Star Trek DS9 - Season 5 - Episode 07
Star Trek DS9 - 5x07 - Let He Who Is Without Sin...
Originally Aired: 1996-11-11
Synopsis:
Worf's relationship with Dax hits a rough spot, and he plans to discuss his feelings during their vacation on Risa. [DVD]
Filler Quotient:
1, partial filler, but has important continuity. I recommend against skipping this one.
- This episode ends Leeta's relationship with Bashir and begins her relationship with Rom. However, Bashir's relationship with Leeta was previously featured in only one episode (Explorers) and for only a single scene which did not indicate clearly whether or not they would actually ever get together. As such, their breakup is inessential continuity and Leeta's attraction to Rom later on can be understood in context without seeing this episode. Nevertheless, this episode does feature nice texture and character development both for Leeta's love interests as well as the Dax/Worf relationship.
Problems
- How could a "friend of Curzon's" instantly recognize Jadzia?
Factoids
- The Ferengi have 178 different words for rain.
Remarkable Scenes
- Another mention of captain Boday, a Gallamite with a transparent skull.
- Leeta declaring that she's in love with Rom then Quark and Bashir's subsequent reactions.
- Worf telling Jadzia a story in which when he was a child he accidentally killed a human boy during a soccer game.
- Morn Appearances; 1. The first scene, hands a Starfleet officer a flower.
My Review
Another attempt at a humor episode finally sparks a dud. We get to see Dax in some interesting clothing again, but the overall plot is just lacking. Some good continuity and decent details in the episode, like the horgon which caused Worf's faux pas in TNG: Captain's Holiday. Bashir's and Leeta's "relationship" in this episode is wonderfully handled. But the plot concerning Worf and the Essentialists is very poor. The idea is sound, and the opening is well handled, but they quickly become annoying with their childish attacks and petty sabotage and totally fail to make a point concerning the Federation's complacency and overindulgence. To me, despite his redemption in the end, it just seems petty that Worf has to ruin the vacation of hundreds of thousands of people before he can talk to Dax about his relationship with her.
The following are comments submitted by my readers.
I agree. This is pretty lackluster stuff, but it's a good idea with one exception: isn't Worf's action criminal? Do you really think Star Fleet would allow one of it's officers to essentially commit an act of terrorism against a Federation world without wanting to prosecute?
I never was a fan of Worf (don't like Klingons...), but here I'm with him. All that Risa stuff is just bad and lacks morality. Everyone romancing everyone? Well, if this is civilised progress, I'm choosing old anachronic boring mentality:) Plus I liked thst soccer story! We need to control ourselves, because we may hurt someone. It's all about responsibility.
I get that "what happens on Risa, stays on Risa" but I have a hard time believing that sabotaging the planet's environmental systems turns out to be consequence-free. What's more, Worf attends the Essentialist rally and joins their sabotage all while wearing a Starfleet uniform! He is very lucky that the planet seems devoid of both media and competent legal authorities.
The Essentialists are an interesting idea for an episode and I wish more would've been done with them than simply having their leader foolishly take a swing at Worf. It was a cheap and easy way to discredit them so that Worf can conveniently break from their movement, reunite with Jadzia, and get off the planet. Even Arandis has a sobering moment of realizing that maybe the Risian way of life has a cost. But we never get to explore that because, of course, the Essentialists are just a foil for Worf and Jadzia's relationship.
Maybe when she saw a Trill (any Trill) she assumed it was Dax because she was the only Trill expected on Risa at the time? As head administrator (or whatever), she would probably be aware of this stuff. (I'm just retconning, though. I totally agree this was an error).
I disagree that the Essentialists weren't handled well. They were treated as silly and childish, which is perfectly fitting for how overly concerned they are with how other people spend their free time. Perfect depiction of their ilk.