One episode that tends to get a bad rap, but actually isn't so bad. It is funny in places, not as laugh out loud comedy, but provoking the occasional titter thanks to the antics of Quark and his extended family, the way they're written, as always, the best thing about them (something you'd never have thought, back in 1987 watching 'The Last Outpost'!), with the intricate makeup the second best thing about them. What prevents the story reaching the heights of the majority of the Ferengi soap episodes is that the comedy is the main part of it, real issues about the development of Ferengi society shifted into the background. But there is a learning curve, at least for Quark, and it's him that the series cares more about, his views and attitudes rather than the faceless majority of the Ferengi race, he and his family having been used as a crucible to explore social issues. It's just that the social issues were overshadowed by the laughs. There are real grassroots changes taking place - even if it's coming from the top, Zek has been deposed, so his new Ferenginar will have to be accepted by the masses on the street, making Nilva, chairman of Slug-o-Cola ("the slimiest cola in the galaxy"), the drink of the people, the man needed to sway in Zek's bid for reinstatement. Everyone drinks Slug-o-Cola, so the populace would be more likely to follow a candidate endorsed by the famous brand. This could have become an interesting examination of consumer driven politics or the influence of branding on a population, but it's another side avenue that isn't explored.
What I do like about the episode is that it continues the ongoing story of Zek's failing memory (in small part), Ishka's strong and increasing influence on him (in greater part), and the setup for a new Grand Nagus, one that would be at home with the equality of the female portion of the population, that has an understanding of its sensitivities, and that would usher in an avant-garde period for The New Ferengi. So it's funny that even now, Rom is the one to show he has understanding of women, he can give advice on their behaviour and what being a woman is about. Is this because he's a genius, and simply has natural insight, or because he's spent so much time in their company, or because he'd puzzled over female behaviour so much since his wife left him? Probably a mix of all of them, but it's good to see his sweetness and openness used as a resource, even if he wasn't a good enough Ferengi (in the 'old' sense of the word, anyway), to fill the high-heeled shoes, and charm Nilva. For all the reasons Quark's Moogie dislikes him, it's ironic that these are the things which make him a good Ferengi (in the old sense of the word), to which she and those she represents must rely on to serve their cause. And it's also ironic that Quark, the staunchest defender of the traditional values, must be the one who tries to persuade Nilva to disregard them, or perhaps bend them slightly.
It's not all the old values that are on the way out, however, greed still shines brightly above the species, like a star to follow towards wealth (if not happiness - there was a brief exchange between two characters, I can't recall whom, about not being happy, but at least being rich, something that explains the Ferengi culture perfectly). This is why Quark's business acumen and greed-inspired cunning can win Nilva over. It does seem surprising, when you think about it, that the male Ferengi had never thought to exploit the females other than as mates or possessions, and that they should finally realise, all of a sudden, that giving them the same rights to wearing clothes = getting jobs = spending money = doubling the workforce and consumer base in one swoop! It seems like something the calculating Ferengi would have long ago worked out, but perhaps they couldn't see the forest for the trees - they've always been a very traditional race, and while they could think outside the box when it came to profit, opportunities staring them in the face that were contrary to their ways, simply didn't register.
The episode begins with concern from Quark and Rom that they can't contact anyone on Ferenginar, leading to suggestions of defeat and occupation by the Dominion (Worf happy with that possibility - okay, maybe not happy, I'm sure he wouldn't seriously want any species to suffer, but he certainly wasn't concerned about the implications). I like that the Ferengi are at the centre of the story again, following the previous episode in which Nog was tasked with delivering an important, but confidential message to the Nagus, though whether he eventually got it or not, and whether it was the proposition of an alliance with the Federation or not, we never found out (Nog should have waited, Zek came to him, and then he wouldn't have fixed the Valiant's Warp Drive and it might still survive out there…). It may be telling that he makes his way to DS9 when he's been kicked out of office, or it could be that Ishka suggested Quark would be the one to go to for assistance. The whole sequence of events does give the lie to the great power of the Nagus - previously he'd always seemed practically untouchable (barring the period when he might be revealed as unfit for duty as in 'Ferengi Love Songs'), but it may be that his Latinum road had run out: his dependence on a female seemingly common knowledge, and the changing of Ferengi law and custom too much for his supporters to take. So Ferengi government does sound more like a democracy than we ever thought before, something else that could be for the good of the race's development, away from its childishness, in galactic terms.
