With the jump into the far future in the 3rd season of DISCO, we have the chance to be reintroduced to old friends with new twists. The Vulcans and Romulans are now reunited. Earth has become isolationist and even the federation itself is dramatically altered in size and in character.
In this far future, we may wonder about the other races we knew so well. Where are the Klingons and Cardassians? What will the Borg look like in this future?
But we need not wonder about the Ferengi. They will never be seen in this future.
How can I be sure of this?
It’s because the Ferengi have already been reintroduced. They are hiding in plain sight and are now called the Orions. In this future, the Orions have become all of the things that the Ferengi were. Or more accurately, they have become all of the things that the Ferengi should have been before they were turned into a joke.
Let’s think back to the start of TNG. The Ferengi were supposed to be the main villains of TNG. It was an interesting choice. In TOS, the main villains were the Klingons and the main philosophical debate was between cooperation (the Federation) and conquest (the Klingons). This conflict mirrored the Cold War reality at that time between the USA and Russia. In TNG the main philosophical debate was going to be cooperation (the Federation) vs Capitalism (the Ferengi). But sadly this was not the case. The Ferengi bombed and the Romulans took their place.
But now in DISCO, it seems like we have come back to the start of TNG at least philosophically (cooperation vs capitalism). The only difference is that the Ferengi have been replaced by Orions.
But have the Ferengi really been replaced? Perhaps the Ferengi have just been reskinned?
Let’s look at the main villain of the 3rd season of DISCO, Osyraa. She looks like an Orion but she sure does act like a Ferengi.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a copy of the Rules of Acquisition in her back pocket. She certainly follows the Rules of Acquisition quite closely.
Here are some examples of Osyraa following the Rules of Acquisition.
“ The riskier the road, the greater the profit.” 62nd rule.
She is a risk-taker. Osyraa takes big risks looking for big payoffs. Stealing Discovery and taking it to the Federation was a big gamble.
“Know your enemies... but do business with them always” 177th rule.
She is a businessperson who makes deals to get what she wants. After she got Discovery past the Federation’s shields, what did she do? Attack like a Klingon? No she tried to make a deal. How Ferengi can you get!
“Never ask when you can take” 52nd rule.
Of course, Osyraa is not always so polite. When she has the upper hand she does as she pleases.
“There is no honor in poverty” 106th rule.
“My ancestors knew that power is virtue, and there is no nobility in suffering. “ Osyraa. Nuff said.
“Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity” 6th rule.
Osyraa killed her nephew. As she said herself “You do what it takes to get what you need, or you don’t.”.
“Beware the man who doesn't take time for Oo-mox” 223rd rule. Ferengi believe that people should enjoy the sensual pleasures of life. Osyraa is very sensual. Look at the way she sat on the captains chair after she took Discovery from Tilly. She took time to enjoy her victory.
“Learn the customer's weaknesses, so that you can better take advantage of him” 87th rule. Osyraa is very manipulative. She has her chief scientist, Aurelio, thinking that she will save the universe as she saved him.
“Hear all, trust nothing” 190th rule. Ferengi see nothing wrong with telling lies. Lies are a natural part of communication among Ferengi. Trying to figure out what someone is lying about is part of the fun of social interaction as far as Ferengi are concerned. Thus when Osyraa is talking about the lie detector holo, she says “Where’s the fun in that?”.
Every time I look at Osyraa, I see a Ferengi.
But wait!
You might say that she is a woman! Ferengi women are not allowed to engage in business!
In this case we can assume that Rom’s reforms of Ferengi society have taken hold and women are now equal to men in Ferengi society.
In this far future, we may wonder about the other races we knew so well. Where are the Klingons and Cardassians? What will the Borg look like in this future?
But we need not wonder about the Ferengi. They will never be seen in this future.
How can I be sure of this?
It’s because the Ferengi have already been reintroduced. They are hiding in plain sight and are now called the Orions. In this future, the Orions have become all of the things that the Ferengi were. Or more accurately, they have become all of the things that the Ferengi should have been before they were turned into a joke.
Let’s think back to the start of TNG. The Ferengi were supposed to be the main villains of TNG. It was an interesting choice. In TOS, the main villains were the Klingons and the main philosophical debate was between cooperation (the Federation) and conquest (the Klingons). This conflict mirrored the Cold War reality at that time between the USA and Russia. In TNG the main philosophical debate was going to be cooperation (the Federation) vs Capitalism (the Ferengi). But sadly this was not the case. The Ferengi bombed and the Romulans took their place.
But now in DISCO, it seems like we have come back to the start of TNG at least philosophically (cooperation vs capitalism). The only difference is that the Ferengi have been replaced by Orions.
But have the Ferengi really been replaced? Perhaps the Ferengi have just been reskinned?
Let’s look at the main villain of the 3rd season of DISCO, Osyraa. She looks like an Orion but she sure does act like a Ferengi.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she had a copy of the Rules of Acquisition in her back pocket. She certainly follows the Rules of Acquisition quite closely.
Here are some examples of Osyraa following the Rules of Acquisition.
“ The riskier the road, the greater the profit.” 62nd rule.
She is a risk-taker. Osyraa takes big risks looking for big payoffs. Stealing Discovery and taking it to the Federation was a big gamble.
“Know your enemies... but do business with them always” 177th rule.
She is a businessperson who makes deals to get what she wants. After she got Discovery past the Federation’s shields, what did she do? Attack like a Klingon? No she tried to make a deal. How Ferengi can you get!
“Never ask when you can take” 52nd rule.
Of course, Osyraa is not always so polite. When she has the upper hand she does as she pleases.
“There is no honor in poverty” 106th rule.
“My ancestors knew that power is virtue, and there is no nobility in suffering. “ Osyraa. Nuff said.
“Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity” 6th rule.
Osyraa killed her nephew. As she said herself “You do what it takes to get what you need, or you don’t.”.
“Beware the man who doesn't take time for Oo-mox” 223rd rule. Ferengi believe that people should enjoy the sensual pleasures of life. Osyraa is very sensual. Look at the way she sat on the captains chair after she took Discovery from Tilly. She took time to enjoy her victory.
“Learn the customer's weaknesses, so that you can better take advantage of him” 87th rule. Osyraa is very manipulative. She has her chief scientist, Aurelio, thinking that she will save the universe as she saved him.
“Hear all, trust nothing” 190th rule. Ferengi see nothing wrong with telling lies. Lies are a natural part of communication among Ferengi. Trying to figure out what someone is lying about is part of the fun of social interaction as far as Ferengi are concerned. Thus when Osyraa is talking about the lie detector holo, she says “Where’s the fun in that?”.
Every time I look at Osyraa, I see a Ferengi.
But wait!
You might say that she is a woman! Ferengi women are not allowed to engage in business!
In this case we can assume that Rom’s reforms of Ferengi society have taken hold and women are now equal to men in Ferengi society.
