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Though the "Star Trek" franchise occasionally veers into the existential here and there, no series has been as complex or as willing to stare into the void as "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." The series has been thought of as the weird step-child of the franchise since its airing, as there's not much in the way of exploring the stars in "Deep Space Nine," instead forcing its characters to go through a variety of challenges all while living aboard the space station Deep Space Nine. Many of its characters aren't members of Starfleet or even the Federation, as Deep Space Nine sat near a newly opened wormhole and was next to the recently-freed planet Bajor after many years of Cardassian occupation. Over seven seasons, "Deep Space Nine" followed Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Commander and then Captain of Deep Space Nine, who was not only the military leader of a vital outpost,...

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In the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" episode "The Magnificent Ferengi", Quark (Armin Shimerman), one of the franchise's best characters, learns that his mother Ishka (Cecily Adams) has been captured by the evil Dominion. At first, Quark wants to assemble a team of crack Ferengi commandos, consisting of his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik), his nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg), his cousin Gaila (Josh Pais), and a fighter named Lek (Hamilton Camp) to get her back, but soon comes to understand that his "crack squad" kind of sucks at military maneuvers. Instead, he arranges a meeting on an abandoned Cardassian space station called Empok Nor where he, with a Vorta prisoner in tow, will negotiate a prisoner exchange, using his keen sense of Ferengi deal-making.

On Empok Nor, Quark meets a Vorta general named Yelgrun, a smooth-talking creep with every intention of...

Johannes Grenzfurthner has done it again. The Austrian filmmaker rarely misses: his more recent “Solvent” mixes history and fiction to whip up a tale of unsettling horror that is impossible to forget. This time, Grenzfurthner’s unflinching approach to confronting real-life horrors culminates in “Hacking at Leaves,” a documentary that blends the United States’ colonial past with the atrocities faced by the Navajo tribe in a bittersweet cocktail of uncomfortable truths. Grenzfurthner goes one step further by honing in on the hacker movement and how a particular Durango hackerspace rallied for people’s lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each of these ideas is tackled at breakneck speed without cohesion ever being risked, but the questions asked are meant to disturb and provoke while no easy answers are presented. Those acquainted with the director’s body of work might perceive the documentary as a natural extension of his intellectual curiosities, but for those who are not,...

Star Trek's best engineer was Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney), and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine proved that. Originally a recurring character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Miles O'Brien served in the Cardassian War before being assigned to the USS Enterprise. O'Brien moved from helmsman to the Enterprise's transporter chief, giving him hands-on knowledge of Starfleet's flagship. Chief O'Brien had experience with sophisticated Federation engineering and a working knowledge of Cardassian technology, making O'Brien the perfect choice to head up the Starfleet engineers on the former Cardassian station Deep Space Nine.

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 6, episode 15, "Honor Among Thieves", Deep Space Nine's crew are dealing with far more technical malfunctions than usual. Dr. Julian Bashir's (Alexander Siddig) infirmary technology, the fire suppression system at Quark's (Armin Shimerman) Bar, and Constable Odo's (Rene Auberjonois) security sensors are all unexpectedly glitching. Even the turbolift in Ops is being a jerk.

"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is kind of an odd entry in the "Star Trek" franchise, as no one boldly goes much of anywhere and the series focuses heavily on war (something franchise creator Gene Roddenberry was explicitly against). Despite these apparent setbacks, "Deep Space Nine" is one of the best "Star Trek" shows ever made and features an incredible and diverse cast of characters that provide very unusual perspectives for a "Star Trek" series. "Deep Space Nine" also has characters that hail from outside of the Federation, which helps to make the show feel unique from its more Starfleet-focused brethren.

Among the characters who brought a bit of fun and sweetness to "Deep Space Nine" was Leeta, played by Chase Masterson. Leeta was a Bajoran who worked at Quark's (Armin Shimerman) bar as a dabo girl, in addition to occasionally selling jumja sticks (a sticky Bajoran treat) on the promenade.

