‘LOOKING FOR PAR’MACH IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This episode’s title is almost as long as ‘For The Whole Is Hollow and I Have Touched The Sky’ in the original series. The episode is also directed by Andrew J. Robinson, who played Garak in the series. 🙂
Garak’s not in this episode however. The episode happens to be a sequel to ‘The House of Quark’ from Season 3 since it has the return of Mary Kay Adams as Grilka, who is currently Quark’s ex-wife.
Worf is surprised to hear this from Jadzia Dax since he’s immediately attracted to her. Grilka has come to DS9 to seek Quark’s financial advice as her Klingon house is in a state due to the recent war.
I like how Quark and Grilka seem happy to see each other and there’s no bitterness between them despite being divorced. Grilka’s bodyguard Phil Morris as Thopok isn’t happy with this reunion here.
Just to go on a side note, ‘par’Mach’ is the Klingon word for love with an aggressive connotation. As unveiled for this story, the aggression in the love-making between Klingon partners could be severe.
Worf tries to impress Grilka with his Klingon lust or something. But he’s told by her adviser, Joseph Ruskin as Tumek (who was also in ‘The House of Quark’) that he won’t be able to mate with Grilka. 😦
Due to Worf’s dishonour, it precludes Grilka from mating with him. Well, that’s rather unfair. Mind you, she is the head of her own house and Worf’s chances of mating with her could be rather slim. 😐
I’ve just discovered that Joseph Ruskin was in an episode of ‘Get Smart’. He’s also been in the original ‘Star Trek’ series, appearing in the episode ‘The Gamesters of Triskelion’ where he played Galt.
Whilst Worf is disgruntled about not being to mate with Grilka, Quark seeks advice from Jadzia on how to pursue a romantic relationship with Grilka. Which doesn’t last beyond this episode I’m afraid.
Quark is rather ignorant of Klingon mating rituals and instead, Worf joins in with the coaching of Quark to win Grilka’s affections. Worf wants to prove that he’s capable of courting a Klingon woman.
Understandably, Quark is apprehensive to learn Klingon culture. But thankfully he becomes successful with Grilka and he manages to win her affections through dinner as well as Klingon opera.
However, Grilka’s bodyguard Thopok decides this has gone too far, becoming outraged at the unconventional relationship. He challenges Quark to a duel, something he’s not prepared for in this.
In order to win Grilka’s appreciation and not be killed, Quark gets help from Worf, using a device that will enable Worf to control Quark’s body movements. This is from a nearby holosuite Worf is in.
At first, it goes well with Quark fighting Thopok and defending himself with Worf’s help. But of course, the device temporarily malfunctions. I thought Quark might win this fight out with his words.
But fortunately the device functions again and soon Quark defeats the bodyguard, without killing him I might add. That scene finishes with Quark and Grilka being alone and making love with each other.
Jadzia meanwhile gets Worf romantically interested in her and soon initiates an aggressive romantic encounter with a bat’leth. Worf becomes surprised but responds as they make love with each other.
In the episode’s final scene, Quark and Grilka as well as Worf and Jadzia are in the infirmary. This is also where Jadzia and Worf begin a relationship together. This has been a long time coming in ‘DS9’.
Elsewhere in a subplot, there are tensions between Chief O’Brien and Major Kira with Rosalind Chao as Keiko being the referee between them. It’s quite a strange situation with Kira carrying their baby.
In the episode, Kira and O’Brien begin to feel attracted to each other. This was quite odd to watch. The two try to avoid getting closer to each other as Kira decides to take a trip to Bajor for a few days.
Keiko insists that O’Brien accompanies Kira on her retreat. As the runabout is about to depart, Kira reveals that her destination is in a highly romantic setting. This prompts Miles to back out of the trip.
This episode was met with mixed reception. I can see why that is. I wouldn’t say this was a favourite episode of mine, but it was fun and very nice to see how Worf and Jadiza ended up in a relationship.
‘Looking for par’Mach in all the Wrong Places’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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