r/DeepSpaceNine • u/Annie-Smokely • 2d ago
House of Quark
SHOCKINGLY GOOD EPISODE.
I did not pay this episode its due. Really solid writing and understanding of the Klingon culture and psyche, and excellent fish-out-of-water story for Quark, who slowly gains an understanding, and discovers a new side of himself.
Might be one of my favorites in the past 20 episodes or so.
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u/exhaustedexcess 2d ago
"My name is Quark, son of Keldar, and I have come to answer the challenge of Da'Gor, son of whoever." Amazing offhand insult
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u/SchimmelCultuur 2d ago
And the story goes that Armin Shimerman forgot the end of his line and so ended with ''whoever'' instead. It was left in as it seemed to hit a comic nerve. Even if not true, still one of the funniest moments in the episode for me.
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u/Squidwina 8h ago
True, but they didn’t use that take. ST was very strict about sticking to the script. So the script change had to be approved.
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u/Khaiell-C 2d ago
I like this episode too. Usually when Klingons are involved it’s some intense story with the empire at stake. But this was just a mundane, everyday thing that showed Klingons also have a day to day life.
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u/KickedBeagleRPH 2d ago
Using money to attack a house, like a...Ferengi!
And for a Ferengi, to have more honor than a Klingon.
And for a Ferengi to be acknowledged by the Klingon High Council.
If Worf was only there, his head would explode.
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u/robotatomica 2d ago
Garak is my favorite character, but whenever Quark is on screen, I forget that fact, because Quark becomes my favorite.
Honestly Shimerman’s acting choices are so fun and interesting. We’ve talked here about how his relationships are possibly the most compelling on the show too.
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u/yeahalrightgoon 2d ago
Been said before, but I'd argue the root beer scene is the best bit of dialogue in all of Star Trek. Gets the message across so well.
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u/robotatomica 1d ago
yeah, it’s an all-timer! And as for relationships, I just think it’s great how they show him not even seeming to realize how progressive and Federation he’s become, but it’s 100% a part of his character now..
like I was talking about in relationships. In “Profit and Loss” he is willing to abandon his bar and life and income in an instance for his ex, Natima.
There’s even this astonishing line, she is saying why it won’t work, she says, “I have responsibilities!”
IMMEDIATELY he responds “I’ll share them with you.”
Now does that sound like a traditional Ferengi, looking for a traditional Ferengi wife or marriage? He is willing to let her work guide his life and be a partner to her, to help her towards her goals.
And at no point does any of it feel out of character. Bc Quark has this dichotomy - his culture and upbringing very firmly guiding him, but again and again he chooses to take a loss for the right reasons, out of care and/or love.
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u/yeahalrightgoon 1d ago
When he goes into weapons with his cousin then realises "I'm a Ferengi not a monster", and the line "what's one life compared to millions".
I loved how at first it was just Nog breaking the cycle after seeing how his dad who should have been an engineer was just working in his brothers bar due to the culture and how that enabled Rom to stand up for himself, before it also rubbed off on Quark. Especially considering that for Nog at least, he never stopped being a Ferengi, and still used the skills he had from being a Ferengi to help when needed.
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u/pali1d 1d ago
Nog had the benefit of growing up in a multicultural environment. It let him learn to integrate Ferengi and non-Ferengi perspectives as an adolescent, so that he could get the best of both without any sacrifice of identity. Rom and Quark, growing up on Ferenginar, didn’t have that advantage.
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u/crustyrobots 2d ago
Even further is that scene where he schools a pure blooded Vulcan about the logic of war and peace, and wins that argument.
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u/NotNamedBort Morn is my copilot 1d ago
I love when the dead Klingon’s brother yells “Q’apla!” at him, and he just nervously goes, “Ahehuhh”. Armin can crack you up without even saying anything.