Star Trek will never have a cast as expansive as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's again. At the heart of Star Trek are the scores of beloved characters that generations of fans have come to adore. From noble Captains like James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), and Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), to the multitudes of Starfleet Officers and alien characters populating Star Trek's ever-growing universe, it's the people and their stories that keep audiences coming back for more. No Star Trek show, however, could match the impressively massive cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ran for seven seasons in syndication from 1993-1999. The first spinoff of Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9 broke Star Trek's established mold centering on the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Deep Space Nine was set aboard the eponymous space station led by Commander...

One of the best things about "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" was that its space station setting meant there were more opportunities for alien characters to take on major roles. Some of the most beloved and interesting characters on the series are non-human, like Cardassian tailor/spy Garak (Andrew Robinson) and Ferengi bar owner Quark (Armin Shimerman). In fact, there are a couple of fun Ferengi folks that live on Deep Space Nine, and over the course of the series they gained some depth and the Ferengi became more than just money-obsessed villains with huge ears. 

Just as Michael Dorn, who played Klingon warrior Worf, helped shape Klingon culture, Shimerman was able to influence Ferengi culture. He had originally played an evil Ferengi named Letek on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and he hoped that by playing Quark, he could evolve the Ferengi into a more complex, complete people and wipe out past portrayals.

Andrea Martin has spent the past four years playing Sister Andrea, a nun on the horror drama, Evil. She takes care of business by dealing with the demons in whatever manner is required to rid the world of their presence. Her job isn't an easy one, but she makes it look like fun. It's all part of acting. In an interview with Cbr, Martin said the same thing about her short time on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Ishka, Quark and Rom's mother.

To the Star Trek fans, it did look like Martin was having a lot of fun playing Ishka, but in reality, it wasn't fun at all. In fact, that one episode was why Martin didn't return to the show. It was all about the make-up and prosthetics with Martin revealing that she "really was too claustrophobic with all the makeup."

Though she enjoyed her time...

Most of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's major characters are still waiting to make their Star Trek comeback. Star Trek on Paramount+ series like Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Prodigy have brought back numerous characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager. However, only a handful of DS9 characters - Colonel Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Quark (Armin Shimerman), Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodenchik), and First Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson) - have returned on Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine reuniting in live-action is difficult since a few of the actors have passed away. However, animated Star Trek makes the impossible possible. For example, Odo returned on Star Trek: Prodigy as a hologram. Despite Rene Auberjonois' death, archival footage was used to bring the heroic Changeling back to life. Unfortunately, with Star Trek: Lower Decks ending on Paramount+ and...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's R-rated Ferengi running joke always made me laugh, although I also get why other Star Trek fans disliked it. Originally conceived as the main villains of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Ferengi initially underwhelmed, coming off as more comical than threatening. However, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine leaned into the comedic aspects of the greedy, profit-driven Ferengi, who were epitomized by the diversity of Quark (Armin Shimerman) and his family, Rom (Max Grodenchik) and Nog (Armin Shimerman).

The Ferengi were conceived as a reflection of the "greed is good" 1980s, and films like Wall Street, where making money was the highest goal of all. The capitalist Ferengi are a counterpoint to the socialist Utopia of the United Federation of Planets, where the acquisition of wealth is not the driving ambition of society. Smarmy, uncouth, and lascivious, the Ferengi were everything an enlightened 24th-century Starfleet Officer was not,...

"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is unlike any other "Star Trek" series, diverging from franchise creator Gene Roddenberry's vision after his death and digging into stories and characters that were more morally gray than the original series or "Star Trek: The Next Generation." "Deep Space Nine" took place on board the space station Deep Space Nine, located in a key position near the freshly liberated planet of Bajor and a newly discovered wormhole to another quadrant of the universe. Several seasons are occupied with the Dominion War, forcing "Star Trek" to contend with concepts like terrorism, torture, and more, making it one of the darkest of all of the "Trek" shows. Thankfully, however, the show also has a secret comedy card: the Ferengi.

The big-eared, bulbous headed aliens obsessed with capitalism were something of a bad stereotype in the franchise until "Deep Space Nine," where they finally got a...

