It's always been my contention that Deep Space Nine at its best is Star Trek at its best. And the sixth season of this courageous show is one of the main reasons I say that. The creative forces behind DS9 allowed the Federation to be on the losing end of a massive war, and allowed the characters to face moral dilemmas leading to decisions they cannot be proud of. Episodes like "Waltz," "Wrongs Darker than Death or Night," and — oh, my God — "In the Pale Moonlight" entered thematic territory that is arguably unmatched in Star Trek history. But to keep things from getting too heavy, those intensely dramatic stories were cleverly interspersed with great light-hearted tales such as "You Are Cordially Invited...," "Who Mourns for Morn?" and "Profit and Lace." The mind-bending "Far Beyond the Stars" has often been cited by Armin Shimerman as "perfect science fiction." (In fact, he repeats it in a documentary about that very episode on the Special Features disk.)

The Special Features, by the way, are also great viewing, and help you understand the level of passion behind this show which made it so special. Be sure not to miss the "Hidden Files" which include interviews with Terry Farrell about her character's death, Nana Visitor about her character's relationship with Gul Dukat, and other interesting stuff.

Season 6 solidifies the complex tapestry of the DS9 universe and provides a slate of consistently involving stories and immensely interesting characters. If you ever have any doubts that Deep Space Nine was a brave and remarkable show, get this DVD set, watch it all the way through, and then we'll talk.

[Sandy]