star trek ds9 the house of quark

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

“The House of Quark”

Air date: 10/10/1994 Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore Story by Tom Benko Directed by Les Landau

Review by Jamahl Epsicokhan

"I am Quark, son of Keldar. And I have come to answer the challange of D'Ghor, son of ... whatever."

Review Text

Quark gets into a bar fight with a drunken Klingon who accidentally falls on his own knife and dies. In order to drum up business and his own ego, the foolish barkeep concocts an audience-pleasing story saying he killed the Klingon in self-defense. When the Klingon's family chases Quark down, the results are anything but predictable.

It's a good Klingon episode and one of the best Quark vehicles yet. I guess when the writers need a lightweight episode, they can always count on Armin Shimerman to get the job done.

The Klingon's widow Grilka (Mary Kay Adams) comes to DS9 and abducts Quark to the Klingon Homeworld, where she forces him to marry her so she can keep claim on her family house and land under Klingon territorial laws. (Sound like a contrivance? It is, but who cares?) Now Quark and Grilka must work together to convince the High Council that the land should not fall into the hands of rival Klingon D'Ghor (Carlos Carrasco), who is an honorless opportunist anyway.

Adams and Shimerman work well together due to their characters' contrasting personalities, and the laughs flow plentifully from the silly setting. (I especially liked when the pint-sized Ferengi marched into the Chamber of the High Council wearing a powerful looking cloak and announced in a powerful voice his claim to the House of Quark.) Quark's eleventh-hour display of courage is surprisingly refreshing. Also welcome is the wild-eyed presence of Robert O'Reilly as Gowron and the appearance of Max Grodenchik as Rom, who displays a brief, unexpected wave of shame over Quark's display of initial cowardice.

What is likely to be overlooked here is the well-played B-story involving Miles and Keiko O'Brien, who have some delightful scenes together. Miles tries to lift Keiko's spirits who feels useless on the station without a career. It's nice to see them in scenes where they're doing something besides arguing. Ultimately, he finds her a six-month job opening on Bajor. It's one of the most simple stories, and often it's the simple stories that are the best. Character moments like these are what really defines Deep Space Nine as the one-hour television drama it is.

Previous episode: The Search, Part II Next episode: Equilibrium

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Comment Section

131 comments on this post.

Watched this again last night and thought it was a wonderful episode to follow on from the heavy (but neccesary) Search Two Parter. I agree, the B Story really caught my attention and was a great part of contuinity.

Aside from the good sense of humor DS9 had its real strength was in being able to really to use their re-occuring guest stars to great effect.

this show is about love, between mother and sons, and husband and wife, and trek does it perfectly here

Okay, what is the Dominion waiting for? In the previous episode the Female Changeling says they are "willing to wait until the time is right." Why? Why give the Federation time to prepare for your invasion? Why not invade now before they have a chance to prepare an adequate defense? Because the writers don't want to deal with it yet, that's why. I think it's too bad that they closed the school, it makes the station a less desirable place to live (Jake must be disappointed too, but it's not addressed). Other than that, it wasn't a bad episode, but I didn't think it was very funny, apart from the opening and closing scenes in the bar.

Because any kind of military mobilization takes time, because a direct assault as the first order of business goes against everything established about the Dominion - and as Quark said in this very episode, bulldozing what you wish to conquer is a bad move - because, because, because. Hey, there was a lot of rain today. Must have been the writers fucking up, that's why. I love it when informed people point out plot holes and inconsistencies in stuff they love, I hate it when witless people nitpick to show how smart and cool they are.

Nic, because the Dominion isn't stupid. It realizes if it wants to conquer the Alpha Quadrant, all four Empires, and not have them just collapse the Wormhole and win in five seconds it will take some time and preparation since it's only been 3 months since they've had first contact. So instead they start infiltrating, wiping out the Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order that would have posed threats, used Changeling Martok to get two empires to devastate each other in a war while breaking down quadrant unity with the end of the Federation-Klingon Alliance, finally find a strongman to make a puppet in one of the four so as to gain a foothold from whence to conquer (eventually Dukat and the Cardassians, but we see in "To the Death" that they asked Sisko to do it as well.) Eventually, the Alpha Quadrant Powers are to be week and divided before you strike. It almost worked, if it wasn't for the Prophets sealing off the Gamma Quadrant.

David's last sentence almost sounds like it be out of Scooby-Doo...

Jay's sentence makes it sound like he needs grammar lessons.

Some good Quark fun. Lighthearted, funny episode. 6/10

This is one of my favorite episodes of DS9. It's an excellent mixture of charming humor and engaging character interplay. Good fun. Great ending.

The whole episode I was bracing myself for another display of Quark groveling at "Move Along Home" cringe levels, instead I get a thrown bat'leth and (if you'll excuse me) "COME AT ME BRO", followed by the most amusing divorce ceremony ever. And yeah, it's good to see Keiko responding negatively with depression, as awful as that sounds now that I think of it... It gives the character more dimensionality than the usual O'Brien marital duking we've seen. Here, we see Miles instead of returning angry canned lines off in the distance, we get 'I can't see her like this' and real solution. I agree with Nic, though... Does Jake just have to suck it up and tutor himself and everybody else now?

As much as I don't look forward to the "Ferengi" episodes, I do enjoy this one. Little note of trivia. Mary Kay Adamns is no stranger to performing with rubber all over her face, she also played Na’Toth in BAB5. She excelled in both characters. Mary Kay and Armin work wonders together. I'm glad we get to see these two working together again in the future. I'll also agree about the "B" story. I didn't want to slap Keiko in this one. 3.0 stars for me.

Q'on'os and the Klingon Empire is on the other side of the vast Federation from Bajor and Cardassia...it has to be at least a trip of several weeks. They kept Quark unconscious for that entire trip?!?

I was thinking the exact same thing Jack said the moment Quark woke up on Qo'noS. I also wonder, does every dispute that Klingons have end up in front of the council? Sure it would make sense if the council was governing a village, but not an interstellar empire with billions of people. Those two things do bother me a bit, but other than that an enjoyable episode.

This episode gave Quark some much-needed character development. One thing I love about DS9 is how it gives more depth to the more two-dimensional races from TOS and TNG.

^^ I agree, a very good episode! ^^ Quark is one of the best DS9 characters by far. Further, the Quark / Odo interplay is one of the main strengths of this entire show IMO. They're much more than just lightning whips and Moogie!

I enjoyed this ep a lot. I think of the things I liked about it was that it showed consequences for Quark's actions plus a very pleasing resolution.

I find it interesting that no one on the station seems to care that, in the way the story is portrayed, both Quark and Rom were basically kindapped. I wonder if this lack of concern for those two was intentional, or if the writers just missed it.

This really is a fun episode. It's not taking itself too seriously and apart from keiko's miserable face, it's very funny all round. I think Gowron's face as he looks over Quark's figures is the funniest thing I've ever seen on any Star Trek series.

"House of Quark" is such a fun and funny episode! In particular, I love how it satirizes so much in the typical Trek portrayal of Klingons. The Keiko story is really well done, too.

Yep, that is a lot of fun. I think it satirizes Klingon culture while also being affectionate of it, with Grilka in particular being a largely sympathetic and admirable heroine (and one for whom Quark's growing attraction to is very believable). It's an unusual Quark episode and the better for it. I've talked before about how Quark's lack of "pride" compared to someone like Sisko works as a strength sometimes. The Klingons are much more intensely proud, and so the contrast with Quark pops all the more. The episode then is about Quark's gradually taking on the mantle of courage and honour, while being uniquely himself. This really is an episode about a Klingon-Ferengi wedding, insofar as we get a merging of Klingon and Ferengi values in Quark and in Grilka: He starts by claiming he defeated the Klingon in one-on-one combat because it's convenient for him to make money; then starts to realize that he actually values the respect that comes with it, in addition to the money; then because his lie had hurt Grilka she forces him to marry her to continue with the charade he has created; and finally he saves they day by risking his life for the House of Quark/House of Grilka, eventually creating a true story that earns him respect and admiration from Rom even if it no longer earns him the money he thought he wanted. The fake marriage with Grilka becomes real feeling along the same lines -- the lie of his nobility creates the fake marriage, and his real nobility brings him a real kiss. And he manages his heroic feats in his own way -- identifying D'Ghor's economic warfare against the House of Kozak (his demonstrating the economic warfare in the High Council in front of a bunch of confused, angry Klingons, especially Gowron, is one of the episode's highlights), and recognizing that his real chance to "win" combat with D'Ghor is to stand before him defenseless to prove his enemy's cravenness for all to see. Grilka learns to appreciate the value of Quark's pragmatism as he gets a bit of her nobility, and the romantic comedy is complete. For the most part, Grilka does seem like a woman of honour who goes into duplicity because she needs to earn back what is rightfully hers and was taken away through Quark's lie and D'Ghor's treachery. Her initial reluctance to look over FILTHY LEDGERS, like Quark's initial unwillingness to believe that he really cares about nobility and honour, demonstrates that she is not initially willing to admit that she is engaging in some underhanded tactics to get what is rightfully hers, and her growing respect for Quark demonstrates her willingness to acknowledge that a bit of pragmatism in fighting for what's right, and in fighting against craven opportunists and liars at their own game, is not so bad. I guess I should say that I find Grilka's argument that Quark should face D'Ghor because of *honour* to be particularly rich, since of course D'Ghor's accusation that Quark is a liar is completely true. The real reason for Quark to fight is to protect Grilka's House, status and property, which Quark endangered by his lie. Fortunately, Quark makes clear that this is his real priority ("Who cares if some Klingon female loses her house?"). The Klingon wedding and divorce is very funny, and the use of the discommendation is so silly as to be a scream. Robert O'Reilly's face is also amazing. The subplot with Keiko is handled well and touchingly; after a sense that their relationship was on the rocks for a while in season two, seeing Miles and Keiko really trying to make it work is refreshing. Removing the school from the show at a point where its role in the narrative has been unneeded for a year is a wise choice, and recognizing that Keiko needs her own job as purpose in life is a good step forward for both Miles and, well, the show. As a mostly-dramatic counterpart to the comic main plot this has a nice, small scale, but is nevertheless also about people recognizing the consequences of their actions and trying to correct it -- as the person who brought them to this station where Keiko's work has become irrelevant, it is up to Miles to fix it. At least 3 stars, and...oh well, why not 3.5? It's definitely on the higher end of Trek comedies.

It is a nice comic interlude episode, what I call a typical Trek 'coasting' episode where there is a bit of comedy and character development but nothing is that tense or politically charged. I do wish they would revise that matte of the Klingon home world - is that the only viewpoint?

Diamond Dave

Time for a bit of light relief after a heavyweight start to the season. What's interesting though is the real feeling of continuity starting to pervade the series - even in an episode like this there are long running story lines playing out. The Quark story very nicely lances the incongruities of the Klingon honour system. But it has some real heart at the centre of it, and Grilka emerges as a sympathetic character for Quark to discover a little honour himself. The Keiko story also feels like a realistic approach. Good episode - 3 stars.

I got a good laugh out of Gowron and the council holding data pads and being subjected to Quarks financial explanations.

"The House of Quark" is quite possibly Trek comedy at its best. It takes two things that, when taken separately, are often over-played and not very-well thought out - Ferengi comedy and Klingon stubbornness - and actually uses them to offer some rather nice insights into both cultures while also providing some legitimately good laughs. Especially noteworthy is Gowron, in all his bug-eyed glory, getting flustered over Quark's financial explanations and his statement of "a brave Ferengi, who would have thought it possible." But what most stands out is the fact that what this episode basically boils to do is Quark teaching the Klingon High Council the value of honor and courage. BRAVO! That is some excellent writing. I also like how it shows the aftermath of the introduction of the Dominion - everything doesn't just go back to normal on the station. Fear of the Dominion isn't just causing changes on the political and military level but also on a much more interpersonal one - people are leaving the station so that means Quark has less customers and Keiko has fewer and fewer students to teach. Speaking of Keiko, that brings me to the B-plot. I suppose I could complain, once again, about romance in Trek once more taking a back seat to people's careers - because the writers just can't seem to grasp the concept that someone's career isn't everything. Keiko just has to be unhappy unless she's pursuing a career, huh? It's simply impossible to be happy being a stay-at-home mom (or a stay-at-home dad, for that matter)? I would call bullshit on that but I'm not going to. This B-plot is enjoyable enough for me to overlook it, this time. Meaney and Chao offer some pleasant character scenes and it is nice to see O'Brien as such a caring husband. And, on the truly bright side, with Keiko off the station, O'Brien is now free to pursue a relationship with his heterosexual life partner, Bashir. So, what's not to love? If there is anything missing from "The House of Quark" it's the complete lack of any response from the characters on the station to Quark's, and later Rom's, kidnapping. Seriously, two people, including a community leader, get abducted right out from under everyone's noses and there's never even a peep from anybody (not even Odo?!) about it? Gee, I wonder why Starfleet would ever have concerns about Odo's handling of security and insist on having their own guy on the scene (not that Eddington apparently cared about these abductions either). I won't hold it against the episode, however, because the action on Qo'noS is so entertaining. 10/10

@Luke, I actually disagree with your feeling about the portrayal of a military spouse trying to carve out her own career while entrained to her husband's movements around the globe (or galaxy, in this case). As a military officer, I have deliberately held off these few years since my commissioning from getting married, knowing that choosing the right woman for me who can handle that kind of life is a very important decision. So having seen these situations around me daily, the B-plot resonates profoundly with me. I think every sentiment, every word of the story with Keiko and Miles was 100% the truth of this situation. The fact that Keiko is willingly sacrificing her career goals for her husband's, yet can't help but feel depressed nonetheless, along with Miles' sincere romantic and affectionate feelings for his wife -- with whom, as we have seen since TNG, he has experienced unimaginable trials -- is one of the most relatable and sweet interchanges I've seen in Trek. And thankfully it had a happy ending! It's a good thing Ronald D. Moore didn't go full BSG-RDM on this plot -- otherwise it would have ended up with Molly abducted by the Dominion and Keiko tied up and gagged in the closet watching Miles have sex with a changeling doppelganger of herself! Haha.

What do you know, a good Ferengi episode!!

Sooooo..Keiko closes the school because there's only 2 students left.....that speaks volumes about her commitment!! So Jake and Nog can do independent study and she will tutor them? LMAO!! Wasnt this is EXACTLY why she wanted a school??? To avoid children having too much free time to get into trouble? Oh yes....let's let Jake and Nog run wild....AGAIN! This B-plot/storyline didnt cut it for me right from the get go.....as a teacher, I suppose it wouldnt, I suppose.

Oh come on Ken. S3 Jake/Nog aren't going to run wild, and private tutoring is indeed a much better option when you only have two students. No school is gonna run (or justify its premises) with 2 students.

I never understood how the head of the Klingon Empire had the time to deal with every family feud there was on their homeplanet. Let's assume that the planet's population was around 5 billion, how would Gowron be able to mediate in every single quarel its people had? I do have to say that Gowron's reaction towards Quark was absolutely hilarious.

Going to have to echo some previous sentiments that Gowron and his entire Council holding data pads whilst Quark walked them through the finer details of Grilka's finances was pure comedy gold. Robert O'Reilly's face especially was uproarious. Pretty good episode overall, I was howling in most of the scenes. My favourite line was 'I am Quark, son of Keldar, and I have come to answer the challenge of D'Ghor, son of... whatever.' Armin Shimerman is a born comedian. LOL!!!!

Um, where's Molly? It was hard for me to feel sorry for Keiko's mopiness when, apparently, someone else is raising her daughter!

So now I'm wondering: what does the teeth of the offspring of a Klingon and Ferengi look like?

Loved this episode, although ... does it seem odd that Gowron rules the entire Klingon Empire AND settles land disputes that would likely be handled in earth by a municipal court judge?

@Erik Maybe the land dispute had already gone through municipal and higher level courts so Grilka was appealing to Gowron as a supreme magistrate? It's not like Gowron dirties himself doing actual battle very often. He's a career politician and he probably made his career as some sort legislator.

It seems like this land dispute was going to determine the leadership of Grilka's house, and likewise whether D'Gor House was going to be able to seize their land. In terms of local politics this may have been a large-scale issue in terms of shifting power in the Empire. We were never really told how powerful each house was, but if they had standing to appear before the High Council they must have been important families. In the end such matters could decide who might be the next Council member, and so I see it as entirely appropriate that Gowron should oversee such matters.

I don't really have anything new to add--agree with the positive comments above. A hilarious episode in terms of the Ferengi and the Klingons--wow, a Ferengi episode that is actually good, and stands the test of time. Quark, Grilka, Gowron--just priceless. And the B-story with Miles and Keiko is actually sweet--most of the time I can't stand the total lack of chemistry between those two, and find Keiko annoying. (I've thought for years that they should have cast a better wife for Miles.) But this story rang true. I do agree with someone who said we should have seen Mollie...would have rounded it out better. This episode is a keeper for me. I watch it every once in a while just for fun and light relief when I'm not in the right frame of mind for the heavier gloom and doom (albeit excellent) episodes.

Poor Miles. He's either getting kidnapped, beat up, or cloned. Then he has to come home to a mopey wife. They should just call it quits. Miles can go on doing what brings him joy (his work) and Keiko can go pursue her career and find something else to be unhappy about. Molly seems to be getting raised by robots, so that's taken care of.

Startrekwatcher

These dumb sitcom level stories--especially after the Dominion threat-- is not why I watch Star Trek for. This is fluff that I wasn't the least but interested in. The only decent but was the subplot about With Dominion threat the station population has dwindled. And Ron Moore did a lot of these pointless filler episodes--this, Par'mach, Change of Heart, Empok Nor, the Rom/Leeta garbage in Dr Bashir I presume?, You are Cordially Invited. His writing skills are kinda overrated on DS9

grumpy_otter

This was lighthearted fun, but I dislike Quark so much it was hard to get through the whole thing. I'm glad I did so I could see the divorce, but it wasn't quite worth a whole episode of him. I will grant he was less annoying than usual, and his bravery was nice.

Sleeper Agent

This is likely in my ds9 top 5 episodes of all time. Absolutely genius.

Aside from the obvious laughs, this was the first episode to really demonstrate the more assertive and layered character that Quark became from the Season 2 finale. Armin Schimerman's performance has always been great, but for the first season and much of the second, Quark, Rom and Nog were basically an extension of the "Ferengi Problem" in TNG - borderline anti-semitic stereotypes that basically serve to lampoon anarchocapitalism as the series' laughing stock and narrative punching bag. Had this been the Quark of before, he probably would have joked his way out of it with some kind of shady trade, but instead they made him an astute economist. Of course, the fact that he was the right man in the right place at the right time was incredibly contrived, but having the Ferengi be driven by more than simple profit makes them much more interesting characters. Rom's utterance of "there's more to life than profit" is somewhat mindblowing.

Not a fan of Ferengi comedies although this one's one of the better ones, which isn't saying much. I think the quiet B-plot about Keiko losing her purpose and the fears of the Dominion make for a much more interesting story than Quark's nonsense. Kind of a weird juxtaposition for this episode... Whether this is meant to be a satire of Klingon society or not, it paints the Klingon beliefs/system in a bad light although their whole honor thing is wishy-washy anyway -- depends on the intent of the Klingon in question. D'Ghor tries to use the honor BS to his benefit at every turn, yet was sucking his brother dry financially. There were some good comedy moments but not from Quark. Gowron being like WTF?!? about the hearing with Grilka was great -- love his facial expression (and his huge eyes). And then when he calls Quark "Quirk" was good. He had no interest in looking at the financial stuff Quark put in front of him. But I facepalmed when Rom showed up on Kronos at the hearing -- stupidity overload. Shimerman's not a bad actor but the Quark character really should be minimized, for me. But he gets to show another side to the Quark character here, although it's not that important in the grand scheme and the A-plot in this episode isn't interesting or very funny. A couple of things to shake a stick at: that Grilka can shotgun marry Quark, who has no idea what he's getting into let alone her kidnapping him on DS9 and taking him to Kronos... We're supposed to overlook these things for the purposes of the comedy but it's just contrivances by the writers. VOY had some far better comedies revolving around Doc. The twist on the honor thing in the end was a good way to get Quark out of a pickle -- there would be no honor for D'Ghor in killing a defenseless Quark -- and Gowron lets him know as much. Good moment for the Quark character. 2 stars for "The House of Quark" -- I will say there was a good chemistry between Grilka and Quark, Gowron was funny but this A-plot was a silly story that was more tiresome to get through than funny. The episode also had some of the best and most realistic Miles/Keiko scenes and that feeds into the building Dominion arc. And the good thing is Keiko is going off to Bajor for 6 months to do botany.

@ Rahul, Your review seems rather harsh on what is generally seen as a light and fun episode about an unlikely friendship between a Ferengi and a Klingon woman, "Whether this is meant to be a satire of Klingon society or not, it paints the Klingon beliefs/system in a bad light although their whole honor thing is wishy-washy anyway -- depends on the intent of the Klingon in question. D'Ghor tries to use the honor BS to his benefit at every turn, yet was sucking his brother dry financially. " Are you sure about that? Perhaps if you think that the Klingons are meant to represent an actual system of government then I could see your point. But overall, since TNG-era Trek where they weren't the USSR any more, they seem to be to embody old honor-society values and a sort of Samurai/Viking temperament. It's more about the attitude than anything else. I think that a great many people would look at TNG Federation people and say that what's missing in them is fire, spirit, a sort of rugged or raw side of humanity. It's all very polished and...well, sometimes boring. The Klingons give us that sense of adventure, thrill, blood-churning passion, that Feds seem to usually lack. Also, the Federation runs the risk of coming off as rules-heavy where there's a regulation for everything, very cut and dried, whereas the Klingons care more about doing things honorably than about sticking to the letter of the law and being a 'good citizen.' There's something to be said for both. It is a problem in our times that it seems that you can't compel people to behave honorably or with charitable intention; if you give them an inch they take a mile and take advantage of something or of the system. So we instead employ laws that strictly prohibit basically everything abusive (other than in commerce) to make sure that some jackass or other doesn't do it, because if not for threat of punishment they'd do any manner of things without regard for the nobility (or lack thereof) of the act. So Klingon society also shows us a people who in theory care so much about honor that the social aspect of that alone compels them to behave in certain ways, and the civil laws aren't required to prohibit them. And that brings us back to this episode, which shows us clearly that an honor system requires people who want to participate. But in reality there will always be outliers, or sociopaths, or people who are users and don't care; they will abuse the system if they can, and so it seems inescapable that an honor system is doomed to fail in big matters, and strict regulation and oversight is needed. And I do say that this is a really sad thing, and even sadder to see in a society that (naively) is trying to go based on honor. This episode gives us that contrast, where even the thought that someone would do that is so horrible that Grilka is just stunned. And to be honest I think this is the reaction most people would have. "Who would do that??" Well, people would, and the Klingon society is an outstanding avenue of showing us just how ridiculous it is that people would stoop to that. Who better than a Ferengi to point this out? And it's great because he, himself holds up his business acumen as a badge of honor of a different sort. But even putting aside the implications or interpretation of the story, I think that while there's no accounting for taste, it's pretty harsh to give 2 stars to an episode that have innovative ideas, moves the story right along with new locales and a return of Gowron, is directed in a snappy energetic way, and has an intelligent and witty resolution that captures the best of both the Ferengi and the Klingons and what we can admire about them. This may not be to everyone's liking, but it is a *well-made* episode. And honestly Gowron's face when he throws the PADD away should be worth 4 stars by itself.

@ Peter G. -- I totally agree with you about the Klingon honor system vs. Federation's rules at every turn system: "It is a problem in our times that it seems that you can't compel people to behave honorably or with charitable intention" If we think of our society say 25-50 years ago, we had less laws than we do today. And 25-50 years from today, we'll have even more laws. So what you say is spot on -- you can't govern people's hearts and minds and when they feel aggrieved, they'll take advantage of the system (however that manifests itself). And this repeatedly happens in Klingon episodes that it really rubbishes how their society is governed and makes me think they should "get with the times". So seeing this idea repeatedly emerging in Klingon episodes is a bit tiresome, for me. The Klingons pride themselves on honor, yet I struggle to think of a Klingon that acts "honorably" (aside from Worf). The fact that in Klingon society there are fewer laws, stuff that is so fundamentally wrong in our society (the future Federation, if you will) is accepted over there if it is considered honorable (for example, killing). But the honor system is the backbone of the Klingon government, and we've had countless examples of how it is abused in TNG and DS9. (Gowron himself is a devious character.) So perhaps at a very deep level, Trek is meant to show how ludicrous Klingon government/society is such that we, the viewers, become thankful for our system with its infinite number of laws. With respect to this episode, I had to shake my head that Grilka could just marry Quark. What a perverse way of fitting in with Klingon honor and, for example, how does this jive with the crap Dax had to go thru when she married Worf later in the series? So even the Klingon honor is twisted in this comedy/satire. I no longer know what to make of it. As for my rating -- it may sound trite to say this -- but I actually do try to carefully evaluate the episode overall. Largely my rating's based on my objective enjoyment (which was the part that suffered here) but also definitely for the premise, writing, acting, and sometimes technical considerations. This episode is [largely] a comedy and I honestly believe, it is not as good as some other similar era Trek comedies like "In the Cards" (3*) or "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy" (3*) or "Someone to Watch Over Me" (3*) just off the top of my head. A more comedic take on Gowron can only go so far. Quark trying to make himself seem courageous at the beginning and the parts with Rom -- I just wanted those parts to be done with very quickly. The satire, if you will, of Klingon society/government didn't have the desired effect for me. So I feel, in relation to other episodes I've rated, 2 stars is appropriate for "The House of Quark".

Just watched this one again to refresh my memory, and it occurs to me that there's more here than 'Ferengi hijinx.' I think the mistake here would be to chortle early on when Quark says "It's not about profits any more, it's about respect." Maybe we're prone to roll our eyes here at how self-deluded Quark is about something he's lying about anyhow. But in fact this is probably the most honest he's ever been. What we see in House of Quark is a story about a man whose religion is money and even he admits that respect is simply something he *needs*. No one can only care about money, even if they protest to the contrary. Having him take over a Klingon Great House is a funny way of showing us how even the least valorous of us probably has inner fantasies or even a self-image of heroism, or of being larger-than-life, or of being acclaimed. Klingon culture is basically a extreme version of that thing we need, which is to be shown respect and "honored". Seen in this way this is probably the most important Quark episode of the series, insofar as it's a defining moment where we see that either he really isn't a regular Ferengi, or else if he is that they are full of self-deceit in general. And not only do we get a Ferengi who realizes he needs what Klingons call honor, but likewise we see a Klingon who craves what Ferengi do - seizing lands and power using economic trickery. It's a funny juxtapose to be sure, and I think there's some IDIC in there about even the most hardened cultures having something to learn or gain from others even that are very different from them.

I have always wonder about the loopholes of honour and courage, and i am probably not alone. So it is great to see the writers showing how some Klingons manipulate it in dishonourable ways, and using a Ferengi was a great tool! Love this episdoe!

"The House of Quark" is simply fantastic-a great, genuinely funny script carried by an excellent performance by Armin Shimmerman. Quark genuinely gets to be a hero, and it's lovely to see. The fact that he has great chemistry with Grilka, and that it's a very well paced hour don't hurt either. 4 stars.

Man, if you don't give this four stars, you don't give nothin' four stars.

How are there no security cameras in the 24th century?