The greatest love of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Quark (Armin Shimerman) may have been gold pressed latinum, but the Ferengi bartender did have a handful of genuine romantic connections across DS9's seven seasons. Quark was instrumental in changing how the Ferengi were presented following their fumbled introduction as Star Trek: The Next Generation villains. Through Quark, his brother Rom (Max Grodenchik) and his nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg), the Ferengi characters in Deep Space Nine were multi-layered members of an alien species and not two-dimensional stock bad guys.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's Ferengi were sleazy misogynists who saw women as objects, but that wasn't the case for characters like Rom in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Quark's brother Rom fell in love with Leeta (Chase Masterson), and the two went on to have a hugely positive impact on Ferengi culture. While Quark certainly wasn't above objectifying women like his Tng counterparts,...

Sisko and O'Brien share a strong bond, but their unnamed brothers are mysteriously absent from the storyline of DS9. Quark and Nog are not the only brotherly relationship in DS9, as Sisko, O'Brien, and others also have unseen siblings. The missing brothers of Sisko, O'Brien, and Kira in DS9 may be due to writers forgetting or logistical challenges of space travel.

For a TV show that contains so many strong family units, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has a weird problem when it comes to the brothers of many of its characters. DS9 has one of the largest ensemble casts in the entire Star Trek franchise, introducing multiple non-Starfleet characters with personal and familial connections to the regulars. Joseph Sisko (Brock Peters), the father of Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) was a recurring character from DS9 season 4 onward. The Sisko family were the heart of DS9, but Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney...

In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Perfect Mate," the U.S.S. Enterprise-d is tasked with transporting a Kriosian ambassador (Tim O'Conner) to an arranged peace ceremony with a species called the Valtians. As a peace offering, the Kriosians aim to deliver a mysterious, eight-foot pod to the Valtians. Thanks to the meddling of some traveling Ferengi, the pod is cracked open, revealing Kamala (Famke Janssen) to have been sealed inside. Kamala was roped into an arranged marriage with the Valtian ambassador, a humanoid gift to "sweeten the deal." She was being transported in stasis.

The reason for her stasis quickly becomes clear. Kamala is an "empathic metamorph," meaning she can sense the desires of the men in her vicinity and alter her personality to match what they might be attracted to. She also produces clouds of powerful pheromones, driving men wild with lust. Having her wander...

Naomi Wildman, the half-Ktarian daughter of Ensign Samantha Wildman, quickly became a fan favorite on Star Trek: Voyager. Despite complications with her half-Ktarian biology, Naomi forges a close friendship with Seven of Nine and becomes part of the Voyager family. The character of Naomi Wildman highlights the importance of family, education, and friendship in the Star Trek universe.

Who is Naomi Wildman (Scarlett Pomers), the youngest hero of Star Trek: Voyager? Naomi Wildman in the cast of Voyager continues a trend of including children on Star Trek shows that started with Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and continued with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks)'s teenage son; and Nog (Aron Eisenberg), the son of Rom (Max Grodénchik). Although the USS Voyager was not designed for families, Star Trek: Voyager found a way to attract...

Rom in DS9 started as a typical Ferengi but grew into an engineer, a good father, great husband, and Grand Nagus. "Necessary Evil" hinted at Rom's intelligence, setting him up to escape Quark's shadow with a career in engineering. "Necessary Evil" was key to shaping Rom's character in DS9, showing a more nuanced and conflicted side.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine turned Rom (Max Grodénchik) into a very different type of Ferengi to his brother Quark (Armin Shimerman). When DS9 began, Rom was a fairly typical Ferengi, who was obsessed with profit and coveted the bar owned by his brother. Quark treated Rom terribly, and the poor Ferengi became something of a punching bag in his early appearances. However, while Rom began as a peripheral Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character, he became a hugely important character, who would go on to shape the future of the Ferengi in Star Trek.

By the time Rumpelstiltskin was in the works, the slasher model of yesteryear was replaced with something fresh but still familiar enough. Hence the many oddball slashers where the antagonist is neither human nor ordinary. From djinns to scarecrows, the decade saw horror turning to more fantastical inspirations. Mark Jones, whose career began in writing for cartoons and television, essentially kicked off the trend with Leprechaun. And had his first movie not been so successful, his next would have likely never happened.

