How Deep Space Nine Actually Saved the Ferengi

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[francoislacombe]

Arguably Quark's best line: "I am Quark, son of Keldar, and I have come to answer the challenge of D'Ghor, son of .... whatever."

[sergestorms]

"I tried. I tried my best to run my establishment under this occupation. But you know what? It's no fun. I don't like Cardassians – they're mean and arrogant. And I can't stand the Jem'Hadar. They're creepy. They just stand there like statues, staring at you. That's it. I don't want to spend the rest of my life doing business with these people. I want the Federation back. I want to sell root beer again!" a weak moment from Quark (he was drunk) but shows that he would rather enjoy his job than make profit

[renatocorvaro]

"Rule 34: War is good for business."
"Rule 35: Peace is good for business."

[SiriusMined]

One of my favorite moments in the entire series is when Nog pleads with Cisco to give him an opportunity. When he explains that he and his father do not fit into the Ferengi mold, and that he wants to be something more than his father, a poor businessman struggling to fit the mold. The desperation in his voice runs through me and I am brought to the edge of Tears.

[___j______b___]

"But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those same friendly, intelligent, wonderful people... will become as nasty and as violent as the most bloodthirsty Klingon. You don't believe me? Look at those faces. Look in their eyes." One of the most memorable episodes with Quark in it. It wouldn't be ds9 without Quark, but that in particular always stuck with me.

[allisonf]

To paraphrase Jadzia Dax, once you get past how terrible the ferengi are, they’re a whole lot of fun.

[carlfromtheoc]

When Quark absolutely schools a Vulcan about logic using the rules of acquisition and why now was the perfect and cheapest time to strike a peace deal. "Do you propose to teach me about logic?" "<sigh> If I must..."

[Kaizer]

One of my favorite Quark moments was when he stood up to that one Klingon and told him "Go ahead. Do it. Kill a defenseless man! I might die, but you'll be denied your glorious moment of warrior's triumph. And where's the honor in that?" And in doing so, earned the respect of Gowron. That was just awesome!

[SeventhSwell]

I honestly think Max Grodénchik and Aron Eisenberg deserve a whole lot of credit for saving the Ferengi too. Arguably maybe not as much as Armin Shimerman who got to play Quark as a new kind of Ferengi right from the get-go on DS9, but lesser actors could easily have fumbled those roles. Eisenberg in particular was really good at giving Nog those exaggerated Ferengi mannerisms but making them feel natural.

[chrissetti]

What about when Nog confronts the Klingons on the promenade and when they see he's not backing down, they respect his honour and move on? Such a badass Nog moment

[milesp]

My favorite Nog episode was when he stayed on the holodeck while suffering from both PTSD and an Injury, and decided to stay there as long as possible. I was watching DS9 in a very dark time in my life, during the start of quarantine. I could relate to that need to escape out of fear of suffering.

[justanotherredheadattheend]

God, I’ll never forget the first time Rom just let off and stood up to Quark; it was the last thing I was expecting out of him. He loved his son, he loved his moogie, and brother or not he’s not going to let Quark’s selfishness or pride sabotage their lives. Rom is a straight champ, and not nearly the loveable but simple doof any of his family thinks he is.

[joachimbifronz]

I know this video was how Deep Space Nine saved the Ferengi, but my personal favorite was Dr. Reyga, the Ferengi who invented metaphasic shielding in the TNG episode Suspicions. They went out of their way to make a Ferengi character who basically acted like the people you see in the Federation, a scientist exploring the universe. They did the same thing with Kurak, the Klingon who was a scientist rather than a warrior out to engage in honorable combat, demonstrating that there is more to their peoples than the one note stereotypes, and it highlighted the discrimination they faced. Dr. Reyga couldn't make any headway with demonstrating his research because the last conference he went to everyone laughed the Ferengi off stage, and even Sisko showed an initial restrained hostility to Nog in the first season when he realizes his son is hanging out with the thief he initially used to blackmail Quark in to not leaving the station. He quickly comes around when he realizes Jake will be friends with whoever he sees fit, and when Jake teaches Nog to read, I think it highlights the lesson that despite our differences, there is so much we can learn from each other.

The Ferengi perspective in Deep Space Nine was invaluable because for all the talk of the Federation about peaceful contact, they're really kind of up their own ass about the no money, non-interference stuff. Being the near cultural opposites, the Ferengi see the less than virtuous motivations of other species and see them for what they are, and they don't shame them for looking out for themselves, in fact they respect it and expect nothing less, and that insight is part of what makes them such a valuable part of the station.

[Terr-Bow]

This quote sums up the politics of a large portion of the population:
"Ferengi workers don't want to STOP the exploitation, we want to be the ones exploiting people!"

[mkang]

Armin is fantastic as Quark, the late Aron Eisenberg as Nog takes us on quite the journey, Max Grodenchik as Rom really comes around, and, last, but definitely not least, Jeffrey Combs is so wonderful as "Brunt, F.C.A."

[shayneoneill]

Quark and Odos relationship always reminded me of the weird love/hate relationship that existed between my parents dog and the neighbors cat. For a decade they fought, hissed, barked, chased each other around, but always seemed to be interacting. And then as they got older I'd occasionally go outside and see the dog curled up out the back, and the cat asleep next to it. Then one might wake up and take a swipe at the other, and then being old, mild playfighting before back to naps. its like a pair of old generals who where once at war but grew to respect each other and even like each other. I think thats kinda how Odo and Quark evolve. At the start, Odo *really* dislikes quark, and thats mutual. But by the end, oh Odo still likes to harass Quark, but at the end of the day, the two make each others lives interesting and they kinda respect each other.

[nickbell]

I always thought of the Ferengi, not as straight-up enemies of the Federation, but more along the lines of "pains in the ass" of the Federation.

Also, never let us forget that one commercial for DS9 toys where Quark hawks his own action figure.

[mattwho]

The whole ‘ No Money’ thing was explained brilliantly by the Orville. Once matter replication (3d printing) became advanced enough material objects lose all value. What worth is a pile of diamonds or a sports car if you can press a button and whip out a dozen?

Instead reputation become currency, being the best at what you do is value. People still have ambition but it’s to garner respect and esteem. Cultural expectation and family pressure become the motivators to get a job. It’s a move from a greed/guilt culture to social standing/shame culture.

[JDODify]

I'm near the end of my umpteenth rewatch of DS-9. Quark is a fucking great character. I love his scenes with Sisko and Odo.

[danm]

Rom is one of my all time favorite characters. The over looked brother that helps save the day in the end. Rom along with Obrien are the two hardest working characters in all of Star Trek. Just amazing writing for them both.