History YMMV / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E19InThePaleMoonlight

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimetic gel? First, it's plausible that Garak, a former high-ranking Obsidian Order agent, already had a blank data rod (or multiple) in his possession. Second, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create explosives -- and the bomb that Garak used to kill Vreenak had to come from ''somewhere''. And furthermore, Garak all-but-confirmed that he rigged Tolar's door with ''another'' bomb to deter him from forcing his way out.

** Did Garak ever seriously try to pull off Sisko's original plan (getting all his contacts killed in the process), or did he just lie about it [[note]]either not contacting anyone, or they simply couldn't find evidence[[/note]] to force Sisko into his own? Especially since later in the episode he advises Sisko that the best way to convince an honorable man like Vreenak of a lie is to tell them good men died to get the info...
*** And Season 7 establishes he does ''still'' have multiple contacts on Cardassia Prime...
** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimetic gel? One, it's plausible that Garak, a former Obsidian Order agent, already had a data rod in his possession. Two, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create explosives -- the bomb that Garak used to kill Vreenak had to come from ''somewhere''. Three, Garak all-but confirmed that he rigged Tolar's door with another bomb to deter him from forcing his way out.

** Did Vreenak really discover the data was forged on his own, or was he just gaming Sisko's reaction when he told him the rod was a fake?

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimetic gel? One, it's plausible that Garak, a former Obsidian Order agent, already had a data rod in his possession. Two, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create explosives -- the bomb that Garak used to kill Vreenak had to come from ''somewhere'', and on top of that, Garak all-but confirmed that he rigged Tolar's door with another bomb to deter him from forcing his way out.

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimetic gel? One, it's plausible that Garak, a former Obsidian Order agent, already had a data rod in his possession. Two, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives -- the bomb that Garak used to kill Vreenak had to come from ''somewhere''.
** There are people who think that Garak used the gel to create the "replicated" Romulan alcohol that Vreenak drinks before he discovers the fake, and that in addition to a copy of the drink, it also functioned as the organic explosive.

** [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/its-a-fake Images of Senator Vreenak's gloriously hammy "It's a faaaaake!"]] are often posted on online fora as a response to suspected hoaxes. It even worked its way into ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' as an emote.
** Sisko's closing monologue ("I lied... I cheated...") has become something of a copypasta, and has been posted on top of screenshots from ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'' among other works.

*** There are people who think that Garak used the gel to create the "replicated" Romulan alcohol that Vreenak drinks before he discovers the fake, and that in addition to a copy of the drink, it also functioned as the organic explosive mentioned.

* MemeticMutation: [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/its-a-fake Images of Senator Vreenak's gloriously hammy "It's a faaaaake!"]] are often posted on online fora as a response to suspected hoaxes. It even worked its way into ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' as an emote.

*** [[WordOfGod Ron Moore]] has stated that Garak really did reach out to his contacts and that they were killed as a [[https://web.archive.org/web/20061112221844/http://www.trekweb.com/RonDMoore/RonDMoore-4.21.98.html result]].

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimetic gel? One, it's plausible that Garak, a former officer of the Obsidian Order, already had a data rod in his possession. Two, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives -- the bomb that Garak used to kill Vreenak had to come from ''somewhere''.

* MemeticMutation: [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/its-a-fake Images of Senator Vreenak's gloriously hammy "It's a faaaaake!"]] are often posted on online fora as a response to suspected hoaxes. It even worked its way into ''Star Trek Online'' as an emote.

*** There are people who think that Garak used the gel to create the "replicated" Romulan alcohol that Vreenak drinks before he discovers the fake, and that in addition to a copy of the drink, it also functioned as the organic explosive mentioned. Although nothing on the show itself suggests Vreenak took it back onto his ship with him.
*** He drank a glass of it, therefore he brought some of it back to the ship with him.

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimetic gel? One, it's plausible that Garak, a former officer of the Obsidian Order, already had a data rod in his possession. Second, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives, and the bomb Garak used to kill Vreenak obviously had to come from ''somewhere''.

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimetic gel? One, Garak already having a data rod in his possession as a leftover from his days in the Obsidian Order is totally believable. Second, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives, and the bomb Garak used to kill Vreenak obviously had to come from ''somewhere''.

* BrokenBase: This is either one of the best entries in the franchise, or exhibit 1 on why this series isn't really ''Star Trek''.

* SacredCow: For those who are on the positive side of the BrokenBase, then the episode is this, the darker themes of ''Deep Space Nine'' summed up in one episode.

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimentic gel? One, Garak already having a data rod in his possession as a leftover from his days in the Obsidian Order is totally believable. Second, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives, and the bomb Garak used to kill Vreenak obviously had to come from ''somewhere''.
*** There are people who think that Garak used the gel to create the "replicated" Romulan alcohol that Vreenak drinks before he discovers the fake, and that it was in addition to a copy of the drink, it also functioned as the organic explosive mentioned. Although nothing on the show itself suggests Vreenak took it back onto his ship with him.
*** He drank a glass of it, therefor he brought some of it back to the ship with him.

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: The final scene reveals that this whole episode was Garak's. Looks like Garak finally got Sisko back for the [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E05SecondSkin extortion.]]
** You could also argue it being one for Sisko. Pushed to his limits and forced to confront his morality head on while giving the federation one more chance.

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimentic gel? One, Garak already having a Data Rod in his possession as a leftover from his days in the Obsidian Order is totally believable. Second, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives, and the bomb Garak used to kill Vreenak obviously had to come from ''somewhere''.

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimentic gel? For one, Garak already having a Data Rod in his possession as a leftover from his days in the Obsidian Order is totally believable. Plus, Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives, and the bomb Garak used to kill Vreenak obviously had to come from ''somewhere''.

** If Garak was indeed playing Sisko from the beginning, then is it possible that ''he'' was the one who required the bio-mimentic gel? It's not inconceivable that he could have already had a Data-Rod in his possession, plus Bashir mentions that the gel can be used to create organic explosives, and the bomb Garak used to kill Vreenak obviously had to come from ''somewhere''.

* MemeticMutation: [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/its-a-fake Images of Senator Vreenak's gloriously hammy "It's a faaaaake!"]] are often posted on online fora as a response to suspected hoaxes. It even worked its way into ''Star Trek Online' as an emote.