I am reasonably certain this is the only trek episode with a Klingon word in the title and absolutely certain it is the only episode title to parody a country song. In this case, Johnny Lee’s classic from the ’70’s, “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.” One wonders how many Trek fans out there are also into country music. Next to none would be my guess. Well, except for me, of course.The episode is a sequel to the personal favorite, ’House of Quark.” It has some high points, but does not shine quite as brightly as its predecessor. The big problem for me is how indicative it is of the immature way I which sex is dealt with on Trek. I can forgive the light treatment of sex in quark’s case, since his story is meant to be comic relief, but the goings on between Worf/Dax and O’Brien/Kira boggle the mind. Watching the episode, one would think the writer had not changed his attitude about relationships since the eighth grade.
I will start with the good bits. Grika, Quark’s ex-wife, has fallen on hard times and wants him to help straighten out her finances. He agrees and as they work together, he begins falling for her. Worf has taken a shine to her as well, but when Quark seeks his help in wooing her in the traditional Klingon manner, Dax convinces him to play Cyrano de Beregerac for Quark’s sake.
Quark is faced with a bat’leth duel for his trouble. He has no choice but to face the challenge for Grika’s sake. Worf and Dax use a device which allows Worf to control Quark’s movements during the duel. Aside from the predictable moment when it stops working and Quark has to comically stall to save his life, the plan works. Quark wins and gets the girl.
Side note-is that not an underhanded, dishonorable deceit on Worf’s part to help Quark cheat? Just sayin’.
The B-story involves O’Brien feeling obligated to care for Kira’s needs while she is serving as the surrogate mother for his unborn child. This involves frequent, intimate massages which Keiko does not mind, but wind up bonding O’Brien and Kira. To the point she feels the need to get away for a while. Keiko, oblivious as to why Kira wants to get away, insists O’Brien go with her on vacation. The two come up with an excuse as to why O’Brien has to skip out o her.
A couple things bug me about the story. First, Keiko’s character is really diminished her by looking so clueless. She is not one of my favorite characters, but she deserved better than that. Second, I have a tough time buying the idea Kira and O’Brien are falling for each other. Neither is the type to go for the other. The urge is based solely on the idea O’Brien is a great masseuse. See what I mean by an eighth grade attitude about relationships? Physical touch equals love, baby.
But it gets worse. Not just because this episode marks the beginning of the Worf/Dax romance, but that it carries on the idea Kligon sex is al about brutally beating the bejebus out of your lover. Quark, Grika, Worf, and Dax all wind up in the infirmary after intercourse. The whole concept is played for cheap yuks. I am not particularly prudish, but I do not go for how cheap physical relations are made out to be.
Perhaps I am being too harsh. The Quark story elevates the episode like it so often does, but I am disappointed with some of the odd character moments otherwise. Aside from O’Brien and Kira inexplicably falling for keynoter, I do not think Worf would play matchmaker for Quark or help him cheat in a bat’leth duel. Neither completely ruins things, but the out of character actions are glaring compared to the rest of the series.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
