‘THE NAGUS’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘DS9’ episode features a certain aspect of the series’ saga arc beginning here. And it concerns the Ferengi. I’ll explain more on what’s that aspect’s about later, especially for a Season 2 episode in ‘DS9’.
This episode features the first appearance of a recurring character in ‘DS9’. That is Wallace Shawn as Grand Nagus Zek of the Ferengi Alliance. He’s essentially is described as ‘the godfather’ for the Ferengi.
I’ve heard and seen Wallace Shawn before. He’s well-known for voicing Rex the dinosaur in the ‘Toy Story’ movies. I’ve also seen him in the poorly-rated film ‘The Haunted Mansion’ with Eddie Murphy.
In this ‘DS9’ episode, the Grand Nagus Zek arrives on the space station and takes an interest in Quark when he comes to his bar. Quark is so greatly honoured to have the Grand Nagus come to visit his bar.
The Grand Nagus doesn’t initially explain why he’s come to DS9 but wants to use one of the bar’s holosuites first. Zek plays five programs that are Quark’s favourites in the holosuite for a long time. 😀
Eventually Zek asks Quark to invite him to dinner. At dinner, Zek demands to use Quark’s bar for a special conference. Quark is curious but agrees and soon a lot of Ferengi members come to the station.
With the conference in progress and Quark asked to stay and listen nearby, Zek reveals his intentions about making trade in the Gamma Quadrant. This will become an essential story element in the series.
The conference ends with Zek announcing Quark to be his successor as the Grand Nagus. Everybody, including Quark, is surprised by this announcement. Zek’s son, Lou Wagner as Krax, is pretty unhappy.
Quark takes on the role of Grand Nagus with aplomb and seems to be enjoying his new position of power. But he becomes anxious when one of the Ferengi nearly threatens him with death in the story.
Quark goes to see Zek for advice whilst he’s choosing a holiday destination for retirement. Zek then dies which was sudden as Quark talked to him. “I didn’t do anything!” he says. I did find that funny. 😀
During Zek’s funeral, it seems that Quark’s appointment as Grand Nagus has become permeant. His brother Max Grodénchik as Rom assumes he is going to take over the bar. Quark laughs out loud here.
An intriguing thing to point out is that the Rules of Acquisition get introduced in this episode. There are rules like No. 1 – ‘One you have your money, you never give it back’ as Rom recities it to Quark. 😀
There’s also No. 6 – ‘Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.’ That last rule happens to be a rule that gets broken a lot in the ‘DS9’ series, especially when Quark’s family are most concerned.
At first, Quark has a hard time trying to adjust to his new position of power. This is especially when attempts on his life get made. In his bar, a missile almost hits him once he goes down to pick up a coin.
He eventually becomes popular among the Ferengi entrepreneurs by giving away lucrative business opportunities. This makes Zek’s son Krax and Quark’s brother Rom jealous who attempt to kill him here.
They almost succeed when they trap Quark by escorting him into an airlock without a ship docked. Rom does seem to be pretty cruel to Quark when about to throw him out of an airlock in that moment.
Quark does the pleading thing like he did in ‘Move Along Home’. Thankfully Quark’s life is saved when Zek turns up, still alive, and stops Krax and Rom. Krax and Rom are surprised to see him. Quark as well.
It seems Zek went into a trance helped by his servant Tiny Ron as Maihar’du. Quark’s appointment as Grand Nagus was a test for Zek’s son Krax. And of course Krax failed pretty miserably during Zek’s test.
Quark of course gives the role of Grand Nagus back to Zek and even congratulates his brother Rom for having the lobes to try and kill him. Ferengi attitudes are quite weird and disturbing thinking about it.
The episode also has a subplot where Jake helps Nog with school problems and Sisko coping with their friendship. I’d like to dedicate this review to Aron Eisenberg as Nog who sadly passed away in 2019. 😦
‘The Nagus’ is a good Ferengi episode in the ‘DS9’ series. I enjoyed seeing Wallace Shawn make his debut as Zek in the series and it was fun to see Quark becoming the Grand Nagus for a bit in this story.
‘The Nagus’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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