Wow. I can't believe how passionately some people are about hating an episode that was clearly created as a fun distraction. DS9 the soap opera. So what? I found it entertaining and a nice respite from all the gloom. Relax. Maybe some of YOU need to visit Risa 😁
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series)
Let He Who Is without Sin... (1996)
User Reviews
Review this title22 Reviews
The half baked commentary on fanatics
thevacinstaller17 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is the discount version of the DS9 nine episode called 'Paradise Lost' that attempts to put a spotlight on fanatical members of the federation. If this episode was redesigned to illuminate factual truths spoken by Fullerton and provide us with some genuine conflict that would have gone a long way to peak my interest ----- Sadly, Fullerton is more villain than antagonist and I find that boring.
The jealous sub plot with Worf will not go down as one of the better characterization moments in star trek history. I could buy into this if Worf was a 15-17 year old human male completely out of a control overdosing on testosterone but he's a professional trained starfleet officer and should be above such primal emotions controlling his behavior.
I did find enjoyment in Leeta breaking up with Bashir so she could pursue that 'dreamy' Rom.
Quarks role felt more like a contractual obligation?! He was essentially furniture in this episode and that is unfortunate given Armin's acting range.
The major sin of the episode is that is was boring. I will occasionally throw out some fanfic idea's for how I would have fixed an episode but given the premise of this episode, I have no idea how to make this episode work.
The jealous sub plot with Worf will not go down as one of the better characterization moments in star trek history. I could buy into this if Worf was a 15-17 year old human male completely out of a control overdosing on testosterone but he's a professional trained starfleet officer and should be above such primal emotions controlling his behavior.
I did find enjoyment in Leeta breaking up with Bashir so she could pursue that 'dreamy' Rom.
Quarks role felt more like a contractual obligation?! He was essentially furniture in this episode and that is unfortunate given Armin's acting range.
The major sin of the episode is that is was boring. I will occasionally throw out some fanfic idea's for how I would have fixed an episode but given the premise of this episode, I have no idea how to make this episode work.
Doesn't deserve all the hate
loviatar918 April 2023
This was a silly episode but what it's characters on vacation. Lol. I can't quite figure out why Quark is along. They didn't even try to find something to do with him at all, which is a shame. His personality is so strong it should have been easy. There's not a whole lot going on plot-wise but there's a conversation between Dax and Worf that is great character story for Worf. The episode certainly could have been given more depth & substance. The overarching conflict isn't very convincing but I don't agree it's as awful as the rating would make people think. A bottle episode. Skip it if you want but watch it sometime for fun.
Yes, this is a really terrible episode...
planktonrules5 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
There is so much I don't like about this episode--and I can see why one of the reviewers hated this one as well. During most of the episode, Worf behaves like an abusive and over-controlling boyfriend. He also is sullen, nasty and about as much fun as a colonoscopy! This alone is plenty of reason to hate this one!
When the episode begins, Worf and Jadzia Dax are set to go away on a sexy vacation on the sexy planet of Risa. However, at the last minute, several interlopers invite themselves as well and Worf is positively rude to all of them. While you could understand his desire to have time alone with Jadzia, he is constantly rude towards everyone. Once they arrive, everyone but Worf seem eager to get their groove on with the very promiscuous and fun-loving Risans. As for Worf, he sulks. However, when a group of crazy and one- dimensional conservatives arrive and try to ruin everyone's fun, Worf, for the first time, seems nearly giddy. He likes their messages of fear and doom--and they seem like the perfect way to compliment a Klingon vacation. Eventually, however, and very unexpectedly Worf realizes his friends are butts and he does a 180 degree change in attitude--one that really makes no sense.
The biggest problem with this show is that you feel like you are eavesdropping on a budding relationship between a supposedly sane woman and an abusive guy who feels he must control her every move. Instead of the pair inexplicably working past this at the end of the show, you really wish that she had obtained a restraining order and left the jerk! Considering how this episode seems to have no fit with the other episodes in the show, I really was left confused by the show and annoyed. What is its point?! I really don't think there is one. A giant mistake of an episode.
When the episode begins, Worf and Jadzia Dax are set to go away on a sexy vacation on the sexy planet of Risa. However, at the last minute, several interlopers invite themselves as well and Worf is positively rude to all of them. While you could understand his desire to have time alone with Jadzia, he is constantly rude towards everyone. Once they arrive, everyone but Worf seem eager to get their groove on with the very promiscuous and fun-loving Risans. As for Worf, he sulks. However, when a group of crazy and one- dimensional conservatives arrive and try to ruin everyone's fun, Worf, for the first time, seems nearly giddy. He likes their messages of fear and doom--and they seem like the perfect way to compliment a Klingon vacation. Eventually, however, and very unexpectedly Worf realizes his friends are butts and he does a 180 degree change in attitude--one that really makes no sense.
