I don't know why people disliked thid episode, I thought it was funny and entertaining. I wouldn't say it was a 10 but the funny moments are mostly with Rom. Watch at least once and you may or may not like it. But everyone is entitled to theit opinions.
26 Reviews
Not the worst episode
irishboy14114 September 2020
In the right mindset it's not too bad
snoozejonc7 July 2023
Brunt has taken over as Grand Negus and Zek, Quark and Ishka want to dethrone him.
Profit and Lace is commonly cited as an example of the weaker Star Trek entries. Whilst I would not describe it as good, there are worse and less entertaining episodes in all Trek shows. The only real gripe I have is the initial use of Quark. It is disappointing to see a character who the writers have previously developed reduced to coercively sexually harassing an employee in order to set up an ironic comedy arc. This element feels contrived to the point of distracting and it is not the first time the writers have seemingly moved this character forwards before dragging him back for the convenience of a plot.
Generally the experience hinges on whether or not you appreciate the humour. No fictional television should be taken overly seriously, especially when played mostly for laughs. I think the likability of the Ferengi characters is important as they are like Marmite for some. Wallace Shawn's Zek has always grated on me and although Ishka is intended as strong character for feminist reform her relationship with Zek and her sons has rarely worked for me.
I would suggest that if you find jokes about gender stereotypes or males dressing up as females offensive or unfunny, do not watch it as it contains all the clichés. I appreciate the actors professionalism with the material by doing their best to make it work. If you approach it for the farce that it is there are aspects to enjoy.
Profit and Lace is commonly cited as an example of the weaker Star Trek entries. Whilst I would not describe it as good, there are worse and less entertaining episodes in all Trek shows. The only real gripe I have is the initial use of Quark. It is disappointing to see a character who the writers have previously developed reduced to coercively sexually harassing an employee in order to set up an ironic comedy arc. This element feels contrived to the point of distracting and it is not the first time the writers have seemingly moved this character forwards before dragging him back for the convenience of a plot.
Generally the experience hinges on whether or not you appreciate the humour. No fictional television should be taken overly seriously, especially when played mostly for laughs. I think the likability of the Ferengi characters is important as they are like Marmite for some. Wallace Shawn's Zek has always grated on me and although Ishka is intended as strong character for feminist reform her relationship with Zek and her sons has rarely worked for me.
I would suggest that if you find jokes about gender stereotypes or males dressing up as females offensive or unfunny, do not watch it as it contains all the clichés. I appreciate the actors professionalism with the material by doing their best to make it work. If you approach it for the farce that it is there are aspects to enjoy.
Will make you cringe
contact-772-23732816 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
20 years later it's impossible not to cringe while watching this episode. It might have been considered funny at the time but this is absolutely terrible nowadays.
The episode trivialises workplace sexual harassment. It starts with Quark threatening to fire a waitress unless she gives him sexual favours.
The central story then tries to set a "progressive" tone by discussing giving ferengi women basic rights, while playing heavily on gender stereotypes.
Quark goes through a male to female sex change procedure, and suddenly becomes in touch with his emotions, more "sensitive", and overly concerned about his appearance, the size of his hips, etc.
At the end after reverting to a male body, he finds himself still romantically interested in men, presumably due to the lingering effects of his transition to the female sex.
The episode writers show obvious ignorance about gender identity and sexual orientation, implying that they are one and the same thing and must therefore always be aligned.
The worst part comes with the incredibly unfunny "joke" at the end. Quark still suffering from "efemination", suddenly rediscovers his "masculinity" when the waitress is shown to be happy to accept his abusive sexual proposal by her own will.
The episode trivialises workplace sexual harassment. It starts with Quark threatening to fire a waitress unless she gives him sexual favours.
The central story then tries to set a "progressive" tone by discussing giving ferengi women basic rights, while playing heavily on gender stereotypes.
Quark goes through a male to female sex change procedure, and suddenly becomes in touch with his emotions, more "sensitive", and overly concerned about his appearance, the size of his hips, etc.
At the end after reverting to a male body, he finds himself still romantically interested in men, presumably due to the lingering effects of his transition to the female sex.
The episode writers show obvious ignorance about gender identity and sexual orientation, implying that they are one and the same thing and must therefore always be aligned.
The worst part comes with the incredibly unfunny "joke" at the end. Quark still suffering from "efemination", suddenly rediscovers his "masculinity" when the waitress is shown to be happy to accept his abusive sexual proposal by her own will.
Weak for DS9 but still worth watching
Tweekums25 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
When Rom and Quark can't contact anybody of Ferenginar they fear that it has been taken over by the Dominion but when the Grand Nagus arrives on DS9 they learn that he has been deposed after giving equal rights to females; it gets worse, it looks as if Liquidator Brunt will be the next Nagus; Quark and his family must do what it takes to reinstate the rightful Nagus. They invite Nilva, a member of the Ferengi Trade Commission to come to DS9 and see that a Ferengi female can be just as good at business as a male; unfortunately Ishka, Quark's mother, is in sickbay after collapsing during an argument with Quark. With no other Female Ferengi on the station Quark must dress like a woman
and get his manly lobes reduced. It looks as though his dinner with Nilva is going well; until he is invited back to his room for 'dessert'.
This was one of the weaker episodes of Deep Space Nine. While the DS9 Ferengi are good characters they can't carry episodes on there own that well, and this is possibly the weakest of their episodes. Seeing Quark in drag was rather funny although it looked as though Armin Shimerman was feeling uncomfortable in the role although that may have been him wanting Quark to look very uncomfortable. There were some good points of course, Chase Masterson is always a joy to watch as Leeta even if her role is fairly small and watching Quark kissing Nilva in front of Brunt was as hilarious as it was shocking.
This was one of the weaker episodes of Deep Space Nine. While the DS9 Ferengi are good characters they can't carry episodes on there own that well, and this is possibly the weakest of their episodes. Seeing Quark in drag was rather funny although it looked as though Armin Shimerman was feeling uncomfortable in the role although that may have been him wanting Quark to look very uncomfortable. There were some good points of course, Chase Masterson is always a joy to watch as Leeta even if her role is fairly small and watching Quark kissing Nilva in front of Brunt was as hilarious as it was shocking.
A Star Trek milestone
GreyHunter17 August 2019
Attempted blackmail and coercion to force your employee to engage in sexual activity with you + hilarious attempted rape + the idea that your employee will turn out to enjoy the idea of being forced to do sexual things with you = Star Trek as written by terrible human beings.
Did anyone actually think this through before they started filming? All they needed was to add a dash of Cosby and we'd have a classic Star Trek romp where no man with any sense of decency has gone before. Sigh.
Did anyone actually think this through before they started filming? All they needed was to add a dash of Cosby and we'd have a classic Star Trek romp where no man with any sense of decency has gone before. Sigh.
I happen to love Farangi adventures!
CzyboutFlix28 December 2021
This was a fun episode. The DS9 universe needed to be lightened up and the Farangi were perfect.
I enjoy these interludes between warfare and death. People don't understand that when star fleet mixes it up with the Borg or the Damion or whoever, literally thousands of lives are lost. These sidebar stories really give us a respite and a look at the lives of other important role players in this universe.
Besides, I like Farangi stories more than O'Brien and Keko stories.
I enjoy these interludes between warfare and death. People don't understand that when star fleet mixes it up with the Borg or the Damion or whoever, literally thousands of lives are lost. These sidebar stories really give us a respite and a look at the lives of other important role players in this universe.
Besides, I like Farangi stories more than O'Brien and Keko stories.
Quark in Drag
Hitchcoc8 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
What we have here is an isolated episode that has really nothing to do with the plot stream. The plot involves the selection of Brunt as the new "Acting Negus," after he support Moogie's horrible habit of wearing clothes. The rest of the Ferengi realize that this is really bad new for them because they are obvious adversaries of Brunt. This is especially true of Quark. When a major council member with a lot of clout is asked to come to DS9, they must produce someone who can talk to him as a female. I won't say any more but it is pretty funny. Of course, it's also pretty pathetic the way reverse cliches are thrown around.
