Rivals

DVD, DS9 S2 (Rivals)

While there's a lot to like, this one falls a bit flat. I think it's in the pacing or the lack of dramatic tension, as exemplified by the teaser: It ends with Martus being put in a holding cell. I thought it would have been better to introduce The Luck Machine (as I like to think the episode would have been called had it been an Original Series entry), and the dying alien in the teaser. Perhaps too much story was given over to a new, and in the grand scheme of the series, minor character - Martus was a bit of a failed conman, even less successful than Quark. At least the Ferengi had established his bar and had a solid foothold on his own life. Martus was a drifter, a pre-'Generations' El-Aurian, a fascinating thing in itself, since it would only be in that film we'd discover the people had been made refugees by the Borg.

Maybe if he had been Guinan's son as was originally planned, with a guest spot from Whoopi Goldberg, the episode might have taken off... But I have the feeling the most entertaining portion of the story was O'Brien and Bashir's sporting rivalry. They could have taken it further, and it was certainly worthy of being the central plot. The two are always fun to watch, and the differences between them were visually amplified by their choice of attire - O'Brien in his casual shirt and shorts, who could have walked out of any modern sports centre; and Bashir with his futuristic, sleek Olympic-wear. I don't think the gambling machines had anything to do with O'Brien's success in the match. I think it was Keiko's headband; something must have given the Chief the feeling he was stronger, faster and felt no pain. And she said it was perfume...

Really it was nice to see Rom and Keiko, and it's always more than the sum when they weave the plots together (such as Martus coming out of Quark's and almost bumping into O'Brien who's jogging in preparation for his big match). My favourite scene is the one where Bashir talks to Dax in the Replimat about how worried he is that O'Brien's going to have a heart attack if he plays again. It's a nice scene, made even better because Bashir is trying to find a pot of sauce for his food. Little things count. I think it's the small scenes, such as O'Brien complaining to his wife, that make the episode watchable, even though it's nothing special.

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