"Ferengi Love Songs" is an episode of '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the twentieth episode of the fifth season.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the space station
Deep Space Nine
''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (abbreviated as ''DS9'') is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the '' Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired in syndication fr ...
near the planet
Bajor
The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , ) are a fictional species in the science-fiction '' Star Trek'' franchise. They are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor, who have a long-standing enmity with the Cardassians, o ...
. A recurring plot arc focuses on the politics of the profit-seeking alien race known as the Ferengi. In this episode, Deep Space Nine's Ferengi bartender
Quark
A quark () is a type of elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. All commonly o ...
(
Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman (born November 5, 1949) is an American actor and author.
Early life
Shimerman was born into a Jewish family in Lakewood Township, New Jersey, Lakewood, New Jersey, on November 5, 1949, the son of accountant Susan and house painte ...
) visits his mother on his home planet, Ferenginar, and finds she is romantically involved with
Grand Nagus Zek
This is a list of secondary characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Characters are ordered alphabetically by family name, and only characters who played a significant major role in the series are li ...
, the leader of the Ferengi people. Meanwhile, back on Deep Space Nine, Quark's brother
Rom
Rom, or ROM may refer to:
Biomechanics and medicine
* Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient
* Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac
* ...
(
Max Grodénchik
Max Grodénchik (born November 12, 1952), also known as Michael Grodénchik, is an American stage, film, and television actor, best known for his role as Rom, a recurring character on the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''.
Biogr ...
) and his fiancée
Leeta
This is a list of secondary characters from the science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Characters are ordered alphabetically by family name, and only characters who played a significant major role in the series are li ...
(
Chase Masterson
Chase Masterson (born Christianne Carafano on February 26, 1963) is an American actress and singer.
Early life
Chase Masterson was born Christianne Carafano in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As her father was in the Army,Rene Auberjonois, who also played the role of
Odo
Odo or ODO may refer to:
People
* Odo, a given name; includes a list of people and fictional characters with the name
* Franklin Odo (born 1939), Japanese-American historian
* Seikichi Odo (1927–2002), Japanese karateka
* Yuya Odo (born 1990), J ...
on the series.
Plot
Depressed over his lot in life – especially being blacklisted by the Ferengi Commerce Authority – Quark returns to Ferenginar for some comfort from his mother, Ishka. Quark discovers that the Ferengi leader, Grand Nagus Zek, is romantically involved with Ishka and living in her house.
Zek demands Quark keep their affair a secret. Quark is thrilled that his mother is now the beloved of the most powerful man on the planet; however, Zek refuses to reinstate Quark's revoked business license, 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 restore Quark's business license if he breaks up Zek and Ishka. Quark agrees, and makes Zek doubt Ishka's motives in order to end their relationship. The plan works, and his mother is heartbroken. Brunt keeps his word and renews the business license.
Zek offers Quark the position of First Clerk. Quark happily accepts—and 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 was more than Zek's lover – she was the power behind the throne, helping him make business decisions. Ishka realizes that Quark turned Zek against her, and may have destroyed the Ferengi economy in the process.
Brunt reveals that his plan was to disgrace Zek, allowing Brunt to become the new Grand Nagus. Quark feels 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. Ishka meanwhile, thanks Quark for his help by giving him his childhood action figurines that he previously thought were thrown out. A touched Quark thanks his mother, who says “ No, Thank you Quark!”
Back on Deep Space Nine, Quark's brother Rom finds his wedding plans derailed when his Bajoran fiancée Leeta refuses to sign a Ferengi
prenuptial agreement
A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement (commonly referred to as a prenup), is a written contract entered into by a couple prior to marriage or a civil union that enables them to select and control many of the leg ...
that says she will give up all claim to money and properties. Rom eventually realizes Leeta is more important to him than money or Ferengi traditions and donates all his money to charity, and the wedding is back on.
Reception
In 2015,
Geek.com
Geek.com is a technology news weblog about hardware, mobile computing, technology, movies, TV, video games, comic books, and all manner of geek culture subjects. It was founded in 1996 and was run independently until 2007 when it was sold to N ...
recommended this episode for their abbreviated ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''
binge-watching
Binge-watching (also called binge-viewing) is the practice of watching entertainment or informational content for a prolonged time span, usually a single television show.
Statistics
Binge-watching overlaps with marathon viewing which places mo ...
guide.
In 2018, CBR ranked Grand Nagus Zek, one of the characters featured in this episode, the 13th best recurring character of all ''Star Trek''.