Pushing Ferengi humor to nearly the breaking point.
planktonrules24 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
"Profit and Lace" is considered by some to be the worst episode of "Star Trak: Deep Space 9". While I wouldn't go that far, I would agree that it's sub-par and I can EASILY understand why folks wouldn't like it. It IS dumb. I laughed at some of the dumb and feel it is poor but there are many worse episodes.
When this Ferengi episode begins, the Grand Nagus has been removed from office and evil Brunt has taken his place--at least temporarily. This is because his fellow Ferengi assume the Grand Nagus has lost his mind, as he's out cavorting with Quark's moogie-- a woman who wears clothes and earns profit! The ex-Grand Nagus and Moogie soon arrive and are full of bluster, but Quark knows that it will be a very, very difficult fight to get the Grand Nagus' job back at the upcoming election.
So far, the show is a bit silly. But it shifts into warp drive silliness when Moogie has a heart attack when Quark is yelling at her. The plan HAD been for Moogie to wow one of the most powerful Ferengi leaders and convince him that there is profit to be made by treating females better. So what will they do? Yep, give Quark a sex change and have him handle the difficult meeting. It's all very embarrassing and I am sure that it must have also been uncomfortable for the actors. Even with the laughs the show provides periodically, the sheer weirdness and ickiness would probably make many viewers blush. Overall, I don't think it was awful but it sure could have been handled better...and without the sex change. Mega- weird, that's for sure!
When this Ferengi episode begins, the Grand Nagus has been removed from office and evil Brunt has taken his place--at least temporarily. This is because his fellow Ferengi assume the Grand Nagus has lost his mind, as he's out cavorting with Quark's moogie-- a woman who wears clothes and earns profit! The ex-Grand Nagus and Moogie soon arrive and are full of bluster, but Quark knows that it will be a very, very difficult fight to get the Grand Nagus' job back at the upcoming election.
So far, the show is a bit silly. But it shifts into warp drive silliness when Moogie has a heart attack when Quark is yelling at her. The plan HAD been for Moogie to wow one of the most powerful Ferengi leaders and convince him that there is profit to be made by treating females better. So what will they do? Yep, give Quark a sex change and have him handle the difficult meeting. It's all very embarrassing and I am sure that it must have also been uncomfortable for the actors. Even with the laughs the show provides periodically, the sheer weirdness and ickiness would probably make many viewers blush. Overall, I don't think it was awful but it sure could have been handled better...and without the sex change. Mega- weird, that's for sure!
Unfair low ratings.
seriouslygoodlookin10 February 2020
Not as bad as the low reviews but not as good as the high ones.
ruthmorrisson22 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Just rewatched this episode, and it struck me that this is a sendup of the movie _Victor/Victoria_ but flipping the cross-dressing. When Zek may be deposed as Grand Negus (for allowing "females" to wear clothes, as a precursor to allowing them to partake in commerce), he comes to the station with Quark and Rom's mother, trying to prevent it happening permanently (especially when Quark finds out that his so-called successor will be Brunt). Quark, Rom, Nog and Zen convince ONE corporate head to meet at the station with Ishka -- but she becomes incapacitated after an argument with Quark. So Quark has to go through a (temporary) sex change, and learn to behave like a female -- just one with "lobes for business" like his mom....
And as I think about it, it ALSO has a lot to do with the struggle for women's rights in the early 20th century, in a way that is entertaining as well. And for the LQBTQ+ community in the 21st century (I have friends in that community, and I'll happily put them up against the bigots any day of the week). And for the complaint from one reviewer about Quark sexually harassing a new employee? I don't think he'll make that mistake again....
Making Armin squirm.
thevacinstaller2 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It's the star trek half cooked equivalent of Mrs. Doubtfire combined with Dances with Avatar.
On paper I am sure this episode seemed like it would be hilarious but on the screen it comes off as bizarre and not in cult following way ---- more so in a uncomfortable way.
This was a joyless slog for me to get through ---- And I have generally had a positive opinion of the ferengi episodes for DS9.
On paper I am sure this episode seemed like it would be hilarious but on the screen it comes off as bizarre and not in cult following way ---- more so in a uncomfortable way.
This was a joyless slog for me to get through ---- And I have generally had a positive opinion of the ferengi episodes for DS9.