After striking gold with Leprechaun in the early 1990s, Mark Jones looked to another magical icon for his second horror movie. Two specific on-screen depictions of Rumpelstiltskin influenced Jones’ own unique reimagining; he drew from Shaike Ophir and Billy Barty’s performances, respectively from the vintage anthology show Shirley Temple’s Storybook and an ‘87 movie directed by David Irving. Jones remembered Ophir’s take on the Brothers Grimm character to be particularly creepy.

Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson felt like it was a dream come true to reprise their roles in Star Trek: Lower Decks next to the Cerritos crew. Lower Decks episode 6 brought Rom and Leeta back for negotiations, marking a major update on the Ferengi since DS9. Grodénchik was emotional about returning as Rom, emphasizing the significance for both himself and the fans.

Star Trek: Lower Decks bringing back Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Rom and Leeta was a "dream come true" for actors Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson. Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place," brought the USS Cerritos to Ferenginar to negotiate with Grand Nagus Rom and his wife, First Clerk Leeta. Lower Decks delivered the first major update on the Ferengi and the popular Rom and Leeta couple since the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson joined a special panel...

The reason that many Ferengi characters wear veils on the back of their heads is not just a cost-cutting measure, as previously believed. The veils were actually a design element distinctively created by the makeup supervisor Michael Westmore. While the practical explanation for the veils is a communication error cover-up turned costuming tradition, there is no official in-universe explanation for why Ferengi wear headdresses.

Armin Shimerman, who played Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, reveals the real reason that so many Ferengi characters wear veils on the back of their heads. Quark is one of the few Ferengi characters to go without a headdress, and also a main character in the cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, so the long-standing practical explanation for Ferengi veils is that they're a cost-cutting feature. Veils allegedly save DS9's makeup department from creating full-coverage prosthetics like Quark's for every Ferengi from...

Leeta from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was named after Max Grodénchik's real-life girlfriend, Lolita Fatjo, who worked on the show as a writing assistant and convention booker. Rom and Leeta's romantic relationship on the show may have been inspired by Grodénchik and Fatjo's real-life relationship. Leeta and Rom's relationship progressed quickly, with their marriage happening after a brief courtship. They remained together even after Rom became Grand Nagus.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Leeta (Chase Masterson) was named after the real-life girlfriend of Max Grodénchik, who played the hapless Ferengi Rom. Quark's (Armin Shimerman) brother, Rom, and Bajoran Dabo girl Leeta made an unlikely couple among the characters on Deep Space Nine, who still found themselves perfectly matched. Leeta wasn't necessarily always destined to be Rom's romantic partner since Rom and Leeta connected as friends and co-workers at Quark's Bar before becoming romantically involved with one another,...

Armin Shimerman, who played Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, is grateful that his makeup didn't come down as far as Rene Auberjonois' makeup for Constable Odo, as it made eating messy for Auberjonois. Shimerman brought back his Ferengi teeth for his animated return as Quark in Star Trek: Lower Decks, ensuring consistency between his live-action and animated performances. Quark's Ferengi teeth were the least fussy part of Shimerman's makeup in Deep Space Nine and could be easily inserted and removed, allowing for a smooth filming process.

Armin Shimerman, who played Ferengi bartender Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, says he's "grateful" for one aspect of his old Ferengi makeup. The makeup process to turn Shimerman into Quark took about two hours, and involved whole-head prosthetics, fingernails, and makeup applied to the face and hands. As a series regular, Quark's makeup also extended to the back of Shimerman's head,...

Deep Space Nine's commitment to ongoing serialized storytelling, with characters remaining in one place, allowed for rich character development and evolving relationships. Family connections played a vital role in both Deep Space Nine and Picard, testing the characters' true values and showcasing their growth. The compelling family relationships seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine paved the way for the emphasis on family in Star Trek: Picard, expanding the definition of family beyond Starfleet.

