Top 20 Episodes of Star Trek Deep Space Nine #18: Business as Usual

It was only a matter of time before we got to a Quark episode. As I mentioned before, Quark is my favorite character, not only in Deep Space Nine, but in all of Star Trek. In a universe populated by the nauseatingly altruistic, pure and optimistic federation, it’s a nice juxtaposition to have a character that still appreciates the value of greed, cynicism and sleaze. Helping Quark’s case is the fact that he’s played by one of my favorite actors of all time, the always incredible Armin Shimmerman.

Quark is a Ferengi. Much like how the Klingons entire culture is centered around honor and glorious combat, the Ferengi culture is centered around the acquisition of profit and one’s financial standing. Earlier in the show, Quark was forced to break a contract and as a result, became a pariah in Ferengi society, having all his assets seized and his business license revoked. Thanks to some help from his friends, Quark managed to keep his bar running, but his ego and his bank account were still greatly damaged. That looks to change when Quark’s cousin Gaila arrives on the station and offers him an opportunity to get back in the game. The catch: Gaila and his sinister business partner, Hagath primarily sell weapons to some less than benevolent individuals. At first, Quark thinks nothing of it, he’s just another Ferengi making profit, this is what he’s supposed to do. Even when his activities are discovered, he can’t be arrested because Hagath was granted diplomatic immunity by the Bajorans for supplying the resistance with weapons during the occupation. So, everything seems to be coming up Quark, until he learns that the weapons he’ll be selling will be used to end the lives of over twenty-eight million. Quark tries to go to others for advice, but the people he once thought of as his friends have lost all respect for him. Throughout the episode we see Quark wrestling with what is more important, being a good person, or being a good Ferengi, and which one will help him sleep better at night.

What I believe makes this episode an important one is what it shows about Quark. Yes, he’s greedy and often morally ambiguous, but at the end of the day, he does have a conscience and that conscience tells him that sometimes, there are things more important than profit. That moral dilemma for the character, plus some great performances from the guest stars, including the late Lawrence Tierny of Reservoir Dogs fame, makes this episode a great experience.

Next time, we’re back with the Klingons as two proud warriors take a mission in the hopes of achieving redemption.