The biggest problem with this show is that you feel like you are eavesdropping on a budding relationship between a supposedly sane woman and an abusive guy who feels he must control her every move. Instead of the pair inexplicably working past this at the end of the show, you really wish that she had obtained a restraining order and left the jerk! Considering how this episode seems to have no fit with the other episodes in the show, I really was left confused by the show and annoyed. What is its point?! I really don't think there is one. A giant mistake of an episode.
Worf is usually great ...
fhazduzj6 July 2022
... but in this episode he's completely out of character and basically should be fired from Starfleet after his actions.
The story is just too light and tries to do commentary but never gets to a point where it's interesting. Couples having petty arguments rarely makes for good tv, especially in a sci-fi series
Skip this one.
The story is just too light and tries to do commentary but never gets to a point where it's interesting. Couples having petty arguments rarely makes for good tv, especially in a sci-fi series
Skip this one.
What a Wholly Worthless Episode
Hitchcoc28 October 2018
I'll just repeat my title. I can't think of anything positive to say about this episode. I consider it the worst episode ever in the Star Trek universe. At least "Spock's Brain" was campy in an Ed Wood kind of way. This has the feel of a 1960's teenager movie. The characters are wooden and their motivations stupid beyond belief. Monte Markham, who showed up a lot in the Seventies and Eighties plays a moralist who simply huffs and puffs. The relationship between Dax and Worf is about as tiresome as one can imagine.
DS9's beach episode
Tweekums28 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Dax has persuaded Worf to go with her to Risa for their holiday, hearing that their is a runabout going their they find themselves accompanied by Dr. Bashir, his girlfriend Leeta and Quark. When they get there Worf in unimpressed by what he sees as a lack of morality, it doesn't help that they are met by a woman who had been involved with Curzon Dax... in fact she had been 'involved' with him at the moment he died, when he sees Bashir and Leeta involved with other people he becomes even more convinced that the whole planet is just an excuse for debauchery. When he meets a man called Fullerton he things has found somebody who things the same way; Fullerton is campaigning to get Risa closed down as he believes it symbolises all that is wrong with the Federation and that unless things change the Federation's enemies will see it as weak. He helps them with their activities by accessing the planet's weather control system, he doesn't realise that Fullerton intends to do more than cause a few days of rain though.
I know that in anime it is common for a series to have a beach episode as an excuse to show cast members in swim suits but I didn't expect it in Star Trek. There are quite a few faults in this episode most obviously I do not believe for one second Worf would behave the way he did and as the relationship between the doctor and Leeta had only been fleetingly mentioned before there wasn't much of an impact went we learn that they are ending it, it was a bit of a surprise for the viewer, the doctor and Quark when she announces who she is interested in though! Despite all its faults I found myself enjoying this episode quite a bit; and not just because Jadzia and Leeta looked great in swimsuits, there were some good laughs to be had too, these started before the opening credits setting the tone of what was to follow.
I know that in anime it is common for a series to have a beach episode as an excuse to show cast members in swim suits but I didn't expect it in Star Trek. There are quite a few faults in this episode most obviously I do not believe for one second Worf would behave the way he did and as the relationship between the doctor and Leeta had only been fleetingly mentioned before there wasn't much of an impact went we learn that they are ending it, it was a bit of a surprise for the viewer, the doctor and Quark when she announces who she is interested in though! Despite all its faults I found myself enjoying this episode quite a bit; and not just because Jadzia and Leeta looked great in swimsuits, there were some good laughs to be had too, these started before the opening credits setting the tone of what was to follow.
Abusive Boyfriend Worf
Hughmanity1 September 2020
40 minutes of going through the hell of an abusive and controlling relationship courtesy of Worf, for a few minutes of personal growth at the end.
Dax has the patience of Job, she should have broken up with him in the first 10 minutes but then I guess we say that about a lot of relationships out there.
Dax has the patience of Job, she should have broken up with him in the first 10 minutes but then I guess we say that about a lot of relationships out there.
Risa unrising
Psilio16 October 2014
I'm currently watching DS9 for the first time.
