The Ferengi Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter Kilana2
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I agree. He does take more after Quark. However, I can also see his view of himself being more about things Quark has said to him through the years than a more objective truth, which is very realistic in child development and growth. It's another indication that the behind the scenes development of their overall dynamic was very well thought and executed.
Quark is great. His love/hate relationship with Odo is just the best, and their interactions always put a smile on my face. I also really love Nog as well.
But I'm glad to see my guys getting some appreciation with this thread.
But I'm glad to see my guys getting some appreciation with this thread.
I absolutely love what DS9 has done with the Ferengi. They took a one-note caricature race and made them interesting. The magic of Brunt, Rom and Nog challenging tradition, Zek...doing Nagus things, the epic Odo-Quark bromance, and Moooooooooooooooooooogieeeeeeeeeee. They're fun and they just want to sell you things.
One of my favorites:
One of my favorites:
I love the Ferengi, and the idea that the became more comedic as the series went on is, IMO, incorrect; just watch "The Siege of AR-558" and "It's Only a Paper Moon" and you will quickly be disabused of that notion.
Quark was often the heart & conscience of DS9, or at least the voice of reason, which is rather amazing for someone who was supposed to be a heartless, greedy, criminal.
His coment to Nog about how dangerous Humans could become, or his trying to explain to Odo why, as a Chageling, fear of him was a part of humanoid DNA; he wasn't being cruel, but he was honest in a way no one else would, or could, be.
I do wish the Ferengi D'Kopra had made an appearance or two, even if they were just hired to do supply runs during the Dominion war..maybe even to both sides.
Quark was often the heart & conscience of DS9, or at least the voice of reason, which is rather amazing for someone who was supposed to be a heartless, greedy, criminal.
His coment to Nog about how dangerous Humans could become, or his trying to explain to Odo why, as a Chageling, fear of him was a part of humanoid DNA; he wasn't being cruel, but he was honest in a way no one else would, or could, be.
I do wish the Ferengi D'Kopra had made an appearance or two, even if they were just hired to do supply runs during the Dominion war..maybe even to both sides.
I though it was rather ridiculous that Ishka was able to transform Ferengi females from "livestock" to "completely equal" just by seducing the Grand Nagus.
A better solution would have been to (a) have Ishka continuing to pave the way for more minor reforms, or (b) have it revealed that Ferenginar was already at a tipping point, regarding female rights (like the US in 1919), and Ishka's influence on Zek was merely the straw that broke the camel's back. The latter would make a certain amount of sense... after all, feminine clothing was obviously known to Ferengi, since Ishka was wearing it.
A better solution would have been to (a) have Ishka continuing to pave the way for more minor reforms, or (b) have it revealed that Ferenginar was already at a tipping point, regarding female rights (like the US in 1919), and Ishka's influence on Zek was merely the straw that broke the camel's back. The latter would make a certain amount of sense... after all, feminine clothing was obviously known to Ferengi, since Ishka was wearing it.
I always enjoyed the Ferengi. Both for the theatrical aesthetic and levity they bring in juxtaposition to the 'dry' Federation. I developed an interesting future story line for the Ferengi. Eventually after the Federation is forced to restructure and change some fundamental underlying issues causing the erosion of utopia, Ferengi become Non-Member Allies. This allows the Federation to enforce some conformity in the name of profit on the part of the Ferengi. At the same time it also provides a direct conduit for any Ferengi to enter Star Fleet if they meet the qualifications. Which leads to a mass exodus of female Ferengi to became Star Fleet officers, or at least immigrate into the Federation relatively easy. This eventually causes actual permanent progress toward gender equality, but we are still talking Ferengi here, so it will take few centuries at least.
Kira's line was the best part of it... "...and believe me... I will have fun."
I always thought Ferengi worked better as individuals rather than as a culture, but you could say that about most Trek races. Always felt the same about Klingons, who are basically the opposite of the Ferengi in most ways. The main trio were great, and Quark was one of the best characters Trek ever produced.
Yes Ferengi work better alone because their entire existence is the search for personal wealth. Always about the self, and greed. However, if you notice there is also a pack mentality. 'Alpha types' gain a 'lackey' following. So a very primal aggression, raw intellect, power acquisition structure is not just a primary social driver, it is THE social driver. All else is devoted to this singular drive, including the subjugation of women. This why I love the Ferengi so much, they dont just represent human greed and selfishness, they also represent the hypocrisy that is built around those social structures, in order to keep them in place.
