Is that not the most awkward smooch you have ever seen? It is easy to tell the actors did not like the idea of Odo and Kira hooking up. Neither do I. I have always found the dynamic of Odo’s distant longing for Kira, whom he cannot have, and Kira being way too broken a soul for a happy romance with anyone more compelling. Alas, this is television. The boy always gets the girl eventually.The wet plop of a public kiss above would be bad enough, but “His Way” introduces the abomination know as Vic Fontaine, lounge lizard extraordinaire.
Before I get mean here, I have absolutely nothing against actor/singer James Darren, who plays Vic. While I am not big into the whole Rat Pack style of music, I recognize Darren’s talent for it. He is not a bad actor, either. So I do not hold any blame for Darren for my animosity for his character. I just think it is a bad idea to have a recurring louge singer character on the show, particularly one who is self aware enough to manipulate the characters.
Manipulate he does. “His Way” refers to how he convinces Odo and kira to fall for each other. At first, he offers tips to Odo on how to woo Kira. Later, he coninces odo to have dinner with what he thinks is a hologram of Kira, but is actually thereal deal. Implausibly, the great, intuitive detective never catches on. But he is charming enough to effectively win ira over.
Odo is angry when he discovers he has been tricked, but his angers subsides and eventually decides to finally plant one on Kira. After getting all up I her face like an airbag, he does eventually let her come up for oxygen. She reciprocates his affection. Thus ends one of the best dynamics of DS9 and turns it into a romance that stretches credibility to the breaking point.
All we needed was for Odo to nudge a meatball over to Kira with his nose for this to turn into a lonely fourteen year old virgin’s notion of what relationships are all about.
Rating: ** (out of 5)