I'm always looking forward to episodes involving Risa, the 'pleasure planet' of the Federation. So when Dax, Worf, Bashir, Leeta and Quark all go there together in this episode I was looking forward to a 'light' episode with lots of comedy and 'pleasure'-like moments, just like an episode of good old 'Fantasy Island' that I enjoyed very much when I was a kid, or when Picard goes to Risa in the TNG episode where he meets the archaeologist lady.
It could have been a fun episode to watch to take a break from the darkness in DS9 at this time.
It turned out that this episode was very disappointing. It was not fun to watch at all. Some comedy mainly by Quark, the rest was just depressing and unconvincing.
Michael Dorn was given a role and lines that were ridiculously childish and negative even for him, and it affected his performance, and this seemed to reflect onto the others as well. Everyone performed pretty bad compared to other episodes, and the chemistry between them was all gone.
The villain was like something from the 1930's, and the writing was overall very bad.
It all felt very childish.
My least favorite episode of DS9 so far, sorry.
I'm always looking forward to episodes involving Risa, the 'pleasure planet' of the Federation. So when Dax, Worf, Bashir, Leeta and Quark all go there together in this episode I was looking forward to a 'light' episode with lots of comedy and 'pleasure'-like moments, just like an episode of good old 'Fantasy Island' that I enjoyed very much when I was a kid, or when Picard goes to Risa in the TNG episode where he meets the archaeologist lady.
It could have been a fun episode to watch to take a break from the darkness in DS9 at this time.
It turned out that this episode was very disappointing. It was not fun to watch at all. Some comedy mainly by Quark, the rest was just depressing and unconvincing.
Michael Dorn was given a role and lines that were ridiculously childish and negative even for him, and it affected his performance, and this seemed to reflect onto the others as well. Everyone performed pretty bad compared to other episodes, and the chemistry between them was all gone.
The villain was like something from the 1930's, and the writing was overall very bad.
It all felt very childish.
My least favorite episode of DS9 so far, sorry.
Over-the-top Worf is petty, childish and downright insulting
txriverotter13 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those episodes where I wonder WTF?! the writers were thinking.
Worf is a tiresome boyfriend, always wanting to "talk about their relationship" which translates to "tell Jadzia everything she's doing wrong that makes Worf unhappy." And this episode they've got him in mega-mode.
It begins with Worf 'n Jadzia planning their upcoming vacation to Risa, when Bashir 'n Leeta discover their plans and ask to tag along for the ride. They make it clear they just want to share the shuttle then they'll be off to do their own thing, which seems reasonable enough but Worf acts like a huffy brat about it. Then Bashir 'n Leeta show up with Quark in tow, explaining that he wouldn't let Leeta off work unless they agreed to let him hitch a ride too. Quark also has his own plans so you figure, "eh, what's one more for the ride?" Right? Wrong, if you're Worf. Here comes Even Bigger Huffy Brat.
At this point if I were Jadzia I would already be giving Worf the what-for for being so rude to friends, and I'd be questioning why I'm even with someone who is so obviously unhappy with, well, everything.
So they arrive on Risa and Worf goes into overdrive sulk mode, refuses to take off his uniform and huffs and puffs around the entire resort making it clear to everyone that he is unhappy. And they should be too.
Then they meet Arandis, an employee of Risa Resort. Now the whole backstory here between Curzon 'n Arandis would be fine, except they mention specifically that Curzon was with Arandis at the moment of his death. But in a previous episode, we saw Jadzia flash back to when she received the Dax symbiont, and Curzon very clearly passes away after the symbiont is removed from him. Not on Risa. No Arandis.
At any rate, the idea of any of Jadzia's previous hosts spending time with Arandis is too much for Worf, so he goes into Jealous Huffy Brat made. Enter The Essentialists, a group of uber-conservative, self-righteous people who think it's their job to tell everyone else how to live and what is proper and improper. So of course Worf has found his people!
He again refuses to do anything fun with Jadzia so he can attend a group rally, then ends up helping them hack the environmental controls to make it rain copiously and constantly, thus ruining everyone's vacation.
And...NOW Worf is happy! What a jacka$$! If I were Jadzia I would've told him off six ways to Sunday, but of course, as always when anything confrontational occurs, Jadzia goes into stalwart martyr mode. And now NO ONE is having any fun.
But they finally have their "talk" where he basically tells her everything that's wrong with her and how that reflects on him, so she should really just grow up already, blah blah blah. Jadzia reacts with mostly ineffective and not nearly stern enough dialogue. Worf ends up telling Jadzia a story from his childhood that is meant to explain away everything, but in my opinion it's not nearly enough. But naturally all is forgiven blah blah blah.
