With a name like “Looking For par’Mach In All The Wrong Places” you kind of have to expect an episode like this. Truly, this is as whimsically overblown as an episode can possibly be, while still teetering on the edge of entertainment. I suppose this evokes, more or less, a “hate it or tolerate it” response. I cannot fathom any fans absolutely loving it. But to be fair, a series often needs a silly, whimsical episode just to prove that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. And for that reason alone, this installment is acceptable. Beyond that, though, there’s very little legitimacy to be found — even if you do manage a few chuckles at the events.

The episode features one of the more hilariously ridiculous love-quadrangles (is that even a term?) I could possibly have thought possible from Trek. It begins with Worf and Dax sharing a drink and discussing the finer points of Klingon opera. Their conversation is cut short by the arrival of a fetching Klingon woman who causes Worf to immediately fall into par’Mach, which is described by Dax as “the Klingon word for love with more intense overtones.” Worf, however, cannot pursue the woman, however, because of the dishonor he continues to bear for defying Gowron. More to the point, though, the woman is Grilka, who just so happens to be Quark’s ex-wife from the episode, “The House of Quark.” While her motivations seem unclear at first, Quark is certainly interested. And then there’s Dax, whose motivations toward Worf have been slowly building since Season 4.

Got all that?

As the plot unfolds, Quark enlists Dax for help — then receives reluctant advice from Worf who, after having been stung by comments from Grilka’s advisor claiming that he knows nothing about Klingon women, decides to prove that he does indeed know just how to court a Klingon woman by helping Quark. I guess Worf figured that, if he can get a Ferengi into Gilka’s good graces, then he’d be able to prove himself … to himself, at least. Along the way, Dax drops some not-so-subtle hints about her feelings for Worf. It’s a preposterous setup. Really preposterous.

But it kinda, sorta works.

What transpires becomes entertaining almost entirely by way of dialogue and performance. This is a case where the actors (and the script) manage to pull off a premise that really has almost no business being successful. Notable scenes include Worf trying to teach Quark to fight in a reenactment of a famous Klingon battle — to which Quark quips, “This is ridiculous! I’m surrounded by corpses, my shoes are dripping in blood–and you want me to feel romantic?” Fair enough. But he still wants all the good things that come with successfully pursuing the object of one’s affection. And there are plenty of amusing moments along the way — including Worf acting as a “puppeteer” so that Quark will not be killed when Grilka’s bodyguard challenges Quark to a fight.

Like I said, preposterous.

In the end, Quark gets his woman and Dax, in a boldly forward step, gets her man. But that’s not the end of the jokes. Klingon sex is not for the timid. And all four — combatants — eventually end up in Sick Bay, much to Bashir’s dismay (he famously promises never again to ask, “What happened?”). All told, the wreckage of hijinks and humor litter the plot from start to finish. If you’re lucky enough to buy into the whole premise, there’s certainly plenty to enjoy. But the episode takes a great risk with its approach, which could easily lead to derision instead of laughter.

The subplot follows the travails of the O’Briens (which now includes Kira). Returning to this plot thread is fraught with peril (the premise is that ridiculous to begin with) but I suppose that if the series were to explore the dynamic of the situation, putting alongside a romantic farce won’t upend any more serious stories it may wish to tell. In any event, Miles and Kira begin the episode amidst such a loud verbal fight that Bashir and Quark are able to follow it from outside the O’Brien’s quarters. But as the episode unfolds, it’s clear that their attitudes toward one another are changing.

Living with and caring for someone — particularly when that someone is carrying your child, is, necessarily, an intimate experience. And Keiko and Miles do everything they can to make Kira’s burden a bit more easy … from getting clothes to helping with baths to giving massages. The consequences, though, are plausible enough. While MIles is busy giving Kira a massage (Keiko walks in and out of the room, not at all concerned), the two share conversations and stories. Kira asks Miles about Ireland and before they realize it, they’ve managed to confess that they’d enjoy a vacation to Ireland together. They are both obviously taken aback by the revelation and do as much as they can to avoid circumstances from getting out of control. And to the credit of the episode, the scenes are played for subtlety, rather than melodrama, highlighting how quickly feelings can develop — even when one isn’t expecting them to.

“Looking For par’Mach In All The Wrong Places” has the potential to be very funny. But I wonder if a non-Trek fan would be able to understand what all the fuss is about. There’s a lot of self-referential humor in play — particularly when depicting the clash between Klingon and Ferengi approaches to love and sex. Plus, the circumstances are silly and oddly balanced between its characters. The result is a solid, if somewhat obscure, comedy.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine