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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 2 Episode 7

Rules of Acquisition

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7.8

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AIRED: 11/7/93

Stardate: 47261.7 A female Ferengi disguises herself as a male in order to help Quark with business deals in the Gamma Quadrant.

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Fan Episode Reviews (5)

Quarky!

8.0

By dolphin_intern, 3 hours ago

After watching TNG most of the Ferengi in that series were nauseatingly annoying but with Quark there's something different. It seems with DS9 they were able to flesh out the Ferengi to be more in tune with what their species actually is all about, profit, but it's not portrayed in an obnoxious way like it seemed on TNG, I agree with Dax that they are charming once you get to know them. Armin Shimmerman plays Quark wonderfully, the Nagus is hilarious and Pel managed to inject some humanity into Quark. This is my first run at watching DS9 so my opinion on the Ferengi might change but as of now Quark, Rom and Nog are great additions to the show.moreless
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A Quark love story?

7.0

By Celedorian, Jan 09, 2013

If you think Star Trek is above the old Shakespearean cross-dressing confusion plot, you probably haven't seen enough of Deep Space Nine. Here they pull it out for the first time in this Quark/Ferengi episode that brings back Wallace Shawn (the Nagus) and pays homage to Yentl. "Rules" makes no attempt to be subtle or unpredictable but is fun and serves as a landmark episode for two reasons. First, it introduces a new element to Dax's character: she understands the Ferengi and knows how to have fun with them. Future writers would not only embrace this idea but elaborate on it, allowing that spirit to spill over into the Klingon culture as well. It serves the character well. Second, we learn that there's a big thing in the Gamma Quadrant called "The Dominion". Both ideas are minor parts of the story, and the irony is that they happen in what is, overall, a forgettable episode; but "Rules of Acquisition" is a fine offering inside the limitations of a Ferengi farce.

DS9 would redo and improve upon the plot of "Rules of Acquisition" in the third season episode, "Family Business" by making the story more personal to Quark and Rom.

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Par for the course as far as Ferengi episodes - nothing earth-shattering, but amusing nonetheless.

7.5

By pharoahsdance, May 14, 2010

Like the Klingons in TNG, the "Ferengi episode" probably overstayed its welcome in DS9. (That's not to say that Quark, Rom or Nog ever got old - but simply that episodes about Ferengi culture ran out of steam at a certain point.)

This one is early enough that we haven't gotten bored with it yet. It's relatively engrossing, actually. Dax's fondness for the Ferengi is actually the best part, and it's tough not to chuckle as she schools them all at Tongo. Wallace Shawn's over-the-top Zek is also a source for amusement. The main plot itself is OK; an intriguing concept that's been done in plenty of other contexts, but not one that you'll remember in about 5 episodes.moreless
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An entertaining but insubstantial Ferengi romp

6.5

By Amoyaan, Jan 29, 2008

This is a curious episode: a Ferengi take on Yentl, in which one of Quark's waitors is revealed to be a female who has had the audacity to challenge the rules of Ferengi society and pose as a male in order to prove that a female Ferengi can make it in a Ferengi male's world!

Pel seems to be a prototype of Moogie, Quark and Rom's revolutionary mother, who would appear in the following season. This is a fun, frothy romp that's entertaining from start to finish in spite of its flimsy plot. The Quark/Pel relationship doesn't quite have the resonance it needs and ends up being rather muddled, but it's still an enjoyable piece, perhaps most notable for DS9's first mention of the Dominion.moreless
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Profit!

7.7

By sesza, Dec 31, 2006

'Rules of Acquisition' is a fine example of an early Deep Space Nine episode. Whilst this episode is mostly a filler, it does make mention of the Dominion, a very important part of the later seasons.

In this episode, Quark is given a mission by the Grand Nagus to acquire 100,000 vats of tulaberries as a means to begin Ferengi business in the Gamma Quadrant. To accomplish this task, Quark enlists the help of Pel, a waiter from his bar. Pel is actually a female in disguise as a male in order to conduct business.

Along the way, Pel falls in love with Quark, her identity eventually being revealed to both Quark and the Nagus.

It was nice to a more 'human' side to Quark in this episode. Seeing him develop feelings for Pel made him a more complete character to me. And it was also good to see Dax reveal more about her symbionts previous hosts.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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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

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Helene Udy	Pel	Guest Star
Brian Thompson	Inglatu	Guest Star
Emilia Crow	Zyree	Guest Star
Wallace Shawn	Zek	Recurring Role
Tiny Ron	Maihar'du	Recurring Role
Max Grodenchik	Rom	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (7)
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- Ferengi Rules Of Acquisition:
  Number 21: "Never place friendship above profit."
  Number 22: "A wise man can hear profit in the wind."
  Number 33: "It never hurts to suck up to the boss."
  Number 48: "The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife."
  Number 59: "Free advice is seldom cheap."
  Number 62: "The riskier the road, the greater the profit."
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- The Karemma are first mentioned in this episode. They would play a more significant role in the episode "Starship Down".
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- This episode marks the first of three Ferengi females we see on the series. The other two are Ishka in "Family Business" and a gender-changed Quark in "Profit And Lace".
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- This episode marks the first time Tongo is ever played on the show.
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- After Quark and Pel beam down to the Dosi planet from their shuttle, there is a brief shot of the shuttle in orbit and through the cockpit windows we can see two Ferengi sitting at the controls. However, Quark and Pel were on the planet, and there was no one else to be left aboard.
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- The originally-aired version spelled the word "Acquisition" without the "c" and it appeared in the credits as "Aquisition." Also, the actress Helene Udy's name was spelled incorrectly as Helene. Both goofs have been corrected in the DVD versions.
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- When Quark gets on his knees before the Grand Nagus you can see Nana Visitors' standing que that she used right before Quark arrived. It's the red floor mark.
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QUOTES (3)
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- Grand Nagus Zek: Let me remind you that taking business advice from a female is a violation of Ferengi law!
  Quark: I didn't know she was a female.
  Grand Nagus Zek: Stupidity is no excuse. Now, one more word out of you, and you are going to share her cell.
  Quark: Then you better make sure it's big enough for three.
  Grand Nagus Zek: Are you threatening me?
  Quark: I wonder what your associates will say when I tell them you allowed a female to represent you in a business negotiation!
  Grand Nagus Zek: I didn't know she was a female!
  Quark: Stupidity is no excuse.
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- Kira (about Ferengi): They're greedy, misogynistic, untrustworthy little trolls, and I wouldn't turn my back on one of them for a second.
  Dax: Neither would I. But once you accept that, you'll find they can be a lot of fun.
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- Dax: Is that really how you prefer your women; naked and submissive?
  Quark: You find such a life appealing?
  Dax: Ah... don't you wish?
  Quark: I do... I really do...
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NOTES (2)
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- Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) does not appear in this episode.
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- This episode mentions the Dominion for the first time, beginning the Dominion arc, one of the longest story arcs in Star Trek.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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