This episode is the beginning of the effort on DS9 to expand the Ferengi into more than a race of goofy villains into a fully developed species in the same way TNG did so with the Klingons. TOS really only dealt with the Vulcans in a serious way and even then a lot of what we today "know" about the Vulcans comes from TAS instead of TOS. As far as I can tell this is the first time we have heard of the rules of acquisition which develop into the core of what it is to be Ferengi. Probably my favorite part of all this is how they didn't invent this from whole cloth, rather they expanded on the few things we did learn about the Ferengi in TNG, namely their obsession with making a profit.
We begin with a suspicious looking Ferengi poking his head out of an airlock to make sure the way is clear for another Ferengi wearing a formal looking cloak and carrying a gold Ferengi headed staff. Next we see Jake and his father getting ready to start their day. Jake doesn't want to spend three days with his dad on Bajor, he would rather hang out with Nog. Then we see Quark mad at Rom for returning a lost purse full of money and messing around in the bar before being interupted by the arrival of the Grand Nagus. The Nagus demands the use of a holosuite and Quark can't really say no. We also see Jake and Nog at school discussing ethics and Jake lies for Nog to cover him not doing his homework. The Nagus is taking full advantage of Quarks hospitality and that is partly because Quark is terrified he is here to buy him out of his bar. His one disappointment is when he learns Nog is going to a human school and he insists he quit immediately.
The Nagus is planning a meeting of all the prominant Ferengi to make plans to thoroughly exploit the gamma quadrant and he is going to use Quarks bar to host. For the days leading up to the meeting ships keep arriving with more Ferengi. At the end of the meeting the Nagus announces his retirement, and that he is promoting Quark to take his place. Quark is stunned, but pretty happy to get to make lots more money. Nog tells Jake they can't be friends any more which really upsets Jake. Quark gets threatened by one of the other Ferengi and goes to the former Nagus for advice, but rather than helping he dies and is immediately turned into souvenirs that are sold to the other Ferengi. Quark is still reveling in his new found power but is less pleased when someone tries to kill him with a bomb in his bar. Bending over to pick up a dropped coin is the only thing that saves him.
Sisko is sitting in his quarters when Dax arrives. She apologizes for interrupting dinner but Ben tells her Jake is 30 minutes late so it hasn't started yet. She, having been a parent several times, advises him to go find Jake and bring him back for dinner. He goes looking for him and is pleasantly surprised to find Jake tutoring Nog on astronomy in a cargo bay. Meanwhile the attempts on Quarks life have gotten more serious and Rom tries to throw him out an airlock along with the deceased Nagus' son. But Odo along with the actually not dead Nagus save the day. It turns out it was all a test for his son to see if he was ready, a test which he failed by overtly trying to kill Quark instead of getting his hooks in an manipulating him for profit.
Review: A solid character/universe building episode that really does a good job of introducing Ferengi 2.0. I mean sure, they still want to rob you blind, but they are much less murderous and ratlike than their TNG brethren.
6 out of 10
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