![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakI've been meaning to write to write this for a while, and having progressed from my TNG rewatching to DS9 rewatching (no, no episode reviews, I already wrote those back when I got the dvds, check out the archive), I was finally spurred to action. For you see, even among DS9 lovers, the Ferengi episodes have something of a, well, mixed reputation. As do the Ferengi themselves. Many a times your humble author has come across scornful reviews including the sentence "well, it's a Ferengi episode, what do you expect?" or "next one is a Ferengi episode, might was well skip". Which set my fannish heart aflame. No need to defend the Dominion War to viewers at large, or Bajoran inner politics, and definitely no need to defend all things Cardassian - really, they who are not fascinated by Cardassians have never watched DS9. But Ferengi? There's a still discriminated against species for you in Trekdom.
Now, having already penned my love declaration to the Ferengi-in-chief, Quark, years ago, I want to add a personal favourites list as far as Ferengi episodes are concerned, complete with arguments why they enrich DS9 in particular and Star Trek in general. In roughly chronological order, these are:
Season 2:
Rules of Acquisition: this one starts the trend to give Quark instead of the good looking human males the girls of the week stories, which I personally find both amusing and satisfying, but it's far more than that. Plot-wise, this is the Yentl episode, in which we meet our first female Ferengi, disguised as a male in order to make profit, working for Quark as a waiter and falling in love with him. It also is the first episode to mention the Dominion, the big ominous power of the Gamma Quadrant, and the first to feature what became one of the most endearing aspects of the show to me - to wit, Jadzia Dax' friendship with Quark and her unabashed fondness for hanging out with Ferengi. Now, Dax liking Klingons (also an important aspect of her) is one thing, she's not the only ST regular to do that, and the great bird of the galaxy knows we have on and offscreen fannishness about Vulcans and Cardassians. But Dax is the first Starfleet character who likes Ferengi (to the complete bafflement of Kira & Co). And Quark. Not in the sense of "tolerating and finding useful", ala Sisko, and not in the sense of love/hate coupled with disdain, ala Odo, no, she just likes 'em and openly enjoys their company. Now that's IDIC for you. Lastly, in terms of ST depiction of same sex relationships (or lack of same) it's worth noting that Quark is far more shocked by Pel being a woman than by her kissing him while he still thought she was a man.
Season 3:
House of Quark: in which we get an absolutely priceless Ferengi/Klingon culture clash, and Quark gets another sort of romance of the week via the fiery Klingon Grilka who at first sees him as a despicable necessity to saving her independence. The scene where Quark demonstrates finances to the Klingon high council is comedy gold, but the episode also has scenes of serious emotional depth, and best of all, lets Quark win the day in a way unique to him (by shaming Klingon machismo, exposing a duel for what it would be - an execution). It's also the first episode to play the relationship between Quark and his brother Rom the way most viewers remember it. (Earlier episodes had Rom scheming to get the bar in a somewhat incompetent way, down to hoping for Quark's death; as of this episode and in all subsequent ones, Rom is a sweet-natured guy only lacking in confidence, and simultanously proud of his brother and needing to escape from him.)
Family Business: in which we meet Quark's mother Ishka, his future arch nemesis, Liquidator Brunt, and the planet Ferenginar. Ishka and Quark are a classic case of "can barely stand to be in the same room together due to being very similar", and you can make your educated guesses as to why he keeps falling for strong independent women when at the same time believing in sexist Ferengi rules. Brunt, played by Jeffrey Coombs who must be the only DS9 guest star to pay two recurring roles simultanously - this one and the Vorta Weyoun - is a delightfully evil tax man, and a great foil for Quark with whom he has an absolutely sincere hate/hate relationship. And the writers poke fun at their own franchise with exchanges like the one:
Quark (upon seeing his old Marauder Mo action figure): "Do you have any idea how much these are worth?"
Ishka: "Not as much as if you'd kept them in the original packaging."