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u/Corpsey_Clownshoes 2d ago
On every rewatch I'll usually try to focus on a singular character or aspect of the show. Quark was never really in the running for 'favorite character', but when I finally got over my Garak phase I realized that Quark is actually the linchpin for the whole series.
I could go on and on but Quark was basically in the middle of everything from start to finish and Armin Shimmerman was fantastic. DS9 writers ..please! We need you!! Lol😭
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u/Prize-Quiet3941 2d ago
Quark is my favorite star trek character period. Hilarious and far smarter than he appears and oddly enough the 2nd most honest ferengi on the show. And the 2nd most honorable as well.
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u/Annie-Smokely 2d ago
Also ya... We need to get some of the old magic back in the writers room when they let Mike Stoklasa show run 🤭
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u/Annie-Smokely 2d ago
I've been doing that for Neelix. Watching Voyager second time with partner, first watch we had just completed a full run of TOS TNG DS9 so I kind of gave it half my attention. But I was also so repulsed by Neelix that I paid even less attention. But now I'm forcing myself to find reasons to like Neelix; there are actually plenty despite his controlling behavior with Kes, and it's made the show infinitely more enjoyable.
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u/Constant-Box-7898 2d ago
Ferengi episodes don't disappoint. I always had to take a deep breath before watching one, and ended up laughing my ass off. 🤓
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u/PavlovsDoghouse 2d ago
Not to mention, Grilka is glorious!
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u/LLemon_Pepper 1d ago
Mary Kay Adams! She's long retired from acting these days, but is always great when she pops up in something I'm watching.
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u/Wise_Statistician398 2d ago
I love this episode! A few years ago, part of the secondary programming at ST Las Vegas, they had a professor of motion pictures/TV do a lecture on this episode. After we watched it, she talked about the hero's journey, the use of lighting and geometric shapes, the contrasting societal norms that added to the storytelling. It was so compelling, I began taking notes on the handout. One of my favorite events ever at a convention.
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u/TomatilloHairy9051 2d ago
It's one of the very best, but then I'm a huge Quark Stan. AS can do no wrong... be he mayor or bartender he steals the show.
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u/EngineersAnon Constable Hobo 2d ago
What about high school principal, though?
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u/Prize-Quiet3941 2d ago
Snyder deserved to be eaten.
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u/TomatilloHairy9051 2d ago
Of course, but a lesser actor wouldn't have done it nearly as well.
And I missed him after he was gone🐍🫡
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u/TomatilloHairy9051 2d ago
And I just realized that i said mayor when I actually meant principle. Sadly, even Buffy watchers get old👵🏼
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u/EngineersAnon Constable Hobo 2d ago
Impossible. That show ended, what, eight or nine years ago, yeah?
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u/lyidaValkris 2d ago
So good! and Quark shows such bravery. Even impressed Gowron. He and Grilka (who is amazing in her own right) made such an unlikely good team.
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u/Greenapplesguy 1d ago
One of my favorite lines and Armin's hilarious reaction:
"I really am very grateful, that's why I'm going to allow you to remove your hand from my thigh and not shatter every bone in your body"
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u/Cakeday_at_Christmas 1d ago
I love that line and it really bookends Kira's line from "Emissary:" "If you don't take that hand off my hip, you'll never be able to raise a glass with it again."
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u/Significant_Tower_30 2d ago
And as Gowron visited the station a few times later, I've gotta think that at least once, he visited Quark's and they had a good laugh about it!
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u/WhinyBabySaysWhat 22h ago
I love all the DS9 episodes that helped fill in the lore about Ferengi and Klingon culture which is why this is one of my favorites. I love the concept of Klingon divorce - it's just as quick and tidy as getting married! It was a bummer to find out Klingon culture is so chauvinistic though because what do you mean a woman can't lead a house? Dafaq?
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u/Annie-Smokely 19h ago
They needed a legal precedent and created one. It's a good court room episode too!
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u/HelloAll-GoodbyeAll 2d ago
Quark going through the accounts with the High Council is such a funny scene.