I wish Pel (from Rules of Acquisition) had a much bigger impact in terms of making Farengi Society better. Maybe have Pel and Ishka work together in terms of accumulating profit through the black market and influencing Zek.
I gain more appreciation for the Farengi shows every time I watch the series but on a whole they were too "cartoony" to be taken really seriously.
Pel should have been a symptom of the same evolutionary phenomenon that Ishka was: a rise of capable and determined Ferengi females determined to claim their rightful status in their society. Like the American suffrage movement of the early 20th century. Ishka's reforms would have made more sense then.
I enjoyed most things Ferengi and would love to see more of the little guys in current Trek.
There was an interesting proposal for a ‘Star Trek: Federation’ Series several years back and their take on the Ferengi in the 3000 would have been very interesting to watch.
"The Ferengi are no longer a “joke” but have become “quite powerful”. Equality for females (including a female Nagus) is “the only concession they have made to progress” and with “the Greater Federation’s cashless society as a restriction, the Ferengi Alliance is now able to shine in its full capitalist glory.” The Ferengi are also making big bucks marketing the Bajoran religion around the galaxy, including pilgrimages to the Bajoran Wormhole."
There was an interesting proposal for a ‘Star Trek: Federation’ Series several years back and their take on the Ferengi in the 3000 would have been very interesting to watch.
"The Ferengi are no longer a “joke” but have become “quite powerful”. Equality for females (including a female Nagus) is “the only concession they have made to progress” and with “the Greater Federation’s cashless society as a restriction, the Ferengi Alliance is now able to shine in its full capitalist glory.” The Ferengi are also making big bucks marketing the Bajoran religion around the galaxy, including pilgrimages to the Bajoran Wormhole."
The Ferengi were at their best when they were acting most like a self aware version of modern humans and verbally dueling with idealists. The evolution of Quark and family portray hyper capitalism as a religion that makes their real empathy into a taboo, kind of like the way Vulcans suppress their emotions but still have them.
I agree the changes in Ferengi society at the end are unrealistically rapid. And making Rom the Nagus made no sense at all, his only qualification was being nice. If they had just set the stage for small incremental changes it would have made more sense.
There were too many cases even in DS9 where they played them as annoying. Screaming in irritating voices or slapstick. And the whole thing where the government can seize all your assets at will makes no sense in a supposedly libertarian marketplace.
I agree the changes in Ferengi society at the end are unrealistically rapid. And making Rom the Nagus made no sense at all, his only qualification was being nice. If they had just set the stage for small incremental changes it would have made more sense.
There were too many cases even in DS9 where they played them as annoying. Screaming in irritating voices or slapstick. And the whole thing where the government can seize all your assets at will makes no sense in a supposedly libertarian marketplace.
I love the idea of them staying the same, even keeping the inequality between genders. Mainly because I love this speech from Quark:
The way I see it, hew-mons used to be a lot like Ferengi: greedy, acquisitive, interested only in profit. We're a constant reminder of a part of your past you'd like to forget ... But you're overlooking something: Hew-mons used to be a lot worse than the Ferengi. Slavery. Concentration camps. Interstellar wars. We have nothing in our past that approaches that kind of barbarism. You see? We're nothing like you. We're better.
One thing about Trek I dislike is that we're always shown these different species and humans are still generally the ideal. I know that works for the show since exaggerated characteristics are a good way to explore humanity, but it was interesting to have this kind of view presented. Maybe the Ferengi behave in ways we'd find reprehensible, but in some ways they really are a lot better than us (although realistically I find it doubtful the Ferengi wouldn't have engaged in slavery).
It completely blows that message apart to then have the Ferengi start caring about things other than profit and moving towards an equal society. You can't have the best of both worlds on that one.
Riker says it best in "Angel One". Societies don't gain gender equality by rapid transformation, but by evolution. This could have been featured in the series. For instance, Quark demands to know how Ishka got a gown on a planet where female clothing doesn't exist. Ishka let's him know that the cause of female liberation has spread further than he thinks.
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