Unfunny, terrible, a total nosedive and an insult to this show
tomsly-4001525 November 2023
This episode is absolute rock bottom. Obviously the writers thought it is somehow funny to play around with gender swapping and watch Quark acting like a woman. But I tell you what: It is not funny at all.
This kind of humor is 1980s B-movie style. In the late 1990s this kind of humor already wasn't funny anymore (Mrs. Doubtfire was released early 1990s). And watching this in 2023 just makes you roll your eyes and question the sanity of the showrunners. Sterotypes and clichés in every scene. When Quark becomes a woman he of course is overly emotional and cares more about the look of his hips than about anything else.
The worst part (if that is even possible in an episode that screams "bad" in just every scene) of this episode is when Quark sexually harasses and blackmails a female employee and threatens to fire her if she does not please him sexually as he wishes. This should have rang alarm bells already back in 1998 but obviously none in the whole process of creating this episode ever thought that they might have shot over the target with this scene. And it is so out of character for Quark, too. It is one thing to exploit his employees, pay them low wages, don't give them R&R and holidays... this follows the Ferengi tradition of creed and is the standard way of doing business in Ferengi society according to the Rules of Acquisition. But sexual harassment is a complete other story.
This episode should just be burned and removed from the DS9 canon alltogether as it has never happened.
This kind of humor is 1980s B-movie style. In the late 1990s this kind of humor already wasn't funny anymore (Mrs. Doubtfire was released early 1990s). And watching this in 2023 just makes you roll your eyes and question the sanity of the showrunners. Sterotypes and clichés in every scene. When Quark becomes a woman he of course is overly emotional and cares more about the look of his hips than about anything else.
The worst part (if that is even possible in an episode that screams "bad" in just every scene) of this episode is when Quark sexually harasses and blackmails a female employee and threatens to fire her if she does not please him sexually as he wishes. This should have rang alarm bells already back in 1998 but obviously none in the whole process of creating this episode ever thought that they might have shot over the target with this scene. And it is so out of character for Quark, too. It is one thing to exploit his employees, pay them low wages, don't give them R&R and holidays... this follows the Ferengi tradition of creed and is the standard way of doing business in Ferengi society according to the Rules of Acquisition. But sexual harassment is a complete other story.
This episode should just be burned and removed from the DS9 canon alltogether as it has never happened.
Possibly the worst episode of DS9.
travinitrav16 October 2011
I am not a huge fan of any Ferengi heavy episode, especially one with the annoying mother (Moogi) or the grand Nagus (Wallace Shawn). I normally love his acting but he always plays it over the top annoying. The voice is especially bad and the dialog is always horrid. This particular one is incredibly unpleasant to watch. The tone is inconsistent, story is weak and pacing is poor. Watching so many Ferengi act feminine was embarrassingly unpleasant. I have heard a bunch of reasons why it fell flat, particularly the poor directing, but it stands to reason no one involved in the actual production liked working on the episode.
The charming and gorgeous Leeta is not enough to pull this stinker up. Its a horrible episode and out of 173 this one could easily be deleted from all records and I don't think too many people would miss it. Even Ferengi lovers would be disappointed this time.
I can forgive the actors and producers because this season contains so many excellent episodes, so it doesn't really pull the rest down.
The charming and gorgeous Leeta is not enough to pull this stinker up. Its a horrible episode and out of 173 this one could easily be deleted from all records and I don't think too many people would miss it. Even Ferengi lovers would be disappointed this time.
I can forgive the actors and producers because this season contains so many excellent episodes, so it doesn't really pull the rest down.
Surprisingly Hilarious
magnum-ajt28 December 2020
I didn't think I would like this episode since it didn't have anything to do with the main story arc, but I was wrong. This episode had me literally laughing out loud constantly. Too many uptight people with no sense of humor giving it low ratings. Must be descendants of the elders from Footloose
backwards even by '90s standards
zoezinser3 October 2021
Whoever said this was the worst DS9 is absolutely wrong
XweAponX5 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the best Ferengi eps of the whole run. It is precisely because of Alex Siddig's Direction that this Ep is incredibly funny.
Some have surmised that because of this ep, no more Ferengi DS9 Eps were ever made. Maybe so, but the Producers of DS9 were wholly wrong.
