Ferangi threat

Discussion in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' started by SignGuyHPW, Sep 26, 2013.

  1. Mark_Nguyen

    Mark_Nguyen Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Indeed. I don't really buy the whole "Zek started rumours" thing. IMO it doesn't match with the still menacing and devious Ferengi we saw through the middle seasons of TNG before DS9 ensured they'd be dumbed down (while admittedly being nicely developed as a species, just not like they were at the start).

    I like to think that the nice big ships we saw were the Galaxy-class explorers of the Ferengi, big, powerful and out to make contact with new worlds and civilizations - to sell and buy stuff. Their crews and Captains would be tougher, more militarized, and more aligned with a central Ferengi government (no doubt because they were paid more). They'd even wear uniforms to distinguish themselves as a unified force, some even wearing fur at the discretion of their Captains (you'll note that underneath the furry bits there were elements of the "standard" Ferengi uniform we'd come to know later).

    We were catching those ships and their less merciful commanders in those early years as they expanded into contact with the Federation and company. Then, inasmuch as new worlds and new civilizations were supposed to contact a grand and awesome Galaxy-class Starship first, after everyone knew about them, those ships and their crews moved on to new territories, and we are left to deal with the smaller ships and the civilian merchant fleet.

    Mark

    PS - The LAZER WHIP was sorta also seen in ENT "Acquisition" where the Neelix-Ferengi guy had one. THAT one however looked more like a regular whip and not some big blue sex toy.
     
  2. jimbotron

    jimbotron Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Did they take Predator figures and add Ferengi heads?

    -

    It's pretty funny watching early TNG whenever they mention Ferengi as if they're the Dominion or something, and then how they were revealed.

    Two early TNG directors did their best to screw over the show. The director for Code of Honor pushed the racist thing with bad casting and was fired, and the director of The Last Outpost directed the Ferengi actors to jump around like monkeys. Where were the producers to keep them in check?
     
  3. JirinPanthosa

    JirinPanthosa Admiral Admiral

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    The Federation is charitable, they're not Apple Corps.
     
  4. Slyvon

    Slyvon Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Boy thank goodness for Christopher L. Bennett! I had always wondered about the differences in the Ferengis from TNG and Ds9 as well. That explanation makes about as much sense as possible given the silliness of that episode.
     
  5. WarpFactorZ

    WarpFactorZ Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    The first mention of the Ferengi in "Encounter At Farpoint" also makes them out to be rather voracious. Picard says something about them finding their "business associates" rather tasty.
     
  6. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    This idea eventually evolved into the Ferengi lightning whips.

    In fact, at one point the Ferengi were supposedly going to be walking around carrying their coiled up phallus.

    [​IMG]



    :)
     
  7. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    The early concept sketches of the Ferengi do make them look pretty vicious, but apparently the designs didn't look as threatening when converted to makeup appliances on human actors.
     
  8. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    That would've been... something. I don't know what I should do... groan at how horrible that might've been or laugh at the concept of Riker getting slapped in the face or spunked on by a Ferengi penis. :lol:
     
  9. The Old Mixer

    The Old Mixer Mih ssim, mih ssim, nam, daed si Xim. Moderator

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    As I recall, there was a moment in "The Last Outpost" when the whips stiffened up and looked conspicuously like erect phalluses....

    As for the general topic, my impression is that the early TNG Ferengi were the pirates and the DS9 Ferengi were the merchants.
     
  10. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Even with the same make up and costumes, the Ferengi could have been written as maniacal and menacing. An early decision by TPTB could have been made to have the Ferengi win on occasion, this would have made them a more credible enemy. The Borg were diminished by their constant defeats at the hands of the Voyager crew.

    Basically have them be the Orion Syndicate, the Orions have become puppets within their own organization..

    Largely remove all aspects of humor and goofiness.

    Make them less "Yankee Trader" (who there was nothing wrong with) and more the British East Indian Trading Company.

    Get rid of "The Grand Naggus."

    None of these suggestions would have precluded Ferengi like Quark and Nog being part of the mix.

    :devil:
     
  11. David.Blue

    David.Blue Commander Red Shirt

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    Would have been nice also if they didn't come across as cartoonish stereotypes of Jews.
     
  12. Maurice

    Maurice Snagglepussed Admiral

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    Perfect for a syndicated show aimed for commercial TV during the early evening when families would be watching. ;)
     
  13. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    If TNG had been on one of the premium cable networks, we probably would have had a topless Troi or Yar scene every week. And the Edo in "Justice" would have been naked.
     
  14. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Others have brought this up before, I've never seen comparison.

    :devil:
     
  15. Kooz

    Kooz Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Nailed it. This was my biggest issue with them. The Grand Naggus was a frigging clown--and this was the seat of all bargaining wisdom? Also, they were built up to be these master traders, but they were terrible negotiators. Terrible.
     
  16. vulcan redshirt

    vulcan redshirt Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    It would have made more sense for the Grand Nagus to have been a more formidable character, rather than this rather un-threatening little old man. Perhaps more should have been made of a back-story for him, for example, if, when younger, he would have been able to make someone like Brunt scared of him.
     
  17. R. Star

    R. Star Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I had no problem with the Nagus being an old man. They should've made him out to be something like a mob boss though more than just a horny, greedy little troll.
     
  18. Melakon

    Melakon Admiral In Memoriam

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    You couldn't have asked for a better Nagus than Wally Shawn though.

    Mirror Ezri: I'm trying to save your lives.

    Zek: That's a very worthy goal!