One Ferengi who always knew when to take advantage of the situation, was Brunt (back to bad guy after helping rescue Moogie in 'The Magnificent Ferengi,' co-rescuers Gaila and Leck also mentioned), and here we witness a hellish possible future with him as Grand Nagus. Hellish for Quark and family, but I don't know whether Brunt's inauguration would herald a positive or negative outcome for his society, though obviously it would mean a backward step for the new legislation. Mind you, profit is what matters to them, so even Brunt could have been persuaded that it was in his best financial interests to break with tradition and allow the females their chance. But probably not coming from Quark, as Brunt would rather take revenge than more profit, and preferably both, even if it was a rather antithetical attitude for a Ferengi to take (DaiMon Bok notwithstanding). This may well mean he wasn't the best traditional Ferengi, either. Whatever Brunt's turn as Nagus might have meant, we were never going to find out as he was always the foiled enemy, plotting revenge. Jeffrey Combs just does it so well! This time he has a Hupyrian servant, Uri'lash, mirroring Zek's choice of Maihar'du, the only other Hupyrian we ever saw, I believe (I thought we'd seen two Hupyrians square up, but I was thinking of Brunt's Nausicaan heavies in 'Bar Association').
It's fun to watch these background characters who never speak (except for that one time when Maihar'du's image was used by the Prophets in 'Prophet Motive'), as, far from zoning out, as they had every right to do, they're clearly following every line of conversation and reacting to it with bouts of pained facial convulsions, but that was always Maihar'du's stock in trade. This attention to detail is another of the many things that makes Trek so special, and I couldn't help noticing the same care taken to create the impression of a living world: when they're in the bar having a discussion the camera pans round so you see the open doorway very briefly, and some extra walks past. Now either they planned this one extra to walk past at the very moment the camera caught the doorway in its shot, or they had background walking up and down the Promenade the whole time the scene was being shot, in case the doorway was seen. Either way, they could have simply closed the door (we've seen Quark shut up shop when he wants a private meeting in the past), and all the shutters were down, so it wasn't like we were seeing a busy Promenade behind - it shows how much dedication went into making DS9 seem alive with people, going above and beyond what was strictly necessary for a scene. I don't know whether episode Director Alexander Siddig should be given the credit for this, but I'd have thought it would be up to him to decide on everything that was seen on camera, and he did a good job on the episode, it wasn't his fault that the story didn't delve deeply enough into the issues or the comedy.
Some pretty major surgery takes place, barely even registering as an issue. The first is Moogie's new heart (something we'd already known was possible in the 24th Century since Captain Picard had a new heart after being stabbed by Nausicaans in his youth), after Quark's argument with her causes a heart attack. That's how they've always been towards each other, and always manipulated things to get the best for themselves out of each other - probably a traditional Ferengi example of family interaction. It's only because Rom is so gentle and inoffensive that he gets special treatment, but it often seems like Moogie treats him that way because she knows he's not a traditional Ferengi and doesn't have the lobes, almost like a disability. She probably also sees the New Ferengi in his eyes, and any ally towards that goal deserves more coddling and encouragement. The other example of futuristic medical science (another one for Bashir's House of Horrors - I can just imagine a similar scene to the end of 'Apocalypse Rising' when he told Odo he could give him any face he wanted: "You know Quark, I can make you any sex you want"), and the one that's up front and personal, is the ease with which Quark is transformed into the opposite sex. It's made clear this is a full body transformation, inside and out, hormone treatment affecting him more than the physical changes. What isn't so clear is how easy it was to switch back and forth, as by the end of the episode he's practically back to normal (bar some side effects that lead him to ask Odo for a hug, the Changeling complying reluctantly, but showing their true friendship, so often hidden in sniping, supporting Quark at his low ebb).
