I really love episodes where both the A and B stories are about Ferengi learning to care about something other than money. Well, Quark still cares plenty about money, he just also cares about his mother and the broader Ferengi economy. Rom on the other hand just cares about Leeta. Ishka is at her best which is one of the greatest things to ever happen to Trek. I also appreciate the foreshadowing that she is going to upset the Ferengi gender balance as soon as she can which pays off in the next few seasons. Sure the Dominion war has disappeared again, but hey, Ferengi!
We open with a sad Quark. Not just sad because his bar is closed due to Cardassian vole infestation, but more general ennui caused by his inability to practice business as a Ferengi. To cheer Quark up Rom announces he and Leeta are getting married, but that only depresses Quark more. Rom suggests he visit moogie on Ferenginar and Quark decides that is the right thing to do. Rom though manages to make it only a few hours before Miles points out that he is doing stuff to fit in with her culture but she isn't doing that for him and he starts getting cold feet. Quark arrives and his mother is surprised to see him. He goes to his room to look for his Marauder Mo action figures and finds Grand Nagus Zeck in his closet and is quite shocked to learn his mother and the Nagus are in love!
Back on the station Rom tells Miles he is going to have Leeta sign a Ferengi marriage contract which will force her to give up all her assets to him and surrender the ability to earn profit. Miles recommends he not do that, but he insists. On Ferenginar Ishka, Quark and Zeck are having dinner but Zeck refuses to return Quark's business license. Quark goes back to his room only to find Brunt in his closet now. Brunt knows that Ishka is in love with the Nagus and offers to give Quark his license back if Quark can get the two to break up. Quark quickly talks to Zeck and convinces him that Ishka is planning a revolution of females and it is indecent for her to wear clothes and then bails while the fireworks happen. Rom's demand of the contract to Leeta goes about as well and she rejects marrying him but is still clearly in love.
Zeck is pleased and Ishka is super upset. Zeck hires Quark to be his advisor and Quark quickly learns Zeck's memory is just about gone. The Ferengi economy starts collapsing and Brunt shows up to gloat that now he will get to be Grand Nagus. But Quark isn't going to let that happen and convinces Zeck to give Ishka another chance and the two get back together and save the economy. Quark returns to the station with his license. And back on the station Rom has donated all his money to Bajoran orphans so he doesn't need Leeta to sign the contract anymore and the two of them can get married!
Review: An episode with lots of touching character moments and some awesome Ferengi hilarity. I recall being annoyed by these episodes a bit since they again pulled the story away from the Dominion war the first time through, but now I am loving them.
8 out of 10
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