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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: In the Pale Moonlight (1998)
Best Episode of DS9... Maybe Best of Any Star Trek
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.