Teaser : ***, 5% Rom and Quark are lamenting how poor business at the bar is. There is one drunk Klingon holdout, but Quark has just about had it; “I should have gone into insurance; better hours, better money, [fewer] scruples.” Quark will be here all night, ladies and gentlemen. Quark blames the slow traffic on fear of the Dominion (and Sisko for “playing it tough”). This of course doesn't track at all with what we saw in “The Search.” Besides the brief incursions into Ops in “The Jem'Hadar,” the Dominion hasn't even been to the station, as far as we know. Sisko hasn't really had the opportunity to be tough or gentle with the Dominion outside of Borath's simulation (which Quark would have no cause to know about). The question is begged, however, as to whether they're still planning on destroying the wormhole. I would think that answering this question would be a priority. Anyway, Quark is obviously more concerned about his own waning profits. The drunk Klingon demands a line a credit to pay for more blood wine and Quark flirts with the idea of kicking him out before acquiescing in a pathetic heap. But this Klingon is so drunk that when he attempts to attack Quark for his insolence, he manages to stab himself to death. Seems about par for the course for Klingons. Act 1 : ***.5, 17% Odo, having decided offscreen to remain chief of (non-Starfleet) security, is overseeing Bashir's CSI bit over the Klingon corpse. Quark's lobes are tingling at the profit potential he is witnessing. A crowd has gathered outside the bar in response to the death and Quark sees the chance to capitalise on the intrigue. He decides to play up the tabloid angle and insinuate that he murdered the Klingon personally, because obviously, this will encourage patronage. “Come to Quark's! Get stabbed by the bartender or your third drink is free!” I am amused at Quark's backup plan which is, if he gets into trouble with revenge-seeking Klingons, all he has to do is tell the truth. Quark tells Rom that if business doesn't improve, he's going to have to fire him. So, when Odo begins his questioning, Rom immediately pipes up with their tabloid headline version of events, that Quark killed the Klingon in self defence. Armin Shimmerman hilariously chews the scenery for all onlookers as he “retells” the events in dramatic fashion. I can't do the performance justice, but it's genuinely hysterical. Meanwhile, Keiko is pruning a plant when Miles comes home and starts unloading about his busy day. Keiko, it turns out, has had to close her school. The Bajorans who have relocated off the station are responding to the looming Dominion threat, just like Quark's customers. Miles is clearly concerned about his wife's wellbeing. At Quarks, business is booming again. Odo informs the happy Ferengi that his “victim” was a man called...um...Kojak? Uh oh, Quark killed a cop! Whatever his actual job was, he was the head of an important family which is on its way to DS9. Odo gives Quark the opportunity to come clean before they start a vengeance-killing, but Quark is resolute in his tabloid success. Rom thinks that since they've made up for their losses, it's time to fess up. Quark is suddenly concerned with maintaining the admiration he's receiving from the public. I mean, Quark has certainly been a punching bag more often than not on this show, but Quark has been more of a self-preserver than an idealist. This feels a little forced. Later on, Quark is confronted (god damn it, people, STOP STRANGLING QUARK!) by Kojak's brother. Act 2 : ****, 17% While a puddle of urine forms around his ankles, Quark admits the truth to the angry Klingon, but of course, such a death would be disgraceful, and the feudal codes of Klingon law would see that dishonour inherited among the entire family. Oh, Klingons...so, in keeping with the tradition of what we've seen in TNG (“Sins of the Father,” and “Rightful Heir” in particular), Klingon “honour” is really a political system of rules-lawyering. Quark will maintain his lie because that makes Kojak's death an honourable one, which protects his family from disgrace and protects Quark from vengeance. This is pretty great satire, as we see that 1. the contradictions in Klingon society are very stark (why would the family seek vengeance if their dishonour cannot be erased?), and 2. vaulted Klingon ideals are transacted as easily as latinum in a Ferengi bar. Meanwhile, Miles is being sweet, preparing an impromptu romantic dinner for him and wife, complete with champagne and sexy innuendo. The next morning, Miles is happy his little gesture seems to have cheered Keiko up, but as soon as he says goodbye, he realises this happiness is all too ephemeral. His wife will be home all day, pruning plants. In the middle of the night, Kojak's widow, Grilka, lets herself into the bar. She has Quark confirm the “honour” of her husband's death right before pulling a knife. Unlike her mate, this Klingon is likely not so drunk she'll perform a Seppuku whoopsie-do. Quark is quickly cowering on the floor and Grilka demanding to know how Kojak really died. She admires the Ferengi's gift for deceit, and decides he'll do some lying for her right before hitting him with an off-button hypospray (this Klingon came prepared). She has them both beamed away, and next thing you know, Quark is awakening on Qo'nos. An elderly Klingon explains to Quark that Kojak had no male heir, and apparently his brother, who threatened Quark into maintaining his lie, is a sworn enemy to his now leaderless house. Dr Exposition further explains that, had the truth about Kojak's death been known to the High Council, Grilka may have been granted special dispensation and made an honorary man or whatever, and thus allowed to lead the house. But he fears that now, the house will “fall.” Grilka enters and hands Quark a tunic: GRILKA: Put this on. QUARK: Why? GRILKA: Because if you do not, I will kill you. At knife point, Grilka forces Quark to marry him right then and there. Heh. Mazel tov! Act 3 : **.5, 17% On DS9, Sisko is briefing Kira and Dax about battle drills. Guess they're not collapsing the wormhole then? Miles enters and Dax is able to discern, just from the look on his face, that he's having “wife problems.” This scene is baffling, because in the same breath, she acknowledges that, having been both a husband and a wife several times, she understands the dynamic, and thus, she and Kira will see themselves out. Maybe they can do some dishes and paint each other's nails? Dax has more experience than Sisko at being a husband, so why wouldn't Miles be willing to talk to her about his problems? It's not like Sisko is his close friend—hell, he and Dax have spent more time together. Is this supposed to be a subtle echo of the sexism built into Klingon (and Ferengi) society? Well, if it is, it doesn't work, because there is no reckoning for this sexism. Kira just gets up and and the ladies take their clueless selves out of the conversation so the “boys” can talk. Yuck. O'Brien asks for Sisko for permission to convert one of the cargo bays into an arboretum, giving Keiko a space like the one she had on the Enterprise. Sisko grants his permission. What saves this scene is the acknowledgement between the two boys that Keiko, having sacrificed her entire career to move their family to DS9, deserves, at least, every effort be made for her happiness. Back on Qo'nos, the smarmy Klingon brother makes claim to the “fallen house” of Kojak directly before Gowron himself. Grilka enters the Council chambers and declares his claim out of order, having chosen a new male leader for her house. Quark scampers in, and she mocks her brother-in-law for having enabled this chain of events through his deception. Gowron name drops the episode's title, honouring Grilka's legal marriage and renaming the house to that of Quirk, erm, Quark. And there was much rejoicing. Act 4 : ***.5, 17% Quark quickly discerns that Grilka's plan to save her house hasn't gotten any farther than this sham marriage. In an irony of ironies, Quark proposes a more equal partnership in this endeavour. Grilka reveals that Kojak's drunken, gambling exploits have made them vulnerable. Quark asks to see the family's financial records, including D'Ghor's (the brother-in-law). GRILKA: That is not how we do things here. We are Klingons. We do not dirty ourselves with filthy ledgers looking for some financial trick. A further irony, that she can't seem to see that all she and D'Ghor have done so far to account for Kojak's failures are a series of underhanded tricks. Klingon honour codes are as absurd and shallow as Ferengi economics when you get down to it. She acquiesces. On DS9, Bashir orders himself some Vulcan soup. Oh, and he gets himself a little dessert, too in relishing Miles' request for his opinion. Miles is designing the new arboretum, and Bashir observes that Miles attempt to placate his wife is essentially getting her a cargo bay-sized bouquet of roses to assuage her unhappiness. This is more anachronistic 90s sexist bullshit, but at least Miles abandons this stupidity for something more substantial. Bashir says Keiko really needs to pursue her passion again, not as a hobby, but as a profession. He's not wrong. Quark discerns that Ferengi-style tricks with dirty ledgers is exactly the means by which D'Ghor has shifted the balance of power between the houses. Quark offers to explain this to the Council, and Grilka is grateful...so grateful she allows Quark to politely remove his hand from her thigh instead of smashing his bones to bits, a courtesy Kira never seems to grant him. In the Council chambers, Quark holds his financial board meeting (hilarious) while Gowron and the rest try to keep up with all the accounting tabulations. Gowron is frustrated with this nonsense and gets to the point. D'Ghor denies Quark's claims and demands the matter be settled in combat. He has discovered “new evidence” that Kojak actually died by accident. And who should be dragged in but Rom, the witness. Uh oh. Act 5 : ***.5, 17% In the middle of the night, Quark and Rom are stopped from trying to run away by Dr Exposition and Grilka. D'Ghor's claim that Quark lied (which he did) can only be answered, according to Klingon law, by personal combat. Quark isn't about to risk his life over a matter of honour, whether legal or genuine. Grilka insults him, disappointed in his lack of conviction and allows the pair to leave. In chambers, Quark makes and eleventh hour decision to face D'Ghor in combat (did you know his dad's name was Kelgar?). Quark throws down his sword and tells D'Ghor to kill him. Since Quark has no chance at winning the fight, he forces the Council to acknowledge that his death would be little more than an execution, which according to the arbitrary rules of Klingon society, would be without honour. Gowron recognises D'Ghor's lack of honour and they repeat the discommendation ceremony from “Sins of the Father.” Funny stuff. Grilka offers Quark a repayment for his courage. He asks for a divorce. One advantage I will definitely concede to Klingon law is that this complicated legal proceeding is accomplished through a backhand and spitting on the face. I know a few people who would welcome such a dignified hearing. So after a season's worth of disappointing romances, Quark finally gets a well-earned kiss from the Lady Grilka. On DS9, O'Brien makes a sacrifice of his own. There is a six month expedition on Bajor requiring a chief botanist and he thinks Keiko is more than qualified. We will overlook more of the sexism which demands that Molly be with her mother instead of her father during this period, despite the fact that staying at her home in her quarters, rather than on a mobile expedition would be more stable for the child. We will also ignore the fact Bajor's economic issues still have seemingly vanished since they're conducting scientific expeditions and setting up colonies. The opening shot is repeated, with Quark and Rom lamenting the renewed waning of business. Quark says he would prefer latinum to the genuine respect he's earned from this adventure. Maybe, maybe not. Episode as Functionary : ***, 10% On the surface, we *finally* have a worthy successor to “The Nagus” from season 1. “The House of Quark” is in the same league comedically, and the performances from Shimmerman and the supporting players are quite strong. We are shedding the embarrassing characterisation from season 2 and restoring Quark's thief with a heart of gold persona we were originally promised, which is most welcome. The only flaw in this is that, because of the aforementioned characterisation nose-dive from last season, this change comes out of no where. His decision to act selflessly, and earn genuine respect (even if it won't bring him business) happens off screen. Provided this change sticks, I'm willing to forgive the grinding of gears necessary to get us here. The social commentary from the episode is more profound. The Truth of how Kojak would have allowed Grilka to assume control of her house immediately upon his death. But then that very same Truth in Act 4 almost allows D'Ghor to take control. This is because what the Klingons label as “honour” and “glory” is really just political currency. And of course, dealing with currency is the heart and soul of Ferengi culture. Despite the Klingons' disdain for Ferengi values, in the end, at least Ferengi are honest about themselves and their motivations. The Klingons hide behind rhetoric and tradition. Weaving this commentary in with Quark's character growth/restoration is excellent stuff, classically Trekkian. The B-plot is sincere and effective, but I can't shake my disappointment with the sexist dynamic which infects it. I am a married man, and my spouse is a man. I can attest to the fact that the underlying issues, as Bashir put it, are quite familiar, without the gendered stereotypes employed here. The dilemma explored between Keiko and Miles is very real and the general conclusion is reasonable, but there is no need for the Sisko/O'Brien “guy talk” scene, or the Bashir/O'Brien flowers scene. I realise that I haven't written reviews for TOS or TNG yet, so I should point out that I am well aware that the sexism in those shows is usually way worse than it is here, but it's still disappointing, especially when the A-plot hinges on overtly sexist cultural traditions. Oh well. Still a worthwhile outing. Final Score : ***.5

This surely is one of better season 3 episodes and probably among the best of DS9. One thing that DS9 really excels at is putting people together from different alien cultures and showing them work together for a higher purpose. It really took a sophisticated understanding of Trek material to develop the commonalities of the Ferengi (still somewhat undeveloped at this point in the series) and Klingons with their decades world-building and history in the Trek universe. I’ll just give one example of how the difference were handled deftly. After Quark discovers D’Ghors’ financial manipulating, Grilka warms up to him. Then we hear that Quark put his hand on Grilka’s thigh (symbolic of Ferengi greed) and Grilka’s response that she’s repressing the urge to break every bone in his body (a typical violent Klingon solution) in retaliation to Ferengi culture. It’s a subtle clash of cultures, but it works, perhaps in large part to the remarkable chemistry Mary Kay Adams and Shimerman have here. Really some top notch writing from RDM, too. @Elliott I agree that it’s funny that the women will get chased out of room so O’Brien and Sisko can have a man-to-man conversation. Many times DS9 will imprint these sort of conservative 1990s social norms which feel a little funny existing in a show about the 24th century. But I suppose they’re trying to relate to non-Trek fans who like the future to be just like their present? In any case, I do like the B plot overall for, if nothing else, it’s not just some throwaway material. Instead, it resolves a relatively big arc for Keiko’s teaching on the station and it’s nice that expedition story sticks.

@Elliott With all the talk you gave to how sexist the B-plot is, I'm just curious.... what kind of sexism are you saying "Molly must go with her mother" is? Is it sexist against women by saying that the women must take care of the children or is it sexist against men for implying that a man obviously can't be capable of caring for a child on his own?

@William B Yes exactly—by making the episode about saving Jadzia’s life instead of resolving the moral issues, there isn’t any time for her to comment on the betrayal or the larger picture for herself and her people. @Luke Yes. To both.

@Luke Sun, Sep 16, 2018, 1:40am (UTC -5) @Elliott "With all the talk you gave to how sexist the B-plot is, I'm just curious.... what kind of sexism are you saying "Molly must go with her mother" is? Is it sexist against women by saying that the women must take care of the children or is it sexist against men for implying that a man obviously can't be capable of caring for a child on his own?" I don't remember even giving this a thought watching this episode. Did I miss something?

"I don't remember even giving this a thought watching this episode. Did I miss something?" No.

@Peter G Um, I listed at least four separate examples of sexism in the B plot. What’s your problem?

@ Elliott, I'll go through it in point form if you insist, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it: "This scene is baffling, because in the same breath, she acknowledges that, having been both a husband and a wife several times, she understands the dynamic, and thus, she and Kira will see themselves out. Maybe they can do some dishes and paint each other's nails? Dax has more experience than Sisko at being a husband, so why wouldn't Miles be willing to talk to her about his problems?" I don't know why it's baffling that she would recognize that they want a "man talk." Are you arguing that it is "sexist" to want a man-to-man talk? Or are you saying that it's sexist to treat Dax as a woman in this context when she's been a man before? If the former, I would argue simply: no. No one should tell people what they "should" want. If the latter, this is more dicey because few people are used to Trills and the idea that someone who is currently a woman has lived past lives. On this score the writers probably weren't considering Trill relations and were more thinking about how humans would see her as a woman now: not a crazy idea. It's more an unexplored issue (about Trills) than an archaic one. At worst I'd say this was a lost opportunity to get in a word about Trill/human relations. "Miles is designing the new arboretum, and Bashir observes that Miles attempt to placate his wife is essentially getting her a cargo bay-sized bouquet of roses to assuage her unhappiness. This is more anachronistic 90s sexist bullshit, but at least Miles abandons this stupidity for something more substantial." It's sexist to try to get your wife things that will make her happy? I can't imagine how unbearable a world it would be if people tried their best to make their loved ones happy and were called "sexists" when the idea isn't the best. How accursed that would be. Or maybe you're implying that giving one's wife flowers when she's upset is sexist? Go ask various married women if they agree. They won't! "On DS9, O'Brien makes a sacrifice of his own. There is a six month expedition on Bajor requiring a chief botanist and he thinks Keiko is more than qualified. We will overlook more of the sexism which demands that Molly be with her mother instead of her father during this period, despite the fact that staying at her home in her quarters, rather than on a mobile expedition would be more stable for the child." On this point I sort of see your objection, which is that staying with Miles isn't even voiced as an option, which we may attribute to the writers defaulting to assuming the mother should always have the child. However It seems to me that failing to mention the matter on-screen isn't a slam-dunk that it's for that reason. Consider some real logistics: maybe it's because the Chief needs to sometimes be on-call 26 hours a day for his job with the many emergencies they have. Think of it if he was a doctor and the hours they keep, especially in a crazy post - such a profession would make being an effective single parent an impractical proposition. Or maybe Miles just sort of wouldn't enjoy being the only parent on duty all the time, in which case we could chalk their decision up to a recognition that Keiko is just the more capable of the two of them. So this one has more to argue but I still feel like one almost has to be looking for objections to dislike the idea of a child staying with her mother. I scanned your review twice and couldn't really find a fourth objection you listed, so sorry if I missed one that was very relevant to your point. Overall my concern here is that a sort of "presentism" can be worked into material written in the past, which means applying modern standards to older works and judging them based on those standards. So for instance you can look at TOS and comment on Uhura saying "How sexist! She's just a communications officer instead of a command level officer or Captain!" And you'd miss how progressive it was to have a black woman on board at all. That kind of critique is a sort of self-congratulatory method that historians tend to eschew in favor of seeing the norms at the time and inspecting what the media was doing in light of those norms. In the case of TOS Uhura's inclusion was super-progressive. Likewise there's the "sexist" costumes, which by all rights were more likely an expression of female emancipation from the rigid dress code forced on them by patriarchy (although I'm sure this point would involve a larger debate than the former). In House of Quark I can't help but feel that what was intended to be progressive - a story about how women's careers are just as important as men's - is being regarded through revisionist goggles and being somehow seen as sexist. That's really crazy, when back in the 90's the model of "woman at home" was still standard, if waning due to socioeconomic realities about it taking two jobs to pay the bills. But stay-at-home-daddy wasn't even a thing, and although admittedly it would have also been super-progressive to have O'Brien take that course, the station really couldn't do without its Chief Engineer. But nevertheless the "flowers" scene, which you call sexist, basically states that women don't need to be placated, they need to be important, which means placing their careers on an equal level with those of men. If that's not progressive for the 90's I don't know what it. There is a danger of the "not progressive enough for me" approach, where an actually progressive thing for 1994 will be seen as "retrograde" based on how things would be portrayed in 2018. And not just portrayed in 2018 either, but in super-progressive 2018 material, because plenty of liberal people still end up having the wife spend more time with the children, and plenty of liberal guys still want to have guy-talks with their male friends. I guess you'd have to call all of them sexists too?

@Peter, Elliott, "In House of Quark I can't help but feel that what was intended to be progressive - a story about how women's careers are just as important as men's - is being regarded through revisionist goggles and being somehow seen as sexist. That's really crazy, when back in the 90's the model of "woman at home" was still standard, if waning due to socioeconomic realities about it taking two jobs to pay the bills. But stay-at-home-daddy wasn't even a thing, and although admittedly it would have also been super-progressive to have O'Brien take that course, the station really couldn't do without its Chief Engineer. But nevertheless the "flowers" scene, which you call sexist, basically states that women don't need to be placated, they need to be important, which means placing their careers on an equal level with those of men. If that's not progressive for the 90's I don't know what it." I don't think I agree. MASH had episodes about how a woman's career is as important as a man's, and it was sort of the central premise of Mary Tyler Moore. Granted neither Margaret nor Mary had children. But I don't think that men and women's careers having equal weight was at all novel in pop culture in the 90's. I see your point that it wasn't the norm though. Additionally, statistics show that there were 1.1 million stay at home fathers in the US 1989: https:// www.statista.com/statistics/319707/number-of-stay-at-home-dads-in-the-us/. Hardly the norm, but I don't think that constitutes "not even a thing." I don't really see Elliott's objection to the flowers scene itself though.

@ William B, "I don't think I agree. MASH had episodes about how a woman's career is as important as a man's, and it was sort of the central premise of Mary Tyler Moore. " I can't speak for Mary Tyler Moore, but I'm almost done a watch-through of M.A.S.H. There's a general arc, it's true, for Major Houlihan, that her career is as important to her as a man's, but the social stage at which this takes place (late 70's, early 80's) is where the norm is to dismiss women's careers and it takes significant pushback to make them see the value of her career. But even then there are plenty of episodes where she bemoans not being married. There is also the occasional episode (maybe a half-dozen in total) involving a guest star female whose career isn't taken sufficiently seriously and she's treated terribly and that's corrected by the end. So this was certainly begun in the 70's. But in DS9 what we see isn't "stop tormenting women who want to work", and is also far beyond the typical MASH theme of "stop treating career women as a joke". Rather what we're told is that even in private family life Miles sees not only that one in theory should respect career women - which is already a given since he met her on the Enterprise when she was a working botanist - but rather than he should be fighting for her to have her career rather than letting her fall into 'just being a parent'. This this is the next level of progressive writing, where MASH pushed back against discrimination, and now in DS9 we're seeing the husband actively pushing for the wife's career even when she isn't actively fighting for it. And I'll also note that MASH was quite progressive, and it's fitting that it should take 10-15 years for TV to be ready for the next step, which goes from "you don't be harassed for wanting a career" all the way to "you shouldn't be puttering around the house, go to your career!" It's a fairly significant step in 'progressive TV'.

@Peter G, William B Just like with Odo's assumed heteronormativity, there are aspects to 90s television--even progressive Star Trek--which are stuck in their era; I completely understand this and rated this episode accordingly. But that doesn't mean that when there are problematic elements in the show, we should ignore them, even if recognising them is the benefit of hindsight. Just because, for 1994, the Keiko/Miles story was right in line with mainstream feminist thought, doesn't mean that the story isn't infected with sexist attitudes. All that means is that it's more regrettable that attitudes were what they were. And yes, TOS, despite being ahead of its time, was extremely sexist, because all TV in the 60s was sexist. It doesn't cease to be so because of moral relativism. "Are you arguing that it is 'sexist' to want a man-to-man talk?" Kind of. There is an assumption that the women won't be able to relate or understand Miles' perspective, even though Dax literally has been a husband far longer than Miles or Sisko. So the implication is that, now that she has a vagina, her input into the issue isn't helpful. That is sexist. "Or maybe you're implying that giving one's wife flowers when she's upset is sexist? Go ask various married women if they agree. They won't!" For me, this is more of a problem with the cliché. Miles had already tried cheering Keiko up with a romantic dinner date. He's too smart to think that more gifts is going to solve the problem of her unhappiness. The women I know would find it insulting, if they were deeply depressed about a substantial issue like being able to pursue their careers, to be given flowers as a token of appeasement. Painting Miles as this bumbling I-don't-understand-complex-emotions-because-of-my-penis man is the anachronism. And it is sexist. "[S]uch a profession would make being an effective single parent an impractical proposition." That didn't stop Sisko from bringing his son with him to DS9. Jake is a bit older than Molly, I know that will be the argument, but Jake was still not old enough to look after himself when they arrived. More to the point, it's Keiko who says, "I can't leave you and Molly for six months." Now, if she's saying she can't bear to be away from her child that long, this is fine, but why is it that Miles is perfectly capable of being away from his daughter for half a year? That's a double standard based on gender, which is sexist.

@ Elliott, "And yes, TOS, despite being ahead of its time, was extremely sexist, because all TV in the 60s was sexist. It doesn't cease to be so because of moral relativism." While I do agree that some values are objectively so regardless of era, there are degrees to which criticism should be issued. For instance any picture in the past of slavery should rightly be tarred, even if it was 'more progressive' slavery. However when considering an 1850's Maverick for abolition whose position was that there should be no slaves, but who would still have recoiled from the idea of his daughter marrying a black person, it would be useless and counter-historical to accuse such a person of being a racist. Yes, compared to today's standard that position is racist. But at the time you could only realistically expect so much progressiveness at once. Looking back and calling the maverick a "racist" because he's just not progressive enough...I would vehemently oppose that move. Regarding Odo's sexuality that's a great point, and if anything I would agree that the show (or culture) just wasn't ready for a bi/pansexual crew member. In fact I doubt many people were even that well acquainted with bisexuality in the first place, no less having it prominently displayed on a show. Even as of a few years back I found even liberal bastion urban centers to be mostly focused on "gay vs straight". So even now bisexuality has barely made it into the mainsteam, no less back in 1994. So while given the internal logic of the Changelings there's no reason Odo should only like women, given the era it would have been unreasonable for even a progressive show to go beyond that at the time. "Dax literally has been a husband far longer than Miles or Sisko. So the implication is that, now that she has a vagina, her input into the issue isn't helpful. That is sexist." That isn't the implication, not even slightly. Her own statement shows that it's not. The implication is that Miles would feel *more comfortable* talking to a man. It's not about who has which data to offer him. It's like when a woman would prefer a female gyno; it's not because male gyno's didn't study properly at medical school, it's a question of preference, and it's not sexist. "He's too smart to think that more gifts is going to solve the problem of her unhappiness. " Right, and he thinks that the arboretum will give her something *to do*. It's not a random gift. The scene is clear about this, it's not another flowers attempt. Julian shows him that what he's giving her is a hobby when in fact she needs a career. And by the way I don't think it's at all unreasonable to suggest that people need a hobby. If we wanted to be really pendantic I could point out that in a post-scarcity society suggesting that someone needs a career to make them happy is the anachronism and is dated for the 24th century. The hobby idea is ironically probably the more reasonable idea for most people given that doing a job isn't actually required to bring in income. In Keiko's *particular case* if she's passionate about botany then as Julian points out the hobby isn't enough, she needs her career. It's a fine point to make and he's right, but O'Brien was no dunce about it on his end. He's trying to do big things for her and that's sexist? Ugh. "Now, if she's saying she can't bear to be away from her child that long, this is fine, but why is it that Miles is perfectly capable of being away from his daughter for half a year? That's a double standard based on gender, which is sexist." She said she can't be away from Molly that long. Miles didn't say the same, therefore he doesn't feel the same. You're asking why Miles isn't the literal same person as Keiko with the exact same feelings and needs? I mean, if you want to show sexism on DS9 I could join up happily in appropriate circumstances. I'll readily rip into Profit and Lace with a vengeance, and also anything to do with the presentation of Leeta. I have no objection to calling a spade a spade. We can perhaps agree to disagree on House of Quark.

I think we’re missing key details in Miles/Keikos relationship which allow for many interpretations to be valid. I’m a married man with a wife and a kid, but I couldn’t imagine my wife would ever be happy if I went out and picked out her job for her, even if I garnished it with “oh hey, you can still take care of our kid!” - (typing that out now seems pretty funny). That said, Miles is an enlisted man that leads a more conservative lifestyle and Keiko knows that. It’s altogether possible that Keiko wants exactly the kind of lifestyle Miles offers - where her husband makes all her big decisions - from her man. Anecdotally, of course, I’ve seen Japanese women more happy as homemakers even to the extent that they take a certain pride in it. But we’re missing a lot of information here. Like, I’m no botanist, but performing botany on DS9 sounds like pretty fulfilling work itself. Are we sure Keiko wouldn’t want that? The story never tells us, so I think you’re free to your own take. Just keep in mind Miles/Keiko have the most successful long term relationship in Star Trek.

"She said she can't be away from Molly that long. Miles didn't say the same, therefore he doesn't feel the same." Be honest. Are you really trying to say that you don't see any gender inflection in the idea that both Miles and Keiko would assume that Molly couldn't be away from her mother for that long, but she could be away from her father? It's really just a difference in personality? I don't buy it. "He's trying to do big things for her and that's sexist?" Yes, exactly! Giving someone a gift because you love them is one thing, trying to *fix* them by giving them something (whether something to admire like flowers or something to *do* like a hobby) is condescending. It bothers me that Miles would fall back on this trope, but as Chrome pointed out, Miles is himself kind of an anachronism. Regarding your point about careers in the 24th century, even today, people often work harder than they have to in careers that they love (at least those who are lucky enough to have them) even if the financial benefits are unimportant to them. The difference between a career and a hobby isn't whether it provides income, but whether a person has professional accountability to the work. Stakes, in other words. "It's like when a woman would prefer a female gyno; it's not because male gyno's didn't study properly at medical school, it's a question of preference, and it's not sexist." Actually that's sexist, too. I'm not saying many women don't quite sincerely feel this way, but it's still a form of sexism. "However when considering an 1850's Maverick for abolition whose position was that there should be no slaves, but who would still have recoiled from the idea of his daughter marrying a black person, it would be useless and counter-historical to accuse such a person of being a racist." This is the point where we diverge most fundamentally. You are assuming that calling a racist man a racist even if, given the context of his society and time, he were far *less* racist than most other people, is dismissive of his relative progressivism. It isn't. The Maverick should be applauded for his forward-thinking vision, but that does not retroactively make him not racist. Racism is racism. Sexism is sexism.

