DS9 – Rejoined

Plot – I’m not sure I can be entirely realistic about Rejoined, which is a DS9 single episode romance, a sub-genre that has produced such gems as Meridian, A Simple Investigation and Melora. It came along during the fourth season of DS9 when the show simply rocketed into orbit and started to show up all the other Trek around it, before or since. It was at the point where I was watching TV with my now deceased mother (the only show we watched from start to finish together). It features all of the crew at their most relaxed and exposes the chemistry amongst this cast in a revealing and intimate way. And, god help me, it is a single episode romance that actually convinces you it might lead to something serious between the two lovesick puppies or that their relationship will have some serious consequences for them. Plus, it is directed by Avery Brooks, to date one of the finest directors the franchise has ever seen. As I said, I may not be realistic about how inconsequential this episode probably is to most of you but to me it owns a warm, wonderful place in my heart.

Character – Quark is a wonderful audience identification figure here because he finds the whole situation of joined Trills and their complicated pasts a bit too much to take – ‘Frankly it’s giving me a headache’ he says and that prevents ever having to hear about the byzantine details ever again. It’s a fantastically written scene because it is played fast and wittily but it delivers a huge amount of exposition.

This is a great Bashir episode too. He gets to play magician, best friend, Doctor and consul. Siddig has come on in leaps and bounds and delivers some complicated dialogue effortlessly. Season four really was his renaissance. His bored face at dinner makes me cry with laugher. I hope he’s better at poker. Bashir has a real thing for Dax so agreeing to come along as her chaperone whilst she romances somebody else is just about the most selfless thing he could do.

Performance – Terry Farrell’s best performance in Trek, bar none. Dax may have had a few better episodes scattered about her run but there is no point where Farrell gives such a considered, intimate and believable portrayal than Rejoined. She began her Trek career on uncertain terms, playing the first season like a wise old man with only the occasional flashes of the sneaky minx that was to come. From season two onwards the fun was unleashed and we got to see just how much humour and wit Farrell could bring to the role. She quickly became a fan favourite and with very good reason, Dax is simply terrific fun to be around. Rejoined flips that on its head and plunges her headlong into romantic tragedy and even more brilliantly than that it is a relationship with another woman, something that Trek has been notoriously shy about but embraces here without a second thought. Thompson and Farrell may have had a moment’s pause when it came to snogging each other’s faces off (actually it is a lot more tender than I make it sound there) but their chemistry on set is utterly believable. From the first moment they set eyes on each other I was thinking ‘oh boy, they’re in trouble’ and that isn’t because of any kind of lustful fantasy on my part (trust me on that) but because their body language and sly looks at each other suggest a deep longing for a past relationship that has never quite gone away.

Why is it that Avery Brooks generally directs himself much better than other people? What an odd situation to be in. ‘It wasn’t me giving stiff performances, guvnor, it was wot the nasty director man made me do.’ Look at him in Fascination, Rejoined, Far Beyond the Stars, The Dogs of War. He’s brilliant in all of those, thoroughly relaxed for the most part and completely at one with his part. Sisko’s relationship with Dax has never been more pronounced, and more touchingly played. It’s ably demonstrated in the scene where he gives his honest opinion about Dax’s actions and then tells her that he will support any decision she decides to make and help her deal with the fallout. That’s a true friend.

Production – Terry Farrell is a stunningly beautiful woman. How is it that Avery Brooks directs her in such a way here that she looks even more stunning beautiful? She’s radiant in this episode.

Best moment – I can’t help it. The Ferengi who goes looking in Quark’s ear after Bashir pulls some latinum out makes me laugh out loud.

Few episodes if Trek have the honour of falling under the category of controversial but Rejoined enjoys that privilege. It’s astonishing to think that such a sweet and delicate piece if television should cause such a stir. The moment in question – the kiss between two women – isn’t exploitative or overtly sexualised, it is a beautiful moment of sexuality between two people who are completely drawn to each other and lost in the past. The fact that certain channels refused to show this because of this outrageous slur against humanity is baffling, but then I guess the mid-90s was a different time. With what is plastered over our screen on Game of Thrones and Vikings and the like these days this kind of chaste romance wouldn’t even create a ripple. It’s a kiss that means something, which is a rarity in Trek and I love Dax’s reaction afterwards, steadying herself at the window as she is overwhelmed with what she is feeling.

Ultimately this comes down to a choice between accepting their feelings and defying the system or ignoring them and continuing to live their lives mourning the loss of what might have been. An unhappy choice. Trek often puts some hideous plot mechanics in the way of two people in love (again I mention Meridian) but this comes down to Lenara walking away from Dax because she is scared to face the consequences. Her speech that she doesn’t have a little Curzon inside her telling her to impulsive rings very true. Dax, holding out hope until the end, waits on the Promenade to see if Lenara will leave her and we have watch the crushing disappointment on her face when that moment comes. It’s all character choices, and that’s the most satisfying way to bring an episode to a close.

I wish they hadn’t done that – Why are these official Starfleet social gatherings so boring? Where’s the music? Does nobody get drunk? Everybody stands about in formal wear being incredibly polite to each other. How tedious.

A reason to watch this episode again – Character, character and more character…this is genuinely why I am so attracted to Trek and it is delivered with abundance in Rejoined. It also has a wealth of technobabble but I just sort of switch off when that strikes. The important thing isn’t the first artificial wormhole but the beautiful romance that blossoms between Dax and Lenara and the emotional fireworks that detonate because of it. The thinly veiled metaphor for homosexuality is pleasingly done because it manages to drive home the point without ever having to mention the fact that this a relationship between two women. What scores so highly is the polished and warm direction from Avery Brooks and the stunning performances from all involved (Susannah Thompson gives one of the best ever one-episode performances). When I get to the end of this episode, I always want to find someone to hug.

****1/2 out of *****

Clue for tomorrow's episode: