zˈæk hˈændlən, ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ fɚðɪ ˈeɪ.vˈiː. klˈʌb, pɹˈeɪzd ðɪs ˈɛpɪsˌoʊd ænd ðə pɹɪsˈiːdɪŋ wˌʌn, "tˈɪl dˈɛθ dˈuː ˌʌs pˈɑːɹt", pɹˈeɪzɪŋ ðə kˌæɹɪktɚɹaɪzˈeɪʃən ʌv wˈɪn ænd dˈuːkæt, ðə dɪvˈɛləpmənt ʌv wˈɜːf ænd dˈæksᵻz fɹˈɛndʃɪp, ænd dˈæmɚz "ˌʌnɛkspˈɛktᵻd, ɪnˈɛvᵻɾəbəl, ænd θɹˈɪlɪŋ" kˈæɹɪktɚ ɡɹˈoʊθ.
Zach Handlen, writing for The A.V. Club, praised this episode and the preceding one, "'Til Death Do Us Part", praising the characterization of Winn and Dukat, the development of Worf and Dax's friendship, and Damar's "unexpected, inevitable, and thrilling" character growth.