Elliott it seems you define sexism as essentially any difference between male and female gender roles and expectations. That's a view that I'm sure many in 2018 would agree with but let's be clear - you object to any difference between the sexes and how they relate to one another. A non sexist world is one where there is essentially zero difference between men and women.

@Jason R Sexism is a form of prejudice. Just like racism. It is not racist to note that people of different races might have different skin colours or facial features because that's the definition of race. It is racist to make assumptions about people based on their race. Likewise, it is sexist to make assumptions about people based on their gender. Assuming that Keiko, as a woman, must be with her child where as Miles, a man, doesn't necessarily have to is sexist because it makes assumptions based on nothing more than the fact that Miles and Keiko have different genitalia.

You know, you can have great, enjoyable, constructive arguments with people who have the exact opposite opinions and beliefs to you, as long as they're are reasonable and approach the debate in good humour. But not if they're completely dogmatic and lack EQ. I've long been of the belief that everyone should just ignore Elliott. If he comments on an episode and no-one takes the bait by responding, it's just one comment that can easily be skipped over. If people respond and argue back, he doubles down and the resulting endless back-and-forth ends up dominating the entire thread (due to his emotional tone-deafness and inability to compromise). And that's happening on every single thread on this site. There's barely an episode thread on this site that doesn't have an "Elliott argument" under it (even episodes he liked, like this one!). And I think that's what he wants. I love debating things with people with different opinions. But it has to be in good faith. Not joyless, rigidly ideological and cherry-picking, and wilfully nuance-free. (Take his comment on Equilibrium: "Sisko continues to be a morally rotten leader, having no compunctions about letting a planet-wide deception continue if it means getting what he wants for himself, namely the continued company of his friend." No, it just means this episode wasn't very well-written.) Elliott has every right to post his reviews. But I, and this is just a personal opinion, think it'd be smart for people to stop responding. He provokes, waits for people to bite, then doesn't have the EQ to argue his case in a non-dogmatic way, so not only will you never win an argument with him, it's unlikely to be in any way constructive either (let alone bring new insight to the episode). It's fruitless, like cleaning the transporter room with a toothbrush. I think those TOS episodes where Kirk argues with a computer and ties it in logical knots until it explodes have perhaps misled people into thinking they achieve the same with Elliott... you can't. Not when the ultimate goal is just attention and validation.

@wolfstar You have absolutely no right to conclude that my arguments occur in bad faith. That I have enjoyed conversations with people of differing opinions over the years is not evidence that I am looking for "attention" anymore than it would be for every other comment-poster. Plenty of people post their reviews on this site and most of those have follow-up comments. If you don't want to engage with me, that's your business, but how dare you police me or my alleged motivations from the comfortable anonymity of your keyboard?

"Sexism is a form of prejudice. Just like racism. It is not racist to note that people of different races might have different skin colours or facial features because that's the definition of race. It is racist to make assumptions about people based on their race. Likewise, it is sexist to make assumptions about people based on their gender. Assuming that Keiko, as a woman, must be with her child where as Miles, a man, doesn't necessarily have to is sexist because it makes assumptions based on nothing more than the fact that Miles and Keiko have different genitalia." I understand your viewpoint and I imagine many would agree with you that differences between men and women are merely "genitalia" and "plumbing" to use another common metaphor. My response is first to suggest that there is nothing trivial about genitalia, from which a host of biological realities (from breastfeeding to childbirth to sexual pleasure responses stem) and second, to note that there is alot of research into male and female brains that disputes the common "it's just plumbing" approach to sexual dimorphism. Ironically, this research into male and female brains, comes in the context of transexuality. The race analogy is a false one because human races are mere social construct whereas sexual dimorphism in humans (and the reality of our biological differences) is not, clearly. Incidentally, I want to emphasize that nowhere in this episode is there an implication that Keiko *must* watch the children or that it can be no other way because she is a woman. Your comment isn't against that proposition (and if it is, you are debating a straw man). Rather, it seems you object to the notion that default assumptions about people could in any way be informed by their sex in an enlightened society i.e. any society that is not strictly neutral in its attitude toward men and women is bigoted or sexist a priori. I gotta disagree, strongly.

"human races are mere social construct" Tiny nitpick: not quite, although practically speaking this may as well be true. There are medical differences as well as physical realities in human 'breeds' that adapted better for certain environments. That said I would agree that there is no moral reason to consider races as being an actual divider between people. This small point aside, I agree with your general argument.

@Jason R Sexual dimorphism in humans is an extremely volatile subject. I have several transgendered friends who are more qualified to speak on the particular subject you're alluding to than I am. However, I do need to call out some of the warped reasoning in your response here: "note that there is a lot [sic] of research into male and female brains that disputes the common 'it's just plumbing' approach to sexual dimorphism. Ironically, this research into male and female brains, comes in the context of transsexuality." First of all, you might want to actually cite any such research you want me or others reading your comment to consider. For example, this essay (https://medium.com/@juliaserano/transgender-people-and-biological-sex-myths-c2a9bcdb4f4a) is written by a transgendered woman who is also a biologist. The central thesis of her argument is that there is a distinction, biologically speaking, between gender and sex (although these terms may be imprecise, anyway). The former has nothing to do with "plumbing." I would suggest reading it. Second, any commonalities between the brains of the roughly 3.5 billion humans who identify as female can be considered statistical trivialities when dealing with individual men and women. Even if, statistically speaking, one could draw generalisations between all women throughout all of history in all cultures, that does not entitle one to make assumptions (engage in prejudice) against any individual woman for falling outside of those generalities. "The race analogy is a false one because human races are mere social construct whereas sexual dimorphism in humans (and the reality of our biological differences) is not, clearly." I'm sorry that you don't seem to understand the difference between gender identity and sexual function. But the same essay I linked above should help clear that up somewhat. "[I]t seems you object to the notion that default assumptions about people could in any way be informed by their sex in an enlightened society i.e. any society that is not strictly neutral in its attitude toward men and women is bigoted or sexist a priori." What, then constitutes sexism in your opinion? What degree of default assumption is acceptable before a society is considered sexist? "[No] where [sic] in this episode is there an implication that Keiko *must* watch the children or that it can be no other way because she is a woman. Your comment isn't against that proposition (and if it is, you are debating a straw man)." That's not precise, either. My argument is against the implication that Keiko watching Molly would be the default position. My debate with Peter G isn't about whether this would be wrong (I believe we agree that it is), but how we should contextualise this attitude given the time in which this episode was created. And for the record, I agree that, for 1994, the implications of this subplot are not particularly regressive, but I contend that identifying the sexism present in this attitude is still necessary and appropriate, without penalising the episode.

@Elliot "Sexism is a form of prejudice. Just like racism. It is not racist to note that people of different races might have different skin colours or facial features because that's the definition of race. It is racist to make assumptions about people based on their race. Likewise, it is sexist to make assumptions about people based on their gender. Assuming that Keiko, as a woman, must be with her child where as Miles, a man, doesn't necessarily have to is sexist because it makes assumptions based on nothing more than the fact that Miles and Keiko have different genitalia. " Unreleased script outline for DS9 episode 8x01 "Unexpected": (O'Brien walks into Bashir's office.) Bashir: Miles! Great to see you. Loved our game of darts last night. Is there something I can get you - perhaps a mild analgesic? You must have quite the headache after being so soundly thrashed... O'Brien: Morning Julian... actually, do you mind if we sit down? It's rather important... medically speaking. Bashir: Of course! Now what seems to be the problem? O'Brien: Well... to be honest, I'm not sure how to say this... but I'm pregnant! Bashir: What? O'Brien: I just found out. There's no doubt about it. I'm going to have a baby. Bashir: Miles... are you feeling okay? O'Brien: Of course! What, don't you believe me? Bashir: Well... I mean... O'Brien: You don't, do you? Bashir: Don't get me wrong, it's just that... well, you don't have the genitalia for it. O'Brien: How dare you! That's sexist! Bashir: Miles... perhaps we should run a full scan... starting with your neurology... O'Brien: Don't try to change the subject! You're a bloody sexist and you know it. Right, I'm going to Sisko. Odo will want to hear about this too. I hope you enjoy your time in the brig, I for one won't be missing our darts games... (Miles storms out leaving Julian with a stunned look, pinching the bridge of his nose)

@Jason R Your snark seems to indicates you have no interest in learning about the difference between gender identity and sexual function. If Captain Janeway were denied a promotion because she was in her late 50s, that would be ageism. If she were told she couldn't conceive a child like your farcical O'Brien, that would be acknowledging biological reality. Do you see the difference?

@ Elliott, Check username again...

@Elliott "Your snark seems to indicates you have no interest in learning about the difference between gender identity and sexual function. If Captain Janeway were denied a promotion because she was in her late 50s, that would be ageism. If she were told she couldn't conceive a child like your farcical O'Brien, that would be acknowledging biological reality. Do you see the difference?" Settle down, it was just a joke. I know the difference between biology and gender. I was just pointing to your comment that sexism is making "assumptions based on nothing more than the fact that (males and females) have different genitalia." People do that all the time (eg doctors) and it's fine. At times when it's not fine, there's a lot more to it than that.

@Jason Okay, if you know the difference, then why the snark? A doctor telling someone without a womb that they can't incubate a child is not making an assumption, it's acknowledging biological reality. Prejudices against transgendered people are too extreme to make light of this difference. They are abused, murdered and driven to suicide every day because of people who justify their attitudes with the kind of jokes you made above.

No snark Elliott - honest. I'd say you are projecting on me something of your own creation, which probably isn't surprising since it seems I've wandered into a hornet's nest. Then again, I'd also say the fuss over all these "isms" is more than a little overstated (considering that there's barely anything else on anyone's moral radar these days). Social inequality exists, no doubt about that. And I know many would say I'm taking my sexual and racial privilege for granted, which may also be true. But I would say that those privileges are never what brings a life lasting happiness. Fight for equality on all levels, by all means - it's a worthy fight. But don't expect it to bring total peace and prosperity when it comes. And I don't think Star Trek has done much to dispel that enduring utopian myth.

@Jason I think making up a farcical dialogue scene from "DS9's un-aired 8th season" is the definition of snark, but whatever. I don't know where you got the idea that people expect "life-lasting happiness" to emerge by fighting against transphobia and sexism. You acknowledge that your privilege protects you from dealing with many prejudices the rest of us can't escape, but are still happy to proclaim that we're just "fussing over -isms." So you acknowledge your privilege, and then revel in it. I think we can do better than that.

@Elliott Actually I've heard it said quite frequently that someone or other should have nothing to complain about by virtue of being a certain color or sex, implying life is peachy for the socially privileged. And when you look at episodes like "Past Tense" (which you're coming up on) where the difference between an unequal society and post-revolution is like heaven and hell, changing everything... it's hard not to come to the conclusion that people generally think that the unequal suffer not just more, but infinitely so.

"My response is first to suggest that there is nothing trivial about genitalia, from which a host of biological realities (from breastfeeding to childbirth to sexual pleasure responses stem) and second, to note that there is alot of research into male and female brains that disputes the common "it's just plumbing" approach to sexual dimorphism. Ironically, this research into male and female brains, comes in the context of transexuality." I would say the plumbing itself is trivial to our psychological makeup. What isn't trivial is that we are, each and every one of us, a chemical soup, which is why a vast range of other chemicals that we can ingest (ranging from foods, prescribed drugs, recreational drugs, to environmental agents) can alter our psychology and affect our development. And the bodies of women and men naturally produce different levels of a variety of chemicals (like testosterone and estrogen) that lead to differences in bodies and mind. However, these chemicals are only one of many factors into what makes people different from each other, and individual men and women produce these chemicals at very different rates. Gender is far from the only important characteristic for a person. Saying the average man is taller than the average woman is true; but if you grab 5 random men and 5 random women off the street, there's a real chance that the smallest in the group is a man and the tallest is a woman. Height is certainly not the only gender difference that can arise from these differences in chemical exposures (although I don't think we understand these differences as well as the average person thinks we do), so a society free of sexism will still see differences between the "average man" and "average woman", even if large numbers of men and women fall outside of these norms. Perhaps a sexism-free society would see men be 70% of nurses and women be 70% of teachers; or perhaps the reverse. You would be sexist to look at any individual man and say they they are naturally predisposed to one profession & ill-suited for the other (because gender isn't the only thing that affects abilities & desires), but you would still expect the distribution of the professions to end up different from 50%. So, whatever. Elliot can be unhappy that Keiko and O'Brien have what we consider to be a "standard late 20th century" relationship. But even in the future some men and women will still seek out those roles, even if they're in the minority. The other women on DS9 tend to go further away from those defined roles.

Man, what fragile egos. Look, I like Keiko a lot. I like Miles. I like their relationship. But I watched this episode with a few female friends of mine for their perspective and their reaction was the same as mine. When you’re used to media representation defaulting to your preferred mode of being, I know it’s easy to see any challenge to that paradigm as threatening, or as over-concerned bitching, but this is an expression of extreme privilege. There’s a podcast you all might check out called Women a Warp. I suggest checking it out.

I see nothing wrong with Keiko preferring Molly to be with her. But I also would have found nothing wrong with Miles preferring Molly to be with him. So where's the "privilege" in my position? How does the theory of privilege apply to how I view the episode?

Actually, the ego loves notions like privilege because it puts the blame and responsibility for being miserable onto others. So-called "privileged" people even believe that their privilege is making them happier, even though it's plain to see that it's not.

For the record, Jason and Jason R. aren't the same. Not that I'm disagreeing with Jason specifically. It just got a bit confusing. Not sure I see how privilege fits in either. But it's essentially a conversation ender. It signifies the end of any meaningful dialogue.

@Elliott, quick q (just curious, not stirring up any more trouble): did you dock the ep for sexism? You said you hadn't, but I assumed that the only reason you went to 3 stars rather than 3.5 for the functionary rating was the sexism charge. The only other criticism I saw in that section was that you weren't sure if this episode's Quark was consistent with the s2 problem areas of the character.

@William B In fairness, if the Miles/Keiko stuff hadn't bothered me, I would have waffled between 3 and 3.5 for the EAF section, and probably came down on the lower side because of that issue. So, I suppose one could technically say that my rating was affected by the sexism, but to a very minor degree, one that would not have altered the final rating in any event.

@Peter G "I see nothing wrong with Keiko preferring Molly to be with her. But I also would have found nothing wrong with Miles preferring Molly to be with him. So where's the 'privilege' in my position? How does the theory of privilege apply to how I view the episode?" The privilege is in not feeling the consequences of unspoken assumptions. The Miles/Keiko scene could have been fixed very easily: KEIKO: I can't leave you and Molly for six months. O'BRIEN: Molly and I will be fine! We'll miss you, too. KEIKO: I can't be away from both of you for that long! What if I took Molly along? O'BRIEN: Well, I don't want to be away from either of you! But this is important, and I thought you might feel that way, so I checked, and it shouldn't be a problem. And as for me, well, Bajor's only three hours away in a runabout. We can manage. Without something in the dialogue which makes it clear that there's no *assumed* imperative that Molly couldn't be away from Mother for 6 months, but could be away from Father, the episode is falling back onto tropes. When media recycles tropes like this, it validates a particular perspective which we can call "normal." If your mode of being conforms to this "normal," then you are privileged; you don't have to assert or prove the validity of your mode of being against the "normal."

@Peter G./Elliot I agree with Elliot about that being a better way to word the scene. Similarly, they could’ve brought up the Dominion threat to DS9 again as a way to promote that Molly going to Bajor would be best. The problem is the default assumption shouldn’t be Miles won’t or can’t take care of Molly on his own. That’s not what I’d expect in the 24th century or even in 21st century. If Molly was a newborn and still needed nursing or something I could see why Keiko could be the default caregiver. But Molly is what, six years old? That’s hardly an age where she’d be automatically expected to be with mom. It’s easy to see why some would want more *reality* in this scene.

I think Elliott's wording is better if the objective is to make certain that a certain premise about equality is understood. But since the objective of the scene is actually to show Miles doing a nice thing for Keiko, adding in content to show other things would be extraneous. As it is Elliott's version is more clunky, although certainly not unacceptable by any means. I think it's worse writing, though, especially since the original scene already contains the data he wants to insert more overtly: I'll paraphrase the original: Miles: I propose you go to Bajor for 6 months and Molly will stay here with me. Keiko: But I can't be away from Molly for that long! Miles: Ok, then she'll go with you. Miles' original proposition was already that Molly would stay with him and not with her mother. This is already encoded into the world of the show. The fact that Keiko objects would be the thing to question if you insisted on objecting. As I mentioned, yes, it could be argued it's because there's a norm that Miles is defying in suggesting Molly stay with him, and Keiko is merely reminding him of this norm with her objection. However this reading requires one of two premises to be reasonable, both of which I personally would reject: 1) Miles knows this norm and is being a maverick in his suggestion. I reject this because the series rarely if ever presents him this way (as a social progressive). 2) Miles is a dufus who has been to hasty to remember *the universal social norm* that supposedly everyone would know about. This would fall under the "incompetent dumb male" trope. I reject this as well because Miles is likewise never presented as oblivious or a dufus. The more reasonable reading of the scene, in my opinion, is that we're not meant to inspect Keiko's objection closely because the main intent while she's away is for the writers not to have to deal with either her or Molly in upcoming scripts. Otherwise a studious audience member might well be asking "wait a minute, where's Molly and why is O'Brien never taking care of her??" It would be a nitpick of sorts but a legitimate one since so much hay is made of child-care in the series. So their choice is to get rid of Molly, and for Keiko's objection to serve as an "oh yeah, Molly will go too" afterthought. The scene *is not* about parenting gender roles and there would be no point wasting time establishing parental gender roles unless one was hung up about adding in disclaimers to scenes just to make sure the I's are dotted and T's crossed and no one can call offense. I maintain that clunky or bad writing will result from writing with this kind of disclaiming being thrown in regularly.

@Peter G "in my opinion, is that we're not meant to inspect Keiko's objection closely because the main intent while she's away is for the writers not to have to deal with either her or Molly in upcoming scripts. Otherwise a studious audience member might well be asking "wait a minute, where's Molly and why is O'Brien never taking care of her??" It would be a nitpick of sorts but a legitimate one since so much hay is made of child-care in the series. So their choice is to get rid of Molly, and for Keiko's objection to serve as an 'oh yeah, Molly will go too' afterthought. The scene *is not* about parenting gender roles and there would be no point wasting time establishing parental gender roles unless one was hung up about adding in disclaimers to scenes just to make sure the I's are dotted and T's crossed and no one can call offence [sic]. I maintain that clunky or bad writing will result from writing with this kind of disclaiming being thrown in regularly." I mostly agree with you--the writers clearly weren't trying to say anything about gender roles, but were looking for an elegant way to write Keiko and Molly off the station for a while. The problem is with the fact that what you call "disclaimers" is what I would call being responsible. And it doesn't make for clunky writing at all. Look at a show like "Bojack Horseman." That show is remarkably responsible with the social implications of its writing, and is arguably the best thing on TV right now, with dialogue that is incredibly well-written. All you have to do is reverse the genders to see the problem. If Keiko were the Chief and helped Miles find a botany job on Bajor, how would this scene play out?

@ Elliott, "All you have to do is reverse the genders to see the problem. If Keiko were the Chief and helped Miles find a botany job on Bajor, how would this scene play out?" I already answer that one: I wouldn't care if the roles were reversed. In either case I'd see it as a plot point, not as a political statement. However since you do read a objectionable premise into Keiko's reply, I should think your proper conclusion would be that Keiko is a sexist, rather than the show. The show duly represented Miles as offering to take care of Molly, and therefore have one character taking the stance that this is fine. It's true his position is overruled because Miles wants to make Keiko happy, but the writers presented both positions, and in fact defaulted to his position as his initial plan. So it's Keiko's objection that would seem to be in question, and although I don't recommend it you might perhaps argue that she, personally, is using an old-fashioned idea. Maybe you could chalk it up to traditional Japenese culture or something and make it a feature instead of a bug. For my part, I wouldn't read too much into it.

@Peter G. I’m not sure how you’re getting Miles’ original suggestion is that Molly stay with him from that text (even your paraphrasing). Keiko does bring up childcare first (something that could either be interpreted as she insists on being with Molly or that she’d feel bad making Miles do it). But Miles’ first suggestion is that she take Molly, and what’s more, it’s something he’s already done the homework on. Compare that to say, “She can stay here, I asked Dax and Bashir and they said they’d help out.”

@Peter G Just to clarify, unlike some other stories (I'm currently reviewing "The Abandoned"), I don't think this issue is a major problem for the episode. It's a minor point that stuck out to me. That said, I do wish I could make you understand why it bothers me. There's an awful kid's movie called "Cop Dog" about a dog that solves crimes or whatever. Now, the plot of this story has no romantic angle for the dog, and well, fuck it's a story about a sentient dog that solves crimes for little kids to watch. But the film goes out of its way to have a pointless scene in which the dog expresses sexual interest in another dog with a great big pink bow on its head (so we know it's a GIRL dog). This has nothing to do with the rest of the story, but it reassures the troglodyte audience that this canine is totally not gay. Without this scene, a kid could imagine, if they felt so inclined, that the heroic protagonist of this movie was whatever sexuality they identified with--straight, gay, in between, or asexual. But because this scene is there, the trope that normal males are attracted to females, and that this is the only normal way to be is enforced. I am telling you that when you grow up without role models who look like you or who act like you, it's traumatic. To be clear, I don't think the writers of the movie were making an explicitly homophobic statement by including that inane scene anymore than the DS9 writers were trying to be sexist in this B-plot. But the results reveal unconscious or latent biases which *are* in fact the result of deep-seated homophobia and sexism, respectively. I'm not really mad about it. I still enjoyed the episode and think the B plot is fine, but it something worth pointing out, because we should always be trying to understand and work past such biases in ourselves and not be complacent about it. Everything is a political statement, whether you want it to be or not. Our lives are political, our art is political. It is inescapable.

@ Chrome & Elliott, Right you are, that's my bad. He says nothing about it at first and she's the one who says she can't leave him and Molly, seemingly implying that that was his suggestion, but he doesn't actually say that. I guess I remembered it incorrectly. Eh, it still seems like she's the one bringing up that objection, but it's true that he checked it first. Whether that means he intended Molly go with her all along, or just covered his bases, I don't know. It mostly just looks to me like the writers wanted Molly gone and threw in one line about it. The tone sort of reads like: M: There's an expedition for you. K: So far away? (objection 1) M: Yes, it's very important (justifying the distance) and lasts 6 months. K: For that long? (objection 2) M: Yes, it'll be ok. K: But what about Molly? (objection 3) M: Already arranged for. Have a nice trip! This structure would be significantly disrupted to begin introducing issues about suggesting child-care options and then settling on Molly going with Keiko. I still agree that Elliott's version is acceptable, but it feels worse to me given what they were going for here.

"All you have to do is reverse the genders to see the problem. If Keiko were the Chief and helped Miles find a botany job on Bajor, how would this scene play out?" Exactly the same. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Keiko the stay-at-home parent while Miles was out working every day as the Chief? Doesn't it make sense that the parent (whatever gender) who has been caring for the child most of the time would not want to suddenly leave them? You can read politics into anything but that doesn't mean the thing is political - it just means that you are.

@Thomas: Keiko only became a stay-at-home parent in the first place because they moved to DS9, and more recently because the school closed, so Keiko doesn't even have a part-time job. The whole point of O'Brien helping her get a new job is so that they can *both* work again, like they did on the Enterprise. But since this job takes Keiko off the station, it should be a *question* with whom Molly would stay, not assumed to be Keiko.

Also, I suggest reading some Carol Hanisch or even just some Chomsky. Everything is political, whether you want it to be or not.

I love Chomsky (he's like a big old teddy bear and I own several of his books) but come on, be reasonable Elliott - this isn't a complicated issue. His world revolves around politics, therefore everything is political. When you're looking to buy a house, you see 'for sale' signs everywhere. You don't need a professor to figure this out for you.

"But because this scene is there, the trope that normal males are attracted to females, and that this is the only normal way to be is enforced. I am telling you that when you grow up without role models who look like you or who act like you, it's traumatic. " That is a neurotic reading of the scene. A better explanation is that what is commonplace is considered normal and what is normal is commonly portrayed by default. If I watch a movie made by Indians in India I would not presume that the portrayal of an Indian marrying another Indian must convey the message that non Indians are aberrant or cannot marry. As a Jew, I don't consider the ubiquity of Christmas carols or Christmas movies in December to be a statement that I'm abnormal. I consider this to be healthy.

I've been following along here and chugging on it. I think Eliott is reading the scene wrong (but the scene has problems). Keiko's first assumption is that Molly would stay with Miles and Miles had already assumed Keiko would want to take her. To me that, and this story, is the opposite of sexist. Especially for the 90s. So is it sexist that Keiko ends up taking her? No. And just the fact that it was a possibility that Miles would keep her is enough for me. Especially since this was a clunky "write them off" plot device. To me it's way more problematic that there really isn't anything to do with her! I how she goes to school on Bajor because there sure as hell isn't one on the station. And I say this as a really nurturing Dad who rolls his eyes hard when people say it's nice that I babysit. No, I parent thanks. I kiss booboos, give baths, change diapers and am currently reading this to stay awake next to my little one while I sing her to sleep. Keiko thinks that Miles intends for her to go without Molly. That comment alone goes a long way for me.

@Jason R That's not a fair analogy. The ubiquity of Christmas Carols does not exclude the existence of Jewish people. Seeing heterosexual people in relationships does not exclude the existence of other sexualities. That's not the point. When media goes out of its way to erase you (like insisting that a fucking dog in a kids' movie is definitely not gay), that's making a statement. Trek is a great example of this, in positive and negative ways--there are no Christians or Jews or Muslims in the 24th century. This is a deliberate statement. Likewise, there are no queer people in the future. Depending on whom you ask, either or both of these are upsetting

@Elliott - Well, the ubiquity of Christmas stuff can be a bit much when you aren't Catholic I think. Can make everyone else feel "othered". Some people want to get rid of Christmas/Halloween/etc. in schools (to use an example) to remove this "othered" feeling. I personally would rather do the opposite and celebrate everything. But ya.... everything does go out of it's way to make everyone heterosexual. I'll agree with you there. I mean, it took me a long time to notice because I'm straight, but I think I agree. Garak was made straight even though his relationship with Ziyal was bizarrely unnecessary. Any time fans think a character might be gay they seem to hook up with a woman. Even thought the option to leave it ambiguous is fine.

@Robert: In full agreement. I'm an anti-theist, but I'm way more bothered by the mandatory pledge of allegiance and the fact that kids have to endure "active shooter drills" now than the idea a Christmas pageant or whatever. Behind the scenes stuff reveals that the producers/actors/writers really did want to show a more sexually-diverse 24th century. Robinson explicitly played Garak as pansexual in the early seasons. Roddenberry instructed Behr to depict Risa as a kind of "Justice" planet redux, with homosexual and bisexual orgies happening all over the place in "Captain's Holiday"--not convinced that would make for good television any more than the existing Risa eps, but it certainly would have been less boring than what we got. They even filmed some same-sex couples in "The Offspring" which were removed from the re-shoots for broadcast. Nice to see you back in the threads. Hope your little one is feeling better.

I also don't want to cause any more trouble-just wanted to counter wolfstar: Elliott's not a troll in my opinion. Even though I completely and utterly disagree with him about DS9, he gives reasons for his opinions, and responds to all comments regarding his thoughts. Though he does seem to take joy in bashing DS9 which is quite popular on this site, that just makes him a good ol contrarian, not a troll. I can empathize with him-how he feels on here is basically how I feel every time shows like "Game of Thrones" and "The Leftovers" come up.

Nothing too special but a lighthearted easy going episode is good here and there. The end got a legit lol from me. Rom:”Tell me the story of when you fought the Klingon again”. Quark: “Why? It won’t do any good or help business”. Rom (tenderly and proud of his brother): “No brother, for me, I love hearing it”. Quark: “Okay fine...but I’m taking the time it takes to tell the story out of your paycheck”. Also I found Quark’s Klingon wife oddly attractive. I’m not into the dominatrix thing much but hey you only live once.

