The Good: Humor, Character, Acting
The Bad: Plot
The Basics: Quark is given some competition on the Promenade in an enjoyable, though ultimately pointless, episode for all audiences!
And then there was "Rivals." In this essentially plotless episode, we're given a break from thinking. This is a rare thing for Star Trek Deep Space Nine and it is both surprising how mediocre the episode is and how unchallenging the concept is.
When an El-Aurian (one of Guinan's people, see Star Trek The Next Generation or Star Trek Generations) named Martus Mazur visits the station, it becomes clear to Odo (and the viewer) he's a con man. When he's arrested, he meets an alien who has easily one of the silliest excuses for a handheld gaming device. The alien dies and Martus inherits it and his luck immediately begins to change. So, he opens a bar and gaming emporium opposite Quark's and promptly gets into competition with the Ferengi. In an equally uninteresting (though well charactered) b-plot, O'Brien finishes a racquetball court on the station and is dismayed to find Bashir there and the two begin a racquetball competition. As Quark looks to change his luck, O'Brien and Bashir duke it out on the new racquetball court.
"Rivals" is one of the second season episodes that the viewer is likely to tire of fairly easily upon rewatching, as its plot is extraordinarily simple and the few jokes, gags and moments where the concept is even remotely interesting do not hold up well over multiple viewings. In short, there are only so many times a viewer can suspend their disbelief to watch an episode that is essentially about luck. Luck, here, is treated like a scientific phenomenon and as Martus's machines begin to have an effect on systems around the station, it's almost insulting that it takes the crew so long to find the source of various problems, usually expressed by a change in luck.
This low-on-plot episode is pulled out of the gutter by some fairly superb acting. Martus is played very well by Chris Sarandon as an intriguing foil to Quark. Sarandon has a greasy quality that makes it seem right off the bat that he's a con man. Sarandon is able to play patient and attentive in a way that embodies slick, bringing this bit character to life.
Even better is Colm Meany. Colm Meany's portrayal of Chief O'Brien in "Rivals" allows him to stretch out in a few new directions and allows him to express some subtle wit. Meany plays O'Brien with determination, humor and a fierceness in some of the scenes that is uncommon for his character. That he is able to embody them with such realism and make it seem natural for his character is a credit to the actor. So, while O'Brien is doing new and different things that we've not seen from him before, the audience still feels like they are watching O'Brien. That's quality acting.
The scenes between Meany and Rosalind Chao and Siddig El Fadil are all wonderful. This is one of the episodes that reminds the viewer of the power of great casting. O'Brien and Keiko are an unlikely couple, but Meany and Chao have wonderful on-screen chemistry that makes their esoteric pairing completely believable. In "Rivals," we have the opportunity to see this married couple acting like a mature married couple. Similarly, as O'Brien and Bashir develop a friendship, Meany and El Fadil are experimenting with their chemistry. "Rivals" is a great example of an episode early in their friendship where the actors find a rhythm between one another that makes the relationship realistic. Meany and El Fadil's acting turns the viewer around on their character's relationship.
Even better, the actors are playing interesting characters. O'Brien and Bashir have the buddings of a famous friendship in Bashir's naivete and O'Brien's crustiness and their competitive sides are wonderful. This is the first time the viewer is seeing the characters having anything in common outside the uniform - in their mutual love of racquetball - and, while it has never been mentioned before in O'Brien's backstory, it seems reasonable for the character. Bashir, of course, seems like he could be a racquetball player and that the two would start to bond over the sport is an intriguing character concept.
That Quark would work to exploit their racquetball games is natural. Martus is slimy and Quark's reaction to him, especially his appeal to Sisko is genuine and "reads" well. At the end of the day, Quark is a businessman and to see him appeal to Sisko as a businessman is refreshing and a decent expression of his character.
"Rivals" is a fun episode for those who are not fans of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It's not heavy on science fiction and as a lighter episode, it can be a good, nonthreatening entrance into the series. Ultimately, though, it is hard to recommend to fans of the series as it sits somewhat outside the serialized nature of the show and the tone is contrary to much of the season. Ultimately, it is a fairly solid episode, though not extraordinary.
[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Complete Second Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the sophomore season by clicking here!
Thanks!]
6/10
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© 2011, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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