Ferengi Love Songs

"Ferengi Love Songs" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the twentieth episode of the fifth season. This is set mostly on Ferenginar, the Ferengi homeworld.

"Ferengi Love Songs"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 20
Directed byRené Auberjonois
Written byIra Steven Behr
Hans Beimler
Production code518
Original air dateApril 21, 1997 (1997-04-21)
Guest appearance(s)

This episode, broadcast in 1997 has a tour de force number of Ferengi characters as Quark visits his homeworld.[1] Rom (Max Grodénchik) and Leeta (Chase Masterson) work on their relationship back on Deep Space Nine.[1]

Plot

Depressed over his lot in life – especially being blacklisted by the Ferengi Commerce Authority – Quark goes to his homeworld of Ferenginar for some comfort from his mother, Ishka. The free-thinking Ishka is sympathetic, but clearly uneasy over his declaration that he will be "living" with her for an unspecified period of time. Quark soon learns the reason behind her trepidation. When he enters his old bedroom, he finds the Ferengi leader, Grand Nagus Zek, hiding in the closet. It turns out that Ishka and Zek are in love.

Back on Deep Space Nine, Leeta and Rom decide to get married and begin to discuss their marriage details, with Rom agreeing to wear a Bajoran earring, but Leeta refusing to sign a Ferengi document that says she will give up all claim to money and properties.

Zek demands Quark keep their affair a secret, and Quark agrees, thrilled that his mother is now the beloved of the most powerful man on his homeworld. But when Quark hints that he would like Zek to reinstate his revoked business license, Zek refuses, reminding Quark that it is up to the FCA. Quark returns to his room, where Liquidator Brunt, the FCA agent who revoked his license, confronts him. Brunt offers to give Quark a new business license if he breaks up Zek and Ishka. Quark agrees, and soon places doubts in Zek's head about Ishka's motives. The plan works, and his mother is left heartbroken. Quark feigns sympathy, then contacts Brunt, who keeps his word and renews the business license.

Zek offers Quark the position of First Clerk. Quark happily accepts – then discovers the Nagus is not the profit-making whiz he once was. By day's end, the Ferengi market exchange has experienced a drastic slide due to the Nagus's failing memory. A stunned Quark returns home, where Ishka reveals that she had been helping Zek. Quark realizes that his mother was more than Zek's lover – she was the power behind the throne. Ishka, in turn, realizes that Quark turned Zek against her, and may have destroyed the Ferengi economy in the process.

Quark encounters Brunt, who reveals that the entire plan was a set-up designed to help him become the new Grand Nagus. Quark is free to return to Deep Space Nine, but feels too guilty over what he has inadvertently done. The next day, Quark saves Zek by supplying him with enough brilliant advice to turn around the economic situation, but then reveals that the advice actually came from Ishka. After Quark admits to breaking them up, Zek and Ishka happily reunite. Brunt decides to let Quark keep his licence, only so he can see him fail again in the future.

Reception

In 2015, Geek.com recommended this episode for their abbreviated Star Trek: Deep Space Nine binge-watching guide.[2]

In 2018, CBR ranked Grand Nagus Zek, one of the character's featured in this episode, the 13th best recurring character of all Star Trek.[3]

References
  1. The Star Trek Encyclopedia By Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Debbie Mirek
  2. "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine condensed: How to watch the most story-driven Trek". Geek.com. 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  3. "Star Trek: Ranking the 20 Best Recurring Characters". CBR. 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.