info and General Credits

Directed by Victor Lobl

Written by Peter Allan Fields

Teleplay by Michael Taylor

Aired 1998

Stardate 51721.3

Guest Cast

Garak Andrew Robinson

Senator Vreenak Stephen McHattie

Tolar Howard Shangraw

Weyoun Jeffrey Combs

Damar Casey Biggs

Premise

After reviewing one casualty list after another, Sisko decides that the war may only be won if the Romulan Empire become involved too. But convincing their government to abrogate their treaty with the Dominion will be no easy task, and as Sisko becomes more desperate he sees himself going to extraordinary lengths, both illegal and unethical to accomplish his task.

Comments

Watch this and be amazed. War will take its toll on anyone, no more so than such a central, under pressure figure as Benjamin Sisko. But the lengths we see Sisko go to seem to be contrary to everything we've come to expect from a distinguished Starfleet philosophy of such high moral ground. But I shall say it again: war can take a toll on a soul, a heavy toll.

It would be hard to objectively gage the ethics and implications of fraudulently dragging an entire race into a bloody war. And when we learn more about his subterfuge as the episode progresses, even more dumbfounded are we when we discover the Federation's endorsement of Sisko's treacherous plan. To some of the Trek purists this episode undoubtedly left a bitter taste in the mouth. But they have to accept that everyone is human, no matter what century you're in, and every Starfleet Captain is different. No, Picard wouldn't have done anything like this, and with such a huge and influential organization as the Federation you have to be hard, and be able to make the hard decisions in order to survive. Picard had an opportunity to end the Borg threat in 'I Borg', but couldn't. He hesitated in making a big decision by letting that philosophy dominate his thought processes to an excessive degree. It cost the Federation. (I'm still a big Picard fan, don't get me wrong).

Yes, granted, Sisko's plan began and ended with the forgery of a secret Dominion war meeting on a Cardassian data rod in an attempt to fool the Romulan Empire into thinking the Dominion had long term plans to conquer Romulus. Vreenak discovered the fake, and it was Garak, who, by placing a bomb on the Romulan ship ultimately sees their government accept the notion of Dominion deception and sabotage. So perhaps Sisko's conscience is in the clear....?

Call it treachery, call it corruption, call it mainly Garak's doing, call it what you will. Sisko is hard, and can make the hard decisions, and it makes this episode as shocking as it is brilliant.

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Soundbites:

Sisko commits himself to an unholy alliance with Garak:

Garak: "To do what you're asking would use up every resource I have left on Cardassia. And it may be a very messy....a very bloody business. Are you prepared for that?"

Sisko: "I posted my fourteenth casualty list this morning. I'm already involved in a very messy, very bloody business. And the only way I can see to end it is to bring the Romulans into the war. I am prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal."

Garak has style. There's no denying that:

Sisko: "Who's watching Tolar?"

Garak: "I've locked him in his quarters. I've also left him with the distinct impression that if he attempts to force the door open, it may explode."

Sisko: "I hope that's just an impression!"

Garak: "...It's best not to dwell on such minutiae."

Sisko demonstrates his diplomatic skills:

Tolar: "You can't keep me here against my will, I haven't done anything wrong. We had an agreement !"

Sisko: "I'm making a new agreement ! If that program passes inspection, you walk free. But if there is even the slightest flaw, then I will send you back to that Klingon prison where Gowron can take his time while he executes you !!!"

Tolar: "It will pass ! You'll see....it will pass..."

Garak: "... I sincerely hope so. Now why don't you go back to your quarters. I'll be along shortly to say......hello..."

Sisko confesses all to his personal log, which he then deletes moments later:

Sisko: "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 is that I think I can live with it. And if I had to do it all over again, I would."

So, finally, we reach the Top Ten run down....

# 10. THE MEASURE OF A MAN

The Next Generation, Season 2

Episode Numbers 35

Info and General Credits

Directed by Robert Scheerer

Written by Melinda Snodgrass

Aired Feb 1989

Stardate 42523.7

Guest Cast

Phillipa Louvois Amanda McBroom

Ad. Nakamura Clyde Kusatsu

Cmdr. Bruce Maddox Brian Brophy

O'Brien Colm Meaney

Guinan Whoopi Goldberg

Premise

When cyberneticist Cmdr. Bruce Maddox visits the Enterprise with the purpose of collecting Data for some potentially dangerous experiments, he is refused. When Data is ordered by Maddox to report for the experimental procedures Picard protests, stating Data is a Starfleet Officer, and has the individual rights thereof. Faced with losing his second officer Picard challenges Starfleet's order, and becomes reliant on old flame Phillipa Louvois as the sector's JAG to rule in Data's favour. Is he an individual, or property of Starfleet?

Comments

This episode was a great examination of ones personal choices, rights and liberties, and for Data, these fundamental points opened up a whole can of worms. The result is a gripping and tensely absorbing episode. Some have called it boring and too talky, but they are totally missing the point to what Star Trek is. It isn't just a 'space show', its a human show that can deliver and unearth storylines and issues that other, more confined shows can't. The philosophies and motivations behind how we judge and define existence and individuality are scrutinized and explored in some depth here, and the findings are not always comfortable, even though the subject here is an android, but Data is still considered to be a living entity. And for us it demonstrates that life is the qualification for rights and individuality, no matter the race, culture, religion or social standing, this is the allegory behind the story, and it's an important and moving one. (There's more comments on Data and the 'rights' debate on the Talking Points 2 Page).