Season 4:
Little Green Men: Rossssweeelllll! I don't care what Mulder and Scully found out, I don't care about a certain tv show for which Ron Moore also worked, this is the real truth about the Roswell incident from 1947. Features Quark, Rom and Nog as the Roswell aliens, the Ferengi language when their Universal Translators at first malfunction until Rom repairs them, and some great homages to early 1950s style movies. Weather balloon indeed.
Bar Association: the one where Rom founds a Ferengi union, organizes a strike and becomes independent. My favourite detail about this is that Rom actually quotes the opening lines the Communist manifesto - "Workers of the world unite! All you have to lose are your chains!" - in his speech, and this on American tv, in a sympathetic context. Also I love that this episode features Quark both at his worst and at his best, because that highlights his ambiguity so well. He's exploitative as hell at the start, and awful to his employees, especially to Rom, but the reason why Quark finally gives in to the union's demands is that Brunt & hired thugs appeared on the scene, beat him up severaly and are now threatening to do this and worse to Rom as well.
Season 5:
The Ascent: aka the one where Odo and Quark crash land while Jake and Nog become room mates. The Odo and Quark bickering is amusing as usual, and interestingly enough, Odo is the one I'd say behaves more childishly here. My favourite lines come when Quark doesn't leave the wounded Odo behind and tells him he's taking him along not out of compassion but as emergency rations in case Odo dies. (Odo: "You're not serious." Quark: "Waste not, want not.") Meanwhile, it's just one of the lovely ironies of the show that Nog, whom Sisko at the start of the show sees as a juvenile delinquent and potential bad influence on his son, has become a flawless Starfleet cadet (and Sisko's biggest fan) while Jake resolutely follows a non-Starfleet path. I also have a soft spot for this one because I used it as a the basis for a Farscape crossover.
Business as Usual: proof that Ferengi episodes don't have to be comedies. Takes place during the time when Quark, due to having lost his license (courtesy of Brunt), accepts his cousin Gaila's proposition of getting to big time arms trading business. Which earns him money but ostracizes him from his friends. As is often the case in Ferengi episodes, this one contains a homage to a classic movie - in this case, The Third Man (one of Harry Lime's speeches is quoted almost verbatim). I love it both for the fact that it puts Quark in front of a genuine ethical dilemma (and lets him solve it in a Quark way, i.e. involving tricking the opposition), and because it caters to my inner Quark/Dax (friend)shipper. She's playing the role of his conscience here as he finally crosses a line she won't overlook, but she's also a source of support at the start and of joyful acceptance at the end when he has come through. And the fact she keeps the Tongo wheel is just so Dax.
Season 6:
The Magnificent Ferengi: features every Ferengi character except for Ishka and Grand Nagus Zek as Quark has to save his mother from the Dominion and is determined to do so without human help. As is often the case with Ferengi episodes, the heroics of other species are both parodied/shown up and yet you get genuine character points at the same time. (For example, I think it's telling that Nog who is always a bit embarassed for his uncle when Quark is using Ferengi tactics around Starfleet personal is absolutely comfortable with and in fact proud of Quark doing the same when only other Ferengi plus the Vorta they have to trick are around, and no human in sight.) One episode to have fun with and relax with after the occupation arc and before the Dominion War kicks in its gruesome final phase.
Season 7:
It's Only A Papermoon: aka the one where Nog has shellshock syndrome. (Sidenote for BSG watchers: could Gaeta have used Vic Fontaine or what??) Not a comedy but a gentle character episode showing the aftermath of Nog's loss of limb a few episodes earlier. (In an episode I couldn't include because it's an ensemble one, not one with a Ferengi in the starring role, but it does contain one of my favourite Quark scenes when he keeps watch over the wounded Nog.) Touching without being sentimental, and while Nog and Vic Fontaine are the stars of the episode, the rest have good supporting roles. Would the episode be nearly as effective if it had been yet another annual let's torture O'Brien episode, for example? No, it would not. But Nog, a Ferengi, supposedly part of the comic relief of the station, suffering such a fate; that really brings home the reality of the Dominion War in a way no other character could have.
