Connecticut weathered deck, not too shabby

Hello all,

I'm here for the wealth of knowledge in re-staining my deck. The deck is in better than average shape for 9 years old. Mostly direct sun but portions are in all day shade from the house, hence mold and mildew. The build is pressure treated pine. The current stain is semi-transparent Cabot oil based, which has failed.

I have pressure washed off all the mildew, mold and graying with Jomax and bleach. While doing this, most of the old stain which was applied in 2007 also came off. The old stain was mostly removed. I do have some areas where it is still adhered well, like on the knots and such. I plan on sanding the whole deck soon. My questions arise from that point on.

Do I have to brighten the wood with a good cleaner/brightener?

What is the preferred stain for my area?

What are the major advantages/disadvantages of the preferred brands (Armstrong Clark, Bakers, TWP, Defy, Flood)?

Any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.