But even as Worf finally realizes The Essentialists are just really bad, it's too late because he's given them the controls and the leader plans to make sure no one can ever have fun on Risa ever again. The vacationers finally rise up against the Essentialists and run them off, Worf and Jadzia go for a walk on the beach and everyone lives happily ever after.
And Worf STILL hasn't changed out of his uniform.
Bottom line for me, this episode was just not a good one. I didn't care for the way they wrote Worf or pretty much anything else.
Worf is a tiresome boyfriend, always wanting to "talk about their relationship" which translates to "tell Jadzia everything she's doing wrong that makes Worf unhappy." And this episode they've got him in mega-mode.
It begins with Worf 'n Jadzia planning their upcoming vacation to Risa, when Bashir 'n Leeta discover their plans and ask to tag along for the ride. They make it clear they just want to share the shuttle then they'll be off to do their own thing, which seems reasonable enough but Worf acts like a huffy brat about it. Then Bashir 'n Leeta show up with Quark in tow, explaining that he wouldn't let Leeta off work unless they agreed to let him hitch a ride too. Quark also has his own plans so you figure, "eh, what's one more for the ride?" Right? Wrong, if you're Worf. Here comes Even Bigger Huffy Brat.
At this point if I were Jadzia I would already be giving Worf the what-for for being so rude to friends, and I'd be questioning why I'm even with someone who is so obviously unhappy with, well, everything.
So they arrive on Risa and Worf goes into overdrive sulk mode, refuses to take off his uniform and huffs and puffs around the entire resort making it clear to everyone that he is unhappy. And they should be too.
Then they meet Arandis, an employee of Risa Resort. Now the whole backstory here between Curzon 'n Arandis would be fine, except they mention specifically that Curzon was with Arandis at the moment of his death. But in a previous episode, we saw Jadzia flash back to when she received the Dax symbiont, and Curzon very clearly passes away after the symbiont is removed from him. Not on Risa. No Arandis.
At any rate, the idea of any of Jadzia's previous hosts spending time with Arandis is too much for Worf, so he goes into Jealous Huffy Brat made. Enter The Essentialists, a group of uber-conservative, self-righteous people who think it's their job to tell everyone else how to live and what is proper and improper. So of course Worf has found his people!
He again refuses to do anything fun with Jadzia so he can attend a group rally, then ends up helping them hack the environmental controls to make it rain copiously and constantly, thus ruining everyone's vacation.
And...NOW Worf is happy! What a jacka$$! If I were Jadzia I would've told him off six ways to Sunday, but of course, as always when anything confrontational occurs, Jadzia goes into stalwart martyr mode. And now NO ONE is having any fun.
But they finally have their "talk" where he basically tells her everything that's wrong with her and how that reflects on him, so she should really just grow up already, blah blah blah. Jadzia reacts with mostly ineffective and not nearly stern enough dialogue. Worf ends up telling Jadzia a story from his childhood that is meant to explain away everything, but in my opinion it's not nearly enough. But naturally all is forgiven blah blah blah.
But even as Worf finally realizes The Essentialists are just really bad, it's too late because he's given them the controls and the leader plans to make sure no one can ever have fun on Risa ever again. The vacationers finally rise up against the Essentialists and run them off, Worf and Jadzia go for a walk on the beach and everyone lives happily ever after.
And Worf STILL hasn't changed out of his uniform.
Bottom line for me, this episode was just not a good one. I didn't care for the way they wrote Worf or pretty much anything else.
Fire this episode into the sun
dirvingman-6213625 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
An all-time terrible Star Trek episode. Worf is a wet blanket for most of the episode, and the antagonist's problem is that people are enjoying themselves on a vacation planet - really?
I'm giving an extra star for some enjoyable character moments here and there. The only takeaway to get from this episode is that Bashir and Leeta have broken up, and Leeta is interested in Rom. Everything else should be promptly forgotten, or skipped. It's appalling that Worf would aid terrorists and engage in such abusive, controlling behaviors towards a romantic partner. This is a frustrating watch that will make you hate Worf. I'm going to pretend this one was a prune juice-induced nightmare that Worf had.
I'm giving an extra star for some enjoyable character moments here and there. The only takeaway to get from this episode is that Bashir and Leeta have broken up, and Leeta is interested in Rom. Everything else should be promptly forgotten, or skipped. It's appalling that Worf would aid terrorists and engage in such abusive, controlling behaviors towards a romantic partner. This is a frustrating watch that will make you hate Worf. I'm going to pretend this one was a prune juice-induced nightmare that Worf had.
