Day 116: DS9, Ferengi Love Songs

Show: Star Trek; Deep Space Nine

Episode Particulars: S5EP20, “Ferengi Love Songs”

 Summary: Depressed over his banned business license and the fact that his bar has a vole infestation, Quark heads to Ferenginar to spend some time with his mother. But his bad day just gets worse when he discovers that Ishka (now played by Cecily Adams) and the Grand Nagus are now in a relationship, to the point that the Grand Nagus doesn’t even care that she wears clothes in private. Quark is scandalized, but an opportunity falls into his lap when it turns out that his nemesis Brunt knows about the relationship and is willing to reinstate Quark’s business license if he helps split them up. As you can probably guess, this leads to some unintended consequences.

Standalone Thoughts: We’re back to business as usual after, well, “Business as Usual” when it comes to the Ferengi stories. The episode is a mostly lighthearted fluff piece, but with enough conflict to keep it from feeling totally inconsequential. As with “Family Business”, I like Ishka’s character, especially given the developments near the end of the episode, though the caveat I gave in “Family Business” still applies. There’s also good pacing, sweet moments, and a lot of costumes that straddle the line between interesting and hideous, so there’s always something to hold your attention.

As for the subplot, which involves Rom and Leeta wanting to get married but running into cultural differences, it’s much more successful than the other subplots have been of late. This is both because it relates to the main theme of Ferengis in love, and because Grodénchik does a good job with the material. I do think it’s a little rushed, but for all that, the progression of events makes sense (especially since it’s scattered throughout the episode), and the resolution is sweet. Add the two plots together, and the result is an episode that’s not all that important in the grand scheme of things, but plenty entertaining in the here and now.

How it Relates to the Whole: This episode is kind of a turning point when it comes to the Ferengi plotline. It puts Zek and Ishka together and reveals Brunt’s dreams of becoming the Nagus, both of which will have an impact on later Ferengi episodes. On a slightly broader note, Quark gets his business license reinstated (though since it didn’t really impact things before, I don’t think it’ll change much now), and Rom and Leeta’s relationship is developing rapidly. Maybe a little too rapidly (dating to engaged after five episodes), but then again, some people just know they’re right for each other. And as long as they’re happy, I’m not about to judge.

Other: *There’s not much extraneous material to talk about today. About the only thing worth noting is that I love the very last bit of business at the end of the episode. It’s cute, amusing, and feels true to life. Therefore, it’s the perfect thing to end the episode on.

Best Line/Exchange: There’s a lot of amusing bits in this episode, though very few of them stand out. In the end, I went with this one, even though a) it’s not as funny out of context, and b) it contains SPOILERS;

(Brunt has shown up to be snide at Quark [having beamed in through Quark’s closet], but Quark is having none of it)

Quark: You going to revoke my business license? I don’t think the Nagus will like that.

Brunt: On the contrary. I want you back in business. Gives me an opportunity to keep an eye on you, because one day you are going to make a mistake, and on that day, you are going to lose more than your license!

Quark: But that day is not today. (Guides Brunt to the closet) Now, back in the closet where you belong!

Brunt (as the door closes): It’s not over, Quark!
Quark: Don’t make me come in there after you!

I mostly like this because it’s the culmination of the running joke of people hiding in Quark’s closet, but I also like the fact that this scene is very close to the one that I used for my Best Exchange in “Business as Usual”. The only difference is, Quark obviously has more respect for Sisko than he does for Brunt. Though really, who could argue with that?