And here is why: All through The Next Generation and DS9, the Ferengi eps were always played too over-the-top. Now the reason why I thought The Next Generation was simply the best TV Show under FRINGE was due to the portrayal of unrealistic ideas in a realistic fashion: Hence we Believed in Warp Drive, Transporters, Photon Torpedoes, Klingons, Borg and Ferengi.
The Funniest Ferengi TNG Ep was Menage a Troi: Not because the Ferengi were scuttling around in slapstick fashion, be because it was directed well and acted STRAIGHT. Which made it very funny, especially when Riker tricks the Ferengi into opening the Brig, and the next scene shows Riker rubbing his hand and commenting on how hard Ferengi Jaws are. This was classic comedy - Underplaying a thing, making it funny, where it would not be that amusing if played over the top.
As much as I like the earlier Ferengi DS9 Eps, they were all played way too far over the top and the Ferengi were all represented as silly goons, and most importantly, unrealistically portrayed.
In this Ep, Siddig takes all the things about Ferengi we chuckle about, and plays it down quite a bit, making it henceforth, believable and realistic.
And so, the conflict of the episode becomes more believable, because the Ferengi are not overpronounced caricatures like they had been portrayed as earlier.
Especially Grand Nagus Zek - The Great Wallace Shawn subdues his performance, making us accept the Ferengi as a statement of "Hooman" traits of which the Ferengi are actually an exaggeration.
But because this ep is NOT exaggerated in any way, shape of form, we finally have an Ep of Ferengi where we can FEEL for them in their dilemma.
And so I must adamantly refute the idea that this is "The Worst Ep" of DS9 - DS9 was a DARK series, some of the comedic and gimmick eps were overplayed, some of them were not. DS9 was a Trek Experiment - This was WW II in Space.
My Favourite era of Film is the war years of Hollywood - DS9 represents those years - We had films generally about the War, some of them about great Battles, that we lost (Wake Island) or Won (Sands of Iwo Jima) - And the Jem Hadar represent the Ideal Storm Troopers of Hitler- Men who have no need ot pleasure or recreation, who think about nothing except battle, even more so than Klingons.
DS9 was NOT Gene Roddenberry's Trek 'Verse - It was the antithesis of Gene's 'Verse. Ultimately, DS9 was not a Trek show.
However, it was Berman creation, and Berman placed 4 of the 7 season run of DS9 in a war zone, just like the US in WW-II.
Which is exactly how "our" war years began - All of our war years grew out of idyllic years. In 1933, we did not know that a threat to the lives of all free men was beginning to fester in the heart of Germany. The Cardassians are the Nazi's of DS9 - Xenophobic, Isolationist, with an image of their self-worth that they wanted to impose on everybody else.
During our war years, we would not have survived if not for the Comedic Films of that era, one of them being Bringing Up Baby.
Needless to say, at the time Bringing Up Baby was made, it was rejected by the General Public- But today is accepted as the penultimate example of Comedy.
The same way, this very funny, and Superior DS9 Ep was rejected by Trekkers- But in fact, it is simply of of the best DS9 Eps ever made, and the comedy is superior BECAUSE Siddig directed it straight.
Some have surmised that because of this ep, no more Ferengi DS9 Eps were ever made. Maybe so, but the Producers of DS9 were wholly wrong.
And here is why: All through The Next Generation and DS9, the Ferengi eps were always played too over-the-top. Now the reason why I thought The Next Generation was simply the best TV Show under FRINGE was due to the portrayal of unrealistic ideas in a realistic fashion: Hence we Believed in Warp Drive, Transporters, Photon Torpedoes, Klingons, Borg and Ferengi.
The Funniest Ferengi TNG Ep was Menage a Troi: Not because the Ferengi were scuttling around in slapstick fashion, be because it was directed well and acted STRAIGHT. Which made it very funny, especially when Riker tricks the Ferengi into opening the Brig, and the next scene shows Riker rubbing his hand and commenting on how hard Ferengi Jaws are. This was classic comedy - Underplaying a thing, making it funny, where it would not be that amusing if played over the top.