This is really a sweet episode that continues with the family, friends, teamwork, "everyone playing their role," season theme, and adds the notion of sacrifice and respect as being important parts of love. The title and ep description had me expecting a lame offering, and I was pleasantly surprised. Loved the Miles and Keiko scenes. They have a great, realistic marriage with a very strong bond. She's made sacrifices and he's appreciative; he tries to cheer her up and she's appreciative. She's trying to figure out a way to get past her school-choosing doldrums and keep her part of the DS9 deal, but Miles decides its his turn to sacrifice a bit, and encourages her to take Molly "only three hours away" for an exciting, 6 month job opportunity. She's appreciative. In a less sweet, but more dramatic way, we see a somewhat similar dynamic play out with our Odd Couple on Kronos, a storyline which more directly addresses how those close to you can hurt you as well as help you, how it's important to identify the truly loving and trustworthy. One thing that bothered me was how no one on the station seemed to notice or care that Quark had been kidnapped, but I'll go ahead and ignore that. Lots of fun touches like the way the "divorce" happened, and good performances from all involved in the main plots. Just fun and sweet. I liked it very well.

Just some quick comments after reading some of the comments: Miles doesn't automatically give up Molly for 6 months because of some outdated sexist notion that Moms are better. The point here is that HE wants to be the one making the sacrifice this time. He wants HER to choose, this time. If Keiko had asked him to keep Molly for the whole six months, or part of it, he would have done so, gladly. It's plain he's going to miss his wife and daughter. That's the whole idea: sacrifice, love, putting the needs of someone else above your own. No one is trying to sell the idea that a woman can't possibly be happy as a mom and homemaker. The idea is that Keiko (Keiko, an individual) is struggling with having her career on hold all this time, Miles sees it, and wants to help her. It's interesting that Quark, a member of the most sexist species we've seen in the Alpha Quadrant, helps Grilka become Head of Household. (I, a single mom, love filing as "Head of Household." Makes me feel all strong and sassy and stuff. House of Springy. Has a nice ring to it. :) )

This is a good episode, and Armin Shimerman's comedic skills are sharp here (I loved him as Principal Snyder on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," where he's always convinced that the high schoolers he oversees are hooked on PCP (LoL!)). It's too bad that the Ferengi episodes are usually so underwhelming. Shimerman has always delighted me because of his Bogart-esque role and delivery (which I noticed before the Casablanca-driven episode "Profit and Loss"). I mean, Quark runs a bar, he's sort of in self-chosen exile, and his offhand apathy (partly driven by profit, sure, but it also seems to be a deep-seeded character trait) all make him a much more interesting character than the DS9 writers realize. Quark is hilarious here, and his "brave" move at the end shows his cleverness and his heart. I agree with Jammer that the B-story, though not given many minutes, is sweet and well-intentioned. I don't know why, but the O'Briens just don't radiate much emotion or affection. Their marriage always felt like a plot detail, not an essential partnership. Thus, Miles's awareness of his wife's pain (too often, Miles seems oblivious to his family, no matter how hard the writers try to give the O'Briens occasional screen time). Keiko seems cold, and this is not a fault of Chao or the Keiko character. Rather, their relationship just always seemed perfunctory, which is why the B-story here is so welcome.

Can’t Keiko just get a job on DS9? Quark is awesome, I love him! I’m getting a “Quark’s Bar” t-shirt! He is that great!!

See, unlike Dax, who should be awesome but is rather a boring, one-note character in love with herself, Quark and O'Brien really matter, they provide interest and heart. Even the usually horrible (and widely disliked) Keiko is used to good effect here. I would still rather wash my face in Worf's armpits than be married to her though. Quark is hysterical, his bride is hysterical, the whole situation brilliantly has fun with the Trek universe without breaking canon even slightly. Can you imagine this done with TNG characters? Bravo to the writers.

I generally like this episode, although I sometimes skip past the Miles / Keiko portions. Although I do agree that the Obrien family scenes are a lot better in this episode than they are in most others. 2 main things always bug me about the episode though. 1. (minor annoyance) Why is the grand Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, leader of one of the major powers in the GALAXY, presiding over a property dispute? Is there no small claims court? 2. The arboretum was a good idea. Bashir was completely wrong about it. You see... in the Trek universe we have abandoned currency based economics. We don't pursue careers for profit and we don't measure success by how much wealth it generates. Instead it's all driven by personal passion and self fulfillment. So the line between CAREER and HOBBIE is blurred in Trek. The only real difference is between the two in Trek is how much time you commit to it and whether you choose to specialize in it. If Kaiko had her own arboretum then she could dive back into her chosen field. She would basically be doing the same thing she was doing on the Enterprise. She would be benefiting the station, exploring her passion. She could still go on away missions to find exotic plants, but now she would have somewhere to take them and study them. THATS WHAT A BOTANIST WOULD WANT!

This was a fantastic episode that I honestly wasn't expecting to be a fantastic episode. I'm really coming to love Quark's cleverness. I commented on the Maquis two-parter about how he adapts Ferengi business sense to Vulcan logic, and found that to be a fantastic scene for the merits of Ferengi culture in general. Here, though, he goes beyond just being defined as an excellent example of the Ferengi -- he gets a chance to be an excellent example of a *person*. Now, I'm not saying he *isn't* very Ferengi in this episode. (Though even when he is, it's all positive -- looking through ledgers and rooting out the truth.) But in his speech on honour? No Rules of Acquisition there, no profit sought. He's working fully within Klingon culture there, and cutting to the heart of the charade in the process. Takes some serious lobes to keep a cool head with a bat'leth wielded in front of you. And it takes a hell of a shrewd thinker to find that loophole, to turn the situation on its head to get out of it. That's Quark. Grilka is great, and great fun. Glad to see a prominent female Klingon who doesn't have one of those weird cleavage windows. Also, rows of Klingon warriors tapping confusedly on sci-fi calculators -- what a sight. As for the Keiko plot, which seems to have attracted a whole lot of conversation above, I honestly found it pretty respectful on the whole. There were a few minor stumbles I noticed, and reading through the comments has given me more to think about, but my overall impression while watching? "Thank goodness, this is treating Keiko as an individual with her own life rather than just as the wife character attached to O'Brien. That's not something we get to see from her too often." I think that holds true despite whatever other aspects of it have been discussed. Jon R above me does mention something that came to my mind during the episode, though. An arboretum on DS9 would be a lot of work -- it's not a single static object, like an oversized bouquet (in line with Bashir's comparison). But I think there's still a discernible difference between "hobby" and "career" in the Federation: a hobby is "personal passion and self-fulfilment" for their own sake, but I think another thing that distinguishes "career", specifically when botany's concerned, is doing it for the sake of advancing *everyone's* knowledge, not just your own. The words "personal" and "self" can still be involved, but a career goes beyond that. Granted, it's still something of a blurry line, I won't disagree on that. (Hell, scientific research before modern times was often a "hobby" for people with enough money and leisure time to pursue it.) But I think the episode itself makes the distinction well enough: BASHIR: You can't ask her to turn her profession into a hobby. Would you be satisfied just puttering around in a workshop making nano-circuit boards and playing with tricorders? O'BRIEN: I suppose not. O'Brien's job as Chief of Operations is vital to DS9. The station wouldn't function without him. A hobby would entertain him in ways that wouldn't really have much greater meaning, but his *profession* makes the station liveable for everyone on board. Going off that, *importance* is a key thing to consider. An arboretum would probably be a nice thing for DS9 to have, but it probably wouldn't be doing much to advance the field of botany. The job O'Brien brings up to Keiko, on the other hand? O'BRIEN: They've never surveyed these mountains. It's a very important expedition. Now she gets the chance to be on the cutting edge. She gets to do things that have never been done before, to lead a team working toward the pursuit of knowledge. She gets her chance to be vitally important, not just doing arbitrary and largely pointless things to wile away her time. I think that definitely has its appeal beyond puttering around in an arboretum.

Buck Bartolik

Too bad the season timeline couldn't let this air around Valentine's Day. Because it's a story of what husbands will sacrifice for their wives. Armin Shimerman can carry any episode of any tv series.

Well, it doesn’t serve the story if Molly stays with dad. Period. I don’t see any sexism in the story. What has the world come to, with people getting all sensitive and offended so easily.

This was a good week for me to see this episode, which I find myself renaming "Forensic Accounting Comes to Q'onos." As I tried to catch up on my business's bookkeeping and discovered I had reversed the debits and credits on an entire year's depreciation transactions, believe me, I realized that accounting is not for the faint of heart. Go get 'em, Courageous Quark.

I thought this was a wonderful episode. We get two plots in which a husband attempts to help his wife, the first involving Miles and Keiko, the second involving Quark and his newfound Klingon bride. The Miles and Keiko stuff is touching, and pleasantly subdued, and its nice to see Sisko and Bashir rallying to support them. (Unfortunately this subplot led to Keiko's school shutting down, and Keiko temporarily leaving the show, decisions which I think hampered the season. IMO Keiko's school should have been milked for a few more episodes. Lots of good potential there.) Then we have the Quark subplot, which manages to be both funny and touching. Quark is at his endearing best, farcical but sympathetic, as is his newfound wife, who plays a Klingon woman lost in some kind of odd Klingon take on Jane Austen or Henry James (she's trying to hold on to her property, and preserve her family name, but conniving men and centuries-old customs stand in her way). Her plight is quite affecting. And we get to see Gowron. Bulgy-eyed Gowron! I'd forgotten he's introduced in this episode. Everything's better with a little Gowron. This episode also works to not only "flesh out" Klingon and Ferrengi culture, but to INVERT them. And so we see a Klingon sub-culture obsessed with legalese, games of inheritance, property, financial predation and acquisition. Less honor bound, less reliant on raw physical combat, more interested in material status and covert financial conquest. On the flip-side, we see a Quark less interested in profit, selfishness, scheming and cowardice, and more interested in chivalry, status and his heroic reputation. The Ferrengi becomes the Klingon, the Klingon becomes the Ferrengi. I saw on wikipedia that the actress who plays Quark's wife, Mary Kay Adams, said of Trek: "Actors I am close to who have done these shows all agree that Star Trek is fabulous because it's the closest thing to playing classical theater..It's very archetypal, it's very Shakespearean in its scope." I thought that was a cool quote - you can easily imagine this episode performed by a theater troupe in a college auditorium - and points to something lacking in a lot of modern Trek.

A funny episode, with good Quark material. Given all the sexism discussion above, I’ll weigh in with my own opinion. ST made a questionable decision to cast females as submissive sidekicks in many races (Klingon, Ferengi, the “Suddenly Human” race), whereas it depicts males in that role never - except “Angel One,” where male submission was the focus of horror and disgust from not only the characters but the viewers. Perhaps just as bad, ST depicts many women in traditional roles that it refuses to show men in: the self-sacrificing spouse of a Great Person ; the prostitute;; the d’abo girl/dancer, the caring counselor, the parent cradling an infant. So it was refreshing to see a Klingon woman acting, well, very Klingon, and very much her own person. It’s a bit of a salve for the crude use of Klingon women elsewhere, as fodder for bro jokes among male characters. Regarding Elliot’s comments: I didn’t see any sexism in Miles’ attempts to make his wife happier. I though career-man Julian came off especially well, when he recognized that Keiko had a scientist’s passion just like his own, and matter-of-factly pointed this out. The final decision of what to do with Mollie did grate. The problem is not that she ended up going with her mother, but that Miles had unilaterally decided to ship her off with Keiko *before asking Keiko.*. Why didn’t the writers see fit to have him say, “She could stay with me or go with you. She could even go back and forth every month or so, depending on your duties and mine. We can make it work.” (I mean, surely there are some people on the station happy to help out or make extra money. Garak in particular strikes me as a fun ‘uncle’ for Mollie. And am I the only one who thinks a botany expedition would be a much trickier place to be raising a child than a space station? She’s going to be literally bushwhacking in the wilderness with a small group of busy scientists on the move and exposed to the elements. Will she lug Mollie on her back?) Bottom line: No woman would ever dream of informing her husband, “Here - I’ve unilaterally decided you should take care of the baby around the clock for the next six months. I’ll be far away, not helping at all.” When Keiko tells Miles “I couldn’t leave you and Mollie”, the implication is that she couldn’t put all the work of baby-care on Miles. The fact that Miles has no such qualms and doesn’t seem to know how much work a baby is, is crazy. That he presents his plan as not just the obvious (and only) solution, but also as an unmitigated good that isn’t selfish and won’t burden her at all, is jaw-dropping. (If the show were different and darker, I would suspect Miles was trying to punish and sabotage her. “You’re not happy being a military wife and mother? Fine: see how you like balancing work and motherhood put in the wilds with no Miles O’Brien around. In six months, you’ll come back begging to be a stay-at-home wife.”)

[Why does the council mediate every petty squabble?] DS9/Trek is guilty of stretching believability a little to feature popular cameo characters, and to keep the show's cast size reasonable. But in-canon, they explained that D'Ghor usurping Grilka's house would advance him into council influence. It was a power grab, and thus, totally relevant to Klingon court of honor to preside. [The Miles-Keiko debate] To be honest, I usually find their romance scenes so saccharine or hammed, that I actually skipped a chunk this time (And I *never* do that!) But the resolution didn't strike me as him dictating to her to take the job, or foisting Molly on her, or punishing her. He investigated, found a desirable job, and presented it to her, to help with her obvious lack of fulfillment. It's not saying being a full time parent isn't fulfilling, it's saying she's a scientist who wants to do science. The better question to ask is whether running a middle school for alien teenagers in Season1 was an acceptable consolation, when she was initially complaining about raising a family on DS9. In her place, I *would* find teaching work rewarding over applied, but if I'm switching from research/fieldwork to teaching, I'd prefer it to be my subject, not gradeschool I.e. In her case, teaching botany to adults at an academy. In fact, I disagree with Bashir condemning Mile's first Keiko-solution. The writers' message was clear - Don't give Keiko pointless busy work just to pacify her. Agreed. But maintaining an arboretum filled with species from *another freakin quadrant* would be more than rewarding for most scientists. Not to mention easy to produce useful lab research that could last a lifetime of discoveries. They handled this topic well in Voyager, with the hydroponics bay, and on Enterprise, with the doctor's animal menagerie and science conventions. (Probably an insight learned from all the scientists they consulted, writing these shows!)

Mary Kay Adams is absolutely brilliant here with Armin Shimmerman. I rarely enjoy Ferengi episodes, but this was a lot of fun. I loved her lines about taking his hand off her leg, and the divorce scene is comic gold. Quark shines in the climax. I really hope Keiko is really good in bed for O'Brien to endure 7 years of Resting Bitch Face. I thought I saw Colm Meaney crack a real smile when he told her about the 6-month trip.

The Quark story was funny, and I liked that Ferengi financial brilliance was so crucial to victory. The Keiko story was good as well. The only thing I didn't like was Bashir giving O'Brien the wise advice. WTF does Bashir know about successful relationships? This would have been a perfect time for Sisko to display the wisdom gained from being a family man. A chance the story just tossed aside. I mean, Bashir, reeeally?

Can I just say one of the tiny details I absolutely loved about this episode? I love that Grilka used “cho’echu” to energize the Klingon transporter. I know it’s fairly trivial, but the fact that they got the grammar right in accordance with ‘Wrath of Khan’ made me smile.

sorry, ‘Search for Spock’ all the same, it was a thoughtful gesture and I appreciated it

How could the Klingon die from just one knife wound when Klingon's have redundant organs? No way! Makes no sense. The writers could have done a better job.

@ Lyn, Maybe that's why the Klingon knives have three blades...

@LynThere is quite much that does not make sense in Star Trek. But this was an enjoyable episode with a nice b story. The first time(s) I watched the DS9 I never really liked Quark. He just seemed too ridiculous. I still have that opinion regarding the more complete ferengi episodes, but this one I liked. Quark was the underdog who outsmarted the Klingon still gaining their respect. But he is actually a quite poor ferengi in many ways. He is not successful enough so that he can leave his small his small bar in a remote outpost to do big business elsewere. His heart is much bigger than it seems to be. He has more honour and conscience than he likes to show. He makes us look on things from another point of view.

This is one of my favorite episodes with one of the funniest scenes in all of startrek. When quark gives all those Klingons those tablets and he's explaining dgors financial manipulation to Gowron and it shows a hilariously confused looking Gowron doing his signature EYE thing while looking at quark then at the tablet then back at quark. It's the funniest thing in the universe haha

Definitely comedy gold when the Klingons are trying to follow Quark's spreadsheets. The Klingons being uninterested in finance highlights the fact that the Klingon Empire is in a state of advanced decline brought on by the warrior caste becoming dominant. You can actually believe those Klingons in Undiscovered Country could run an interstellar empire. Gowron and the others? Not so much.

Agree with @Silly and others above: The idea that the Klingons could operate even a wheelbarrow, let alone run an interstellar empire, is ludicrous. They're basically cavemen with funny foreheads; even their grunts and mating rituals fit the part. That notwithstanding, this was a highly enjoyable little episode. There wasn't a lot of action but there was genuinely intriguing, um, intrigue. Quark (did I mention he's my favorite character a dozen times over yet?) shows himself to be way more mature, serious, intelligent, and resourceful than the lazy Ferengi stock caricature would have us believe. Great ending, too.

Great episode, one of my favorites. In the beginning there must be a good story. No movie, show, series or play is going to be worth much without a good story, and "House of Quark" just has that spark of brilliance that qualifies. I can only wonder how it came to be that Tom Benko put Quark, the uber-Ferengi, together with the Klingons, especially Grilka. Tom is no Peter Alan Fields ("Inner Light" - TNG; "Dax," "Duet," "Necessary Evil," "Blood Oath," "Crossover," "In the Pale Moonlight" and more - DS9), in fact, Tom is known most of all for his work as an editor for TNG (40 episodes), DS9 (16 episodes) and Voyager (57 episodes). Benko, however, also has two directing credits for TNG ("Transfigurations" and "Devil's Due", and then two writing credits for DS9: "House of Quark" and "Return to Grace." He is (and think this is still true) the only person to have directed, written, and edited Trek episodes. But for each of the writing credits, Benko is listed as "Story By ..." and another person worked the story into a teleplay. For "House of Quark," that was Ronald D. Moore. So I can only imagine Benko, the editor, working with all the characters every day for years. And some day, he's driving across LA into Paramount or maybe he's thinking at home some evening or something and the idea comes to him, "Let's mix Quark and the Klingons." He pitches the idea to the showrunners, and ... the rest is history. It's just one of those lightning-strike stories that lies behind several great episodes. Once the story is set, it's up to the director and cast to execute. Here, whoever cast Mary Kay Adams as "Grilka" made an inspired choice. There are few teams of actors who brought their characters and their relationship to life as Adams and Shimerman did with Grilka and Quark. It's an improbable attraction of polar opposites but boy do they make it work! There are episodes I rate higher, but I think "House of Quark" is solid, great fun.

I never got into DS9 but I have now seen probably half the episodes. I really liked this episode, especially Quark. And Gowron is always fun.

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – House of Quark (Review)

The September and October, we’re taking a look at the jam-packed 1994 to 1995 season of Star Trek , including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and  Star Trek: Voyager . Check back daily for the latest review.

House of Quark is a delightful episode that probably does a better job of setting the tone for the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine than The Search . As much as the Dominion were introduced as “a big deal” and clearly intended to change the show’s status quo , the third season does very little with them. There are a few mentions here and there, a late-season two-parter, two scattered episodes looking at aspects of the Dominion, and a series finalé, but they don’t drive the third season as much as one might expect, or as much as they drive the fifth through seventh seasons.

In contrast, House of Quark is a decidedly irreverent look at the world of Star Trek , a decidedly cynical perspective on one of the franchise’s sacred cows – a downright subversive exploration of something that the franchise takes for granted.

A knife story, there, Quark…

There’s a stinging and bitter anger underpinning House of Quark , a show seething at hypocrisy and self-delusion. Here, it’s a rather harsh take on Klingon values. That’s something that the franchise would do a lot during this half-season. Equilibrium is condemnation of Trill culture in a way that seems like a scathing critique of the myth of American classless culture. Past Tense was written as a social commentary on proposed Los Angeles social policy. The Abandoned has undertones that explore Los Angeles’ increasingly high-profile gang culture.

House of Quark really lays into Klingon culture – easily one of the most developed alien cultures in the history of the franchise. To be fair, Ronald D. Moore isn’t doing anything here that he didn’t already suggest as early as Sins of the Father , but House of Quark throws Klingon hypocrisy into even sharper contrast. Far from presenting the Empire as an exotic and alien culture with its own values and social mores, it’s portrayed as society that is fundamentally and irreparably broken. It’s a gigantic “screw this!” to the romance of a warrior culture.

Gowran’s attempts to best his own Angry Birds high score was not going well…

For one thing, as Deep Space Nine has been suggesting as far back as Dramatis Personae , there’s the lingering question of how a culture of warriors can function as an organised society. How does it advance without scientists? How does its economy work without trades people? The villainous D’Ghor is presented as a stereotypical blowhard Klingon, but it’s all a facade. For all his posturing and threatening, he doesn’t vanquish his adversaries with a bat’leth, but with a ledger.

“There is no honour in what he has done,” Grilka observes. “If he wanted to challenge my House, he should’ve made a declaration, met our forces in battle.” That is the stereotypical Klingon way. However, it’s also something that makes no real sense if you think about it. As Quark points out, “And risk destroying the very thing he wanted most, your lands and property?” It’s hard to imagine a sustainable economy built around the image that Klingon culture presents of itself to outsiders. (And, it must be admitted, to itself.)

X marks the spot…

However, for all that Grilka might condemn D’Ghor’s strategies, the episode makes it clear that nobody would have called the Klingon out on his underhanded scheming if Quark hadn’t shown up. In fact, the Klingon High Council rallies around D’Ghor. When Quark produces indisputable evidence of D’Ghor’s treachery and manipulations, Gowran won’t even entertain it. “Enough! I don’t want to hear anything more about finances, mergers, or currency transactions.”

Despite the fact that he holds the evidence in his hands and it could (presumably) be verified easily enough by any expert accountant in just about any culture, Gowran still tries to cover for D’Ghor, much like K’Mpec covered for Duras in Sins of the Father – the image of the High Council must remain unimpeached. Gowran is perfectly willing to let D’Ghor slaughter a Ferengi as long as the mere appearance of honour is maintained.

The best storyteller around, bar none…

(One of the nicer, smaller moments of the episode comes during the “back-turning” sequence that is recycled from Sins of the Father . There, the decision of the High Council to turn their backs on a dishonoured Klingon is used to give the story a decidedly operatic vibe – larger than life, epic, dramatic, Shakespearean. Here, it is used in a decidedly more cynical manner. The High Council turn their backs so that they don’t have to watch the embarrassing and demeaning spectacle of D’Ghor being dragged from their presence.)

Indeed, at the episode’s climax, Gowran explicitly confirms that he wanted to believe D’Ghor was innocent, rather than objectively considering the facts. “I didn’t want to believe the things he said about you yesterday,” he confesses. Gowran doesn’t come out of House of Quark smelling of roses. One of the more interesting and multifaceted supporting characters to originate in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Gowran has consistently been portrayed as a very canny political opportunist.

Well, Odo has certainly been waiting for this…

He only steps in when the illusion of honour becomes impossible to maintain. He stops D’Ghor at the last possible moment, as the Klingon is pulling his bat’leth back, ready to swing. We know from Reunion that Gowran is not sexist himself – he was willing to offer K’Ehleyr a seat on the High Council – but is simply very good at playing to an audience. He is quite happy to use the Empire’s sexist policies when they suit his aims (keeping the Duras Sisters off the Council in Redemption ), but also willing to bend them when they don’t (allowing Grilka “dispensation” here).

This pragmatism is entirely consistent throughout all of the character’s appearances. Ronald D. Moore and Robert O’Reilly both establish Gowran as a great politician, rather a strong warrior or an especially moral character. In Unification , it was revealed that Gowran was re-writing the history of the Klingon Civil War to suit his own ends. In Rightful Heir , he is willing to make the Kahless clone Klingon Emperor in order to get him out of his hair. In The Way of the Warrior , Gowran invades Cardassia in order to secure his own position. And it all leads to Tacking Into the Wind …

Grilka’s quite sharp…

The idea of using Quark as a vehicle for this commentary and exploration is quite ingenious. The Ferengi have really been established as Deep Space Nine ‘s direct equivalent to the Klingons on The Next Generation . Much like The Next Generation took a bunch of two-dimensional generic bad guys and fleshed them out into an entire culture, Deep Space Nine expended considerable effort rehabilitating a bunch of failed adversaries. ( The Nagus is the first truly good Deep Space Nine episode.)

The success of Behr’s attempts to reinvent and rework the Ferengi can be seen in House of Quark , where Moore is able to construct an entirely plausible and sincere argument that Ferengi culture is at least as valid (if not more valid) than Klingon culture. Of course, neither society is perfect – both have heavily institutionalised sexism, for example – but the show raises the provocative question as to whether Ferengi desire for peaceful negotiation and non-violent manoeuvring can reasonably be dismissed as inferior to the Klingon thirst for brutality.

Quark’s got some neck…

At one point in House of Quark , the eponymous Ferengi mercilessly lays into the hypocrisy at the heart of Klingon culture, in what counts among Quark’s best moments from the show’s entire seven year run:

Go ahead, kill me. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it, to be killed? Well, here I am, so go ahead and do it. You all want me to pick up that sword and try to fight him, don’t you? But I don’t have a chance and you know it. You only want me to put up a fight so your precious honour will be satisfied. Well, I’m not going to make it so easy for you. Having me fight D’Ghor is nothing more than an execution, so, if that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get. An execution. No honour, no glory. And when you tell your children and your grandchildren the glorious story of how you rose to power and took Grilka’s House from her, I hope you remember to tell them how you heroically killed an unarmed Ferengi half your size.

There’s an incredibly frustration in Quark’s dialogue here – a sense of grim inevitably and passive acceptance of a social injustice. Quark is angry, but he’s also impotent. All he can do is play along with this grotesque pantomime and hope that somebody steps in to stop the grim charade.

A Chancellor Chancer…

It’s a recurring theme in the early third season of Deep Space Nine , carried over from the end of the show’s second season. This stretch of Deep Space Nine might be the most cynical run of episodes in the history of Deep Space Nine . From The Maquis onwards, the Star Trek universe is portrayed as a place where social constructs are impossibly and irreparably broken. Kirk and Picard would get trapped by anomalies, strange phenomena and alien enemies; in contrast, the characters of Deep Space Nine repeatedly find themselves trapped in broken systems.

Of course, the show does get progressively darker, leading to episodes like In the Pale Moonlight , Inquisition and Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges . However, from the fourth season onwards the show is in a state of perpetual warfare. Injustices and brutality can be justified or excused through necessity. “We did what we had to in order to survive” might not be an entirely watertight defense, but it’s more convincing than “we did whatever was easiest for us a society in a time of peace and prosperity.”

The man with the plans…

The Alpha Quadrant is at peace here. The Dominion loom in the background, but they don’t cast as large a shadow as they will in the years to come. And yet, in the midst of this prosperity, the Klingons would murder Quark in cold blood to satisfy the demands of honour, the Trill would willingly allow Jadzia Dax to die to preserve a mythology that they had worked so hard to craft. (It’s also worth noting that even the broken past in Past Tense is also portrayed as prosperous.)

As such, it’s quite easy to see why Deep Space Nine never really managed to pick up all those Star Trek viewers looking for a fix following the end of The Next Generation . Deep Space Nine was airing the only Star Trek show on television at this point. So those tuning in expecting the franchise’s trademark optimism and enthusiasm probably felt alienated by the sheer level of cynicism on display here. This wasn’t a romantic space saga about a magical future, this was the tale of a galaxy full of broken political and social structures.