And thus I end my list of favourite Ferengi episodes. Which does not mean I don't like the others. (The Emperor's Cloak and Profit and Lace are weaker episodes, but they, too, have scenes I enjoy; I do love Profit and Loss and Body Parts, but not as much as the above named examples.) Should you, oh old or potential new DS9 viewer, be inclined to rewatch the show, I would like to suggest picking at least some of these in addition to the heavy weights like In the Pale Moonlight or Duet: they're gemstones of the show. Or, as Quark would put it, gold-pressed latinum.
Now, having already penned my love declaration to the Ferengi-in-chief, Quark, years ago, I want to add a personal favourites list as far as Ferengi episodes are concerned, complete with arguments why they enrich DS9 in particular and Star Trek in general. In roughly chronological order, these are:
Season 2:
Rules of Acquisition: this one starts the trend to give Quark instead of the good looking human males the girls of the week stories, which I personally find both amusing and satisfying, but it's far more than that. Plot-wise, this is the Yentl episode, in which we meet our first female Ferengi, disguised as a male in order to make profit, working for Quark as a waiter and falling in love with him. It also is the first episode to mention the Dominion, the big ominous power of the Gamma Quadrant, and the first to feature what became one of the most endearing aspects of the show to me - to wit, Jadzia Dax' friendship with Quark and her unabashed fondness for hanging out with Ferengi. Now, Dax liking Klingons (also an important aspect of her) is one thing, she's not the only ST regular to do that, and the great bird of the galaxy knows we have on and offscreen fannishness about Vulcans and Cardassians. But Dax is the first Starfleet character who likes Ferengi (to the complete bafflement of Kira & Co). And Quark. Not in the sense of "tolerating and finding useful", ala Sisko, and not in the sense of love/hate coupled with disdain, ala Odo, no, she just likes 'em and openly enjoys their company. Now that's IDIC for you. Lastly, in terms of ST depiction of same sex relationships (or lack of same) it's worth noting that Quark is far more shocked by Pel being a woman than by her kissing him while he still thought she was a man.
Season 3:
House of Quark: in which we get an absolutely priceless Ferengi/Klingon culture clash, and Quark gets another sort of romance of the week via the fiery Klingon Grilka who at first sees him as a despicable necessity to saving her independence. The scene where Quark demonstrates finances to the Klingon high council is comedy gold, but the episode also has scenes of serious emotional depth, and best of all, lets Quark win the day in a way unique to him (by shaming Klingon machismo, exposing a duel for what it would be - an execution). It's also the first episode to play the relationship between Quark and his brother Rom the way most viewers remember it. (Earlier episodes had Rom scheming to get the bar in a somewhat incompetent way, down to hoping for Quark's death; as of this episode and in all subsequent ones, Rom is a sweet-natured guy only lacking in confidence, and simultanously proud of his brother and needing to escape from him.)
Family Business: in which we meet Quark's mother Ishka, his future arch nemesis, Liquidator Brunt, and the planet Ferenginar. Ishka and Quark are a classic case of "can barely stand to be in the same room together due to being very similar", and you can make your educated guesses as to why he keeps falling for strong independent women when at the same time believing in sexist Ferengi rules. Brunt, played by Jeffrey Coombs who must be the only DS9 guest star to pay two recurring roles simultanously - this one and the Vorta Weyoun - is a delightfully evil tax man, and a great foil for Quark with whom he has an absolutely sincere hate/hate relationship. And the writers poke fun at their own franchise with exchanges like the one:
Quark (upon seeing his old Marauder Mo action figure): "Do you have any idea how much these are worth?"
Ishka: "Not as much as if you'd kept them in the original packaging."
Season 4:
Little Green Men: Rossssweeelllll! I don't care what Mulder and Scully found out, I don't care about a certain tv show for which Ron Moore also worked, this is the real truth about the Roswell incident from 1947. Features Quark, Rom and Nog as the Roswell aliens, the Ferengi language when their Universal Translators at first malfunction until Rom repairs them, and some great homages to early 1950s style movies. Weather balloon indeed.
