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.
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.