Star Trek: Rejoined

Episode: "Rejoined"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 4, Episode 6

Original Air Date: October 30, 1995

via Wikipedia

A Trill science team arrives at the station, led by Lenara Kahn (Susanna Thompson), complicating matters for Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell).  Lenara is a joined Trill and her symbiont Kahn's previous host Nilani was married to Dax's previous host, Torias.  Reassociation by later hosts is forbidden by Trill law so Lenara and Jadzia must keep their interactions professional.  There's a problem.  The two are clearly still in love.

In my post about the TNG episode "The Perfect Mate," I wrote about the television romances I truly believe.  Kahn/Dax is top of the list for me.  Their irresistible attraction is obvious from the beginning.  The build up of sexual tension is deliciously excruciating.  Then the kiss.  Wow!  It's not just the best Trek kiss or the best same-sex kiss or whatever.  It's one of the greatest on-screen kisses you'll ever see.  Evidently, Farrell asked Thompson's husband beforehand about what turned his wife on.  His advice was clearly helpful.

Within the context of the narrative, the fact that Jadzia and Lenara are both women is irrelevant.  Nobody cares.  This was intentional, of course.  Star Trek seemingly always has a cover ready in situations like this.  For instance, Kirk and Uhura shared their groundbreaking kiss in "Plato's Stepchildren" because they were under mind-control.  Avery Brooks, who directed the episode, and most of the creative staff have long downplayed the historical relevance of "Rejoined," claiming it's not really about homosexuality.  Terry Farrell, on the other hand, has always embraced it, celebrating the many LGBTQIA+ fans who have approached her over the years and told her how meaningful the story was to them.

In the real world, there was push back.  Paramount received plenty of angry correspondence from conservative fans, just as they had for "Plato's Stepchildren."  It would be another 22 years before Star Trek had a same-sex kiss between two men.  

Acting Notes

via Live Action Wiki

Susanna Thompson was born in San Diego, January 27, 1958.  She graduated from San Diego State University.  "Rejoined" was her third of six Star Trek appearances.  Her films include Little Giants, Random Hearts and Dragonfly.  On television, she has had principal cast roles on Once and Again, Kings and Arrow.