Bar Association: the one where Rom founds a Ferengi union, organizes a strike and becomes independent. My favourite detail about this is that Rom actually quotes the opening lines the Communist manifesto - "Workers of the world unite! All you have to lose are your chains!" - in his speech, and this on American tv, in a sympathetic context. Also I love that this episode features Quark both at his worst and at his best, because that highlights his ambiguity so well. He's exploitative as hell at the start, and awful to his employees, especially to Rom, but the reason why Quark finally gives in to the union's demands is that Brunt & hired thugs appeared on the scene, beat him up severaly and are now threatening to do this and worse to Rom as well.
Season 5:
The Ascent: aka the one where Odo and Quark crash land while Jake and Nog become room mates. The Odo and Quark bickering is amusing as usual, and interestingly enough, Odo is the one I'd say behaves more childishly here. My favourite lines come when Quark doesn't leave the wounded Odo behind and tells him he's taking him along not out of compassion but as emergency rations in case Odo dies. (Odo: "You're not serious." Quark: "Waste not, want not.") Meanwhile, it's just one of the lovely ironies of the show that Nog, whom Sisko at the start of the show sees as a juvenile delinquent and potential bad influence on his son, has become a flawless Starfleet cadet (and Sisko's biggest fan) while Jake resolutely follows a non-Starfleet path. I also have a soft spot for this one because I used it as a the basis for a Farscape crossover.
Business as Usual: proof that Ferengi episodes don't have to be comedies. Takes place during the time when Quark, due to having lost his license (courtesy of Brunt), accepts his cousin Gaila's proposition of getting to big time arms trading business. Which earns him money but ostracizes him from his friends. As is often the case in Ferengi episodes, this one contains a homage to a classic movie - in this case, The Third Man (one of Harry Lime's speeches is quoted almost verbatim). I love it both for the fact that it puts Quark in front of a genuine ethical dilemma (and lets him solve it in a Quark way, i.e. involving tricking the opposition), and because it caters to my inner Quark/Dax (friend)shipper. She's playing the role of his conscience here as he finally crosses a line she won't overlook, but she's also a source of support at the start and of joyful acceptance at the end when he has come through. And the fact she keeps the Tongo wheel is just so Dax.
Season 6:
The Magnificent Ferengi: features every Ferengi character except for Ishka and Grand Nagus Zek as Quark has to save his mother from the Dominion and is determined to do so without human help. As is often the case with Ferengi episodes, the heroics of other species are both parodied/shown up and yet you get genuine character points at the same time. (For example, I think it's telling that Nog who is always a bit embarassed for his uncle when Quark is using Ferengi tactics around Starfleet personal is absolutely comfortable with and in fact proud of Quark doing the same when only other Ferengi plus the Vorta they have to trick are around, and no human in sight.) One episode to have fun with and relax with after the occupation arc and before the Dominion War kicks in its gruesome final phase.
Season 7:
It's Only A Papermoon: aka the one where Nog has shellshock syndrome. (Sidenote for BSG watchers: could Gaeta have used Vic Fontaine or what??) Not a comedy but a gentle character episode showing the aftermath of Nog's loss of limb a few episodes earlier. (In an episode I couldn't include because it's an ensemble one, not one with a Ferengi in the starring role, but it does contain one of my favourite Quark scenes when he keeps watch over the wounded Nog.) Touching without being sentimental, and while Nog and Vic Fontaine are the stars of the episode, the rest have good supporting roles. Would the episode be nearly as effective if it had been yet another annual let's torture O'Brien episode, for example? No, it would not. But Nog, a Ferengi, supposedly part of the comic relief of the station, suffering such a fate; that really brings home the reality of the Dominion War in a way no other character could have.
And thus I end my list of favourite Ferengi episodes. Which does not mean I don't like the others. (The Emperor's Cloak and Profit and Lace are weaker episodes, but they, too, have scenes I enjoy; I do love Profit and Loss and Body Parts, but not as much as the above named examples.) Should you, oh old or potential new DS9 viewer, be inclined to rewatch the show, I would like to suggest picking at least some of these in addition to the heavy weights like In the Pale Moonlight or Duet: they're gemstones of the show. Or, as Quark would put it, gold-pressed latinum.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 02:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 04:42 am (UTC)