Profit and Lace

DVD, DS9 S6 (Profit and Lace)

After the magnificent 'Magnificent Ferengi', the next episode dedicated to the Ferengi extended family was going to have a hard time living up to it. Being in the shadow of that episode didn't help, nor did the slightly iffy subject matter. It's testament to the recurring actors that the episode holds up as, if not a great episode, at least a good one. In some ways it's got some good messages with Quark coming to realise (to an extent) that it's not easy being female and that equal rights are no bad thing - quite a step for an avowed Ferengi male, who lives by exploiting the fairer sex. I'm not quite sure where his ears went when he became female with the smaller lobes, but at least he got them back by the end.

All the Ferengi characters get nice scenes, with Zek and Ishka, a pleasure as usual, and Brunt swanning around, majestically trying to spread discord. He even gets a Hupyrian servant! Nog, Rom and Leeta join in the fun too, but I think the episode isn't as funny as it might have been. Quark's trials as a woman come quite late in to the story, so it might have been interesting to see him go round the station interacting with the regular crew. They are not much in evidence, with O'Brien not in it at all for a second episode in a row. Odo at least gets that hug at the end which was a nice moment.

There are still some chuckles to be had, such as the blase way they all say the Sluggo-cola slogan and when Nilva chases poor Quark round his quarters, thinking he's a female (Nilva was a good new character, brandishing Sluggo-cola bottles at every opportunity!). The social ramifications have begun to show, leading to the end of the series, it shows DS9 dared to even change well known races.

Quark still has vices, and it seemed a bit odd to see him doing what he was to that Dabo girl at the beginning, since we've seen him do so much good over time, and this seemed like something he would have done back in the first couple of seasons. So the episode isn't always comfortable viewing, but there is enough zany family goings-on to ensure it stays at least an enjoyable Ferengi episode. And it's nice they can make a pun out of an earlier Quark episode, this late in the series.

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