Star Trek

THE MAGNIFICENT FERENGI: Not Good

Season 6 continues to underwhlem me after a decent beginning.  In this episode, the Dominion captures Quark's mom.  The Grand Nagus asks Quark to rescue her.  After considering an extraction, Quark decides on a prisoner exchange.

This episode had some amusing moments, such as when the Vorta bumps into walls down the hallway at the end.  However, other than Rom, Nog and sometimes Quark, I hate the rest of the secondary Ferengi characters.  Don't like them at all.

I also find it unlikely that the Dominion would trade prisoners.  A Vorta versus the girlfiend of a world leader...uneven trade...even with a Ferengi involved.

Jim

I have to admit the Magnificent Ferengi is one of my favorite episodes. 

I loved that episode. It was very funny. Ferengi trying to be heroes, hilarious!

Hi Jim,

I've been watching all the series again since I got Netflix and discovered this board about 3 weeks ago. However, I was behind you by about two seasons. I could see I was watching them much faster than you were. I waited until I had caught up so I could make well informed posts here while they was fresh in my mind. It's been a real treat to readyour reviews after each episode to see what you thought and compare. 

With that stuff out of the way, I'll just say you should be a more lenient with your "Great" ratings. Ever since you saw "The Visitor" it seems like you've graded the whole series on a curve. Every episode can't be THAT good.

My one question is: How much of the story arc did already know before you started? It seems to me it would have been spoiled somewhat for me had I known what Season 6 looked like back in Season 2.

Jalad,

I compliment you on your handle.  Darmok is a terrific episode in TNG.

I apologize to everyone.  I've slowed down a bit because work has been very busy recently.

Data Logan has it 100% correct on the spoiler issue.  The only other thing I would add is that I have read the Star Trek Typhon Pact books.  As a matter of fact, for Father's Day my kids got me Plagues of Night as well as the next Romulan War book - To Brave the Storm.  Anyway, through the books I have learned that Jadzia will die and a new character named Ezri will be introduced.  I believe in the final episode Sisko goes off to live with the Prophets but I am not sure of that.  In the Typhon Book involving Sisko it referred a lot to him not getting peace on Bajor if he stayed with his current wife and I believe that maps to his recent (for me) visit to the celestial temple.

About the ratings, I've let everyone know what my standards are for a "great" episode.  In each series there have only been 2 or 3 and that is it.  That doesn't mean I will arbitrarily limit DS9 to just 2 or 3 great ratings.  It just indicates a great rating is not easily attained.  It must be special.  As it is, DS9 is ahead of the other series.  I have rated at least 3 episodes as great already and some "good to great"...and I have nearly 2 seasons to go.

Jim

THE WALTZ: Fair to Good...closer to Good

In the episode, Sisko crash lands on a planet with Dukat on the way to his war crimes trial.  Dukat seems to save his life and take pretty good care of him.  Of course, it is a little like the movie "Misery" in which he controls Sisko since Sisko is also badly injured.  Dukat still suffers emotional problems and is tortured by ghosts in the image of the people in his life.

This episode had a good and reasonable premise.  While Alaimo and Brooks did ok with their reparte I felt it could have been a notch better.  The epsiode was a bit predictable but entertaining.

I like that Dukat escaped though an eventual trial will also be interesting.  Dukat is a survivor and I expect him to have an impact again.

I like how he looks upon himself as father-figure to the Bajorans and doesn't see himself as an occupier...but as someone who improved their lives voer what it was or coudl have been.  Then, he talks about how he punished them for their willful disobedience.

Jim

WHO MOURNS FOR MORN: Good

In this episode, Morn dies in an accident and leaves everything to Quark.  It turns out there could be quite a bit of latinum in the estate and not necessarily legally acquired latinum.  Several nefarious people come after Quark to get their hands on it.

I am surprised I liked this story but I did.  We learn a bit more about Morn and a hot tub full of mud never looked so good.  The characters after Quark were amusing.  The ending was quite good.

