In the third episode of the fifth season of Deep Space Nine, I barely know what to say about this. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek.Â
What the fuck, Deep Space Nine.
I don’t know what to do with this.
Miles and Kira
What the holy fuck. This episode apparently ships everyone with everyone, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And I can see what Ronald D. Moore was attempting here if I squint very hard at the plot. I think he was trying to show how two mature adults can deal with physical or emotional attraction in a situation where it’s largely inappropriate. In this case, Miles and Kira’s growing affection for one another is about the most disastrous thing imaginable, given that Kira’s carrying Miles’s and Keiko’s baby. Yeah. Bad. Very bad. So why even introduce it in the first place? Why even have this conflict? I suppose it fits in with the general theme of finding “par’Mach” in all the wrong places, except here, no one pursues it.
So… that’s good? I guess? I don’t know, I’m not sure it’s worth it to have these characters be so relentlessly uncomfortable with no real story. That’s one of my big problems here, though; both this plot and the Quark/Grilka storyline just end. There’s no cathartic resolution or complete story, and unless the next episode is a conclusion to this arc. It’s really unsatisfying. Plus, what’s with having Julian and Odo act incredibly out of character towards Miles and Kira, respectively? Both of them are crass and cruel towards the others here, and it’s super jarring. WHAT ARE THEY DOING. ODO WOULD NEVER TALK TO KIRA LIKE THAT.
Cyrano
Yeah, I can’t really ignore the influence of this story on the episode. That’s not a bad thing! “Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places” is a clever riff on the story of someone helping another character fall in love with who they’re pining after. On one level, this works completely, since it’s hilarious to watch Quark stumble through Klingon customs while Worf is ignored. Worf is the actual source of all the knowledge that Quark displays to win over Grilka, and she’ll apparently never know that. (Which actually feels kind of gross to me. I dunno, I have a thing against people lying or misrepresenting themselves in order to get closer to them. The very first guy I ever dated or slept with did this to me, and I felt very gross and violated when I found out he didn’t actually like any of the same music or films as me. He just asked people who knew me what I liked and then lied about it. SO: DON’T DO THAT, FRIENDS.) There’s also an undeniable humor in seeing Worf steam with jealousy at Quark, of all characters.
Yet the tension and conflict for Quark was always centered on Grilka. Would she ever return his affections and pursue a relationship with him? Indeed, that’s the entire point of everything that Quark does. He is smitten with her, and he wants her! However, after everything that happens, we get references to them having sex (through that scene in the Sick Bay), but no form of a confirmation that Grilka is interested in him beyond this one act. So… is that it? Is she just going to disappear? Did she only want a one-night stand? Why on earth does this episode feature someone pursuing a relationship with another character, only to have the story itself abandon this purpose in the end?
Worf and Dax
Maybe Moore thought that the confirmation of Worf/Dax becoming canon was enough. I mean, let’s be real: IT’S ENOUGH FOR ME. HELLO, NEW CANON SHIP, I LITERALLY WILLED YOU INTO EXISTENCE. But I can also recognize that while this is a surprising and satisfying development in the show, it’s not enough to cover the gaping plot hole left by the lack of confirmation in Quark’s plot.
But let’s look past that because HOW DID I NEVER SEE WORF/DAX PRIOR TO THIS. She’s extremely knowledgeable in Klingon culture! She’s close to Worf! They fight all the time, and fighting can be very romantic for Klingons. Oh my god, it was right there all along. I NEVER SAW IT. Yet it’s a great development, one I’m excited to see more of, especially if it makes Julian embarrassed and uncomfortable.
The video for “Looking for par’Mach in All the Wrong Places” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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