It's OK, lighten up.
hamstersinwigs30 April 2020
I'm giving this one a 10 it doesn't deserve to counter the 2's it doesn't deserve. Choose to be Dax 😉
On a semi-serious note, there is a little chat towards the end that gives some nice insight into the stick up Worf. It deserves some credit for that at least. The rest of it is just silliness.
On a semi-serious note, there is a little chat towards the end that gives some nice insight into the stick up Worf. It deserves some credit for that at least. The rest of it is just silliness.
Not bad, but also not good...
rwsrt15 January 2021
Some episodes of Deep Space Nine just aren't Trek Perfection... this is one of them... I don't fault anyone who enjoyed it, but that's 45 minutes of my life I'd like back. The atmosphere of the episode had the potential of fitting a realistic mood surrounding the Dominion conflict (my favorite DS9 storyline ever), but instead, the creators crammed it with too much romantic mellow-drama and sensuality. If you wanna watch an episode set in Risa that doesn't make you cringe, go watch 'The Captain's Holiday' on TNG. At least the creators put actual effort crafting that story.
AWFUL - if you're bing watching the series, skip it.
dsmoore-230 November 2020
Not sure who could even write this trash. The whole idea of Worf having relationships with self-confident women escapes me, and forget the amazingly awkward TNG scenes with Troi - this is far worse. He's childish, clueless and obnoxious beyond belief. Why they write the character of Dax as wanting a relationship with him is beyond me, except I think the writers find it titillating - and they use a ton of innuendo in the dialog to express it. When Worf is conned by a cheap showman (ridiculously overplayed by Monte Markham). preaching hellfire and damnation I literally started laughing. Just really awful writing and character development. Then I realized the whole idea of a relationship between him (one of the normally most delightfully wooden characters in the Star Trek universe) and Dax - or Troi! - is absurd. Wish I'd skipped this episode; this is part of the beginning of the end for this series. It joins the idea of "stripping a shape-shifter of his powers" for really bad plot lines. Just awful.
Like An Outbreak Of Gonnorhea
Bolesroor28 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"I think I'm gonna be sick," says Quark, and that one sentence sums up this episode, which can only be described as sewage.
Let me think... where to begin... there's so much wrong with this episode that I may not have enough space to accurately describe it.
"Let He Who Is Without Sin" is soft core sensationalist soap opera sludge, and to pass this off as Star Trek is a violation of the franchise and everything for which it stands.
Leading the parade of shame is the god-awful Terry Farrell, who has managed to keep her character Jadzia Dax as useless and poorly defined as it was in Season One. Farrell- vacuous and stiff- has managed to make Dax lifeless and entirely unnecessary, and she ices the cake of her performance each week by speaking in a faint, flat voice, the result of her clearly not having enough air in her lungs to push the dialogue out through her lips. Maybe that's why she had to overdub every single one of her lines. As an actress Terry Farrell is a cadaver, a comatose shell, and her performance is a crime against the craft of acting.
In recent episodes Dax has suddenly become the biggest in space, with multiple, head-scratching references made to her extensive sexual history and unbridled lust. It's even revealed in the Deep Space 9 TOS flashback "Trials & Tribble-ations" that Dax slept with Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. Read that sentence again. Now a third time if you have to. It doesn't help, does it? Dax is vocal and obnoxious about taking a vacation with Worf to Risa so they can bang each other's brains out in private. She smiles cluelessly and without shame, and urges the senior staff of DS9 to loosen up and get laid, but not before we're treated to a graphic description of Klington/Trill intercourse. "I pulled my neck fugging," Dax tells Odo and Sisko, grinning gleefully, without even a hint of guilt or self-awareness. Also Vanessa Williams shows up as Dax's lesbian lover for some reason. Are we vomiting yet? Someone needs to slap Terry Farrell so hard that the echo from the resulting crack makes schoolchildren weep.
Not to be outdone by Dax's boggling behavior is Alexander Siddig as medical paperweight Julian Bashir. He raises one eyebrow and engages in sexual innuendo so inane and juvenile it would make a twelve year-old boy blush. It seems Julian likes sex, and the act of having sex, and he wants to have as much sex with his dabo cupcake Leeta as he can. Because of the sex. Did I mention sex? In "Without Sin," Star Trek- originally conceived as a high-minded science fiction anthology built on themes of discovery and human nature- melts inexplicably into a broad, goofy, exploitive sex-com as a ragtag band of space station crew misfits hit the road to bust a nut and learn a little something about love, sex, and the true meaning of Christmas. Gene Roddenberry must be rolling over in his torpedo tube on Genesis. This episode is nothing less than an absolute bastardization of the Trek name and the ideals for which it stands... it is a tumor... it is a crime.