As much as I like the earlier Ferengi DS9 Eps, they were all played way too far over the top and the Ferengi were all represented as silly goons, and most importantly, unrealistically portrayed.
In this Ep, Siddig takes all the things about Ferengi we chuckle about, and plays it down quite a bit, making it henceforth, believable and realistic.
And so, the conflict of the episode becomes more believable, because the Ferengi are not overpronounced caricatures like they had been portrayed as earlier.
Especially Grand Nagus Zek - The Great Wallace Shawn subdues his performance, making us accept the Ferengi as a statement of "Hooman" traits of which the Ferengi are actually an exaggeration.
But because this ep is NOT exaggerated in any way, shape of form, we finally have an Ep of Ferengi where we can FEEL for them in their dilemma.
And so I must adamantly refute the idea that this is "The Worst Ep" of DS9 - DS9 was a DARK series, some of the comedic and gimmick eps were overplayed, some of them were not. DS9 was a Trek Experiment - This was WW II in Space.
My Favourite era of Film is the war years of Hollywood - DS9 represents those years - We had films generally about the War, some of them about great Battles, that we lost (Wake Island) or Won (Sands of Iwo Jima) - And the Jem Hadar represent the Ideal Storm Troopers of Hitler- Men who have no need ot pleasure or recreation, who think about nothing except battle, even more so than Klingons.
DS9 was NOT Gene Roddenberry's Trek 'Verse - It was the antithesis of Gene's 'Verse. Ultimately, DS9 was not a Trek show.
However, it was Berman creation, and Berman placed 4 of the 7 season run of DS9 in a war zone, just like the US in WW-II.
Which is exactly how "our" war years began - All of our war years grew out of idyllic years. In 1933, we did not know that a threat to the lives of all free men was beginning to fester in the heart of Germany. The Cardassians are the Nazi's of DS9 - Xenophobic, Isolationist, with an image of their self-worth that they wanted to impose on everybody else.
During our war years, we would not have survived if not for the Comedic Films of that era, one of them being Bringing Up Baby.
Needless to say, at the time Bringing Up Baby was made, it was rejected by the General Public- But today is accepted as the penultimate example of Comedy.
The same way, this very funny, and Superior DS9 Ep was rejected by Trekkers- But in fact, it is simply of of the best DS9 Eps ever made, and the comedy is superior BECAUSE Siddig directed it straight.
made me hate quark
cerwen8022 April 2023
Quark has long been my favourite character in deep space nine. This episode changed that. I'm going to try and write it off as an aberration. I don't know why the writers thought it would help Quark's character to have him engage in sexual harassment.
I found it very difficult to relate to him or empathise with him throughout this episode after that, but it did not end there. Later in the episode, we see him shouting at his mother in an abusive fashion. I have to say this was not the Quark I know and the writers don't seem to understand everything that Quark has been up until now. He may be a scoundrel, but he's not an abuser.
I found it very difficult to relate to him or empathise with him throughout this episode after that, but it did not end there. Later in the episode, we see him shouting at his mother in an abusive fashion. I have to say this was not the Quark I know and the writers don't seem to understand everything that Quark has been up until now. He may be a scoundrel, but he's not an abuser.
Awful even for the time
hvxntpvv25 February 2023
Especially poor showing, regressive even by the standards of the time, not even technically well done. If people want to defend this for some reason, they can just have it, no loss to the rest of us.
The Ferengi are a favourite of mine in DS9, but this really does harken back to the early TNG days. It's a shame because this topic could be approached in a really smart and interesting way if they wanted, but they didn't, and they just kind of end up making a mess.
The fact that sexual harassment goes unpunished is very alarming, again that's very not Star Trek. It's fascinating to see who defends it, honestly.
The Ferengi are a favourite of mine in DS9, but this really does harken back to the early TNG days. It's a shame because this topic could be approached in a really smart and interesting way if they wanted, but they didn't, and they just kind of end up making a mess.
The fact that sexual harassment goes unpunished is very alarming, again that's very not Star Trek. It's fascinating to see who defends it, honestly.
Ferengi episodes are the worst.
runlykhell29 July 2018
Great episode
albert-bentall15 June 2021
Quark and Moogie together again!
wdtice22 June 2022
Grand Magnus Nek or Grand Nagus Brunt?