Quark actor Armin Shimerman says that one of the things that made Star Trek: Deep Space Nine so compelling for audiences is repeated by Star Trek: Picard nearly thirty years later. DS9 was ahead of its time in many ways, as one of the first Star Trek shows to commit to ongoing serialized storytelling, owing largely to the fact that characters remained in one place instead of leaving to venture to the next planet. The...

Armin Shimerman is open to returning as Quark in future Star Trek shows, but being a series regular might be challenging due to the prosthetic makeup. The possibility of a Quark comeback in Star Trek: Picard season 3 has been discussed by showrunner Terry Matalas. Quark's character has experienced success and financial growth since the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with his bar being franchised to other planets.

Iconic Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor Armin Shimerman would gladly come back as Quark, although perhaps not as a series regular on a Star Trek on Paramount+ show. Shimerman helped invent the Ferengi race on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he perfected the greedy, entrepreneurial aliens on DS9 with his portrayal of the eponymous space station's resident bar owner. As Quark, Shimerman was a series regular on Deep Space Nine, and the Ferengi was a reliable source of comic...

The self-sealing stem bolt is a recurring gag in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that remains unexplained throughout the series. The creator of the self-sealing stem bolts, Peter Allan Fields, admitted he had no idea what they were used for and invented them as a meaningless cargo for a storyline. The self-sealing stem bolts have become a tribute to Fields and have made appearances in other Star Trek series, including Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Discovery.

The self-sealing stem bolt is a long-running gag in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but nobody can figure out what it's used for. Introduced in Star Trek: DS9 season 1, episode 15, "Progress", the self-sealing stem bolt would be regularly referenced during the show's seven-season run. However, despite all these references, DS9 has never explained what they are or how they work beyond the fact that they seal themselves. They became such a notorious...

An official YouTube channel dedicated to the classic sitcom The Munsters and the franchise it spawned was launched three years ago, and as the years have gone by a whole lot of clips from the 1964 – 1966 show have been added to that channel. But now Universal has decided to go ahead and share a couple full movies on there as well: The Munsters’ Revenge from 1981 and Here Come the Munsters from 1995. Not only can both of those movies be viewed on the The Munsters channel, but they’re both embedded at the bottom of this article as well!

Directed by Don Weis from a script by Arthur Alsberg and Don Nelson, The Munsters’ Revenge reunites original sitcom stars Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, and Al Lewis. The movie shows us what happens when Mad Dr. Diablo sends robot doubles of Herman and Grandpa Munster to steal art.

Gwynne, De Carlo, and Lewis play Herman,...

Nog's potential as a Starfleet officer was evident early on in Deep Space Nine. In "The Storyteller" episode, Nog's ability to negotiate and cite the Rules of Acquisition proved his potential as a mediator, showcasing his skills for a future career in Starfleet. The legacy of Nog and the late Aaron Eisenberg in Star Trek could be honored by including more Ferengi in Starfleet, as seen in Star Trek: Lower Decks, highlighting their value as strong negotiators.

Nog (Aaron Eisenberg) proved that he was Starfleet material from as early as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 1. The youngster became the first Ferengi to join Starfleet, thanks to the support of Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney). However, Nog began DS9 as a bit of a tearaway, and his very first scene saw him get arrested by Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois). However, the positive influence...

In "The Nagus" Zek names Quark as his successor, but it was a ploy to expose his son's murderous intentions. Quark's reckless behavior and lack of consideration for consequences make him unfit for the role of Grand Nagus, despite his strong business skills. Rom, despite being seen as inferior to Quark, became a better Grand Nagus due to his progressive politics, and his curiosity for different alien cultures.

Quark (Armin Shimerman) was never going to become Grand Nagus in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as proved by DS9's first Ferengi episode. In the season 1 episode "The Nagus", DS9 introduced the character of Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn), the leader of the Ferengi Alliance, the most powerful figure on Ferenginar. Quark's Bar became a vital location for expanding Ferengi business interests into the Gamma Quadrant, which won the DS9 bartender favor with the Grand Nagus, with many believing that Quark...