I find it funny that they store latinum inside "worthless gold bars".

Jim

I LOVE Morn... Actually he's one of my favorite characters. It's always fun to see him in the background of certain shots. Gives the show a certain continuity. I mean isn't it funny that on the Enterprise you see an crewman walk by in the corridors and then you NEVER see them again?

 Couple interesting things about Morn.

Morn appears in more episodes than Jake Sisko.

The actor who played him (Mark Allen Shepard) called the moment he reguritated the latinum into the glass one of the proudest moments of his life.

Morn often got more fan mail than some of the main cast.

Mark Allen Shepard played the Bajoran whom Quark randomly grabbed and forced to sit in Morn's seat.

Morn bought the matador painting that was smashed over Qurks head at the auction in "In the Cards"

THE MAGNIFICENT FERENGI: I loved that one. Tons of humor; I laughed so hard when Gaila accidentally shot Keevan and his last words were, "I hate Ferengi."

I think it makes perfect sense that the Dominion would be willing to trade Moogie for Keevan, because they want to have a good relationship with the Ferengi (who are currently neutral). They do prefer using the carrot over the stick. And I don't see why Rom wouldn't be willing to kill someone in self-defence.

WALTZ: Some nice Sisko/Dukat dialogue. I loved when the door to the runabout was closing and Dukat just dove in from above.

WHO MOURNS FOR MORN: Funny episode. One thing that confuses me, though, is that Quark repeatedly says that gold is "worthless", yet he seemed to consider it valuable in "Little Green Men". I guess he was just compensating for the times.

I have to second Mitchz95. 
The Magnificent Ferengi began with me being annoyed they were doing another Ferengi episode, but it turned out to be a really fun episode to watch. Ferengi who have almost no threatening qualities trying to swindle the Dominion into a trade was brilliant even though it was a little unbelievable with the dead Vortaa walking around. It would have been a better episode if they managed to work in the death of the Grand Nagus and Quark's mom. lol.

Someone said they were impressed with how DS9 manages to work in fun episodes like these despite an intense story arc going on in the background. I really have to agree. 

I really liked "Who Mourns For Morn" because I couldn't figure out how the episode was going to end. I really thought Morn was dead. Again, another great episode. 

I've been in Cuba so haven't been able to see the replies to the last two pages, but I noticed Jim wasn't a fan of Statisitical Probabilities. Again, I have to disagree. I thought it was a great episode.

I remember watching DS9 the first time (to be fair to Jim) and thinking, come on I want to see the Dominion War action while getting a impatient with filler episodes in between. Second time running however, I really enjoy these episodes much more. They can be annoying to watch when you really want to see that arc come to a resolution. I understand that completely. 

Surprised you like Kira the best. I agree with your analysis of her, but I think I like every other character more than her. 

 

The Magnificent Ferengi was a good episode in my own opinion. Just a silly, lighthearted episode. Say whatever you want to about Iggy Pop's music, but I thought he made a good Vorta. And it was nice to see Keevan get some poetic justice. My favorite scene though had to be when they were rehearsing the rescue mission on the holodeck with less than stellar results.

Waltz was an average episode. The depth of Dukat's breakdown is revealed in this one, and yeah, he's borderline insane from now on. You do get some good insights into Dukat and some of the parallels between him and Sisko. But if we've learned anything about Dukat, it is you can't keep him down and he rebounds pretty good against adversity.

Who Mourns for Morn was a freaking awesome episode on so many levels. Sure it's a silly, lighthearted story revolving around Quark. But it also goes to show the depth and strength of DS9's guest cast. A glorified extra finally gets his own episode. To this day, I don't know what it is about Morn, but you just gotta like him. He's just a fixture in DS9's background and the running joke about him being a chatterbox yet never having a line doesn't get old. They were supposed to have him say something and even altered Morn's costume so he could move his mouth to talk, but I'm glad they didn't Some things are just best left unsaid.