A marriage of convenience…

Of course, Deep Space Nine was simply tuning into the nineties pop culture zeitgeist. The decade was built on dissatisfaction and mistrust. The X-Files tied into that by tapping into a rich vein of nineties paranoia. The government could not be trusted; the people out to protect you were actively trying to harm you; the world was full of monsters and nobody cares. Deep Space Nine hit on a couple of these themes and concepts – most notably with the Founders, an alien race who can look like anyone they choose – but it also tapped into a pervasive sense of apathy and indifference.

This is one of the darker secrets of the nineties. As much as a lot of people mistrusted the government, there was a larger segment of people simply disillusioned and apathetic. A  Pew Research poll in 1998 suggested that the public were “frustrated with government, not angry at it.” The nineties was the first period of extended peace that America had known since the end of the Second World War. The Cold War was over. The United States had won. And yet the decade’s pop culture reflected an uncomfortable uncertainty.

A stab in the dark…

In Conspiracy Films: A Tour of Dark Places in the American Conscious , Barna William Donovan argues:

The late 1980s and early ’90s saw the maturation of “Generation X”, people born, roughly, between 1961 and 1981. This generation, according to cultural historians, didn’t reject their parents’ values the way many Baby Boomers had rebelled against the cultural conservatism of their elders, but they felt betrayed by a previous generation that had made promises they did not deliver on.

The post-Cold War prosperity of contemporary America is reflected in the relative stability of the Alpha Quadrant in these early episodes of the third season, and yet the show is anchored in disillusioned cynicism. Our characters are surrounded by institutions that aren’t so much evil as corrupt and ineffective.

Body of proof…

This reflects a lot of the cultural mindset of America between the end of the Cold War and the events of September 11. In The Fate of America , published in August 2001, Michael Gellert reflects that these feelings of disillusionment were part of the American experience in the nineties:

The lack of trust in institutions and others in general is remarkably high, as is the level of disillusionment. Polls show that 75 percent of Americans do not believe that their government can be trusted. Ninety percent of American parents would not want their children to become president. In a 1995 poll, 25 percent of respondents believed that the O.J. Simpson trial demonstrated that there is no justice in the United States; 85 percent believed that justice depends on the defendant’s wealth or race.

As the first Star Trek produced after the official end of the Cold War, Deep Space Nine is uniquely positioned to comment on this particular cultural mood. It’s particularly serendipitous that Deep Space   Nine was able to segue so efficiently from the existential ennui of the nineties into twenty-first-century-style perpetual warfare, years before September 11th.

Blood and D’Ghor…

Of course, House of Quark is a comedy – something that often prompts shivers from even the most hardened Star Trek reviewer. Barring the original Star Trek , the franchise has a hit-and-miss history with comedy. While Deep Space Nine hits more consistently than any of the other spin-offs, it also misses quite frequently. This is the show that would produce Profit and Lace , for example. House of Quark , however, works. It is easily one of the show’s four strongest comedy hours – along with  Our Man Bashir , The Magnificent Ferengi and Trials and Tribble-ations .

Humour is something that is very tough to get right, and it’s a testament to how comfortable Deep Space Nine is with itself that it can so easily poke fun at the Klingons. The Klingon Empire is treated as inherently illogical and absurd here, a far cry from the over-the-top melodrama witnessed in The Next Generation . Turning your most developed alien race into the punchline is a risky move, and it’s to the credit of all involved that it works so well.

Quark’s got a bat’leth to grind…

House of Quark benefits from an absolutely superb guest cast. Mary Kay Adams is absolutely superb as Grilka, who remains one of the best female guest stars in the history of the franchise. Grilka is portrayed as intelligent, competent and well capable of faring for herself. The script makes it clear that if it weren’t for the sexism built into Klingon society, she would be well able to handle her own affairs. (Indeed, there’s a sense that Grilka has effectively been running her husband’s house behind the seasons anyway, and the implication is that she’s not too devastated by his loss.)

Robert O’Reilly is superb as Gowran, particularly when trying to process Quark’s evidence of D’Ghor’s misdeeds or trying to pronounce Quark’s name. Armin Shimerman is absolutely wonderful as Quark, demonstrating that he’s one of the more versatile and charming actors in a talented ensemble. Joseph Ruskin, an actor who has appeared with every Star Trek television ensemble, offers strong support as Tumek.

Cutting remarks…

Ronald D. Moore is also adapting quite well to working on Deep Space Nine . You’d have little idea from House of Quark that he only joined the show three episodes ago. Between this and René Echevarria’s script for Equilibrium , the new writing staff members were really thrown in the deep end. Moore, in particular, has had a prolific year writing for Star Trek , penning the finalé of The Next Generations , the script to Star Trek: Generations and the opening episode of Deep Space Nine ‘s third season. He was certainly carrying his weight.

The other notable aspect of House of Quark is the subplot involving O’Brien and Keiko. It’s a lovely little character interlude, the type of thing that Deep Space Nine did so well, counting on the characters and actors to carry the show rather than plot or excitement. Despite the franchise’s historical difficulties writing romance, the O’Brien family is actually pretty charming. There’s something very sweet about O’Brien’s sincere affection for his family life, along with Keiko’s desire to retain her own agency and her own sense of self.

Gowran seems to find all this accounts stuff quite taxing…

This is something that Star Trek hasn’t always been good at portraying – a healthy balanced and loving relationship between two adults. The O’Brien marriage faces all manner of problems during the course of Deep Space Nine , but those problems only hit home because the family is so loving and stable. The “O’Brien must suffer” stories are more effective with O’Brien than they would be with Sisko or Bashir because O’Brien is very much a regular guy. He’s not a genius or a prophet or the best in his field. He is a man doing a job who comes home to a loving family.

There’s something quite sweet about how House of Quark deals with Keiko’s depression. It’s entirely logical and understandable, but it’s also not something that can magically be whisked away with a few romantic dinners or grand romantic gestures. O’Brien’s attempts to make Keiko feel better are incredibly moving – there is a genuine sense that these are two people who deeply love one another – but they aren’t enough to paper over Keiko’s problems. Real marriage and real relationships involve more than grand gestures (although they help), they require real compromise and real effort.

Keeping his head down…

And there’s something very sweet about how the entire cast tries to help, while realising that Keiko ultimately has to empower herself. Bashir, of all people, is astute enough to point out why O’Brien’s plan to build a hydroponics bay won’t solve the underlying issue. On paper, O’Brien’s plan is great, but it doesn’t take into account Keiko’s agency. “You can’t ask her to turn her profession into a hobby.” People aren’t engineering problems to be solved so you can move on to the next issue in the following episode.

It’s a very light plot, and it’s something that it’s hard to imagine The Next Generation doing well. This is understandable, of course. It requires the concession that these characters are living in a static environment, where Keiko’s first few days unemployed can legitimately be extrapolated to present a vision of her life going forward. It also requires the concession that the episode’s conclusion – the decision reached – has to have real weight and impact.

Yes, ‘I’m married to the most wonderful woman in the galaxy’ day is a sacred Irish tradition.

The O’Brien subplot in House of Quark is decidedly light. It’s a far cry from what one expects from the franchise. Indeed, as Ira Steven Behr notes in Cinefantastique , it gives the episode some heart:

“The thing that was most successful about the show was Colin [sic] O’Brian and Keiko [Rosalind Chao],” enthused Behr. “I think it’s one of the best, truest relationships in all of Star Trek. Some of the takes were really, really heavy. They really got into it. It was very It was very touching. People were uncomfortable when we watched it in dailies. The other thing that show did, which became one of the best things about the season, was it really helped Bashir and O’Brien.”

In fact, according to The Deep Space Nine Companion , the whole point of the plot was to write Keiko out so the show could focus more on O’Brien and Bashir as friends. If that was the case, the resulting plot turned out very well.

A cutting retort…

And the show does take pains to reaffirm the new status quo for the series, well aware that it might benefit from the chance to pick up the odd stray Next Generation viewer looking for their Star Trek fix. The episode’s teaser is sure to namedrop the Dominion, and provide information on how things have changed. “It’s all Sisko’s fault,” Quark muses. “If he’d handled things better with the Dominion, none of this would’ve happened. They want a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant? Cut a deal, make a few arrangements, give them a little something for their trouble.”

Equally, even Keiko’s redundancy is structured in such a way as to make it clear what the show is not about; at least, not any more. In The Search, Part II , Admiral Nechayev went out of her way to explain that Bajor was no longer a top priority. She was speaking for the Federation, but she also seemed to be speaking for the show. After a disappointing reactions to Bajor-centric episodes over the show’s first two years, the studio urged the writers to shift their focus away from the planet. Although later seasons did manage a couple of episodes around Bajor, it never occupied the centre of the on-going narrative after the third season.

Drinking it in…

Even Keiko makes the shift in focus clear here. “My last two Bajoran students left today,” she tells her husband. “Their families relocated back to Bajor.” Bajor is no longer a core part of Deep Space Nine . Despite Sisko’s mission as stated in Emissary , the series never follows through Bajor’s potential membership of the Federation. It is broached in the fifth season, and never discussed again. Instead, the Dominion becomes the driving narrative force, along with the relationship between Sisko and the Prophets – but not the relationship between the Prophets and Bajor.

House of Quark is a lovely little episode that demonstrates how solid Deep Space Nine has become. It’s one the show’s stronger comedy efforts, and is cleverly underpinned by a sincere character-driven subplot.

You might be interested in our reviews of the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine :

• The Search, Part I
• The Search, Part II
• House of Quark
• Supplemental: The Lives of Dax – Allegro Ouroboros in D Minor (Joran) by S.D. Perry
• Supplemental: Fearful Symmetry by Olivia Woods

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Filed under: Deep Space Nine | Tagged: deep space nine , Ferengi , house of quark , keiko , klingons , Marriage , O'BRIEN , romance , ronald d. moore , star trek: deep space nine |

7 Responses

Hit and miss is right Darren, but when DS9 does do comedy and gets it right it works rather well. I think The House of Quark is the first truly successful attempt at it, even though the list has not been filled with shining examples up until now.

Although I love the subplot too, I always had the nagging feeling that Rosalind Chao was written in and out of the show (until she disappeared altogether) because, honestly the writers didn’t seem to know what to do with Keiko. Turning her from a botanist to a schoolteacher always seemed one of DS9’s miscalculations in the first two seasons and restoring her to botany only to then cut her out of the show only further reinforces that they had no clue of where to take her character.

The lack of focus of Chao is frustrating, because she and Miles have one of the more unique relationships in the franchise. Having a family man in the primary cast is a great example of the diversity of approach taken by DS9 to its characters.

I blog quite often and I seriously appreciate your content. This great article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your website and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.

Thank you very much for your kind words!

“The House of Quark” is one of my favorite episodes of Star Trek, and I always felt what Moore was poking fun at here was the entire idea of species-wide mono-cultures for Star Trek aliens. An approach that had served the franchise as allegory and melodrama also worked as comedy, because it was ridiculous on its face when held up to even the slightest examination. There’s something ironic in using a Ferengi character to do it, although this sort of Star-Trek auto-critique would, of course, turn into some of Quark’s best-remembered scenes.

After all, this episode doesn’t build to its climactic confrontation through Quark examining Klingon society in a way no Klingon ever has, but something like the opposite—Quark instead discovers that D’Ghor, a Klingon, has demonstrated impressive skill with dirty tricks in the market and is on the cusp of total victory over Grilka. Those are skills D’Ghor must have acquired somewhere and honed by some means available to him as a Klingon, and I think it’s important that it’s never even suggested that D’Ghor might have his own alien-for-hire doing that job for him. The show does suggest rot at the heart of the Klingon society (one that Moore largely invented himself), but also suggests that any future reckoning will involve Klingons admitting that they are a people of many facets, as they’d have to be to exist even in the fictional world of Star Trek, or so Moore seems to say.

Moore tends to do a better job of thinking through how a “warrior” ethic might warp a global (or interstellar) society than other writers did, I think. There’s D’Ghor in this episode, and Ch’Pok, the Klingon attorney, in “Rules of Engagement”; just as worship of the independent entrepreneur has pushed many people in the United States to “brand” themselves and describe even their not-for-profit efforts as “startups”, Moore’s Klingons tend to reinvent the battlefield to make themselves into warriors. D’Ghor may have to hide his dealings while Ch’Pok celebrates his, but Moore makes them both feel essentially true to the fictional society he’s constructed.

To me, Moore’s approach is a lot more creative and entertaining than other writers’ apparent fallback idea that Klingons who don’t get to be soldiers spend all their time moping in public and denouncing their own society’s core values in private. J’dan, in Taylor’s script for “The Drumhead”, Kurak. in Menosky’s “Suspicions”, and Kolos, in Goodman’s “Judgment”—these all seem like people who might well exist in the Klingon society over which writers have spilled so much ink, but in the aggregate, they seem to represent a sort of perennial laziness in script-writing. They’re Klingons, but they’re not soldiers, thus they’re disrespected by other Klingons, thus they kind of hate themselves, and that’s their motive for everything they do, wise or unwise, good or bad.

Even accounting for Hertzler’s performance as Kolos, I don’t think any of those characters are half as memorable as Moore’s version of “the other Klingons”. D’Ghor, Ch’Pok and even Gowron seem to revel in their creative interpretations of what “warrior” means, and in a way, they’d have to, wouldn’t they? Given the suspension of disbelief Star Trek has to maintain concerning its science to sell its allegories about the real world, there’s a certain sort of believability it usually needs to build into those allegories. Moore’s approach just seems more effective in portraying a functioning, if hypocritical, fictional society, meaning one that can maybe tell us something interesting about our own lives, too.

Thanks so much for all these great reviews. I love this episode. There’s even a bit of character development for Rom, whose silent disapproval appears to be the nudge Quark needs to make his stand. It does bother me a little bit, though, just how easy it seems to be to kidnap people off of DS9. This isn’t the obsidian order – just two random Klingons who at different times are just able to grab people off the station. Add to it that even though Quark operates the bar and is highly visible no one seems to notice when he’s gone for days. Even Rom, apparently, didn’t notice and saw no reason to be on high alert or to ask people to help find his brother. It’s almost surprising that the federation’s enemies aren’t stopping by more often to whisk people away undetected

Yep, House of Quark is massively underrated and undervalued as Deep Space Nine goes. One of the stronger episodes in this stretch of the season.

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The House of Quark

Friday 12 November 2021

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Series 3, Episode 3

Stardate: Unknown (2371)

First broadcast on Monday 10 October 1994

In this week’s episode of Family Ties , when Quark (Michael J Fox) lies about his involvement in the death of a belligerent Klingon customer, he finds himself threatened, hauled off to Qo’nos, forcibly married, and required to defend the honour of his house before the High Council with a combination of Excel spreadsheets and extreme physical cowardice. Will he learn a Very Important lesson about the dangers of greed? (Spoilers: no.)

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The House of Quark

When Quark lies about killing a Klingon in his bar, he is pulled into a power struggle between rival Klingon families on Qo'noS and forced to marry the dead man's widow. Meanwhile, Chief O'Brien must confront the fact that Keiko gave up her career to join him on DS9.

Max Grodénchik

Rosalind Chao

Robert O'Reilly

Joseph Ruskin

Mary Kay Adams

Carlos Carrasco

John L. Bennett

Mark Allen Shepherd

Randy James

Cast appearances.

René Auberjonois

Alexander Siddig

Colm Meaney

Armin Shimerman

Nana Visitor

Avery Brooks

Terry Farrell

Episode discussion.

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Star Trek Deep Space Nine: The House of Quark

3 comments:

Great review, Mark! I agree, this was really entertaining as an episode. While I dislike that they got rid of Keiko, I did like that they made it more about her career, but I don’t understand why DS9 doesn’t have a botanical research center, what with all the new stuff coming from the Gamma Quadrant. Also thought this ep was a half follow up to the final ep from last season. Quark complains races never mix with Ferengi. He had a great Klingon fling here though!

My dislike for the Ferengi has an exception, and that is Armin Shimerman. He's so good. And I always think about the fact that he was playing the principal of Sunnydale High the same time he was playing Quark. That must have been a busy couple of years for him.

I always enjoyed this episode! But you are right, Keiko was kicked off with a most illogical reason. The Enterprise had an arboretum, and she worked in it. And at DS9 having a place for botanical samples - or simply hydroponics - would make even more sense! Your comments show how much society has changed in the 20 years since DS9 came out. The existence of Kira and Dax show that Star Trek could create strong, scrappy female characters - but the writers still had some limits to their imaginations. And as for the treatment of the Ferengi - some of what passed for normal back then strikes me as racist now. Think of the times that Worf or Kira or even O'Brien call Quark names?

We love comments! We moderate because of spam and trolls, but don't let that stop you! It’s never too late to comment on an old show, but please don’t spoil future episodes for newbies.

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Published Nov 3, 2023

The Best of Quark

In celebration of Armin Shimerman's birthday this weekend, we highlight our favorite Ferengi's pursuits of profit.

StarTrek.com

A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.

Rule of Acquisition #18

When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered, fans were treated to a lot of franchise firsts — a series set on a space station as opposed to a starship Enterprise , long-overarching storylines, interpersonal conflict between the crew, and a deeper understanding of other cultures outside the Federation, including the Bajorans, Cardassians, and the Ferengi.

The Ferengi were seen as irredeemable, one-dimensional villains on Star Trek: The Next Generation ; however, through the character of Quark, and his family (brother Rom, nephew Nog, and mother Ishka), viewers had the opportunity to view the Ferengi with more depth and nuance than the universe previously afforded them. The Ferengi and its strict, capitalist society proved an interesting foil to the Federation ideals.

In celebration of Armin Shimerman's birthday this weekend, we're highlighting our favorite Quark moments in pursuit of profit.

"Rules of Acquisition"

In this episode, Quark meets his match in new hire Pel (a female Ferengi masquerading as a male Ferengi) who challenges his views of a patriarchal society with her cunning and entrepreneurial spirit. Before learning her true identity, Quark feels the mounting romantic tension between the two. When exposed, Quark doesn't out Pel for violating Ferengi law in regards to wearing clothes and trying to earn profit as a woman. Knowing what the bar means to Quark, he promises Rom the bar in exchange for his silence about Pel. While he ultimately tells Pel he would not be happy with a non-traditional Ferengi wife, he feels the pang of the lost of her presence aboard the space station.

Who Mourns for Morn?

"Who Mourns for Morn?"

When the crew learns that bar fixture Morn was killed in an ion storm, Quark takes the opportunity to welcome in profit by way of hosting a memorial party for his former patron. It's during this memorial that Quark learns that Morn's entire estate was left to him.

This episode gives us another window to Quark's softer side when he comes across someone with a greater thirst for profit and greed than him — Morn's ex-wife and a host of other unsavory characters who were part of a heist with Morn. Stuck with dealing with all their tomfoolery, Quark actually comes to miss Morn, who as it turns out, faked his death in order to avoid the motley crew in hopes that Quark (and Odo) dispatches them. For his troubles, Morn regurgitates some bars of latinum for the bar owner, proving him the only one worthy of being cut in.

"House of Quark"

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

Never one to miss out an opportunity for profit, Quark takes credit for the untimely death of his patron, Kozak, who stiffed him on his tab, citing self-defense, as business booms alongside his newfound popularity with many arriving to hear his tale, despite Odo's caution that the Klingon's family may retaliate.

Soon, Kozak's brother D'Ghor and widow Grillka arrive to learn if Kozak died honorably in battle or not against the "slayer of Klingons." Taken to the Klingon homeworld against his will, Quark becomes entangled in another family's finances and drama. Unwilling to let the House of Kozak to fall, and the opportunity to lead her own House, Grillka presents Quark to the Klingon High Council stating that as Kozak's killer, he's invited to take his place, and his wife, resulting in the interim House of Quark. Doing what he does best, Quark aids Grilka in her quest by going over financial records of the House of Kozak, where he informs the widow and then the High Council that D'Ghor had been unscrupously attacking his brother's family assets for some time to weaken it for a takeover. Unable to leave Grilka in ruins, he arrives at a Council meeting to fight D'Ghor.

"The Jem'Hadar"

" Hew-mons used to be a lot worse than the Ferengi. Slavery. Concentration camps. Interstellar wars. We have nothing in our past that approaches that kind of barbarism. You see? We're nothing like you. We're better. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lock to pick. "

Star Trek never misses an opportunity to highlight what society needs to overcome to achieve its Federation ideals.

When Odo informs Quark that his request to use the station's monitors to sell merch, the bar owner finds his way to crashing Sisko's father-son trip in hopes of change the commander's opinion of him and reconsider his request. However, their camping trip on an uninhabited planet in the Gamma Quadrant runs afoul when Quark embarrasses Nog who runs off and Quark and Sisko are taken prisoner with a mysterious women. They soon learn about the Jem'Hadar and the Dominion, and their distaste of those on the other side of the wormhole encroaching on their space.

It's on this trip that Quark calls out the Federation's hypocrisy for talking about tolerance yet disproving and scorning Ferengi values, pointedly noting, "We're a constant reminder of a part of your past you'd like to forget." You can't argue with someone who's spitting facts.

"The Magnificent Ferengi"

What's a list of Quark moments without the episode where our favorite Ferengi rises to the level of action hero... who also makes a profit.

When Quark's mother Ishka is captured by the Dominion, he rallies a ragtag crew to rescue her while withholding mention that there's a substantial reward on the line should they succeed. Upon running some battle simulations in the holosuite, Quark realizes their hopes of succeeding hinges on what they do best — making a deal — as opposed to exercising brute force.

As leader of the group, Quark accounts for things like an escaped prisoner, what he couldn't account for was Rom slipping mention of the profit, and the subsequent fight among the crew and a dead bargaining chip (the aforementioned prisoner). Unwilling to leave his mother behind (and demonstrating his love for her), he utilizes each Ferengi's strength, including Nog's engineering prowess, and they return to Deep Space 9 with Ishka as well as a Vorta prisoner.

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Screen Rant

I can't believe a quark episode of star trek: ds9 contained this surprising klingon milestone.

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Star Trek's Klingon Homeworld Almost Had A Very Different Name

Star trek: deep space nine deserves more credit for a huge canon creation, i love chief o’brien, but i don't want him to come back to star trek.

• "The House of Quark" intertwines Ferengi comedy with Klingon lore, making Quark the head of a Klingon household as a puppet.
• "The House of Quark" is the only DS9 episode to feature Chancellor Gowron without Worf, and also the last episode to visit Qo'noS in seven years.
• Reasons why DS9 avoided showing Qo'noS include Worf's issues with Klingons during the Second Klingon War.

I recently rewatched Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 3, "The House of Quark" and was surprised to discover it contains a big Klingon milestone. Ronald D. Moore's surprisingly effective mash-up of Ferengi comedy and Klingon lore sees Quark (Armin Shimerman) inadvertently become the head of a Klingon household after an unwise boast gets out of hand. To drum up business in his flagging bar, Quark claims to have slain a Klingon warrior called Kozak (John Lendale Bennett), which scuppers the plans of the dead man's widow Grilka (Mary Kay Adams) to take control of his house.

Quark is then taken by Grilka to Qo'noS, where she marries him against his will so that he can sit at the head of the family as her puppet. "The House of Quark" was Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's only Klingon story until Michael Dorn joined the cast of DS9 as Lt. Commander Worf in season 4. Incidentally, "The House of Quark" is also notable for being the only Star Trek episode to feature Chancellor Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) that doesn't also have Worf in it . However, DS9 season 3, episode 4 has a much more surprising Klingon milestone than either of these.

In its first Klingon episode, Star Trek: The Next Generation proposed a name for the Klingon homeworld that thankfully didn't stick.

DS9’s “The House of Quark” Has A Surprising Klingon Milestone

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 4, "The House of Quark" is the last episode of any Star Trek show to feature Qo'noS for seven years . I found this surprising given how involved the Klingons later become in DS9 's Dominion War . In fact, Rick Berman and the studio insisted that DS9 season 4 introduced Worf and focused more heavily on the Klingons, so I find it odd that the last visit to Qo'noS took place a year earlier. And yet, the next time that Qo'noS is depicted on screen is in the pilot of Star Trek: Enterprise , "Broken Bow" in 2001 .

Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek: Enterprise acts as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, detailing the voyages of the original crew of the Starship Enterprise in the 22nd century, a hundred years before Captain Kirk commanded the ship. Enterprise was the sixth series in the Star Trek franchise overall, and the final series before a twelve-year hiatus until the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery in 2017. The series stars Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer, with an ensemble cast that includes John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, and Connor Trinneer.

To be fair to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , it took almost 24 years for the USS Enterprise to visit the Klingon homeworld in the first place. In 1990, Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Sins of the Father" was the first on-screen depiction of the Klingon homeworld . In a deleted scene from "Sins of the Father", Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) explained that for years a Starfleet officer on Qo'noS would be a death sentence, perhaps explaining why DS9 largely steered clear of the Klingon homeworld.

Released a year later, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country saw Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) stand trial on Qo'noS.

Why Star Trek: DS9 Never Had More Scenes On Qo’noS

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 4 saw the Klingon Empire break their alliance with the Federation, making them enemies once more. This would mean that Starfleet officers weren't welcome on Qo'noS for the duration of the Second Klingon War. Worf's problems with the Klingons meant that even he wouldn't be welcome on Qo'noS. Even after the alliance was restored, there was no need to visit Qo'noS as the threat from the Dominion required a regular Klingon presence in and around DS9 and the Bajoran Wormhole .

I still find it weird that Quark is the only Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character to be seen visiting Qo'noS in the show's seven seasons. Especially as Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) leads a covert mission to a Klingon base on Ty’Gokor, instead of right into the heart of Gowron's council. Ronald D. Moore had planned for Worf and Gowron's final battle in "Tacking into the Wind" to take place on Qo'noS, but the scene was cut, presumably to improve pacing. So Quark's Klingon caper remains the only Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode set on Qo'noS.

All episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Enterprise are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

*Availability in US

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

The House of Quark

After Quark accidentally kills a Klingon patron, the dead man’s wife kidnaps Quark and brings him to the Klingon Homeworld to save her house. The Klingons and the Ferengi have little in common, so an episode that compares and contrasts the two has a lot of material to mine. After many years on TNG, Ron D. Moore must be licking his chops to poke fun at the honor culture of the Klingons. These topics and more combine in The House of Quark, which has a lot of fun with its subject matter. Quark gets to be a hero, the Klingons learn a little accounting, and Keiko gets sent away for no good reason!

• Post author By Wes
• Post date 06/04/2018
• No Comments on The House of Quark

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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E03TheHouseOfQuark

Star Trek Deep Space Nine S 03 E 03 The House Of Quark » Recap

It's a slow night at Quark's, and a drunken Klingon who is close to passing out is making matters worse by not paying for his drinks. When Quark tries to talk to the Klingon about his tab, the mean drunk suddenly draws his dagger and lunges at him, only to fall over and stab himself by accident.

The Klingon's death draws a large crowd to the bar, people curious as to what exactly happened. Seeing an opportunity to drum up business, Quark weaves an elaborate lie of how he fought the Klingon and killed him in self-defense. It's enough to get the bar buzzing with customers once more. Odo warns Quark, however, that it wasn't just any Klingon who died in his bar, but Kozak, a Klingon of considerable power and influence. Quark, however, sticks to his story. When Rom asks why he would continue to commit to the falsehood after turning a profit, Quark explains that it's no longer just about making money, but having respect and prestige as a Ferengi who managed to slay a Klingon in mortal combat.

Meanwhile, O'Brien learns that Keiko has been forced to close her school due to the same lack of patronage that is affecting Quark's bar. In spite of his best efforts to cheer her up, she remains listless and without a purpose. O'Brien gets permission from Sisko to create an arboretum on the station, but Bashir tells him that it won't be enough.

Later on, however, Quark finds himself confronted by another Klingon: D'Ghor, who claims that Kozak was his brother. He is enraged that Kozak is dead and demands to know the circumstances. Fearful, Quark tells the truth. D'Ghor expresses further rage at the idea of Kozak dying in a drunken accident, as there was no honor in such a death... but if he had died in combat, it would be honorable, and he could accept that. Quark recommits to his lie and claims once more to have defeated Kozak in battle, placating D'Ghor.