My attack on this episode may seem severe but it is in my opinion well-deserved. My criticism of Terry Farrell may seem harsh, but I have patiently waited five years for this actress to display even a trace of talent or energy. I have waited five years for her to TRY. Frankly I'm tired of waiting. If she can't be bothered to even make an attempt then I can't be bothered to show her any sympathy. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," says the Bible passage. (John 8:7) *tossing a jagged rock at Terry Farrell's face* Avoid this junk. It's not Star Trek. It's forgettable smut.
"Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone." Boldly banging where no man has banged before.
GRADE: D-
Let me think... where to begin... there's so much wrong with this episode that I may not have enough space to accurately describe it.
"Let He Who Is Without Sin" is soft core sensationalist soap opera sludge, and to pass this off as Star Trek is a violation of the franchise and everything for which it stands.
Leading the parade of shame is the god-awful Terry Farrell, who has managed to keep her character Jadzia Dax as useless and poorly defined as it was in Season One. Farrell- vacuous and stiff- has managed to make Dax lifeless and entirely unnecessary, and she ices the cake of her performance each week by speaking in a faint, flat voice, the result of her clearly not having enough air in her lungs to push the dialogue out through her lips. Maybe that's why she had to overdub every single one of her lines. As an actress Terry Farrell is a cadaver, a comatose shell, and her performance is a crime against the craft of acting.
In recent episodes Dax has suddenly become the biggest in space, with multiple, head-scratching references made to her extensive sexual history and unbridled lust. It's even revealed in the Deep Space 9 TOS flashback "Trials & Tribble-ations" that Dax slept with Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. Read that sentence again. Now a third time if you have to. It doesn't help, does it? Dax is vocal and obnoxious about taking a vacation with Worf to Risa so they can bang each other's brains out in private. She smiles cluelessly and without shame, and urges the senior staff of DS9 to loosen up and get laid, but not before we're treated to a graphic description of Klington/Trill intercourse. "I pulled my neck fugging," Dax tells Odo and Sisko, grinning gleefully, without even a hint of guilt or self-awareness. Also Vanessa Williams shows up as Dax's lesbian lover for some reason. Are we vomiting yet? Someone needs to slap Terry Farrell so hard that the echo from the resulting crack makes schoolchildren weep.
Not to be outdone by Dax's boggling behavior is Alexander Siddig as medical paperweight Julian Bashir. He raises one eyebrow and engages in sexual innuendo so inane and juvenile it would make a twelve year-old boy blush. It seems Julian likes sex, and the act of having sex, and he wants to have as much sex with his dabo cupcake Leeta as he can. Because of the sex. Did I mention sex? In "Without Sin," Star Trek- originally conceived as a high-minded science fiction anthology built on themes of discovery and human nature- melts inexplicably into a broad, goofy, exploitive sex-com as a ragtag band of space station crew misfits hit the road to bust a nut and learn a little something about love, sex, and the true meaning of Christmas. Gene Roddenberry must be rolling over in his torpedo tube on Genesis. This episode is nothing less than an absolute bastardization of the Trek name and the ideals for which it stands... it is a tumor... it is a crime.
My attack on this episode may seem severe but it is in my opinion well-deserved. My criticism of Terry Farrell may seem harsh, but I have patiently waited five years for this actress to display even a trace of talent or energy. I have waited five years for her to TRY. Frankly I'm tired of waiting. If she can't be bothered to even make an attempt then I can't be bothered to show her any sympathy. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone," says the Bible passage. (John 8:7) *tossing a jagged rock at Terry Farrell's face* Avoid this junk. It's not Star Trek. It's forgettable smut.
"Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone." Boldly banging where no man has banged before.
GRADE: D-
What happens in Risa, stays in Risa (sadly not much)
snoozejonc14 December 2022
Worf, Dax, Bashir, Leeta and Quark go to Risa for a beech holiday.
This is one of the weaker entries of DS9.
It starts well, with an opening segment on DS9 that hints that humour will follow on Risa, however Worf and Dax are then placed in a number of scenes that force needless conflict between the two characters for the sake of drama. The theme regarding self-indulgence and loss of discipline that underlies their tensions and the presence of the New Essentialists is poorly realised. It would make sense if what goes on in Risa is risqué or at least interesting, but it's all so tame that it feels like everyone is making a big fuss over nothing.
