Star Trek: Lower Decks teased a surprising possible future for the Ferengi. Although the Ferengi were originally intended to be the main villains of the Star Trek: The Next Generation, they seemed very comical in their first appearances. After appearing a few times TNG, the Ferengi finally delved deeper Star Trek: Deep Space Nine thanks in large part to Armin Shimerman’s portrayal of Quark. Quark embraced the profit-focused nature of Ferengi culture and made many mistakes, but ultimately proved to have a good heart.
Since their introduction, the Ferengi have been described as a greedy and cunning species, often underestimated. They value profit above all else, and their society is built around this concept, meaning that the most powerful Ferengi are often the most savvy businesspeople. When participating in business negotiations, the Ferengi have a list of almost 300 rules known as the Rules of Acquisition. Although Ferengi culture began to change somewhat towards the end of DS9particularly the role of Ferengi women, they remained focused on profit. This characteristic means that Star Trek: Lower Decks may have revealed unexpected insight into his future.
Did Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Tease the Future of the Ferengi?
What will happen to Ferenginar if they join the Federation?
In its fifth and final season Star Trek: Lower Decks continues depicting the often wacky adventures of the USS Cerritos and its ragtag crew. In Lower decks Season 5, Episode 2, “Shades of Green”, the Cerritos visit the planet Targalus IX, which has just joined the Federation. Because the Federation has long abandoned the concept of money, The people of Targalus IX celebrate their new accession by dismantling their capitalist society. Although the wealthy elites who benefited most from capitalism were not particularly happy, the majority of the planet’s population was ready to celebrate.
Back Lower decks In Season 4, Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik) and Prime Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson) agreed to begin negotiations for Ferenginar to join the Federation. Star Trek hasn’t explored this storyline further, but this could mean that the Federation would like the Ferengi to abandon their capitalist system. This would not only completely reform the Ferenginar system of government, but would also radically change the Ferengi way of life in almost every aspect. It seems unlikely that the Ferengi would accept such a drastic change, suggesting profound implications for the Lower decks turning point.
Everything DS9 revealed about Ferengi shows they can’t help but be capitalists
Most Ferengi will always be focused on making a profit
Based on everything that has been revealed about the Ferengi in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, it is highly unlikely that they would be willing to abandon their way of life entirely. For one thing, the Rules of Acquisition are so ingrained in Ferengi culture that male Ferengi are expected to memorize them all. Quark quotes them throughout DS9, and regularly makes decisions based on one rule or another Considering the importance of profit and finance in Ferengi culture, it would be an incredibly slow and complicated process to dismantle their capitalist system. Even unconventional Ferengi like Rom understood this.
At the end of DS9, Quark’s brother Rom became Grand Nagus of Feringinar despite his supposedly poor business sense. But Rom knew that Ferenginar could not change overnight. Rom and his wife Leeta implemented reforms, such as improving women’s rights and banning weapons sales in favor of profitable hotel ventures, but they did not completely reshape Ferengi society. Still, some Ferengi were unhappy with even these changes, meaning they would likely find a way to depose Rom if he took things much further.
Star Trek: Picard shows that Quark remains a capitalist
Quark, in particular, will always be a businessman
Star Trek: Picard may not have revealed much about how Ferengi society has changed, but the show offered a glimpse into Quark’s future. Quark ran a popular and profitable bar on the Deep Space 9 space station, and he eventually turned it into a successful franchise. Whatever happened to Ferenginar and the Federation, Quark, at least, remained a capitalist. In the year 2381, Quark’s Bar had 21 locations in the Alpha Quadrant and likely had even more by the time of Picard season 1.
In Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 5, “Stardust City Rag”, Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his friends visit a nightclub in Stardust City on the planet Freecloud. Although they don’t visit a Quark bar, a sign can be seen advertising one on Freecloud. Lower decks also mentioned Quark’s franchises, revealing that stolen replication technology was at least partially responsible for the success of his bars. Regardless of whether or not Ferenginar abandons his capitalist ways, it is clear that Quark could never give up his love of platinum pressed into gold – whatever it may be. Star Trek: Lower Decks could suggest.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
- Release date
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October 24, 2024
- Seasons
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5
- Producers
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Alex Kurtzman