‘FERENGI LOVE SONGS’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘DS9’ episode happens to be another Ferengi episode for Quark. Unlike ‘Business as Usual’ however, this episode is a more engaging since it has Quark reunite with his mother on Ferenginar. 🙂
It starts off with Quark being depressed over his lot in life, especially as he’s been blacklisted by the Ferengi Commerce Authority since ‘Body Parts’ in Season 4. There’s also a vole infestation in his bar.
Not even Max Grodénchik as Rom’s news about him getting married to Chase Masterson as Leeta can cheer Quark up. Eventually, Quark goes to his home Ferenginar and seeks his mother’s comfort.
Quark’s mother, Ishkar/Moogie returns in this ‘DS9’ episode following her debut in Season 3’s ‘Family Business’. Except, it’s Cecily Adams who’s playing Moogie in this episode, not Andrea Martin!
Sadly Andrea Martin declined to return to play Moogie in ‘DS9’ due to finding the Ferengi prosthetics of the character being uncomfortable. Cecily Adams would play Moogie for the rest of the DS9 show.
Quark hopes to find comfort being at his old home with Moogie. However, Quark discovers that Wallace Shawn as Grand Nagus Zek is romantically involved with Moogie and is living in her house. 🙂
Astonished at first, Quark is delighted to see Zek and Moogie being together. Zek demands that Quark keeps his affair with his mother a secret. Quark agrees, wanting to win favour with the Nagus.
But Zek refuses to reinstate Quark’s revoked business license, reminding Quark that it’s up to the FCA to reinstate it. Even Moogie says that what Quark did in ‘Body Parts’ was wrong. Thanks mother!
Moogie would rather have her son die and fulfil a contract rather than breaking it. Despite some reconciliation between them from ‘Family Business’; tension is still present between Quark and Moogie!
Later on, Quark receives a visit from Jeffrey Combs as Liquidator Brunt of the FCA. Wow, Jeffrey Combs was Weyoun in the previous episode to be playing Brunt the Ferengi in the following episode.
Quark finds Brunt in his closet. Brunt offers to restore Quark’s business license if he breaks up Zek and Moogie’s relationship. Quark agrees and he soon places doubts in Zek’s head regarding Moogie.
The plan works and Moogie becomes heartbroken. Quark is happy thought as Brunt keeps his word and renews his business license. Wait a minute, there’s got to be a catch in this arrangement here. 😐
Well, apparently there is. When Zek offers Quark the position of First Clerk and Quark accepts, it’s revealed that the Nagus is not the profit-making whiz he once was. In fact, Zek is becoming forgetful.
Returning home to meet up with Moogie, Quark sees for himself that the Ferengi market exchange has experienced a drastic slide. Quark is stunned and discovers Moogie was more than Zek’s lover. 😐
It turns out Moogie was the power behind the throne as she helped Zek to make business decisions. Quark admits his actions to Moogie. She tells him that he may have destroyed the Ferengi economy.
It becomes apparent Brunt’s plan was to disgrace Zek so that he can become the new Grand Nagus. Guilty over what he has done, Quark redeems himself and he and Moogie work out a plan to solve it.
Next day, Quark saves Zek by supplying him with enough brilliant advice to turn around the economic situation. He later reveals to Zek that the advice actually came from Moogie. Zek’s aghast.
Quark admits to breaking the two up. Zek fires him from being First Clerk as he and Moogie happily reunite. Despite Quark outwitting Brunt, he is allowed his licence so Brunt can see him fail in future.
Back on DS9, Rom tries to get his fiancée Leeta to sign a Ferengi document that says she’ll give up all claim to money and properties. Leeta refuses and the two break off their wedding engagement a bit.
As the side plot progresses, Rom comes to realise that Leeta is more important to him than money or Ferengi traditions. He donates all his money to charity and the wedding is happily back on again. 🙂
‘Ferengi Love Songs’ is a pretty entertaining episode in the ‘DS9’ series focusing on Quark handling the relationship between his Moogie and Zek. The Rom/Leeta subplot was also sweet in the episode.
This episode was directed by René Auberjonois, who played Odo in the series. Rather fitting that René should direct this episode. He made ‘Family Business’ which featured Moogie in the first place.
‘Ferengi Love Songs’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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