Later in the evening, while Quark is counting his earnings, he is approached by another Klingon: Grilka, Kozak's widow. When she draws her dagger, Quark instinctively runs for cover. Grilka is displeased to learn that the man who allegedly killed her husband in battle was a cowardly Ferengi with a gift for lying... but that gift would be a great boon to her. Thus, she sedates and abducts Quark.

Quark awakens on the Klingon homeworld of Qo'nos in the company of Tumek, Grilka's advisor. Tumek explains that D'Ghor was no brother of Kozak, but a hated enemy who had long sought to conquer the House of Kozak and seize its power and property. D'Ghor had gained considerable influence over the years, and with Kozak dying without a male heir, the house was doomed to being taken over by D'Ghor. Had Kozak died in an accident, the Klingon High Council might have seen fit to grant special dispensation to Grilka and grant her control of the house, even though she would normally not have that right under Klingon tradition. Grilka, however, has a contingency plan: She forces Quark to wear a ceremonial robe and recite Klingonese chants, then very reluctantly kisses him. A very confused Quark learns that he and Grilka are now officially wed!

When D'Ghor makes his petition to take over the House of Kozak, Grilka interrupts the meeting to announce that she has completed the brek'tal ritual, wherein a warrior who slays the leader of a house is granted the right to marry the widow. Because D'Ghor claimed Kozak died in honorable combat, he had opened the door for the ritual to be conducted. The council, and D'Ghor in particular, are shocked to find that this warrior is actually a Ferengi. Chancellor Gowron, in particular, is flabbergasted by these developments and announces that he would need time to consider how to proceed. For the time being, the House of Kozak would be rechristened as the House of Quark.

Things are not panning out quite the way that Grilka hoped. When Grilka admits that she hadn't planned this far ahead, Quark asks what exactly was happening. Grilka explains that D'Ghor is seeking to claim a position in the High Council, increasing his influence and political clout at the expense of Kozak's. Intrigued, Quark proposes a new strategy: look through the financial records of the house for evidence of D'Ghor's acts of financial sabotage. Grilka is less than pleased with looking through some "filthy ledgers", but at a loss of any other recourse, agrees to Quark's proposal.

Quark's idea bears fruit, as a look through the ledgers reveals over five years of plots and schemes to devalue the House of Kozak's property and take on Kozak's debts for his own. Grilka is outraged: D'Ghor was sabotaging her house like a Ferengi instead of challenging her for the house's property. Quark thinks the idea ingenious, however: challenging Grilka would risk destroying the prize that he sought. With this evidence, Quark convenes with the High Council. When Gowron demands D'Ghor answer for these allegations, D'Ghor counters that Quark is lying, explaining that Kozak died in an accident and having an eyewitness to verify this: Quark's bumbling brother, Rom. Claiming his honor was insulted by Quark's "lies", D'Ghor challenges Quark to a duel.

With everything unraveling, Quark and Rom prepare to make a hasty escape. They are confronted by Grilka, who demands Quark answer D'Ghor's challenge, as it was the honorable thing to do. Quark shirks at accepting the duel, disgusting Grilka with his cowardice. She dismisses him, granting Quark an opportunity to escape.

As Gowron prepares to rule in favor of D'Ghor and permit him to take over the fallen House of Kozak, Quark suddenly returns to accept D'Ghor's challenge. The two take up bat'leths and prepare to fight, but then suddenly, Quark throws his blade aside and launches into an impassioned speech about how this duel is a sham. He has no hope of winning against D'Ghor, and forcing him to fight is nothing more than an execution. As such, he will not participate in this farce and leaves himself to D'Ghor's mercy, daring him to kill an unarmed Ferengi. D'Ghor happily accepts Quark's offer, but Gowron stops him. Disgusted at D'Ghor's willingness to kill a weak and unarmed Ferengi and realizing how truly cowardly he was, Gowron announces that D'Ghor has no honor and no place in the High Council. He crosses his arms across his chest and turns his back, the other Klingons in the High Council following suit: D'Ghor is summarily discommendated and ejected from the premises.

Impressed at Quark's bravery and recognizing that the circumstances are indeed peculiar, Gowron rules that special dispensation will be granted to Grilka, allowing her to lead her own house. Grilka, genuinely grateful to Quark, asks if there is anything she could do for him. When Quark suggests a divorce, Grilka grants it, slapping him across the face and loudly declaring their marriage dissolved in Klingonese. Afterwards, she gives Quark a kiss as thanks for his invaluable help.

• Accidental Misnaming : Gowron initially mishears Quark's name as "Quirk".
• Amicably Divorced : Grilka ritualistically slaps Quark and spits on him to signal the divorce. But then they part amicably.
• Asshole Victim : Downplayed with Kozak, who, while not a particularly bad person, was a drunken idiot who led his house into financial ruin and who pulled a knife on Quark for demanding that Kozak pay for his drinks. His own wife doesn't particularly miss him and is more annoyed that the circumstances of his death threaten the future of their House than she is affected by the death itself.
• Author Appeal : Having joined the Writers Room this Season following the end of Next Generation , Ronald D. Moore brings his Trek bread and butter (i.e. Klingon episodes) along with him.
• Batman Gambit : How Quark gets out of having to fight a duel with D'Ghor. Instead of attempting to put up a fight, he throws away his weapon, pointing out that him against D'Ghor is basically an execution anyway . By refusing to fight, he removes all pretense of D'Ghor defeating him in 'honorable combat'. When D'Ghor attempts to kill him anyways, Gowron summarily rules against him. (If you're wondering what D'Ghor should have done, since Quark refused to fight, D'Ghor should have offered him the chance to withdraw his accusation. If Quark refused, D'Ghor then could have "reluctantly" killed him, since the accusation in and of itself represented a form of attack.)
• Belligerent Sexual Tension : Mostly one-sided, as Grilka has no love for this weak Ferengi she has to marry in order to keep her House safe from D'Ghor's treachery. But by the episode's end, Grilka is genuinely grateful for what Quark did and recognizes Quark's bravery in coming back to fight for her (House's) honor.
• Berserk Button : Gowron flies into a fury during Quark's attempt to explain the ridiculously complicated evidence of D'Ghor's financial scheming. Both at Quark for making him listen to it, and at D'Ghor for potentially being guilty of it.
• Big Damn Heroes : For a split second, it almost appears as if D'Ghor will kill Quark before Gowron intervenes.
• Big Ol' Eyebrows : Grilka has some downright impressive eyebrows.
• Blatant Lies : Quark plays up Kozak's death, initially to drive up business, and later, because D'Ghor threatened him to. Odo doesn't buy that Quark killed a Klingon, even a drunken one, for a second, and both Grilka and D'Ghor see through the lie with ease.
• Book Dumb : Judging from the reactions to Quark's explanation, a knowledge of mathematics and economics is not one of the requirements for serving on the Klingon High Council. Gowron at least accepts that Quark is telling the truth, if only because he's tired of listening to it.
• Breather Episode : After several episodes in a row dealing with the looming, existential threat of the Dominion, this scene is largely a comedic romp, with Quark showing off his bravery and a sideplot without any danger.
• The Bus Came Back : In the larger context of the 24th Century era of the franchise, Gowron returns two years after his last TNG appearance .
• Character Overlap : Gowron is still chronologically the Klingon Chancellor at this point in the 24th Century Timeline, allowing him to cross over onto TNG's spinoff.
• Continuity Nod : While it's never stated what they're doing, the Klingon High Council cross their arms and turn their backs on D'Ghor just like they did to Worf when he was discommended.
• The Comically Serious : The Klingon High Council trying to wrap their heads around Quark's explanation about how D'hor had been trying to bring down the House of Kozak. Gowron quickly decides he's heard enough, walks up to D'Ghor and delivers this gem; Gowron : The charge has been made. That you have used... MONEY TO BRING DOWN A GREAT HOUSE!
• Curb-Stomp Battle : What is expected to happen between a Ferengi who barely passes the chest of a Klingon warrior. Quark, knowing this, takes a third option.
• Quark is thrown for a loop when he discovers that Klingon society finds it less objectionable that he intentionally killed Kozak in a brawl than for it to have been an accident.
• Kira doesn't understand why two human men would want to be alone to discuss women problems. Sisko has to kick her out of the room.
• In another society, particularly amongst Ferengis, D'Ghor's scheme to steal Kozak's House without killing anyone by using economics would considered acceptable if not outright admirable. Amongst Klingons , it's dishonorable and cowardly, to the point D'Ghor is sentenced to discommendation .
• Standing up to a drunken Klingon and telling him to leave was not a smart move, Quark.
• Attempting to execute an unarmed Ferengi in plain view of the Klingon High Council was also not a smart move, D'Ghor.
• D'Ghor. No respectable Klingon uses money to defeat his opponents. And no respectable Klingon would be so eager to perform an execution of an unarmed Ferengi in what was supposed to be an honorable duel.
• Initially played straight and then averted with Quark- when he is confronted with a duel with D'Ghor, he initially decides to cut his losses and run. He later changes his mind: despite his reputation as a Ferengi, and thus as people who would rather wheel and deal, or outright run - Quark uses this reputation to stand up to D'Ghor and deliver one of the best "The Reason You Suck Speeches" in Star Trek.
• Drowning My Sorrows : Kozak's brief screentime starts with him downing mug after mug of bloodwine, lamenting his dismal financial state.
• In Klingon society, dueling and war for property, lands, and titles are perfectly fine, but using money to achieve one's aims is a step too far for the Klingons.
• Klingon society may recognize 100 different forms of honor killing that are completely legal and socially acceptable but they still find murder detestable. This is bluntly pointed out from Gowron to D'Ghor when the latter is ready to execute an unarmed Quark, showing how in Klingon society, honor really is paramount: Gowron: D'Ghor, what are you doing? I did not want to believe the things he said about you yesterday, but if you can stand here and murder this pathetic little man, then you have no honor… and you have no place in this hall!
• Evil Cannot Comprehend Good : In this case, it is the "good" for Klingons. While Quark has made the claim of dishonorable behavior on D'Ghor's part, his response fails to consider what an honorable Klingon would do against a man who refuses to draw his weapon but still holds firm to his claim of dishonorable action. The "good" Klingon would have looked at Quark and asked him to withdraw the claim because while there is no physical weapon in his hands, Quark's words wound him and his family's honor. When Quark refuses, and perhaps the Klingon asks again to make sure, the "good" Klingon would then make clear his reluctance in killing Quark. By going for the quick kill, by showing no respect for Quark, D'Ghor exposes his vileness to the council and Gowron.
• Evil Virtues : D'ghor is an an honorless petaQ, but there's no denying that, by the standards of Klingons, he's smart and clever. Using the power of economics and some quick thinking after Kozak's death, he almost manages to nab a Great House and its assets, including Grilka and a seat on the Klingon High Council, without firing a shot.
• Five-Second Foreshadowing : Quark is confused when D'Ghor claims to have a witness to what really happened to Kozak. After all... Quark: (quietly to Grilka) The only other person who was there was— (Rom gets shoved into the Great Hall) Rom: (sheepishly) Hello, brother.
• Funny Background Event : When Gowron gets tired of trying to follow Quark's explanation of D'Ghor's financial trickery, he tosses the padd off to the side somewhere. Another Council member is holding the padd upside down.
• Quark's business mind is able to piece together how D'Ghor has been attacking Grilka's lands by financial means.
• Averted with the Klingon — well, most of them (D'Ghor obviously an exception). Watching Quark attempting to explain profits to them is hilarious. At least one turns the Ferengi PADD sideways in an attempt to understand it.
• The Guards Must Be Crazy : Neither Odo nor anyone else on Deep Space Nine seems to notice that Quark and Rom are abducted and taken to Qo'nos. Then again, it is Odo we're talking about. He was likely relieved to be rid of Quark.
• Hold Your Hippogriffs : Rom: Money isn't everything. Quark: If father were alive, he'd wash your mouth out with galcor.
• Played VERY straight with Klingon Honor this episode. Any like minded Ferengi would have pulled Screw This, I'm Outta Here! and Quark nearly did so.
• It's also made VERY clear that Klingon honor is not like what the modern viewer thinks of as honor . It's very much in the medieval knight/Samurai vein of reputation and Might Makes Right , with no value placed on fairness or good sportsmanship . Thus the fact that another house challenged D'Ghor's honor with its accusations is what mattered, not whether the evidence Quark provided is true .
• I Am X, Son of Y : Quark gets to use this introduction before his fight against D'Ghor. "I am Quark, son of Keldar and I am come to answer the challenge of D'Ghor, son of... whatever."
• Instant Death Stab : When Kozak falls onto his own dagger at Quark's bar, he dies instantly. It does look like the dagger pierced near to where a human heart would be, but it fits this trope all the same.
• Insult Friendly Fire : When Grilka finds out that D'Ghor has been using financial plots to attack her house. Grilka: You mean D'Ghor has been scheming and plotting like a Fe... (Remembers who she is talking to) Quark: (Proudly) Like a Ferengi.
• Irony : Quark - A Ferengi - outwits and bests D'Ghor - a Klingon who had become as Greedy as Ferengis are known to be - by being better at having a Klingon sense of Honor.
• Klingon Scientists Get No Respect : They don't much care for accountants or economists, either. One wonders who has the unenviable job of keeping the Klingon Empire's economy and finances in order.
• Meaningful Background Event : After Quark throws down his bat'leth and launches into his "The Reason You Suck" Speech , instead of focusing on Quark like almost everyone else in the room, Gowron is instead closely watching D'Ghor , likely to see what his reaction would be.
• My Rule Fu Is Stronger than Yours : D'Ghor plots to use Quark's embellished tale of Kozak's death as justification he died in honorable combat. This would deny Grilka's claim for special dispensation that would allow her to rule the house despite being a woman. Grilka then uses that fact to marry Quark under a ritual that would keep her house from becoming dead. Grilka: All I have done is follow the brek'tal ritual. If the leader of a House is slain in honourable combat, the victor may be invited to take his place and his wife. You're the one who made this possible, D'Ghor. You certified before the Council that Kozak died an honourable death at the hands of this man. I am simply exercising my rights as an honoured widow.
• Quark realizes he goofed up bad when he finds Kozak dead, then once more when his widow comes to marry him.
• This is D'Ghor's reaction when Gowron has him discommendated.
• Planet of Hats : Very interesting subversion/deconstruction. Quark (a Ferengi) and D'Ghor (a Klingon) both take off their race's hat. D'Ghor acts like a typical Ferengi (using money to try to bring down a Klingon house), while Quark shows Klingon honor and stands up to a challenge with a "The Reason You Suck" Speech that is so good even Gowron (the Klingon chancellor) commends him. "A brave Ferengi, who would have thought that possible?"
• Pragmatic Villainy : D'ghor has shades of this, favoring financial scheming as opposed to the more traditional Klingon method of raiding and plundering due to the fact that, as Quark notes, it runs the risk of destroying the very lands and property he seeks to claim.
• Put on a Bus : Keiko leaves for a six-month agrobiology expedition, along with Molly. This was written in to give O'Brien more screen time with Bashir.
• Gowron is a pretty decent ruler for a Klingon in this episode. While he fails to grasp Quark's proof of D'Ghor's shady dealings, he takes it seriously because Quark obviously put the work in and demands D'Ghor's response to the charges. When D'Ghor is about to execute Quark without a fight, Gowron is disgusted by his dishonorable intentions and immediately discommendates him.
• Sisko makes time to hear O'Brien's problems and offers to help him in any way he can.
• First Grilka gives one to Quark when he attempts Screw This, I'm Outta Here! : Grilka : I thought you were different. I thought you had something in here (points to chest). But all you have in there is a piece of Latinum. And it is a pretty small piece at that.
• Not just D'Ghor- Gowron and the High Council are perfectly willing to let D'Ghor steal Grilka's house, despite Grilka and Quark exposing the plot- as long as the letter of the law is followed. Quark is calling them out by removing any pretenses of honor.
• Right for the Wrong Reasons : Quark's gambit in his duel against D'Ghor by not fighting back and calling out the Klingons on how this duel was a sham did technically work, though not in the way Quark probably intended. His speech was intended to remove any pretense of honour from the duel by stating how it was purely for the Klingon's satisfaction and he never had a chance of winning. What actually happened was that it revealed D'Ghor's lack of honour when he tried to murder the now unarmed Ferengi without a second thought (when D'ghor should at least have offered Quark a chance to withdraw his claim at least once before "reluctantly" killing him), which is enough for Gowran and the rest of the High Council to intervene and declare that D'Ghor is without honour and discommendate him.
• Most of the Bajoran families living on DS9 move back to Bajor in the face of the Dominion threat, forcing Keiko to close her school.
• Rom and Quark attempt this after D'Ghor's challenge but Grilka initially stops them both and chews them out for trying to do so. This leads Quark to his Batman Gambit .
• Shipper on Deck : After D'Ghor is discommendated, Gowron gives special dispensation to Grilka and tells her she can be head of her house. Then adds "If that is what you want", while nodding at Quark.
• Slap-Slap-Kiss : Grilka is affectionately grateful to Quark for his defense of her House.
• Soap Punishment : When Rom says that latinum isn't everything, Quark replies that their father would've used the Ferengi equivalent on him.
• So Proud of You : Grilka says this about Quark before the duel begins.
• Swapped Roles : Quark, a Ferengi, behaves honourably like a Klingon. Meanwhile, D'Ghor, a Klingon, goes through shady dealings like a Ferengi, and is later found to have zero honour.
• Take a Third Option : Quark is forced into a duel of honor with D'Ghor, which would end either with him killing D'Ghor (very unlikely), or with D'Ghor killing him (quite likely). However, Quark comes up with a solution where he manages to point out the hypocrisy of the Klingon honor code without needing to fight at all.
• Title Drop : Played for Laughs when Gowron has trouble saying "Quark" properly.
• Undignified Death : Kozak dies because he fell on his own knife in a drunken stupor.
• You Are a Credit to Your Race : Gowron marvels at the "brave Ferengi" and treats Quark with great respect after his stunt.
• You Got Guts : Gowron is quite impressed by Quark's action. Gowron: A brave Ferengi. Who'd have thought it possible?
• You Kill It, You Bought It : The brek'tal ritual amounts to this; if a Klingon is slain in honourable combat, as D'Ghor is claiming that Kozak was, then the slayer of said warrior may marry the deceased's widow. Quark is forced to go through the motions under threat of death.
• You Wouldn't Shoot Me : Quark evokes this when forced to duel D'Ghor, stating that this fight would be little more than D'Ghor executing a Ferengi that couldn't defend himself. D'Ghor was willing to carry through, but Gowron decides that he couldn't abide this and has D'Ghor discommendated for his (dishonourable) financial dealings and attempting to murder Quark.
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The House of Quark

Quark becomes leader of a Klingon Great House after he claims he killed a Klingon in combat.

• 1.1 Characters
• 1.2 Locations
• 1.3 Races and cultures
• 1.4 States and Organizations
• 1.5 Science and classification
• 1.6 Other references
• 2.1 Related media
• 2.4 Connections
• 2.5 External links

References [ ]

Characters [ ], locations [ ], races and cultures [ ], states and organizations [ ], science and classification [ ], other references [ ], appendices [ ], related media [ ].

• " Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places " is a sequel to this episode.
• Grilka and D'Ghor later reappear in the Prophecy and Change short story " ... Loved I Not Honor More ".
• In the Star Trek Online continuity, Grilka marries Worf in 2386 and gives birth to a son, K'Dhan , the following year.
• Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko
• Nana Visitor as Kira Nerys and Iliana Ghemor
• Rene Auberjonois as Odo
• Terry Farrell as Jadzja Dax
• Alexander Siddig as Julian Bashir
• Armin Shimerman as Quark
• Max Grodénchik as Rom
• Robert O'Reilly as Gowron
• Joseph Ruskin as Tumek

Early history [ ]

Childhood [ ].

Quark was born on Ferenginar to Keldar and Ishka ; he had one younger brother , Rom .

According to StarTrek.com , Quark's birth year was c. 2333 (Terran equivalent). [1] (X)

As children, Quark and Rom roomed together, much to his own and Rom's annoyance, particularly because, Quark used to " stay up late every night, plotting and scheming. And, " Rom recalled years later to his brother, " when you think, you mumble . And if there's anything I can't stand, it's listening to you mumble. " ( DS9 : " Prophet Motive ")

Like all good Ferengi children, Quark idolized his father who tended to blame all his financial failures on his domineering wife . Quark himself grew up being teased by other children because his mother did not behave like other Ferengi females and, for example, wouldn't chew his food for him and she talked to strangers. Quark grew to resent his mother, while his brother Rom, always a more compassionate sort, tended to take her side and always seemed in her good graces. Quark complained once that while Rom got a latinum tooth sharpener , he had to make do with wooden chew sticks . ( DS9 : " Family Business ")

Ishka later recalled that when Quark was a lobeling , he used to be " such a miserable child. " ( DS9 : " Profit and Lace ")

Leaving home [ ]

Quark left his home quickly upon achieving the Age of Ascension in 2351 , while Rom stayed on for ten more years . ( DS9 : " Family Business ") His father advised him against leaving Ferenginar, noting that he could make a profit at home, but Quark ignored his advice, opting instead to follow the 75th Rule of Acquisition – " Home is where the heart is, but the stars are made of latinum " – and left Ferenginar. ( DS9 : " Civil Defense ")

When forced many years later to confront his mother over her illegal business dealings, Quark learned that his father's failures were due to his own failings as a businessman and that if it hadn't been for his mother's prudence and business sense, the family would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. Despite Keldar's short comings with respect to profits, Ishka nonetheless stood by him as he was a wonderful husband and father.

Despite their mutual animosity, Ishka noted that Quark was very much like her, both personality wise as well as with respect to having a keen eye for business, whereas Rom was more like his father: a goodhearted man without the "lobes" for business. ( DS9 : " Family Business ")

Early career [ ]

As a young man, and in accordance with the Ferengi By-Laws , section 105, subparagraph ten, Quark purchased an apprentice position with the District Sub-Nagus . True to the 33rd Rule of Acquisition, Quark " licked his [boss'] boots like you couldn't believe, " and for his effort he was doted by the Sub-Nagus, becoming his " golden boy ." While Quark earned himself a way " on the high road to the top of the Ferengi business world. "

Unfortunately, he forgot the 112th Rule of Acquisition: " Never have sex with the boss's sister . " Disgraced, Quark was fired and broke, and his world fell apart, later admitting " you only get one shot at the latinum stairway . If you miss it, you miss it. " ( DS9 : " Playing God ")

According to Quark, he " was a young man, no older than [ Arjin ]. " According to the episode's script Arjin was in his twenties.

During the mid- 2350s , Quark served for eight years aboard a Ferengi freighter . A fact he shared with Odo, when Odo was surprised to learn Quark knew how to operate transporter controls . Quark admitted that " I must have witnessed the procedure hundreds of times. " ( DS9 : " Babel ")

As the ship's cook , Quark commonly carried a disruptor pistol with him at all times, because (in Quark's words) " every member of the freighter's crew thought himself a food critic . " ( DS9 : " The Way of the Warrior ")

It was also during this period that Ferenginar was hit by the Great Monetary Collapse , where he was "hundreds of light years away", and during which time, he suffered great heartbreak "knowing that rampant inflation and currency devaluation were burning like wildfires through the lush financial landscapes of my home. It still depresses me even today. I remember thinking my accounts needed me, and there was nothing I could do. I felt so, so helpless." ( DS9 : " Homefront ")

One of Quark's early business ventures was a plot, where he, along with his cousin Barbo , sold defective warp drives to the Tarahongian government . Following the discovery, Barbo was betrayed by Quark to the authorities, and Barbo was left to rot behind the bars of a detention center while Quark kept all the profits. ( DS9 : " The Nagus ")

In 2362 , Quark and his business partner Fallit Kot together schemed to hijack a shipment of Romulan ale . Not entirely successful, Quark gave up Kot to the Romulans to avoid serving prison time, while Kot was arrested and sentenced to eight years in a Romulan prison. ( DS9 : " Melora ")

The same year, Quark loaned his cousin Gaila an amount of latinum to start up a munitions consortium . Gaila promised Quark to pay him back in a shuttle should he become a success. ( DS9 : " Little Green Men ")

Quark's Bar [ ]

Cardassian occupation [ ].

Never able to fully recover from his failed apprenticeship , Quark's most lucrative opportunity came along around early 2363 when he became the proprietor and bartender of Quark's Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holosuite Arcade – better known simply as "Quark's" – located on the Promenade of the Cardassian space station Terok Nor in orbit of Bajor . ( DS9 : " The Magnificent Ferengi ")

Quark stated that he was reminded of a "little economic episode" that happened "say, oh, eleven or twelve years ago, shortly before I came on the station."

Shortly after his arrival, Quark began selling food illegally to the Bajorans . ( DS9 : " Profit and Loss ") He later justified his actions, stating that " I ran a black market for anyone who could pay. Never exactly thought of myself as kind. " That included adding a " little extra ginger tea " to a package he once gave Vaatrik Pallra . ( DS9 : " Necessary Evil ") It was also during this time he became romantically involved with Natima Lang , an agent of the Cardassian Communication Service . Taking advantage of her position, he stole her personal access codes to steal money from the Cardassian government . ( DS9 : " Profit and Loss ") He also had good "business" relations with a Cardassian Military officer named Boheeka whose career Quark accidentally ruined. ( DS9 : " The Wire ")

In 2364 , Morn walked into the bar and sat down at Quark's bar for the very first time. Though Quark thought that "he was just another customer passing through," years later , he reminisced that " Little did I know he'd become such an important figure in my life, " as he " was always someone we could count on for a cheerful smile and an entertaining story. " ( DS9 : " Who Mourns for Morn? ")

Quark mimicking the Odo 's Cardassian neck trick .