It has possibly the most pointless antagonist seen in the franchise, who goes from moustache twirly to impotent in a short amount of scenes. It is not Monte Markham's fault, the character is written with no credible threat. Other characters like Leeta go along for the ride look good in a glamorous setting, but nothing memorable happens to anybody.
Rene Auberjonois was dealt a duff hand by the writers when given this directing assignment. The script called for more humour, bad behaviour and possibly more depth into why people psychologically need downtime from duty and indulgence in sexual fantasies.
This is one of the weaker entries of DS9.
It starts well, with an opening segment on DS9 that hints that humour will follow on Risa, however Worf and Dax are then placed in a number of scenes that force needless conflict between the two characters for the sake of drama. The theme regarding self-indulgence and loss of discipline that underlies their tensions and the presence of the New Essentialists is poorly realised. It would make sense if what goes on in Risa is risqué or at least interesting, but it's all so tame that it feels like everyone is making a big fuss over nothing.
It has possibly the most pointless antagonist seen in the franchise, who goes from moustache twirly to impotent in a short amount of scenes. It is not Monte Markham's fault, the character is written with no credible threat. Other characters like Leeta go along for the ride look good in a glamorous setting, but nothing memorable happens to anybody.
Rene Auberjonois was dealt a duff hand by the writers when given this directing assignment. The script called for more humour, bad behaviour and possibly more depth into why people psychologically need downtime from duty and indulgence in sexual fantasies.
I dont get the hate here
saltysgt25 July 2020
Yeah Worf did something that, to me, seemed a little out of character. But we were given some great Dax/Worf interactions that really fleshed out their characters. I feel like Dax has really come into her own in season 4 & 5.
Don't let the sub 6 rating discourage you. If you like Dax and/or Worf then you'll enjoy it.
Don't let the sub 6 rating discourage you. If you like Dax and/or Worf then you'll enjoy it.
Story of a Textbook Abusive Relationship...
GreyHunter5 August 2019
For anyone who has ever wondered what the seedy and deeply unpleasant underbelly of the so-called future utopia and paradise of the Federation might look like, wonder no more. Deep Space Nine has done its best to show us the warped Lifetime movie version of this future. We're given Worf, who is the very picture of nastiness, controlling behavior, emotional abuse, and childish lashing out. In the other corner, Dax, who, despite being hundreds of years old, can hardly work up the will and self-esteem to do more than vaguely chide her abuser. The story plays out as a redemptive (and barely, at that) fairy tale suited for small children who don't understand that the real world and its problems aren't so simply resolved. Any sane woman with even a modicum of self-esteem would have told Worf to go to hell and given him explicit directions on the quickest route. Instead, Dax plays the role of a battered woman, too insecure and too beaten down by her abuser to take a strong stand against his behavior and treatment of her. When a story somehow becomes even more hysterically unbelievable than the aforementioned Lifetime-style movie, you know you're watching a show hit rock bottom.
I was especially fascinated by the way Worf managed to win Dax's unconditional sympathy back by telling an obvious lie about his childhood, where he learned to be completely controlled and restrained because of a horrifying incident in his past. Mind you, at the beginning of the episode, Dax had been to the infirmary several times just in the last month because of Worf's apparently violent and unrestrained Klingon lovemaking, yet she believes him when he claimed he was too traumatized by a childhood incident to let loose. It was clearly a lie on his part to win her back, another classic abuser trope where the abusive partner tries to gain forgiveness by appealing to his victim's sympathy by seeming to actually be deep and troubled rather than shallow and nasty. I'm sure the writers didn't intend for the story to be a lie, but the evidence is clear.
Just an unpleasant story with unpleasant connotations written by the sort of unpleasant minds who would actually believe a relationship like this could turn out healthy in any way.
I was especially fascinated by the way Worf managed to win Dax's unconditional sympathy back by telling an obvious lie about his childhood, where he learned to be completely controlled and restrained because of a horrifying incident in his past. Mind you, at the beginning of the episode, Dax had been to the infirmary several times just in the last month because of Worf's apparently violent and unrestrained Klingon lovemaking, yet she believes him when he claimed he was too traumatized by a childhood incident to let loose. It was clearly a lie on his part to win her back, another classic abuser trope where the abusive partner tries to gain forgiveness by appealing to his victim's sympathy by seeming to actually be deep and troubled rather than shallow and nasty. I'm sure the writers didn't intend for the story to be a lie, but the evidence is clear.
Just an unpleasant story with unpleasant connotations written by the sort of unpleasant minds who would actually believe a relationship like this could turn out healthy in any way.
