We’ve received Garak and Bashir, truly married with no O’Brien (or Rick Berman) to muck it up. We’ve received T’Pol, with a larger understanding of human conduct after a six-decade marriage to Journey Tucker. We’ve received Lily Sloane from First Contact, truly getting the respect that she deserves. And we’ve received so many Harry Kims, all however one remains to be an ensign.
Probably the most vivacious of the bunch is an aged Curzon Dax, pushing 100 and never prepared to offer it up. On one hand, this Dax (voiced by Fred Tatasciore, however retaining Auberjonois’s signature growl) spends quite a lot of time griping about T’Pol’s (Jolene Blalock, who makes her Star Trek return, together with Garret Wang, Alexander Siddig, and Andrew Robinson) makes an attempt to right him. Even a suggestion as small as “Eat much less sodium” appears like an insult to Curzon’s ears.
Decrease Decks being Decrease Decks, the ribbing performs as jokes, framing Curzon as a cranky previous man who does reckless issues to hold onto his youth. Curzon’s massive second within the episode comes when he grabs a bat’leth and takes on a military of Khwopians, which performs at first like an aged delusion. Even the decision, during which T’Pol takes the katra of the dying Curzon to hold elsewhere, turns the Trill into the butt of the joke, realizing he was improper concerning the Vulcan.
But, the jokes additionally add to the wealthy tapestry of Curzon. All through the primary seasons of Deep House 9, Jadzia felt like she lived in Curzon’s shadow. In “Sides,” she even admits that she delayed the zhian’tara due to her emotions of inadequacy. That episode concludes with Jadzia gaining confidence after see learns about a few of his vulnerabilities, which makes for a satisfying arc.
In “Fissure Quest,” nonetheless, Curzon’s failings are much less dramatic, extra relatable. The episode is aware of that the viewers have seen how a lot Jadzia and Ezri admire the experiences he gave them, placing us on Curzon’s facet in squabbles with T’Pol. However the jokes deflate the significance of those moments, placing them in correct context. Sure, Curzon is making a file that may go on to complement the lives of generations of Trills, however he’s additionally a cranky previous man who throws a match on the slightest ribbing.
In different phrases, “Fissure Quest” lets us see Curzon much less as a serious determine in Star Trek historical past and simply as an individual. Not like “Sides,” Curzon’s foibles aren’t so grand that they virtually create one other Tuvix state of affairs when he argues that he and Odo have develop into a novel particular person. Somewhat, they’re dumb and petty and comprehensible.
