The romance between Lieutenant Commanders Worf (Michael Dorn) and Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) is probably the most unexpectedly charming storyline inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. From the beginning of the show, Jadzia is filled with a passion for life and an enduring interest in Klingon culture. Lt. Commander Worf, on the other hand, is a significantly more somber figure,making their relationship simultaneously unexpected and deeply complementary. Especially after then-LieutenantWorf’s failed romances inStar Trek: The Next Generation, the genuine love he found inDS9was a welcome change.
ButDS9’s Lieutenant Commander lovebirds are far from the only romances inStar Trek. Andwhen Worf and Jadzia culminated their relationship in a marriage in the season 6 episode, “You Are Cordially Invited,” they joined the rare ranks ofStar Trekcouples who actually got married on the show.From Prof. Keiko Ishikawa (Rosalind Chao) and Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) inTNGtoPresident T’Rina (Tara Rosling) and Ambassador Saru (Doug Jones) inStar Trek: Discovery, weddings have a special place inStar Trekhistory.
They Beat Out Keiko & Chief O’Brien In TNG
Lt. Commanders Worf and Jadzia Daxhave the best wedding episode ofStar Trek, and it’s not even close. Very few weddings are shown inStar Trek, and even fewer have entire episodes devoted to the impending nuptials. Indeed,onlyDS9’s “You Are Cordially Invited” andTNG’s “Data’s Day"are explicitly centered around a wedding. But whereas the latter treats Keiko andTransporter Chief Miles O’Brienas secondary to political intrigue and Lt. Commander Data’s (Brent Spiner) emotional development, “You Are Cordially Invited” is devoted to the marriage of Worf and Jadzia.
The episode even has a great A-B story of Jadzia winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law while Worf starves his friends during the Klingon equivalent of a bachelor party.
The episode perfectly transitionsDS9from Dominion control of the station back to the Federation. After the darkness of the war, the brightness of Worf and Jadzia’s wedding is a breath of fresh air. The episode even has a great A-B story of Jadzia winning over her soon-to-be mother-in-law while Worf starves his friends during the Klingon equivalent of a bachelor party. Since the wedding is the backbone of the episode, and every aspect of the plot is so genuinely uplifting,“You Are Cordially Invited” is clearly the best wedding episode inStar Trek.
Why Star Trek Still Rarely Does Wedding Episodes
There Are Thematic & Narrative Reasons That Weddings Don’t Work Well In Star Trek
Despite the success of “You Are Cordially Invited,“Star Trekdoes not have much in the way of wedding episodes. Indeed, President T’Rina and Ambassador Saru just get a scene in the last episode ofDiscovery, and, despite having one of the longest relationships inStar Trek, Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Commander Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) are relegated to an introductory beat at the start ofStar Trek: Nemesis.Speaking generally,Star Trekdoes not spend time on weddings.
Picard Season 3 Made Raffi Worf’s New Dax (With A Twist)
Star Trek: Picard season 3’s Worf & Raffi team up evokes fond memories of Worf and Jadzia Dax, but still different from their DS9 love story.
One reason for this is thematic.Star Trekis set in the far future, and, by and large, 21st-century Earth religions do not seem to hold sway with Starfleet. Since weddings are historically religious events,showing the rituals of marriage could easily create thematic dissonance forStar Trek.However,Worf and Dax’s wedding could handily sidestep these issues since neither party was human and the traditions in question were Klingon.
Worf and Jadzia Dax also got married in the alternate timeline from theDS9episode, “Children of Time.”
Another reason weddings aren’t frequently shown inStar Trekis narrative: Weddings are the culmination of a romantic relationship. Once a couple gets married, many classic romantic stories are off the table. Although a happily married couple can be compelling, it is frequently easier to focus on a less stable relationship. ButStar Trek: Deep Space Ninedid not take the easy route with Lt. Commanders Worf and Dax, and, for that reason, their wedding is the most iconic inStar Trek.
