Rom's emergence from under "protection" of his brother is just about complete. The part I remember about this episode from when I was a kid wasn't the unionization of the bar, it wasn't Rom falling in love with Leeta, it wasn't even Rom getting a job outside the bar, it was the Nausicaans playing darts in each others chests. Every time I have seen them previously I have been disappointed they weren't doing it and this time I was satisfied. It is also clear by now that Jadzia is super into Worf, but he hasn't quite figured it out/accepted it yet.
The episode opens as usual with the B story, this time Jadzia and Worf returning from the Gamma Quadrant. Worf is disappointed that the ship isn't perfect yet and Jadzia is disappointed Worf isn't into her yet. At Quarks it is sad times too, the Bajorans are in their month of cleansing which means they can't drink or do anything fun so the bar is nearly empty. Rom isn't feeling great and Leeta can tells something is wrong but Quark ignores both of them and tells them to get back to work. Rom collapses and wakes up in sickbay. Bashir upbraids him for not having it looked at sooner but Rom explains he doesn't get any sick time so he hadn't been able to make it before now. Julian comments that he should join a union but Rom explains Ferengi don't believe in such things because they all live with the dream that they will end up in charge and get to exploit instead of being exploited.
Worf and Jadzia are returning from the holosuite when Worf hears something, he pokes at the ceiling panel and a thief falls through, a thief with his things. He drags the guy down to security and yells at Odo, but Odo pulls out a list of all the problems they had on the Enterprise and Worf backs down, but he does get Sisko to agree to let him live in the Defiant. Back at the bar Quark announces a 1/3 cut in every ones pay due to the drop in business. Rom tries to get him to agree to give it back to them after things go back to normal but Quark refuses. Later in the infirmary Rom runs into O'Brien who brags about his famous union leader ancestor who was killed during a strike. This both excites and terrifies Rom.
Rom has a secret meeting with all the employees and tells them about his plan. The Ferengi are terrified the FCA will come after them, but Rom points out they don't have many assets to liquidate or they wouldn't be working as waiters. They agree and confront Quark the next day. He laughs as they all walk out, but as they leave we see he is scared. He gets some holographic waiters, but they aren't working well and the protesters outside are keeping people away. Things get worse when liquidator Brunt shows up. He first goes to Quark who is at first pleased to have an ally. Brunt and his two Nausicaan guards then show up at the strikers headquarters, (probably Rom's quarters) and give them all one day to get back to work.
It doesn't work though so that night Brunt goes to Quark. He tells him he needs to send a message, but if he has his Nausicaans beat up Rom it will make him a martyr so he has them rough up Quark instead. This is still not enough to get Rom to give in. Finally Quark offers to meet his demands, but only in secret so the FCA doesn't take the bar. This works, but as Quark opens in celebration Rom walks in, but in a Bajoran uniform. He explains the experience of standing up for himself made him realize he could do more and has gotten a job working for the Bajorans repairing the station.
Review: Lots of character stuff and moving the character stories forward. It seems like it can't be long until Jadzia and Worf are dating. Same thing with Leeta and Rom, but I think that might take a little longer.
7 out of 10
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