This is sort of a remake of second season's "Rules of Acquisition", but with a better script and a better performance from the lead guest star. Taking place largely on Ferenginar (in its Star Trek debut) this women's liberation story is an improvement because the issue is more personal to Quark and explored in greater depth.
Like the best Ferengi episodes, the script simultaneously celebrates the culture (likely the only one where sons are uncomfortable with their mothers wearing clothes) and pokes fun at it ("that will be three slips of gold-pressed latinum for the use of the chair") while never letting the overall story get lost in the shuffle. Armin Shimerman (Quark) and Max Grodenchik (Rom) get the bulk of the scenes, and it's clear that by this point in the series the two know just how to work together and love doing it. They're joined by guest star Andrea Martin (Mom) who finds a niche in the family for her character and demonstrates that Mom loves each of her boys in different ways and knows just how to handle them. Sadly, there's no appearance from Wallace Shawn as Grand Nagus Zek, but this opens the door for Liquidator Brunt, the first of three recurring Star Trek characters played by the fantastic Jeffrey Combs. Director Auberjonois pulls all their performances together so well, their dialogue carries the show and most viewers won't even notice that the entire episode includes only about six minutes of music.
The B story is a mini sequel to the previous episode, following up on Sisko's promise to meet a pretty freighter captain. There's not much to it (and what there is resembles the first half of TNG's "Lessons") but it's a nice building block for the future of the show.
All that said, "Family Business" doesn't stand out from the crowd. There are better Ferengi episodes, and nothing happens here that's too important or memorable.
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Stardate: 48731.2
It is discovered that Quark's mother, Ishka, broke Ferengi law and made a profit through a secret deal, which may cost Quark everything he has.
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 Armin Shimerman |
Quark |
Terry Farrell |
Lt./Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Season 1-6) |
 Rene Auberjonois |
Constable Odo |
 Nana Visitor |
Major/Colonel/Commander Kira Nerys |
Avery Brooks |
Commander/Captain Benjamin Sisko |
 Alexander Siddig |
Dr. Julian Bashir |
Andrea Martin |
Ishka |
Guest Star |
Mel Green |
Secretary |
Guest Star |
 Penny Johnson Jerald |
Kasidy Yates |
Recurring Role |
Jeffrey Combs |
Brunt |
Recurring Role |
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (2)
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During this episode, Rom states that Quark hadn't returned to their mother's home in twenty years and that he'd left as soon as he reached the age of ascension. If the Ferengi age of ascension is age eighteen (as stated in "Heart of Stone"), it is thus intimated that Quark is thirty-eight years of age as of this episode.
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This episode marks the first time we see Ferenginar.
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QUOTES (2)
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Quark: (Standard Ferengi greeting)My house is my house.
Brunt: As are its contents. -
Rom: (holds up his arms) That's enough bickering! You're both acting like children! I will not stand by and let this family fall apart! Quark, you should be ashamed of yourself. I've seen you treat Cardassians with more respect than you show your own mother. And Moogie, if Quark can uncover your hidden investments, eventually the F.C.A. will, too. And all that profit will be lost. Think about that for a moment. Now, neither of you is going to leave this room until you've settled things. Is that clear? AND NO SHOUTING!!! I'm going to take a nap.
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NOTES (4)
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Penny Johnson Jerald (Kassidy Yates) also played the role of Dobara on The Next Generation episode "Homeward".
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This episode reveals that baseball is still played within the Federation. Kasidy Yates youngest brother on Cestus III plays baseball for the Pike City Pioneers there. Cestus III is also the planet that the Gorn Hegemony considered part of their territory back in the 23th century. They destroyed a Earth outpost there and was pursued by the USS Enterprise in the Original Series episode "Arena".
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This is the only episode in which Andrea Martin plays Ishka. In the subsequent episodes where Ishka appears, she is played by Cecily Adams.
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After being mentioned in the previous episode, Kasidy Yates makes her first appearance in this episode that begins her four year courtship with Sisko.
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Its On Hulu Plus
02/18/131
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Human casual clothing in the future is just terrible.
12/24/1211
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Ezri Dax
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What You Leave Behind (2)
S 7 : Ep 26
Aired 6/2/99
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What You Leave Behind (1)
S 7 : Ep 25
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Extreme Measures (7)
S 7 : Ep 23
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Season 3 Episodes
See AllEp 26
The Adversary
Ep 25
Facets
Ep 24
Shakaar
Ep 23
Family Business
Ep 22
Explorers
Ep 21
The Die Is Cast (2)
Ep 20
Improbable Cause (1)
Ep 19
Through The Looking Glass
Ep 18
Distant Voices
Ep 17
Visionary
Ep 16
Prophet Motive
Ep 15
Destiny
Ep 14
Heart of Stone
Ep 13
Life Support
Ep 12
Past Tense (2)
Ep 11
Past Tense (1)
Ep 10
Fascination
Ep 9
Defiant
Ep 8
Meridian
Ep 7
Civil Defense
Ep 6
The Abandoned
Ep 5
Second Skin
Ep 4
Equilibrium
Ep 3
The House of Quark
Ep 2
The Search (2)
Ep 1
The Search (1)
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