With their world changing like never before it's up to Quark to save the empire!!
But can he do it? What will the Slug-O Cola chairman do? Who will be the Grand Nagus? What will their planet look like when it's all over? Most important- What is going to happen to Moogie?
With their world changing like never before it's up to Quark to save the empire!!
But can he do it? What will the Slug-O Cola chairman do? Who will be the Grand Nagus? What will their planet look like when it's all over? Most important- What is going to happen to Moogie?
Not the worst Star Trek episode
DSNForever9 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Deep Space Nine is my favorite series, but this one is probably one of its worst. However, due to Deep Space Nine's well defined characters, it is still watchable, unlike many other of Star Trek's worst hours.
Armin Shimerman puts on a brave face when madeup as a Ferengi female and there are some genuinely funny scenes, such as when he tries to fend off Nilva's (Henry Gibson) advances. Jeffrey Combs is brilliant as always, with his character of Brunt getting what he wants most - power. He has it, but only for a few days. Wallace Shawn is also fantastic as the temporarily deposed Zek.
Its interesting to note that the late Michael Piller called this a classic when he read the script. While the finished product isn't, its definitely better than the worst episodes of the other Trek series.
Armin Shimerman puts on a brave face when madeup as a Ferengi female and there are some genuinely funny scenes, such as when he tries to fend off Nilva's (Henry Gibson) advances. Jeffrey Combs is brilliant as always, with his character of Brunt getting what he wants most - power. He has it, but only for a few days. Wallace Shawn is also fantastic as the temporarily deposed Zek.
Its interesting to note that the late Michael Piller called this a classic when he read the script. While the finished product isn't, its definitely better than the worst episodes of the other Trek series.
The Ferengi episodes are the best!
bigman-2883424 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Reading the reviews below kinda hurt. Think its a mixed bag of certain view points, comparing it to drag and overall transgenders being mixed into media, while others also share that same view point say it makes a mockery of it.
Deep Space Nine is well known to be progressive. Far Beyond the Stars, probably one of my favorites. Hits upon one of the important subjects that we still face today, racism, police brutality.
However, this episode along with many others are great to me as well. Let me tell you, you go into it at an angle looking for politically correct when it comes to quark, youve greatly misunderstood the character. Quark, unlike moogie, nagus, and rom. Is a mischievous, sexist, criminal, keeping to the old ways of the ferengi. Its the character you love to hate.
Really all ferengi have this same sexist, hateful view of the world. At one point pure enemies of the federation. Their world was ruled to have females always naked, not allowed to do business or earn profit.
By no means do the writers try to say quark is justified in what he does or how he presents himself, in fact the opposite as he is met with opposition mainly from Kira and Odo. Matter a fact, the fact that this was the show they weren't introduced in but instead remade to in the end to be an equal rights race, speaks what the writers actually view on politics.
That said if you don't enjoy quark thats your own opinion. To me this is a good episode, and shows the typical despicable quark, that stays true to his character. And is the beginning of a new Ferengi world.
Deep Space Nine is well known to be progressive. Far Beyond the Stars, probably one of my favorites. Hits upon one of the important subjects that we still face today, racism, police brutality.
However, this episode along with many others are great to me as well. Let me tell you, you go into it at an angle looking for politically correct when it comes to quark, youve greatly misunderstood the character. Quark, unlike moogie, nagus, and rom. Is a mischievous, sexist, criminal, keeping to the old ways of the ferengi. Its the character you love to hate.
Really all ferengi have this same sexist, hateful view of the world. At one point pure enemies of the federation. Their world was ruled to have females always naked, not allowed to do business or earn profit.
By no means do the writers try to say quark is justified in what he does or how he presents himself, in fact the opposite as he is met with opposition mainly from Kira and Odo. Matter a fact, the fact that this was the show they weren't introduced in but instead remade to in the end to be an equal rights race, speaks what the writers actually view on politics.
That said if you don't enjoy quark thats your own opinion. To me this is a good episode, and shows the typical despicable quark, that stays true to his character. And is the beginning of a new Ferengi world.
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