‘THE HOUSE OF QUARK’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
After the excitement that is ‘The Search’ two-part season opener, it’s only fair for things to calm down a bit. And we have what is arguably a very good Ferengi/Klingon episode featuring Quark here.
In the episode, Quark and his brother Max Grodénchik as Rom, find business at the bar not going so well. This is because of people living in fear of the Dominion lately after the events of the two parter.
Whilst Quark sulks about his business, he soon gets assaulted by a drunk Klingon named Kozak. But in the process, Kozak accidentally stabs himself and dies in Quark’s bar. Quark and Rom are shocked.
As Bashir conducts an examination and Odo begins to question the two Ferengi, Quark lies (and Rom supports him) about pretending to have slain Kozack in self-defence! And he’s pretty over-dramatic.
The reason Quark does this is so he can attract more customers into his bar. This thankfully works and Quark and Rom are ecstatic about the new business they are receiving with newfound notoriety.
Whilst all this happens for Quark, he later receives a visit from Odo who tells him that Kozak was the head of a powerful Klingon family. Odo persuades Quark to change his tale. Quark still sticks to it. 😮
I couldn’t help think of the Dreamworks animation film ‘Shark Tale’ when Quark made up the lie about killing the Klingon in self-defence. This was whilst I re-watched the TV episode for this review.
Quark later runs into a Klingon – Carlos Carrasco as D’Ghor – who claims to be Kozak’s brother. D’Ghor demands the truth from Quark about his brother’s death, but intimidates him to keep lying.
This is because a Klingon dying by accident would be seen as an embarrassment to his or her family. Dying in battle and with honour would be favourable. Quark keeps lying in order to maintain honour.
Afterwards, Quark receives another visit from another Klingon. This happens to be Kozak’s widow – Mary Kay Adams as Grilka. Grilka challenges Quark on whether he truly did kill Kozak in self-defence.
Once Quark’s true colours have been revealed, Grilka abducts him and takes him to the Klingon planet Qo’noS. There, a ceremony is performed where Quark ends up getting married to Grilka. Fast! 😀
It turns out that D’Ghor isn’t Kozak’s brother. He actually wants to have Kozak’s house and be its new Head whilst it is in debt. Grilka had Quark marry her so as to prevent D’Ghor getting the house.
Whilst things become problematic between Grilka and D’Ghor, Quark inspects the family ledgers of Kozak’s house. Apparently, D’Ghor has used financial scams to weaken the House of Kozak’s assests.
Quark exposes D’Ghor’s actions before the Klingon High Council, led by Robert O’Reilly as Chancellor Gowron. This is the first time Gowron makes an appearance in the ‘DS9’ show, following the end of ‘TNG’.
The Klingons see what D’Ghor has done as being dishonourable conduct for a Klingon. D’Ghor bites back, revealing the lie Quark made about killing Kozak in self-defence whereas it’d been an accident.
D’Ghor presents Quark’s brother Rom as a witness to the event. He also challenges Quark to a duel to the death. Quark doesn’t want to fight. He almost gets away with it before Grilka catches him out.
Eventually and to everyone’s astonishment, Quark shows up for the fight. As the combat begins, Quark throws his weapon to the ground and says he’d be better executed, having no chance to win.
D’Ghor is happy to kill the unarmed Ferengi before Gowron intervenes, disgusted the conduct made. Gowron and the Klingon High Council discommendate D’Ghor on the spot! D’Ghor gets dismissed. 🙂
Quark’s story concludes with Grilka getting to lead Kozak’s house. She happily grants Quark a divorce. It’s quite amusing when Grilka strikes Quark at first before eventually kissing him in the end.
The episode also features a subplot where Rosalind Chao as Keiko O’Brien closes her school due to a lack of pupils. Chief O’Brien helps Keiko to go on a botanical expedition on Bajor, taking Molly with her.
‘The House of Quark’ is a pretty entertaining and enjoyable ‘DS9’ episode featuring Quark and Klingons. I like how the tale has Quark ending being up married to a Klingon woman and helping her.
‘The House of Quark’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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