What I did respect about the story was the logical progression to reach a point where Quark needs to become a woman in order for things to be straightened out. It wasn't some silly prank that had to be played, or a stunt that the episode was all about, it was a necessary development for the story (okay, maybe that's pushing it - it was farfetched and bonkers, but well plotted). It's just that the episode is better before Quark's change, and it does tend to reinforce stereotypes, even if it is in a comedic way: at the end, Quark's oversensitive as he still has the hormones swirling around in him, and the whole point of the episode is to say female Ferengi are equal to males, but there are no other female Ferengi that could do what Ishka does, which is why they need Quark! It also doesn't seem to take long to travel between DS9 and Ferenginar, so any argument for not being able to transport someone from there would be weakened. But as I said before, it's supposed to be a learning experience for Quark, to appeal to his compassionate side, bookended by his dealings with Aluura the Dabo girl (Symba Smith, previously an uncredited alien dancer in 'Voyager' episode 'Alliances'), who must accept his unwanted advances or face dismissal, something we've seen happen before - I distinctly remember a Dabo girl taking her appeal to Sisko.
This is Quark at his most despicable, something we've seen less and less over the years, so that it almost seems out of character, and yet he strives to continue to be the Ferengi's Ferengi, struggling to quash the Moogie genes within that make him more open to the better parts of the Federation ethics he's constantly exposed to. At the end of the episode he shows more concern for Aluura's wellbeing, displaying generosity and self-denial (to a point), the message somewhat stomped on by Aluura having a change of heart and Quark realising he still stands by his earlier wishes after all. But that was typical of the series: when you thought you knew what they were doing, they'd pull the rug out or switch direction at the last! The great thing about 'DS9' lasting so many years is that it had got to the point where it could reference itself (having already done so many times with 'TOS,' even recently with 'Who Mourns For Morn?' for 'Who Mourns For Adonais?'), 'Profit and Loss' the Season 2 Quark episode title that this one emulates. When it comes to detail, the 'DS9' writers were king, and even a planet that was mentioned in the first big Ferengi soap episode, 'The Nagus,' is part of the conversation again.
But references are only as good as the story around them, and this, and previous episode, 'Valiant,' have more in common than a lack of Chief O'Brien (again!): they both start with the promise of a classic Ferengi episode, and neither delivers on it. 'Valiant,' because they gave us something equally as good, but different, and this because it didn't really know what it was trying to achieve beyond the high concept of Quark as a woman. It does have plenty to laugh at, the absentminded way they all quote the Slug-o-Cola slogan by rote (possibly a jibe at how subliminally pernicious advertising can be), the amusing brass themes for the Ferengi (sadly lacking on the 'DS9' CD set), the montage of Quark, Rom and Nog calling up the FCA commissioners, or Zek meeting Leeta for the first time (surprising, but she'd only been married into the Ferengi family for just under a year at this point), but it's not one I particularly look forward to, which may make it a better viewing experience, as it's more enjoyable than I expect. But it leaves me with the wish to see what Ferengi society developed into post-'DS9,' and how the new ways were assimilated into the traditional culture, something I'd love to see explored in a new series. Sadly, any new series is likely to go back to basics, not build upon the groundwork established in all that went before.
***
Going through my store of pictures from the series I noticed some which hadn't been in the episode: they show Quark in what looks like a surgical gown in the Infirmary, with Zek holding up a dress for Quark's approval as Maihar'du and Rom look on, though we only ever see Quark in one dress, suggesting that this is a deleted scene set just after Quark's come out of surgery, though there are no extra scenes on the DVD, and Memory Alpha has no information, either…
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