Plot – ‘For now at least the war seems very far away’ – thankfully that doesn’t last for long given the show has opted to commit to a war footing for the rest of its run but I can completely understand why after seven episodes of intense conflict that they might want to chill out for an episode and have some laughs. It was a pretty sensible move to remind viewers that DS9 can still be a lot of fun.
Remember when DS9 kick started and none of us were sure that we wanted to hang out on this battered bicycle wheel with a bunch of characters who don’t get on? Contrast that with the opening of this episode where essentially the same thing has happened; all the same characters have been brought together again for business as usual. Except the buzz in the air is celebratory, amiable and addictive. We’ve come a long, long way in six years. Even characters such a Kira and Martok are in on the fun, characters with tension built into the fabric of their core. This is a quirky comedy episode but it is rooted in character and loaded with development for so many central characters whilst successfully resetting the show. The characters are so vivid now that development is practically self-perpetuating.
Four days at a Klingon bachelor party. This could have gone one of two ways; pain or pleasure. Unfortunately for Bashir and O’Brien it is an intense mix of both.
I love the way that Ronald D. Moore corrects a mistake that he made many years earlier by side-lining women in Klingon society and suggesting that they have no real place or status. He manages to edit that to suggest that whilst the men are all over the posturing and politics and fighting, the women are in charge at home, ruling the domestic side of Klingon culture with an iron fist. Let the boys scream and shout and murder each other, they need to get that out of their systems because when they get home they are whipped.
Character – Alexander is not ever going to be one of the great Star Trek characters. He was more irritating than an itchy genital rash on TNG because he brought more tweeness out of that show in spades and whilst grown up on DS9 he’s more tolerable, I can see why he was limited to a few episodes. How much mileage is there with a chronic accident prone who stares off to camera every time he does something stupid?
Dax and Worf have proven to be a surprise success in a relationship despite all the odds being against them. Ultimately the chemistry between Michael Dorn and Terry Farrell was so fantastic (I think you’d be hard pressed to find more chemistry between two actors on Star Trek) that it broke through all the cultural differences, mood swings and obsession over detail (those last two are all Worf).
Jadzia is both respectful and a little bit cheeky when it comes to dealing with Sirella. She’s happy to show her due deference (as Klingon culture demands) but when it comes to the history of Sirella’s family she refuses to kow-tow to the fiction that has been presented as fact and opts instead to tell the truth. I hear belting your mother in law around the face is not the best way to get on her good terms. ‘You must go to Sirella and beg her for forgiveness’ ‘I don’t beg’ is one Jadzia’s best ever lines.
Sirella is a total bitch but fortunately I’m rather keen on strong matriarchal women on television. I think Martok admiring her for her bad attitude makes all the difference. If there was nobody championing her then I think she would be a far less enjoyable character. Dax is such a presence that having two such strong women in the same room was always going to lead to fireworks. Worf is utterly emasculated in Sirella’s presence, which made me howl. She doesn’t like Worf, which seems a very sensible stance to take. She spells out the xenophobia at the heart of the Klingon Empire in one very powerful moment when she tells Jadzia that as an outsider she will never be accepted within the family. It’s bold to shove racism in our faces quite as naked as this.
Imagine Ezri having to go through this?
Performance – The Sisko/Dax scenes are a highlight of the show at this point and that’s entirely down to six years of evolving chemistry between Brooks and Farrell. Listen to the way he says ‘and you are in love with him, aren’t you?’ I love this guy, he’s in love with being alive.
Production – A party in Star Trek that isn’t a bunch of diplomats standing around in formal wear being incredibly polite to each other (even DS9 isn’t immune to those)? It’s a sequence with energy, laughter, crazy dancing, half naked men, insane music and pirouetting flames. Finally, Star Trek has learnt to let its hair down properly and show people cutting loose in a realistic manner. Honestly, Dax wouldn’t have it in any other way. The Nog dance is particularly noteworthy for its sheer improvised lunacy. Morn ending up splayed on the floor pissed and limping his way out first thing in the morning still holding a glass brightens my day considerably.
Best moment – O’Brien and Bashir suspended over hot coals egging each other on to murder Worf is delightful on so many levels. These two blossomed as a pair of bachelors in love ages ago (even if O’Brien isn’t a bachelor at all) but here they are taken to a new level, suffering at the hands of killjoy Worf when they thought they were going to be indulging in some quality drinking and cavorting.
The wedding ceremony is surprisingly atmospheric and exotic. The story is a typically dark Klingon fairytale but the little touches (the drums, the flames, the eye watering dress, the fight at the end) make it a truly memorable ceremony. It’s easily my favourite marriage in Trek.
Worst moment – Apparently nobody was happy with how the Kira/Odo conflict was resolved (off screen in a cupboard) from Nana Vistor to Rene Auberjonois to Ira Steven Behr. I on the other hand think it was deftly done to avoid an agonising episode of make-up scenes where Kira and Odo learn how to trust one another again. I’m sure DS9 could write the hell out of that premise and it would have been a good episode, but to risk 45 minutes of psychobabble (in an agonising twist Troi turns up to counsel them through their problems) is not something I do lightly.
I wish they hadn’t done that – The dramatic lynchpin of this episode is Jadzia having the nerve to apologise to Sirella and for some bizarre reason that scene is omitted.
A reason to watch this episode again – Fluffy DS9 in series six is still quality television, even though I’m sure there are people out there who would much prefer their Trek to be taken a lot more seriously. This is essentially a series of witty vignettes where we pry into the downtime of the DS9 crew as they prepare for Worf and Dax’s wedding. It’s silly and fun and almost entirely rooted in character. Joyfully the best moment is saved for the last few seconds. Gorgeous moments abound; Martok’s love of his terrifying wife, Bashir and O’Brien desperate need for food, Sisko ticking off Jadzia for being such so stubborn, Nog’s crazy dance, the reveal of the dress. The plot is mired in clichés, but the character work is all excellent which has always been DS9’s greatest weapon.
**** out of *****
Clue for tomorrow's episode:
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