391. Let He Who Is Without Sin...FORMULA: Captain's Holiday + Paradise
WHY WE LIKE IT: Insight into Worf's character. Sexy costumes.
WHY WE DON'T: Everything else.
REVIEW: We have much to discuss. This episode sees yet another group of conservative Federation citizens express displeasure with Federation policy. Isn't anyone happy with paradise anymore? The Essentialists are way less interesting than the Maquis (or even Alexis' survivalists) too. There's just no way they're going to convince anyone with insulting rhetoric and acts tantamount to terrorism. Indeed, it damages Worf's character that he side with them for any length of time. Ridiculously, when he finally turns on them, Fullerton backhands him one. Like that would ever happen.
Theoretically though, we're supposed to be on Risa to advance Worf and Dax's romance. It's already rocky because while opposites do attract, they don't necessarily make for harmonious co-existence. Unfortunately, Worf is about as exasperating to us as he is to Dax. Uncharacteristically, Michael Dorn seems to be sleepwalking through most scenes, with his romantic compliments and the way he throws his horga'hn particularly ineffective. He does get one good moment when he explains why he's so contained compared to the lustier Klingons populating the Empire. That's a great character piece.
But it's in the middle of a dull plot and some stupid subplots. After all, how are we supposed to care about Bashir and Leeta's relationship when this is the first time we've really seen them together? Sure, there's some sexy open shirt scenes, but otherwise, it's fluff leading to the revelation that she's attracted to Rom. That must be hard on the ego, eh Bashir? And why is Quark along? He's good at both complaining and lusting after beautiful women, I guess.
Other embarrassing bits include Worf's golden bathing suit and Curzon's silly "death by Jamaharon". Vanessa Williams at least makes a good guest-star. Pretty and dignified as called for by the role, though there's not much meat to it. One has to wonder sometimes if Fullerton doesn't have a point about the Risians if by the end, she's still at the "I'm starting to think there's no hope for that man" stage. You think?!
LESSON: Risa will be first to fall when the Jem'Hadar knock its satellites out of the sky. No vacation for you!
REWATCHABILITY - Medium-Low: A serious misstep and aside from one crucial speech, totally unnecessary. Watch mostly for the eye candy and Bashir frankly asking why Dax wants Worf.
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