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Soundbites:

I wonder if this applies to the defunct Mark 1 EMH's that are now scrubbing waste disposal barges...:

Picard: "You're talking about slavery..."

Guinan: "I think that's a little harsh."

Picard: "I don't think that's a little harsh, I think that's the truth. But that's a truth we've obscured behind a comfortable, easy euphemism....Property. But that's not the issue at all, is it?"

Picard closes his case to a sweating Maddox:

Picard: "....But thousands of Datas.... isn't that becoming ...a race? And won't we be judged by how we treat that race? Now tell me Commander, what is Data?"

Maddox: "I don't understand..."

Picard: " WHAT IS HE!!?"

Maddox: "A MACHINE!!"

Picard: "IS HE, ARE YOU SURE....? YOU SEE HE'S MET TWO OF YOUR THREE CRITERIA FOR SENTIENCE, SO WHAT IF HE MEETS THE THIRD - CONSCIOUSNESS, IN EVEN THE SMALLEST DEGREE. WHAT IS HE THEN? I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU!!??"

Soong would've been proud:

Picard: "Are you prepared to condemn him, and all that come after him, to servitude and slavery..? Your Honour, Starfleet was founded to seek out new life. WELL THERE IT SITS!!"

# 9. THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS (Parts 1 & 2)

The Next Generation, Season 3/4

Episode Numbers 74 and 75

Info and General Credits

Directed by Cliff Bole

Written by Michael Piller

Aired June / September 1990

Stardate 43989.1

Guest Cast

Lt Cmdr. Shelby Elizabeth Dennehy

Ad. Hanson George Murdock

O'Brien Colm Meaney

Part 2 Guest Cast Additions

Guinan Whoopi Goldberg

Lt Gleason Todd Merrill

Premise

When New Providence Colony is destroyed little doubt remains that the Borg have entered Federation space and have mounted a sustained attack. But the Borg's expected mission parameter had changed and their interest in only assimilating technology suddenly took on a new twist. When Borg drones beam onto the Enterprise bridge Captain Picard is abducted and taken back to the Borg cube where he is assimilated and incorporated into the hive mind as Locutus, spokesman for the Borg. But in a last bitter struggle to defend the environs of Earth at Wolf 359, only a few light years from Federation central, a hastily gathered fleet is destroyed at the hands of Locutus. With all the odds stacked against them only the Enterprise is left standing between a seemingly impossible triumph, and doom.

Comments

The only action / war episode up until this time was this season's excellent 'Yesterday's Enterprise', so perhaps it was about time to dust off those phaser arrays and get ready for some action. And what action we got. I still remember to this day watching the credits roll at the end of part 1 in the summer of '90, thinking to myself that I'd have to wait about three months before I got to see part 2! That was a long summer. Would Picard die or survive...? Was Stewart going to sign a new contract or not...? In fact, no-one knew at the time, not even the Execs.

But of course Stewart did sign on again, thank God, and the part two conclusion of 'The Best of Both Worlds' didn't disappoint. We were treated to some pretty powerful stuff, no more so than the painful stripping of humanity as Picard is assimilated. In many ways I count this two parter and the follow up episode 'Family' as one triumphant trilogy. Regarding the latter and final part for a moment, and putting to one side the sub-stories involving Worf's parents and Wesley's holo-message from his dead father, Picard's reunion with his cold, estranged brother, Robert, carries a surprisingly powerful impact, as he breaks down to tell of his horrific experience. The greatest elements of Star Trek are in this quasi three parter, and it was perhaps the greatest of all Trek up until this time.

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Soundbites:

Shelby pulls no punches:

Shelby: "May I speak frankly, sir?"

Riker: "By all means..."

Shelby: "You're in my way."

Riker: "Really...how terrible for you!"

Shelby: "All you know how to do is play it safe! I suppose that's why someone like you sits in the shadow of a great man for as long as you have, passing up one command after another."

Riker: "When it comes to this ship and this crew, you're damned right I play it safe!"

Shelby: "If you can't make the big decisions Commander, I suggest you make room for someone who can."

Picard reflects in the calm before the storm:

Picard: "I wonder if the Emporer Honorius watching the Visigoths coming over the seventh hill truly realised that the Roman Empire was about to fall....? This is just another page in history, isn't it.... could this be the end of our civilization? Turn the page...."

Hi, we are the Borg, and we don't like you very much:

The Borg: "Captain Jean-Luc Picard. You lead the strongest ship of the Federation fleet. You speak for your people."

Picard: "I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY TO YOU, AND I WILL RESIST YOU WITH MY LAST OUNCE OF STRENGTH!!"

The Borg: "Strength is irrelevant, resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours."

Picard: "IMPOSSIBLE. MY CULTURE IS BASED ON FREEDOM AND SELF DETERMINATION."

The Borg: "Freedom is irrelevant, self determination is irrelevant. You must comply."

Picard: "We would rather die."

The Borg: "Death is irrelevant. Your archaic cultures are authority driven. To facilitate our introduction into your societies it has been decided a Human voice will speak for us in all communications. You have been chosen to be that voice."

A line that reverberated in our heads all summer long until we got to see part 2:

Locutus: "I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over. From this time forward.....you will service us."

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