Epitomizes what an awful character Worf was on DS9
bgaiv6 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Worf was compelling on TNG and we were excited when he came over to DS9, but the character is a judgmental fuddy dud almost all the time on the show.
Worf is unusually badly written here though. He wants to arrest the terrorists then join them. He gives an interesting story from his childhood how he accidentally killed a kid then a few minutes later is throwing an old man around the room.
Worf should have lost his commission and been incarcerated for his actions here.
The Essentialist story could have been decent if it was more fleshed out and was the actual focus of the episode. They make provocative arguments that are believable in context-- the Federation has recently fought off a Borg invasion, had a mini war with the Klingons and it's widely believed a war with the Dominion is imminent.
Their actual arguments seem dubious-- don't enjoy this beach because some day you may not have it-- but why didn't a character say that? And the leader comes across as a 20th century ultra Fundamentalist which is distracting and feels like a cheat: "har har, see how silly he is."
Why don't Worf, Dax, Quark and Julian tell the leader they serve on the front lines and have been in battle? They can't have a vacation?
Why doesn't Risa kick the Essentialists off the planet? If they can't or are unwilling, why don't the Essentialists point this out as proof they are right that the planet won't even defend itself?
Worf is unusually badly written here though. He wants to arrest the terrorists then join them. He gives an interesting story from his childhood how he accidentally killed a kid then a few minutes later is throwing an old man around the room.
Worf should have lost his commission and been incarcerated for his actions here.
The Essentialist story could have been decent if it was more fleshed out and was the actual focus of the episode. They make provocative arguments that are believable in context-- the Federation has recently fought off a Borg invasion, had a mini war with the Klingons and it's widely believed a war with the Dominion is imminent.
Their actual arguments seem dubious-- don't enjoy this beach because some day you may not have it-- but why didn't a character say that? And the leader comes across as a 20th century ultra Fundamentalist which is distracting and feels like a cheat: "har har, see how silly he is."
Why don't Worf, Dax, Quark and Julian tell the leader they serve on the front lines and have been in battle? They can't have a vacation?
Why doesn't Risa kick the Essentialists off the planet? If they can't or are unwilling, why don't the Essentialists point this out as proof they are right that the planet won't even defend itself?
Worf is a grumbler
tomsly-4001511 November 2023
I am not sure why the show runners decided to bring Worf to this show. This character was already one-dimensional on the Enterprise. But ever since he stepped a foot on DS9 he has become a grumpy, bored dick that constantly babbles about honor and tells others how to do their jobs or how to live their lives. Such a person should not be anything higher ranked than ensign in Starfleet.
And Dax being in love with Worf is completely unbelievable. On the one hand she is portrayed as liking to party with Ferengi and Klingons although her whole character is dull, reserved and boring. And on the other hand she falls in love with the only Klingon that is not about drinking, singing, partying and having fun. So many contradictions. Who came up with the idea that those two characters should have a romantic relationship?
Worf is just a big crabber in this episode. Going on vacation on a leisure planet and then being a dick to everyone and cannot enjoy himself for even a minute.
And the depiction of Risa - I don't know. The whole planet is a huge vacation resort but we just see some crappy building with a few people in terrible 1980s earth clothing. And the Risan people seem to be something between animator and prostitute.
And Dax being in love with Worf is completely unbelievable. On the one hand she is portrayed as liking to party with Ferengi and Klingons although her whole character is dull, reserved and boring. And on the other hand she falls in love with the only Klingon that is not about drinking, singing, partying and having fun. So many contradictions. Who came up with the idea that those two characters should have a romantic relationship?
Worf is just a big crabber in this episode. Going on vacation on a leisure planet and then being a dick to everyone and cannot enjoy himself for even a minute.
And the depiction of Risa - I don't know. The whole planet is a huge vacation resort but we just see some crappy building with a few people in terrible 1980s earth clothing. And the Risan people seem to be something between animator and prostitute.
It gets better
NJBart24 January 2024
This is a really great episode, it doesn't deserve all the negative reviews. If you don't get this one, there's some stuff you don't get about Star Trek. Worf and Dax's relationship glows in this episode, we learn more about Worf's past, Bajoran relationships and even the society of Risa. Dax shows us the strength and knowledge and patience of being a multi-century old being. Her and Worf talking about these things is essential to the rest of their eventual relationship. This villain also is classic Star Trek. The allegory to real life is clear and essential for almost any time in modern politics. This ep has a lot of great messages that went over a lot of heads.
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