In 2365 , Kira Nerys , a member of the Bajoran underground , paid Quark to cover her with an alibi . While Odo was investigating Vaatrik 's murder , he entered Quark's. Despite trying to be casual and discreet, he was unable to hide his role and connection to Dukat . Asked about Kira, Quark insinuated that she was performing a sexual favor for him as an added "incentive" for him to hire her. Odo however knew more about Kira and realized that Quark was lying . Years later, when confronted with the truth, Quark admitted that Kira paid him to provide her with an alibi . ( DS9 : " Necessary Evil ")

Quark as he appeared in 2366

In 2366 , Quark picked three Bajoran laborers to work at his bar, offering " Twelve hours of work, two five-minute breaks , one slip of latinum each. " ( DS9 : " Things Past ")

The same year, Quark was visited by Livara , a known smuggler and Romulan spy who posed as the captain of a Talavian freighter , who started to work in the Cardassian occupied Bajoran sector . Quark was uneasy about the prospect of Livara's co-conspirators being brought in for "questioning", since Livara had offered to sell Quark maraji crystals . ( DS9 : " Things Past ")

Federation-control [ ]

Quark closing up his bar

Quark was considering closing his bar and leaving the station following the departure of the Cardassians and the station's occupation by the Federation . However, the station's new commander, Benjamin Sisko , coerced him into staying and keeping his bar establishment open, essentially blackmailing him with the fact that his nephew, Nog, was incarcerated aboard the station at that time. ( DS9 : " Emissary ")

He later became involved with Rao Vantika who had taken over Bashir's body in a smuggling operation. ( DS9 : " The Passenger ")

A holographic Kira gone horribly wrong

Quark helped Verad and his cohorts to board the station illegally because he thought he was buying contraband goods. In reality, Verad wished to steal the Dax symbiont , with Quark helping the crew stop Verad and thus saving Jadzia's life by faking an injury so that he could be taken to sickbay and allow Bashir to immobilize one of Verad's team, subsequently releasing Odo from the container he'd been trapped in. Quark also ran a crooked racquetball game between O'Brien and Bashir in order to steal customers from a rival bar. He tried to make a sexual holoprogram of Kira without her permission in order to sell it to one of his best customers, named Tiron . This plan was foiled when Kira substituted Quark's head onto the image of her body. Quark also tried to cheat the Wadi , the first race that made contact from the Gamma Quadrant. When they visited his bar, he cheated them at dabo . When the Wadi found out, they made Quark play the Wadi game chula with some of the station's personnel used as game pieces. Quark believed that it was a life and death game, but in the end, it turned out to be harmless. ( DS9 : " Invasive Procedures ", " Rivals ", " Move Along Home ", " Meridian ")

In 2369, Quark became involved with Vash . She had returned from the Gamma Quadrant where she had spent time with Q . He arranged an auction to sell off some of the items she brought back with her. One of the items was a crystal that caused a gravimetric power drain on the station. It was beamed out into space before it destroyed the station. ( DS9 : " Q-Less ")

Quark as a temporary Nagus

Also in 2369, Quark became Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance after the apparent retirement of Grand Nagus Zek . Unfortunately for him, this was only a temporary position, as Zek had faked his death in order to test his son Krax . ( DS9 : " The Nagus ")

When Quark's former business partner Fallit Kot returned to the station in 2370 , he attempted to kill Quark, but instead entered into a business deal with him. The deal turned bad when Fallit Kot killed one of the partners and kidnapped Melora Pazlar and Jadzia Dax , holding them as hostages . ( DS9 : " Melora ")

When Major Kira asked Quark to hire the Bajoran musician Varani in the hope that Varani's music would help her people recuperate in the wake of the Cardassian Occupation, profits declined sharply. Mesmerized by Varani's beautiful playing, the customers in Quark's Bar stopped gambling, eating and drinking as they enjoyed the soothing melodies. Quark panicked and got hold of Kira as soon as possible; although she made him keep his promise to hire Varani for a full month, Kira asked the man to play something livelier, which met with Quark's approval. ( DS9 : " Sanctuary ")

That same year, the Skrreea refugees came aboard Deep Space 9 in droves, which Quark found thoroughly distasteful. On top of not buying anything, the former residents of the Gamma Quadrant flaked and left dead skin all over his bar; tensions came to a head when his nephew Nog provoked a Skrreean boy into a fight. Quark was more than happy to see the Skrreea leave the station several days later. ( DS9 : " Sanctuary ")

This year also marked Quark's first trade negotiation with the Dominion , when he was designated as Zek's chief negotiator in talks with the Dosi . With the help of Pel , a female Ferengi disguised as a male, he tried to buy wine from the Dosi. At the time, it was illegal for Ferengi females to do business, and Quark almost got into trouble with the Grand Nagus. He briefly became romantically involved with Pel. ( DS9 : " Rules of Acquisition ")

Quark was almost murdered after he retrieved a list of collaborators from the station for a Bajoran woman named Pallra . This incident reopened a five-year old murder case. ( DS9 : " Necessary Evil ")

Quark contacted by the Enterprise -D

In 2370, Quark, via a communication from Deep Space 9 to the USS Enterprise -D , provided Commander William T. Riker with the location of the Duras sisters , Lursa and B'Etor . While communicating with Riker, Quark voided his winnings from playing dabo at his bar. ( TNG : " Firstborn ")

Not only was Quark the first to deal with the Dominion via the wine sale with the Dosi, he, along with Benjamin Sisko, was one of the first to meet the soldiers of the Dominion. During a camping trip in the Gamma Quadrant, he and Sisko were captured by the Jem'Hadar . They were rescued along with an alien named Eris . After returning to the station, it was Quark who found out that Eris, a Vorta , was an agent of the Dominion (albeit because he had been studying a device that she claimed had been blocking her telekinetic abilities in the hopes of duplicating and selling it only to determine that the device didn't actually do anything). ( DS9 : " The Jem'Hadar ") Quark also tried to con Ensign Harry Kim into buying worthless Lobi crystals when he visited Quark's in 2371 - nearly blackmailing him into buying the entire set by threatening diplomatic consequences when the ensign mentioned having been warned about Ferengi as a Starfleet Academy cadet - but Kim was saved from his scam by Tom Paris , who, once the two were out of earshot, expressed surprise that Kim had apparently failed to heed the warnings about Ferengi issued at the Academy. ( VOY : " Caretaker ")

Quark deals with family business

Quark had many dealings with Grand Nagus Zek and Brunt , the Ferengi Commerce Authority 's chief liquidator. Quark helped Zek regain his senses after he was affected by the Prophets and re-wrote the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. The new rules were in direct contrast to the old ones that emphasized greed. Quark was able to convince the Prophets to change Zek back. Later that year, he met Brunt, who was investigating Ishka, Quark's mother, who violated Ferengi law by earning profit. Quark got his mother out of trouble when she agreed to give back the profits, or so Quark and Brunt thought, for she kept two-thirds. ( DS9 : " Prophet Motive ", " Family Business ")

Disarming the warhead

He later helped disarm a Jem'Hadar torpedo that was stuck in the hull of the USS Defiant , saving the ship from destruction. ( DS9 : " Starship Down ")

Brunt showed up to make Quark's life miserable in 2372 when Quark's employees, led by Rom, formed a labor union . The employees refused to dissolve the union even after Brunt threatened them. As a result, Brunt had his Nausicaan thugs beat Quark to show the employees what could happen to them. Quark secretly conceded to the demands of the workers and they in turn dissolved the union. Later that year, Quark was told he had a fatal illness. He auctioned off his body parts to the highest bidder, not knowing that it was Brunt. When he found out that it was a mistake and he did not have the illness, Brunt still insisted that he keep the contract by killing himself or Brunt would revoke Quark's business license for breaking the contract and a supreme Ferengi law and he would not be allowed to earn profits. Quark ultimately broke the contact and Brunt confiscated everything in his bar. Quark was able to reopen with the help of his friends on the station. ( DS9 : " Bar Association ", " Body Parts ")

Quark surgically altered to appear female

In return for restoring his license, Quark tried to break up his mother and Zek, who had fallen in love. He later learned that Zek was becoming forgetful, and Ishka had been helping him. Brunt wanted the relationship over with so that Zek could not function, and Brunt could become Nagus. Once again, Quark foiled Brunt's grab at power, but he kept his license. In 2374, Brunt again tried to become Nagus. He had Zek deposed because Zek was promoting female rights. Quark was surgically altered to temporarily become female and as Lumba , she convinced Nilva , one of the most influential Ferengi, to support Zek, and was returned to power. ( DS9 : " Ferengi Love Songs ", " Profit and Lace ")

As the resident bartender, Quark concocted new beverages from time to time. One of his less successful creations was " Quarktajino ", a self-named decaffeinated version of raktajino . He created the drink at the request of Chief O'Brien, who wanted Major Kira to stop drinking caffeinated beverages while she carried his child . Both the chief and the major thought the drink tasted horrible, and O'Brien refused to pay for it. ( DS9 : " Nor the Battle to the Strong ")

Quark is surrounded by tribbles.

Advertisements for Quark's are not well received

Quark, his brother Rom and his nephew Nog were once transported in time to Earth of 1947 . This became known in Earth history as the Roswell Incident . ( DS9 : " Little Green Men ")

Quark became involved with an arms dealer named Hagath when his cousin Gaila offered him a job with Hagath when Gaila retired from the business. Although Quark's new role helped him cope with his recent financial issues, he eventually helped break up the arms ring when he was horrified to realize that money was being made by people's deaths, coupled with the realization that he had lost many of his allies among the station's crew due to their disgust at his new role.Quark risked his life to intentionally sabotage an arms deal for the Regent of Palamar , which ended up getting him killed, thereby saving approximately 28 million lives. ( DS9 : " Business as Usual ")

Quark also visited the mirror universe . His counterpart there had been killed by the Alliance. He and Rom were able to rescue the Nagus from the Alliance and help the rebels capture the leader of the Alliance. ( DS9 : " The Emperor's New Cloak ")

Dominion War [ ]

Quark and his team of Ferengi commandos

After the Dominion captured Deep Space 9, Quark remained on the station and continued to run the bar, pleased at the flow of income that the Dominion occupation of DS9 had brought his business. When Kira challenged him on this point, Quark, showing a rarely seen softer side to his personality, responded honestly that he missed the Starfleet personnel just like she did but, at least the Dominion occupation was nowhere near as brutal as the previous Cardassian occupation had been. Quark was instrumental in turning the tide against the Dominion. Quark cunningly obtained secret information from Damar by sharing a bottle of Kanar with him. Quark learned that Damar was bringing down the minefield. He also discovered how and when it was coming down, which he quickly informed the Deep Space 9 resistance cell .

It was Quark who suggested they get a message out to Starfleet. Together, they figured out a way to get a secret message to Captain Sisko by using Morn as the carrier. Sisko then formulated Operation Return , thereby saving the Alpha Quadrant. ( DS9 : " Behind the Lines ")

He also aided in helping the Defiant retake the station, when he freed Kira and Rom from the holding cells during the attack and they were able to deactivate the weapons on the station. ( DS9 : " Sacrifice of Angels ")

Later, he led a group of Ferengi in rescuing Ishka from the Dominion, for an exchange at Empok Nor . ( DS9 : " The Magnificent Ferengi ")

Quark got involved with Morn's former associates, thinking Morn was dead, and went looking for the latinum they had stolen in a heist with Morn. He also participated on Sisko's baseball team when they played against Sisko's Vulcan rival in the holosuite . ( DS9 : " Who Mourns for Morn? ", " Take Me Out to the Holosuite ")

He later accompanied Worf on a mission to destroy the Dominion shipyards so that Jadzia could enter Sto-vo-kor . ( DS9 : " Shadows and Symbols ")

Quark is drawn into the fight

Quark's moment of truth came in 2375 during the siege of AR-558 . During a savage Jem'Hadar attack, he saved Nog, who was wounded, by killing a Jem'Hadar who had entered into the infirmary. ( DS9 : " The Siege of AR-558 ")

In a scene cut from Star Trek: Insurrection , it was established that Quark traveled to the Ba'ku planet aboard the USS Ticonderoga , where he hoped to build a spa. Jean-Luc Picard told him that the Federation would not allow him to do so, and the USS Enterprise -E took him back to Deep Space 9.

Later that year, Quark was visited by Grand Nagus Zek on Deep Space 9, thinking he would be named his successor. Instead, Rom became Nagus. ( DS9 : " The Dogs of War ")

At the end of the war, he remained on the station. Colonel Kira, who assumed command, told Quark she would watch his every move. Quark stated that the more things change, the more they stay the same. ( DS9 : " What You Leave Behind ")

During the novel Unity , part of the Deep Space Nine relaunch , Quark was named as the Ferengi ambassador to Bajor, with the bar becoming the official Ferengi embassy. He did not have diplomatic immunity.

Later life [ ]

By 2380 , Quark had diversified into working model kits of Starfleet ships and installations. On the top of the box, the packaging featured 'QUARK' on the top left corner, the 'A' replaced with a simplified Starfleet insignia , and an "Authentic Kit" claimer on the bottom left corner, along with the Starfleet insignia. One kit available was the USS Cerritos with parts to create functional lights, a computer system (with verbal output ), phaser banks , and warp nacelles capable of propulsion. These were powered by a miniature warp core that could be ejected and destroyed by a warp core breach ; the nacelles were known to be hot to the touch after operation, as was the warp core. At least some of the ship's past and present crew were also included as miniatures at the time the kit was released, such as Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler . Another kit that was available was of Deep Space 9, which included miniatures of both Ezri and Jadzia Dax. ( LD : " An Embarrassment Of Dooplers ")

Considering Quark's fondness for both Jadzia and Ezri, it is quite likely that it was his personal input to have both included in the DS9 kit.

By 2381 , Quark had a franchise chain of his original bar called 'Quark's Bar', such as an establishment on Qualor II , another on Starbase 25 and had a total of 21 such franchises across the Alpha Quadrant at the time. In 2399 there was one on Freecloud . ( LD : " We'll Always Have Tom Paris ", " An Embarrassment Of Dooplers "; PIC : " Stardust City Rag ")

He also had a Quark's Express line of smaller establishments. As part of his growing renown, he had a gift shop added to his bar on DS9 that offered Quark memorabilia for sale. A system of 'Quark Bucks' could be used for the gift shop instead of gold-pressed latinum . ( LD : " Hear All, Trust Nothing ")

In 2381, a Karemma delegate came onboard Deep Space 9 with the intent on reopening post-war trade negotiations with the Federation. When it was discovered a brand-new replicator Quark used, the Quark 2000 , used Karemma technology, the Karemma disabled both the station and the USS Cerritos and captured Quark in the confusion. The Karemma were stopped by Ensign D'Vana Tendi , who unwittingly stowed away on their ship with fellow ensigns Sam Rutherford and Mesk . Upon learning that the Karemma intended on arresting Quark for his theft, Captain Carol Freeman negotiated for Quark's freedom in exchange for 76% of all his franchises' profits, a deal everyone was happy with, except for Quark. ( LD : " Hear All, Trust Nothing ")

In 2399, Cristóbal Rios ' fabricated interfacer legend also contained a reference from Quark – referred to as "Mr. Quark of Ferenginar ", according to which Rios had helped him in some trouble with the Breen to Quark's satisfaction. According to Rios, it had been quite a foofaraw . ( PIC : " Stardust City Rag ")

In 2401 , Quark was identified as a known associate of the Ferengi Sneed in his Starfleet Criminal Record . ( PIC : " Disengage ")

According to Shimerman, Dorn floated the idea of Worf killing Quark rather than Sneed. " Dorn called me up and said, ‘I’m doing an episode of Picard where I kill off a Ferengi. Wouldn’t it be great if it were you?’ I said no, it would not be great. I told him just to forget about that idea altogether. " [2]

According to an extremely unreliable, unverified and likely fictitious account , on the bridge of the USS Enterprise ; when a Post Mainframe Acid-Cardassian Ten Forwardcore band was playing a song , Quark was shown in a playback on the main viewer that showed him holding a key chain with a heart shape on it. ( VST : " Walk, Don't Run ")

While being a typical Ferengi who zealously adheres to the Rules of Acquisition, Quark is more intelligent and crafty than many of his race in addition to being an extremely irritable and cynical individual, especially when comes to his complicated relationships with his family. Unlike his mother, Ishka, brother Rom and nephew Nog, who fully embraced Federation values of equality and generosity, Quark saw himself as a bastion of traditional Ferengi business practices. He relished flouting the law, held his mother in contempt for daring to wear clothes and perform business deals, and was a firm believer in the fundamental law of Ferengi culture: once you have their money, you never give it back. He threatened to dock his brother's pay when he nearly died of an ear infection. ( DS9 : " Bar Association ", " Body Parts ")

He particularly loathed the Federation, which he expressed in his hatred for root beer , a cloying, bubbly, sickly sweet force bent on corrupting the core of Ferengi culture. ( DS9 : " The Way of the Warrior ", " Facets ")

Nonetheless, by Ferengi standards, Quark was a compassionate and generous man who is occasionally open to business deals with highly favorable terms even up to being willing to sell needed supplies at cost to parties in difficult circumstances. ( DS9 : " Profit and Loss ") Quark also negotiated and gave into many of the demands of the union formed by his brother Rom at his bar. ( DS9 : " Bar Association ") This behavior was considered anathema to the Ferengi authorities, especially to Brunt , an agent of the Ferengi Commerce Authority who persecuted Quark numerous times and inflicted severe punishments on him for his deviance. His time in destitution, and the aid offered him by his Starfleet friends, made Quark realize the nature of his conscience and the value of friendship. ( DS9 : " Body Parts ")

Personal relationships [ ]

Friendships [ ].

Morn was perhaps Quark's oldest friend and patron. Morn first entered Quark's in 2364 during the Occupation. When he first saw him, he thought he was just another customer, but Quark didn't realize how important he'd be. In many ways, Morn was a mascot for the bar, and sales often dipped when he was away on business trips, prompting Quark to buy a holographic representation of the barfly. Morn thought highly of Quark and in fact named him his sole heir (at least when he faked his death). When Quark first met Morn, he had a full head of hair, but after the Lissepian Mother's Day Heist , Morn lost his hair because he stored his latinum in his second stomach. Quark did obtain a hair growth formula for his patron but was skeptical of his desire to grow his hair back. Morn was known for being quite chatty, which occasionally annoyed Quark. There was one minor hiccup in their relationship: Quark repeated a rumor that the Dominion was planning to attack the station, causing Morn to break a bar stool over his head then run naked across the Promenade yelling " We're all doomed! " Then Morn ran into the Bajoran temple and prayed for deliverance. Quark trusted Morn enough to allow him to run the bar while he, Rom, and Nog took a trip to Earth. In an alternate timeline, Quark eventually sold his bar to Morn. ( DS9 : " Who Mourns for Morn? ", " Blaze of Glory ", " Little Green Men ", " The Visitor ")

Jadzia Dax [ ]

Quark and Dax had a long-term friendship while together on the station. She understood and liked Ferengi. She spent long hours with Quark playing tongo and dabo. Quark often confided in Jadzia and asked her advice. Quark was infatuated with Jadzia, but she thought of him as a friend, and did not return his romantic feelings. ( DS9 : " Valiant ", " Tears of the Prophets ") When she was killed, Quark was extremely upset. He participated in attacking a Dominion shipyard to honor her and help her gain entrance to Sto-vo-kor . ( DS9 : " Image in the Sand ", " Shadows and Symbols ") The only major interruption in their friendship occurred when Quark became business partners with Gaila and Hagath in their arms dealing operation. Dax was utterly disgusted to discover that Quark participated in that industry and refused to even speak to him. However, once Quark managed to double-cross Hagath and Gaila and leave the business they resumed their friendship. ( DS9 : " Business as Usual ")

Ezri Dax [ ]

When Ezri Dax came aboard the station Quark was immediately attracted to her. However, he faced both Worf and Julian Bashir as rivals for her affection. In fact, he even attempted to enlist divine help in eliminating Bashir as a romantic rival. Quark's feelings were not totally unrequited, and Ezri maintained a friendly relationship with the Ferengi. ( DS9 : " The Emperor's New Cloak ")

Kira Nerys [ ]

Quark getting reprimanded by Kira

Kira Nerys had a cool relationship with Quark that was initially hostile based on her considering him to have "collaborated" with the Cardassians during the occupation of Bajor. ( DS9 : " Shadowplay ") This antagonism was also influenced by the sexist attitude of Ferengi toward females. ( DS9 : " Rules of Acquisition ") She was not beyond taking advantage of his connections and unique skills, however, and even asked him to hack into the Vedek Assembly database on one occasion. ( DS9 : " The Collaborator ")

When Quark became aware of important information about how the Dominion would bring down the minefield, he decided to help Kira before Operation Return . Her attitude towards him further softened when he rescued her (as well as Rom, Leeta, and Jake) out of Terok Nor's holding cells. ( DS9 : " Behind the Lines ", " Sacrifice of Angels ") This act influenced her to recommend the Federation aid him by providing a Vorta POW to exchange for his mother when she was taken hostage by the Dominion later that year. ( DS9 : " The Magnificent Ferengi ")

It was thanks to Quark that Kira would come to her senses and realize the true nature of Bareil Antos when he was planning to steal a Bajoran Orb. Specifically, Quark commented that he had noticed Bareil was spending a lot of time at the Bajoran shrine and that it looked to Quark as though Bareil were "casing" it as to find the best way to break into it. ( DS9 : " Resurrection ")

Julian Bashir [ ]

When Julian Bashir met Quark, they had little, if any, interaction. However, over time Quark and Bashir got on more friendly terms, which usually involved Quark offering Bashir a new holosuite program, which Bashir would occasionally deny. Although Quark was known to deal with illegal substances, he found it awkward to ask Bashir for bio-mimetic gel at the request of Altovar , and when Bashir refused, Quark apologized for interrupting his lunch with Garak . Another sign of the doctor and Ferengi's friendship was when Quark's business license was taken away, Bashir gave him some brandy to keep the bar running. ( DS9 : " Distant Voices ", " Body Parts ")

Other signs of friendship included the fact that Quark allowed Bashir to keep his dart board in his bar, where Bashir played darts with Chief Miles O'Brien. In addition, both become jealous of Jadzia and Worf's marriage, and even more jealous and upset after they announced that they wanted to have a baby. ( DS9 : " Tears of the Prophets ")

After Jadzia died, both Quark and Bashir (and O'Brien) decided to help her get into Sto-Vo-Kor , to Worf's disapproval. ( DS9 : " Shadows and Symbols ")

Quark later became increasingly jealous of Bashir and Ezri's blossoming friendship, going as far as to bribe his god to get Bashir off the station for a while so he could impress Ezri. ( DS9 : " The Emperor's New Cloak ")

Jake Sisko [ ]

Quark was opposed to the fact that Jake and Nog became fast friends on the station. That said, as Jake grew, he learned to tolerate the boy. As Jake grew older, he could sometimes be found in Quark's, offering observations or giving the Ferengi some advice. Jake once attempted to use Quark for character research in order to better understand the criminal mind. ( DS9 : " The Sound of Her Voice ")

Romance [ ]

Natima lang [ ].

Quark and Natima Lang embrace in 2370

Quark had had a one-month love affair with Natima Lang in 2363, which ended when he stole Cardassian Communication Service money using her access codes. She admired him for selling food to the Bajorans before she realized he was doing it just for profit. When she returned to the station with some of her students in 2370, Natima was still very upset at him for betraying her, but she eventually forgave him due to Quark's advances and they attempted to rekindle their relationship. Unfortunately, Lang was forced to leave Quark again to flee the Cardassian authorities with her students for being political dissenters. Even though he initially resisted the idea of losing her again, Quark reluctantly helped them escape by giving them a cloaking device to get them past a Cardassian warship. ( DS9 : " Profit and Loss ")

Quark had his next romantic fling with Grilka , a Klingon , whose husband Kozak , Quark had killed accidentally. In danger of losing her house and property, she kidnapped Quark and married him. D'Ghor , brother to Kozak, wanted to inherit his brother's property. Quark proved that D'Ghor was trying to bring down the House of Kozak by financial means. Grilka was given her house back, divorced Quark, and gave him a passionate kiss for his help. Two years later, Grilka returned to the station to ask Quark's help in the financial aspects of her house. They spent a great deal of time together – so much so that one of her bodyguards challenged Quark to combat. Using a special device, Worf was able to control Quark's body and help him win the combat. Grilka and Quark resumed their affair. ( DS9 : " The House of Quark ", " Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places ")

After the incident of exposing D'Ghor's crimes at considerable personal risk, Quark gained considerable respect in the Klingon community as a Ferengi of unusual bravery. ( DS9 : " The House of Quark ")

In the DS9 relaunch novel series, Quark began a romantic relationship with Ro Laren after she became security chief on board the station, Ro reflecting that she was attracted to Quark due to how sincere he was in his insincerity. However, they eventually broke up because Ro recognized that, while she liked Quark as he was, she didn't approve of his habit of constantly thinking about how to get what he wanted from people.

Adversaries [ ]

Odo and Quark in 2369

From the time they met aboard Terok Nor, Odo and Quark were bitter adversaries. When Odo came to Quark's looking for the proprietor, the fact that Odo was asking questions related to a murder alerted Quark that this was the shapeshifter conducting an investigation for Gul Dukat . When Quark identified Odo as the one he heard could do a Cardassian neck trick – one that would be very popular at the bar – Odo was annoyed. In their initial meeting, it was obvious that the two would not get along. As time went on, Odo was the only person among the station's security force whose vigilance Quark did not believe he could overcome when conducting criminal activities, due in part to Odo's status as a Changeling . On one occasion during a dream sequence, Odo has the satisfaction of seeing Quark trapped in a security cell...and unable to get out!

Through the years, though, they gained a mutual respect for each other. They enjoyed insulting each other, and Quark felt that Odo was the closest he could get to a best friend. Their relationship fluctuated as much as a love/hate one would. Quark was also one of the few people who suspected Odo's feelings toward Kira and encouraged him to reveal them to Kira. Quark was also one of few people who believed that Odo was innocent when an old enemy of Odo's, Ibudan , was found murdered ( DS9 : " A Man Alone ").

Quark engaged in numerous shady ventures that Constable Odo routinely interrupted.

For instance, in 2369, Quark attempted to buy a stolen crystal through a pair of Miradorn , Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel , but he was suspiciously honest and would not pursue the deal without a bill of sale. When Croden , a visitor from the Gamma Quadrant interrupted the transaction to steal the crystal, it was revealed that Odo had been posing as a glass and was in the room; though Quark went free due to his "legal" behavior, he had in fact hired Croden to steal the jewel. ( DS9 : " Vortex ")

Quark trapped with Odo on a class L planet

In 2371, Odo caught Quark, along with Morn, attempting to stage a Vole fight , which was illegal on the station. ( DS9 : " Through the Looking Glass ") Despite incidents such as these, Odo let the Ferengi "get away" with a transaction every now and then. ( DS9 : " The Sound of Her Voice ")

When they were both marooned on an inhospitable planet, they saved each other's lives and eventually were able to send out a distress call, saving them both. ( DS9 : " The Ascent ")

As Odo left the station to join the Great Link, Quark found him to say good-bye. He stated that Odo loved him, which he probably did. Odo later admitted to Kira before entering the Great Link that he would miss everyone aboard DS9, even Quark. ( DS9 : " Crossfire ", " The Ascent ", " What You Leave Behind ")

Quark's greatest rival was FCA Liquidator Brunt. Brunt almost seemed to delight in making Quark's life miserable. This included blackmailing Quark into trying to stop his mother's business activities and having Nausicaan goons physically assault Quark in retaliation for allowing a strike to linger. Perhaps Brunt's greatest "triumph" over Quark involved revoking his FCA business license for violating the terms of contract that would have allowed Brunt to legally kill Quark. Because of Ishka's influence with Grand Nagus Zek, Brunt was terminated from his position as an FCA liquidator. When Brunt walked into the bar when Quark was preparing a rescue team to rescue Ishka, Brunt called them "a child, a moron, a failure, and a psychopath ." He eventually rose to become acting Grand Nagus after a coup led by Zek's political enemies, but thanks to Quark soon lost his job. When Brunt believed that Quark was going to succeed Zek, he immediately attempted to get on Quark's good side and did his best to suck up to him. ( DS9 : " Family Business ", " Bar Association ", " Body Parts ", " The Magnificent Ferengi ", " Profit and Lace ", " The Dogs of War ")

Benjamin Sisko [ ]

Benjamin Sisko was not especially fond of Quark, but he tolerated the Ferengi entrepreneur. Sisko essentially blackmailed Quark to remain on the station, threatening to send Nog to prison for an attempted break in and theft of ore samples. In exchange for the boy's freedom, Quark agreed to become a community leader, and would not face any Starfleet interference if he ran fair games. ( DS9 : " Emissary ") Sisko used Quark when he needed to, such as in making first contact with the Founders through the Karemma or in bribing Quark to drop assault charges against Grathon Tolar so that there would be no record of his presence on the station. ( DS9 : " The Search, Part I ", " In the Pale Moonlight ")

However, Sisko did not grant Quark a blank check, and could punish Quark as he needed. For example, he threatened to collect back rent if Quark did not settle the strike crippling his bar. ( DS9 : " Bar Association ") Furthermore, when the Bajoran Provisional Government instructed Odo to drop arms dealing charges against Quark (presumably on the behest of Hagath), Sisko gave Quark a very stern warning that any minor infraction would be met with a harsh punishment. Later, when he dressed down Quark's charges and accusations, Sisko was happy (deep down) that he severed all business ties with Hagath, and forgave the Ferengi. But he didn't let him go without punishment, citing that certain repairs in a cargo bay would have been substantial. When Quark offered to pay "in installments", Sisko agreed fully. ( DS9 : " Business as Usual ")

If it wasn't for Quark, Sisko would not be alive for the Federation's conflict against the Dominion, something for which even Sisko was grateful. Both the Ferengi and Sisko essentially uncovered the first Vorta encountered as a Dominion spy. ( DS9 : " The Jem'Hadar ")

When Quark's business license was revoked, Sisko was kind enough to be among those who helped Quark reopen his bar. ( DS9 : " Body Parts ")

Worf turning away in disgust of Quark

In general, Quark was a "shade of gray" aboard the station, something to which Worf did not easily become accustomed to. Just as Odo let Quark get away with things, Quark gave Odo tip-offs occasionally, if only because the Rules of Acquisition stated, " Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies. " Worf, who was unaccustomed to Quark's nature, became frustrated that Odo did nothing while Quark was conducting a black-market deal with a Markalian criminal. The Klingon interrupted the deal to arrest them, only to find that the bag in which Quark had been holding his latinum was Odo, who had wanted to use Quark to infiltrate a larger smuggling ring and now had to settle for the middle-man due to Worf's interference. ( DS9 : " Rules of Acquisition ", " Hippocratic Oath ", " Crossfire ")

In the words of Julian Bashir, Quark was not exactly Worf's "favorite person." Possibly stemming from Klingon prejudice about Ferengi, that they were dishonorable and obsessed with money, Worf tried to keep his contact with Quark to a minimum. A few run-ins occurred, such as when Quark modified the replicators on the Defiant to dispense Quark's theme merchandise. Worf was insulted when Jadzia Dax proposed to get married in Quark's Bar. Furthermore, Worf was not very happy when Quark attempted to join on Worf's quest to have Jadzia's soul sent to Sto-vo-kor . However, Worf did help Quark from time to time, such as teaching him about Klingon courtship rituals and even apologized to Quark for acting rude to him. ( DS9 : " Bar Association ", " Hippocratic Oath ", " You Are Cordially Invited ", " Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places ", " Shadows and Symbols ")

Quark loved his brother, but like a good Ferengi, treated him like a servant . Quark often swindled Rom out of his share of the profits. In fact, Rom's contract for Quark's Bar actually stated that everything that went wrong in the bar was Rom's fault. ( DS9 : " Heart of Stone ") Sometimes though, Quark would watch over Rom and took care of him. When Rom was arrested by the Dominion , Quark swore he would do whatever it took to save Rom from execution. ( DS9 : " Favor the Bold ") He made Rom his partner in many business adventures and provided latinum for Rom.

