“Change of Heart” is a quiet, intimate and personal story, despite being set against the backdrop of the Dominion war and an intelligence mission of the utmost importance. It’s a story about who far we go for those we love. The episode itself isn’t exactly well-written or executed. There are significant issues with pacing and plotting. Much of it seems to be superfluous. But it’s the final moments of the story which carry the most weight and which will have a lasting impact far beyond the episode itself.

Put simply, this is the story of Jadzia Dax and Worf, of their marriage and what they mean to one another. The story opens with Worf observing Dax playing a game of Tongo. They share some banter. Spend and evening together. And are soon assigned to a mission of the utmost importance (because everyone else is off station). The opening scenes are relatively lightweight, but they do highlight the obvious love and chemistry between these two characters — an element which was surprisingly sparse before this episode. It’s important because the story will eventually become all about how far Worf is willing to go for his wife.

Before that happens, though, there are a number of scenes which merely reinforce the basic idea that Worf and Dax love one another and have playful banter conversations (Worf’s line about his humor on the Enterprise and Dax’s retort are particularly funny). It’s nice to see. It’s fairly realistic for a couple recently married and still very much in love. But the problem here is one of overkill. It’s as if the episode is making up for lost time, inserting as many scenes between Dax and Worf as possible. In the end, they become redundant and, amusing and enjoyable and engaging though they may be, they ultimately bring the episode’s narrative to a crashing halt.

The main story, which plays out against the backdrop of marital bliss, finds the happy couple traveling to a Dominion controlled planet in order to help a Cardassian defector to … well, defect. They have to land in a jungle and travel a long ways to the rendezvous point. Along the way, Dax is hit with disruptor fire from a Jem’Hadar and her life is put into serious jeopardy (the Jem’Hadar blaster leaves an anticoagulant in Dax’s blood, preventing her from healing). As Dax’s life deteriorates, Worf is faced with a dilemma: does he go forward with his mission to meet the Cardassian — who has information which could, potentially, save millions of lives — or does he abandon the mission and save his wife?

It’s pretty clear what Worf’s decision will be. And, to that end, the episode doesn’t hold as much dramatic heft as others in the series. But it’s what happens after Worf returns to DS9 with Dax that matters most. Sisko, as a commanding officer, is compelled to criticize Worf for his actions. It’s obvious that Worf has not acted in the best interests of his duty to Starfleet. It’s an act that will likely have negative repercussions in the future for Worf. But Sisko also completely understands and empathizes with Worf’s decision.

More important is the scene between Dax and Worf in which Worf expresses no regrets for his choices. His love and devotion to Dax are absolute. And to the credit of the episode, the performances from both are utterly convincing in this manner. The way Dax smiles at Worf, the easy manner Worf takes with Dax, their conversations and playful banter, all add up to a love that means something and is worth sacrificing for.

In that sense, the episode is a true inspiration.

The subplot is a forgettable affair. The opening Tongo game, in which Dax loses to Quark, serves to motivate O’Brien to find a way to defeat the wily Ferengi at his own game. To that end, he enlists Bashir (and Bashir’s genetically enhanced intellect). But Quark proves to be a very difficult adversary, particularly with the way he manipulates Bashir’s hyoo-man emotions as a means of distraction. It’s not bad fare. But it’s not exactly something which matters a whole heckuva lot.

“Change of Heart” works primarily because of its final paces. Most of the episode is superfluous and without merit. But it’s the essential relationship between Dax and Worf which manages to transcend the story itself. Here, finally, their union not only makes sense, but serves as an inspiration for the romantics of the world — because, let’s face it, being a romantic is worthwhile when it, finally, pays off …

Filed under: Deep Space Nine