On Rom's naming day, Quark substituted Rom's presents with old vegetables and sold them for more than their father had paid for them. ( DS9 : " Rivals ")

Quark was pleased to find out that Rom had embezzled money from the Ferengi Benevolent Association and noted that their father Keldar would have been too. ( DS9 : " Prophet Motive ")

Rom was a technical genius and progressed from Quark's servant to part of DS9's maintenance crew; on one occasion, when Quark found out Rom was a spy for the United Federation of Planets, his only comment was "The Federation must be really desperate!" ( DS9 : " Call to Arms ")

Nog was Quark's nephew, and as such he initially treated him similarly to Rom. When Starfleet first took over control of the station, Quark used Nog in an attempt to steal ore samples that the Cardassians left behind. ( DS9 : " Emissary ") Quark was very much opposed to allowing Nog to have contact with the "hew-mons" on the station (especially his friendship with Jake Sisko), fearing that they were a corrupting influence on the boy. This further intensified when Nog decided to apply to Starfleet Academy , ( DS9 : " Heart of Stone ") even going so far as to attempt to sabotage one of Nog's entry examinations. ( DS9 : " Facets ") When Starfleet permanently posted Nog to Deep Space 9, Quark was not above expressing his disapproval of Nog's career choice. However, Quark also had no problem taking advantage of the boy either. For example, he once used the fact that Jake Sisko and Nog were taking a school field trip to the Gamma Quadrant in order to attempt to manipulate Benjamin Sisko. He did, however, genuinely care enough about him to the point of risking his life to protect him during a Jem'Hadar attack while on an expedition to resupply a Federation outpost during the Dominion War. ( DS9 : " The Siege of AR-558 ")

Ishka was Quark's mother. She drove him crazy. She was not a typical Ferengi woman: she liked to earn profit, she wore clothes, and she became an adviser and lover of the Grand Nagus Zek. This caused Quark many problems, especially with Brunt. But Quark loved her very much and supported her with a generous stipend. In 2371, upon the discovery Ishka was earning profit, he went to Ferenginar to get her to confess to her crimes so she would not be sold into indentured servitude and degrade Quark's reputation. He was successful, although she only admitted to having about a third of what she actually had earned. ( DS9 : " Family Business ")

Leeta was Quark's Bajoran sister-in-law. Initially they knew each other because Leeta worked as a dabo girl for Quark. Quark was skeptical of Leeta's professed attraction to his brother ( DS9 : " Let He Who Is Without Sin... ") and did not do much in helping the couple get together, and in fact actively attempted to dissuade Rom from marrying her. When the couple did tie the knot, Quark did not seem to believe that the marriage would last long. ( DS9 : " Call to Arms ")

Gaila was Quark's cousin and a weapons trafficker. As a result of his highly risky business, he made much more profit than Quark did running a bar, and was rich enough to afford his own moon (property that made Quark very jealous). For repayment of a loan that helped Gaila get started in the business he gave Quark a Ferengi shuttlecraft known as Quark's Treasure . However, Galia had hoped that the sabotage that he had done to it would kill Quark. Gaila allowed Quark to become involved in his weapons dealing with the known trafficker Hagath. However, Quark soon developed moral reservations about working in this industry, and managed to double-cross Gaila and Hagath. The result was that General Nassuc dispatched a "Purification Squad" against the two. Gaila managed to escape them but was eventually arrested for vagrancy on Thalos VI . Quark paid his fine and the two became partners in Quark's rescue attempt of his mother. When he discovered that Quark was trying to cheat him out of reward money, Gaila attempted to kill Quark, but instead killed the Ferengi's bargaining chip: the Vorta Keevan . ( DS9 : " Little Green Men ", " Business as Usual ", " The Magnificent Ferengi ")

• Father - Keldar (deceased)
• Grandfather - Adred
• In-law - Prinadora

Alternate timelines [ ]

The Quark math program on Gaia

• In a timeline in which Harry Kim was never assigned to the USS Voyager , Quark instead tried his Lobi crystal scam on Tom Paris - the much more intemperate Paris attacked him, was arrested by Odo, and was therefore still sitting in a holding cell when Voyager was thrown into the Delta Quadrant . ( VOY : " Non Sequitur ")
• In one alternate timeline , Quark abandoned Deep Space 9 when the Federation relinquished control of it to the Klingon Empire . He later bought a moon with Rom. Nog told Jake Sisko that Rom "stops it falling out of orbit." Morn stayed on Deep Space 9 and took over Quark's Bar in that timeline. ( DS9 : " The Visitor ")
• Another alternate timeline took place on Gaia , where the crew of the USS Defiant crashed two hundred years in the past. Jadzia Dax programmed a simulation of Quark from the ship's security files to teach math to the children born there. Yedrin Dax noted " Quark was always good with numbers. " ( DS9 : " Children of Time ")

Holograms [ ]

Quark and Garak use a hologram to determine the best way to kill Quark

Quark was holographically duplicated on a number of occasions.

• In 2372, during the strike of the employees of his bar Quark created several holographic versions of himself, although they did not function well. When Constable Odo came into the bar he thought one of the holographic waiters was actually Quark and was surprised when the program broke down and the tray with glasses it carried hit the ground. Quark told Odo that he bought this program from a Lissepian , who unfortunately forgot to inform him that certain energy sources can interfere with the imaging system. ( DS9 : " Bar Association ")
• A hologram of Quark was used by Garak to show Quark which ways he could assassinate him when Quark was considering killing himself. Garak broke the neck and the hologram's head fell into a meal. Quark considered this method and then refused it. ( DS9 : " Body Parts ")
• A holographic recreation of Quark was used by Luther Sloan of Section 31 in 2374 when Sloan tried to recruit Bashir into the organization. ( DS9 : " Inquisition ")
• According to a malfunctioning holoprogram , Quark sold Garak a fake propaganda holo to get the Romulans into the Dominion War . He even gave him a key chain and half- price root beer floaties . ( VST : " Holograms All the Way Down ")

The two closely-seen holograms in "Bar Association" were played by Armin Shimerman . The several background holograms were played by extras who were dressed like Quark.

Memorable quotes [ ]

" It's good to want things. " " Even things you can't have? " "Especially things I can't have. "

" The way I see it, Humans used to be a lot like Ferengi. Greedy, acquisitive, interested only in profit. We're a constant reminder of a part of your past you'd like to forget. [...] But you're overlooking something. Humans used to be a lot worse than the Ferengi. Slavery, concentration camps, interstellar wars. We have nothing in our past that approaches that kind of barbarism. You see? We're nothing like you. We're better. "

" Rom only has a son to think about. I have a business. "

" I have a dream. A dream that one day all people, Human, Jem'Hadar, Ferengi, Cardassians, will stand together in peace around my dabo tables. "

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

" Respect is good, but latinum's better. "

" Of course it's your fault. Everything that goes wrong here is your fault. It says so in your contract. "

" ...this is my disruptor pistol. The one I used to carry in the old days when I was serving on that Ferengi freighter. " " I thought you were the ship's cook. " " That's right, and every member of that crew thought he was a food critic. "

" I did expand my simple bar in 21 franchises across the Alpha Quadrant, and somehow, I remain humble. "

" I thought you said your plan would make us both happy. " " Well, you're happier being poor than in prison, aren't you? " " NO!!! "

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• TNG : " Firstborn "
• " Emissary " (first appearance)
• " A Man Alone "
• " Captive Pursuit "
• " The Passenger "
• " Move Along Home "
• " The Nagus "
• " The Storyteller "
• " Progress "
• " If Wishes Were Horses "
• " The Forsaken "
• " Dramatis Personae "
• " In the Hands of the Prophets "
• " The Homecoming "
• " The Circle "
• " The Siege "
• " Invasive Procedures "
• " Cardassians "
• " Rules of Acquisition "
• " Necessary Evil "
• " Second Sight "
• " Sanctuary "
• " The Alternate "
• " Armageddon Game "
• " Whispers "
• " Shadowplay "
• " Playing God "
• " Profit and Loss "
• " Blood Oath "
• " The Maquis, Part I "
• " The Maquis, Part II "
• " The Wire "
• " The Collaborator "
• " The Jem'Hadar "
• " The Search, Part I "
• " The Search, Part II " (simulation only)
• " The House of Quark "
• " Equilibrium "
• " Second Skin "
• " The Abandoned "
• " Civil Defense "
• " Meridian "
• " Defiant "
• " Fascination "
• " Past Tense, Part I "
• " Life Support "
• " Heart of Stone "
• " Destiny "
• " Prophet Motive "
• " Visionary "
• " Distant Voices "
• " Through the Looking Glass "
• " Explorers "
• " Family Business "
• " Shakaar "
• " The Adversary "
• " The Way of the Warrior "
• " The Visitor "
• " Hippocratic Oath "
• " Indiscretion "
• " Rejoined "
• " Starship Down "
• " Little Green Men "
• " The Sword of Kahless "
• " Our Man Bashir "
• " Homefront "
• " Crossfire "
• " Sons of Mogh "
• " Bar Association "
• " Accession "
• " Rules of Engagement "
• " Hard Time "
• " Shattered Mirror "
• " The Muse "
• " For the Cause "
• " To the Death "
• " The Quickening "
• " Body Parts "
• " Broken Link "
• " Apocalypse Rising "
• " The Ship "
• " Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places "
• " Nor the Battle to the Strong "
• " The Assignment "
• " Trials and Tribble-ations "
• " Let He Who Is Without Sin... "
• " Things Past " (telepathic vision only)
• " The Ascent "
• " Rapture "
• " The Darkness and the Light "
• " The Begotten "
• " In Purgatory's Shadow "
• " By Inferno's Light "
• " Doctor Bashir, I Presume "
• " A Simple Investigation "
• " Business as Usual "
• " Ties of Blood and Water "
• " Ferengi Love Songs "
• " Children of Time " (computer simulation only)
• " Blaze of Glory "
• " Empok Nor "
• " In the Cards "
• " Call to Arms "
• " A Time to Stand "
• " Sons and Daughters "
• " Behind the Lines "
• " Favor the Bold "
• " Sacrifice of Angels "
• " You Are Cordially Invited "
• " Resurrection "
• " Statistical Probabilities "
• " The Magnificent Ferengi "
• " Who Mourns for Morn? "
• " Far Beyond the Stars "
• " One Little Ship "
• " Honor Among Thieves "
• " Change of Heart "
• " Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night "
• " Inquisition " (hologram only)
• " In the Pale Moonlight "
• " His Way "
• " The Reckoning "
• " Valiant "
• " Profit and Lace "
• " Time's Orphan "
• " The Sound of Her Voice "
• " Tears of the Prophets "
• " Image in the Sand "
• " Shadows and Symbols "
• " Afterimage "
• " Take Me Out to the Holosuite "
• " Chrysalis "
• " Treachery, Faith and the Great River "
• " Once More Unto the Breach "
• " The Siege of AR-558 "
• " Covenant "
• " It's Only a Paper Moon "
• " The Emperor's New Cloak "
• " Field of Fire "
• " Chimera "
• " Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang "
• " Penumbra "
• " 'Til Death Do Us Part "
• " Strange Bedfellows "
• " The Changing Face of Evil "
• " When It Rains... "
• " The Dogs of War "
• " What You Leave Behind "
• VOY : " Caretaker "
• " Hear All, Trust Nothing "
• " Trusted Sources " (photograph only)
• " Holograms All the Way Down " (hologram only)
• " Walk, Don't Run " (background only)

Background information [ ]

Character creation [ ].

Quark was played by Armin Shimerman in all of his appearances.

The Joan Pearce Research Associates noted in their initial report on the names and terms used in the DS9 pilot script that the word "Quark" was coined by Murray Gell-Mann "to denote a theoretical particle." Gell-Mann actually borrowed the word from James Joyce's 1939 novel Finnegans Wake : " Three quarks for Muster Mark. " ( The Making of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine [ page number? • edit ] )

According to Michael Piller , one of the main inspirations for Quark's character was the bartender played by Frank McHugh in the 1939 Michael Curtiz film Dodge City , which also starred Errol Flynn . ( New Frontiers: The Story of Deep Space Nine , DS9 Season 2 DVD special features) Piller also once stated that " Quark was probably the most fun, the most easily definable character we had. We knew exactly the role he was going to play. " ( Crew Dossier: Quark , DS9 Season 6 DVD special features)

The original, 1992 Writers' Bible for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine [3] described the character thus:

Armin Shimerman initially appeared as Quark in " Emissary " with the prosthetic nose designed for Max Grodénchik 's Rom, as his own nose was still being created. The prosthetic nose designed specially for Shimerman first appeared in " A Man Alone ". ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. ? )

Speaking in 1992, shortly after filming had begun on " Emissary ", Armin Shimerman said of Quark, " I get along with most of the occupants of the station fairly well, but the Federation has this problem with me; they think of me as repugnant, although I think of myself as charming, they think of me as reprehensible, although I know I have a code of ethics, but they need to deal with because I'm a leader of the community. I'm a capitalist. The Federation is in the process of maintaining peace and stability in this sector of space. I'm only interested in that as much as it can make a profit for me. If prosperity and stability are unprofitable, then I'm going to the Cardassians , who are waiting on the edge, ready to leap in and take over if the Federation should leave. " ( Quark's Story , DS9 Season 2 DVD special features)

Character development [ ]

Speaking in 1999 , shortly before filming finished on " What You Leave Behind ", Shimerman said of Quark, " He started out as a rather greedy, insidious Ferengi character, much like the Ferengi from Next Generation . And as he resided on Deep Space 9, with a small community and other cultures, primarily the Human culture and the Bajoran culture, he began to assimilate into their ways, and his behavior became more and more Human, more and more empathetic, more and more congenial, and that was the growing arc for Quark. " ( Quark's Story , DS9 Season 2 DVD special features)

Speaking in 2002 , Shimerman pointed out, " One of the great misunderstandings about Quark is that he was constantly cheating people of things and dealing in black market goods. This is absolutely true in the first two seasons. But the truth of the matter is, Quark became very domesticated after about the second season , and yet the characters on the show, and the audience, continued to believe he was always a scoundrel. I came to realize that after a time, he really wasn't stealing anymore. Yes, he was worried about his bottom line, but he was no longer actually doing nefarious things, he was no longer cheating, yet because he had started out that way, the characters in the show never really forgave him for a past life, a past life that he needed to do in order to survive under two oppressive regimes. Under the new regime, the regime of the Federation and the Bajorans, he became more domesticated and learned to take on the principles of the new society. And that's what happened over the seven years; he mellows out, and becomes more a part of the society he's living in, but it's the sort of subtle a normal Human being might go through if they found themselves surrounded by a new society. " ( Crew Dossier: Quark , DS9 Season 6 DVD special features)

Shimerman would have liked to have seen Quark marry, stating, " I wonder, having been married for 34 years, how marriage would have tamed Quark one way or another. It would also be fascinating to know what kind of woman my character would have fallen in love with. I tend to think, from his past relationships, he would like a sort of a woman who was her own person. A little bit domineering, intellectual, and quite beautiful and I guess I am describing all the elements of my true wife, Kitty , but I think I would like to see that for Quark as well. " [4]

Star Trek Insurrection [ ]

Quark on the Ba'ku planet, in a scene cut from Insurrection

A scene featuring Quark in Star Trek: Insurrection was devised by Michael Piller and Rick Berman while Piller was writing the film's first draft script. He later recalled, " We thought the discovery of a fountain of youth would suggest all sorts of profitable possibilities to him. " ( Fade In: The Making of Star Trek Insurrection [ page number? • edit ] ) Armin Shimerman subsequently filmed Quark's cameo appearance for Star Trek: Insurrection , but his scenes were deleted prior to the film's release. Additionally, Quark was originally intended to make an appearance in TNG : " Chain Of Command, Part I ", but due to the pilot for DS9 being scheduled to air weeks after that episode, Quark was rewritten as DaiMon Solok . ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion , 2nd ed., p. 228)

Quark's relationship with Odo is a clear homage to the classic 1942 Michael Curtiz film Casablanca , with Quark in Humphrey Bogart 's role of Rick Blaine and Odo as Claude Rains ' Captain Louis Renault. ( citation needed • edit )

Along with Q, Morn and Evek , Quark is one of only four characters to appear in all of the first three Star Trek series based in the 24th century: Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and Star Trek: Voyager . Quark, Julian Bashir, Morn, Admiral Chekote , and Gul Evek are the only characters to appear in Deep Space Nine prior to appearing in The Next Generation . Quark is one of five characters to appear in two live action episodes intended as series premieres.

Apocrypha [ ]

In the DS9 relaunch novels , Quark laments that his bar is likely going to have to close when Bajor joins the Federation and converts to the Federation's moneyless economy because it will put him out of business. Just as Quark prepares to close the bar down, he finds out that Rom has opened diplomatic relations between Ferenginar and Bajor, and that Rom has also arranged to have Quark's Bar be the official Ferengi Embassy to Bajor. This officially makes Quark the Ferengi Ambassador to Bajor and his bar sovereign Ferengi territory, allowing him to maintain it and still charge latinum for all his services.

In the novel The 34th Rule , Quark, Rom, and several Ferengi were interned at the Gallitep labor camp in 2372 when war was briefly declared between Ferenginar and Bajor. During their stay, they endured hideous treatment at the hands of the camp's insane warden, Colonel Mitra. After they escaped, Quark and Rom traveled to Ferenginar with Captain Sisko aboard the Defiant and successfully aided him in defusing the tense situation between the two worlds.

By the setting of Star Trek Online (2409/10), Quark appears to have become a successful business man, as evidenced by the fact that he no longer runs his own bar and that a dabo hologram of Leeta is produced by Quark Enterprises (which could, in theory, be a business connected to Rom, as it was his wife being recreated by Quark). He makes his official appearance in the game with the release of the "Victory is Life" expansion in June 2018, voiced once more by Armin Shimerman, and once again appearing in his bar on DS9. Much like his cousin Gaila had at one point, Quark mentions he now owns his own moon, and has debated turning his bar into a franchise, having "a Quark's in every quadrant." In the mission "Quark's Lucky Seven," a sequel of sorts to " The Magnificent Ferengi ", Quark leads another commando team to reclaim the Sword of Kahless from the Iconians and ensures its delivery to his ex-wife Grilka (now married to Worf), as part of a plan to bring the Klingon Empire fully into the conflict with the Hur'q .

Quark of the alternate reality

The alternate reality version of Quark appears in the Star Trek: Ongoing story arc The Q Gambit where he is a merchant hired by his old friend Julian Bashir to smuggle Spock and Dr. Leonard McCoy off Bajor in cargo containers and get them back to the USS Enterprise . Aboard Quark's ship, Spock and McCoy meet Kira Nerys, who makes plans take a shuttle to the hidden base of the Free Federation Resistance and supply them when she asks Quark wrap up the Reckoning Tablet and bring it aboard, but Quark reveals he will not be helping them. Opening the cargo bay doors to reveal Cardassian soldiers, he explains to them that the Dominion made him a better offer than the Resistance and have won his loyalty.

External links [ ]

• Quark at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Quark at Wikipedia
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Star Trek: Prodigy

Star Trek: DS9's Quark Was Inspired By A Classic Danny DeVito Sitcom

• Some of Star Trek: DS9's funniest episodes centered around Quark and his fellow Ferengi were inspired by classic sitcoms like Cheers and Taxi.
• Ira Steven Behr, who ran DS9, once wrote a script for Taxi that later became a Quark episode in "Prophet Motive".
• Taxi's Christopher Lloyd and Carol Kane also had Star Trek roles, showing multiple connections between the classic sitcom and the sci-fi franchise.

An episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine focused on Ferengi bartender Quark (Armin Shimerman) was inspired by a classic Danny DeVito sitcom. DS9 may have a reputation for being a dark and moody show, but it also gave audiences some of the funniest Star Trek episodes ever made. Many of DS9 's comedy episodes focused on the exploits of Quark and his fellow Ferengi, with particular highlights including "Little Green Men" and "The Magnificent Ferengi". It's unsurprising, therefore, that the sitcom genre inspired some of Quark's best DS9 episodes .

For example, Quark's Bar in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine contains a pretty big nod to Cheers , in the form of Morn the Lurian barfly (Mark Allen Shepherd), named in tribute to George Wendt's Norm. Premiering in 1982, Cheers was created by James Burrows, and Glen and Les Charles, who had cut their teeth on the Danny DeVito sitcom, Taxi . The show was hugely popular and made household names of DeVito, Judd Hirsch, and Christopher Lloyd. Taxi was also an early proving ground for Ira Steven Behr, the man who would go on to run DS9 , and write some of Quark's best-loved episodes.

DS9s Quark Actor Loves Hilarious Star Trek & Cheers Mashup

Deep Space Nine was always one of Star Trek's funniest shows, as proven by a Cheers mash-up shared on X by Quark actor Armin Shimerman.

Danny DeVitos Taxi Character Inspired A Quark Episode Of Star Trek: DS9

Star trek: ds9, season 3, episode 16, "prophet motive".

Before he became the showrunner of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Ira Steven Behr was trying to get his big break in Hollywood, and submitted a spec script to Taxi . Behr's script focused on Danny DeVito's lecherous and morally bankrupt head dispatcher, Louie De Palma. Entitled "Uncle Sylvester", the episode would have introduced Louie's uncle, a man who inspired his own sleazy worldview. However, the old man has changed his ways, instigating an existential crisis for Danny DeVito's Taxi character. The script was never picked up, so Behr adapted it years later, swapping Louie for Quark, and Uncle Sylvester for Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn).

Knowing that "Prophet Motive" originated with Taxi makes it hard not to ponder how brilliant Danny DeVito would be as one of Star Trek 's Ferengi...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 16, "Prophet Motive", written by Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by Rene Auberjonois , saw Grand Nagus Zek embrace a more charitable outlook after encountering the Bajoran Prophets. The spiritually awakened Zek writes revised Rules of Acquisition that state things like " If they want their money back, give it to them ", which gives Quark his own existential crisis. Knowing that "Prophet Motive" originated with Taxi makes it hard not to ponder how brilliant Danny DeVito would be as one of Star Trek 's Ferengi, but alas, the opportunity is yet to arise.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Colm Meaney recently starred opposite Danny DeVito in the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia .

Taxis Other Star Trek Links Explained

Christopher Lloyd and Carol Kane both starred in Taxi before they became part of the Star Trek universe in their later careers. Lloyd joined Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 's cast as Captain Kruge, the Klingon who faced off against Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) on the Genesis Planet. In a strange coincidence, Christopher Lloyd's character in Taxi , Reverend Jim Ignatowski, was a huge fan of Star Trek: The Original Series , and was angry about NBC's decision to cancel it. This gag is even funnier when you remember that later seasons of Taxi screened on NBC.

Before playing Commander Pelia in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Carol Kane played Simka Gravas, the wife of Andy Kaufmann's character Latka in Taxi . Carol Kane became a series regular on Taxi between 1982 and 1983, and had some memorable face-offs with Danny DeVito's Louie. The final link between Taxi and Star Trek is Vincent Schiavelli, who played the recurring role of Reverend Gorky opposite Christopher Lloyd. Schiavelli played the Minosian peddler in Star Trek: The Next Generation . All of which proves that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine isn't the only show to benefit from links to the classic sitcom.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

The House Of Quark

With bar business especially slow, Rom complains to Quark that their only customer, a Klingon named Kozak, says he's out of money. Quark approaches Kozak, who responds by pulling a knife. But he is so inebriated that he trips and falls on the blade, killing himself. Quark is horrified, but when the bar is flooded with patrons flocking to see what happened, he recognizes a good business opportunity and takes credit for killing Kozak in self-defense. Thrilled with his newfound popularity, he ignores Odo's warning that Kozak's family might retaliate. Sure enough, D'Ghor, Kozak's brother, soon arrives and collars Quark. A fearful Quark prepares to tell D'Ghor the truth, but learns that his life would be spared only if Kozak died honorably in battle. Thus sanctioned, Quark continues to revel in his role as a 'slayer of Klingons' until Grilka, Kozak's widow, arrives and realizes the Ferengi is lying. She takes Quark to the Klingon home world against his will, where she explains that a provision in Klingon law grants consideration to a female left without a male heir after the accidental death of a spouse. T

Deep Space Nine, seizoen 3

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series)

The house of quark (1994), carlos carrasco: d'ghor, photos .

Quotes 

Quark : [D'Ghor has cornered Quark to interrogate him about his "brother"'s death]  I wish you had been there. You would have been proud of your brother. He fought a brave and valiant battle right up to the end. It was an honor to kill him.

D'Ghor : I'm sure it was. Remember that when you tell your customers about the death of Kozak.

[Quark has been accosted and pinned to the bulkhead by the throat by an irate D'Ghor, who has just told him he is Kozak's brother] 

D'Ghor : [spouting with Klingon fury]  My brother killed by a miserable Ferengi! I would never have believed it possible!

Quark : [whimpering fearfully]  I can explain.

D'Ghor : You'd better! I want to know *exactly* how Kozak died. And if I don't like what I hear.

Quark : [quickly and fearfully]  Believe me! You'll like it! He was in my bar. I asked him to pay his tab, he refused. I-I was willing to let it go at that, but then he pulled his knife and came at me and... the truth of the matter is, he was so inebriated that he just fell...

D'Ghor : [vicious]  I HOPE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TELL ME THAT HE DIED IN AN ACCIDENT!

Quark : [worried]  You do?

D'Ghor : Yes! Because there's no honor in such a death. And if Kozak died in disgrace, then that disgrace will be passed along to the rest of his family.

[viciously] 

D'Ghor : So, if if you were the cause of such an *accident* that will dishonor my entire family, then I AM GOING TO KILL YOU AND *STUFF* YOUR MISERABLE CORPSE OUT THE NEAREST AIRLOCK!

Quark : [weak with fear; looking like he is going to faint at the thought]  I see.

D'Ghor : [calmly, yet still angry in his tone]  On the other hand... if he died as a warrior in personal combat, then there would be no dishonor for him or his family.

Quark : [warily]  So what you're saying is... if I killed him in personal combat, that's... good?

D'Ghor : [snaps]  Of course it is not good! He was my brother! But it would be honorable, and an honorable death requires no vengeance. Your life would be spared.

Quark : [a little bit of his bravado comes in]  I wish you had been there. You would have been proud of your brother. He fought a brave and valiant battle... right up to the end. It was an honor to kill him.

Quark : You can count on it.

D'Ghor : [D'Ghor slowly releases Quark. He barks out a Klingon farewell]  Qapla'!

Quark : [Quark mumbles nervously. D'Ghor leaves. Quark looks thoroughly shaken] 

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