Star Trek features many important characters who work alongside Starfleet without wearing a uniform or earning a rank, proving that not all heroes wear Starfleet uniforms. Characters like Rom, Leeta, President T'Rina, and President Laira Rillak have played significant roles in the Star Trek universe, contributing to important events and helping shape the future. Characters such as Soji, T'Pring, Gwyndala, Jake Sisko, Dr. Jurati, Guinan, Garak, Neelix, and Quark have each made their own unique contributions and have become beloved Star Trek heroes in their own right.

While most of Star Trek's main characters serve in Starfleet in some capacity, a few of the most memorable characters never did. Beginning in 1966, Star Trek: The Original Series painted an image of an idyllic future, where Earth has eliminated war, hunger, and poverty. Following the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the USS Enterprise, Tos...

Star Trek: Enterprise might be featured in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, depending on the outcome of ongoing deals. Lower Decks nods to various Star Trek series, but no characters from Enterprise have appeared. Integrating Enterprise into the show is challenging, but the creator hopes to include it in creative ways, potentially through Easter eggs or voice appearances.

Star Trek: Enterprise could get some love in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 if "deals work out," according to Lower Decks' creator and showrunner Mike McMahan. Lower Decks season 4 will end with the final two episodes about to stream on Paramount+, but writing on Lower Decks season 5 is nearing completion for a targeted 2024 release. Lower Decks season 4 brought back Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik) and First Clerk Leeta (Chase Masterson) among other nods to the greater Star Trek franchise, but no Star Trek: Enterprise characters have appeared on Lower Decks yet.

A potential revival of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine would benefit from the return of key characters such as Benjamin Sisko, Kasidy Yates, Jake Sisko, Jadzia Dax, Gul Dukat, Elim Garak, Dr. Julian Bashir, Ezri Dax, Miles O'Brien, Rom, Leeta, Quark, Colonel Kira Nerys, and Worf. While some original actors may not be able to reprise their roles, recasting or animated versions could still allow for their characters to continue in the story. The appearances of Deep Space Nine characters in recent Star Trek shows indicate that a revival is possible and that fans haven't seen the last of the beloved series.

If Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is revived for the modern era of Star Trek, its most important characters must return. Modern Star Trek shows hint at an updated Deep Space Nine, or at least a spiritual successor in the works, such as Star Trek: Prodigy is to Star Trek: Voyager.

Patrick Stewart reveals that Jonathan Frakes loved to mock Captain Picard's famous line "The line must be drawn here!" from Star Trek: First Contact. Picard's iconic line became a pop culture trope, often quoted and parodied, proving Jonathan's recognition of its potential impact. The line was parodied in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, showcasing its lasting influence in the Star Trek universe.

Patrick Stewart reveals how Star Trek: First Contact director Jonathan Frakes hilariously loved to mock Captain Jean-Luc Picard's most famous line. First Contact was the most popular and successful Star Trek: The Next Generation movie, and its lasting impact factored heavily into the story of Star Trek: Picard season 3, which reunited the entire Tng crew to face the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) once more. But the heart of First Contact was Jean-Luc's relationship with Lily Sloane (Alfre Woodward), a 21st-century woman trapped on the USS Enterprise-e with...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 7 - "A Few Badgeys More"

Deep Space Nine's cameo in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 proves the need for a real revival of the beloved series. The Dominion War from Deep Space Nine is crucial to the storyline of Star Trek: Picard season 3, but fans were disappointed by the absence of DS9 characters. The crossovers between Star Trek: Lower Decks and Deep Space Nine demonstrate that an animated revival may be a logical and successful way to bring back the show.

Deep Space Nine makes a surprise cameo in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, and the sight of Captain Benjamin Sisko's (Avery Brooks) space station proves that it's high time for a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine revival on Paramount+. DS9 went off the air in 1999 after a revolutionary 7-season run where the Star Trek series embraced serialization and told...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 6 - "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place"

Key Takeaways: Captain Pike's secret negotiation tactic of understanding others' perspectives is effective, as shown in both Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks. Captain Freeman applies Pike's tactic when negotiating with the Ferengi Alliance, recognizing their cultural values and respecting them. The principle of empathy is emphasized in Star Trek, allowing adversaries to become allies, and Pike and Freeman exemplify this by fostering understanding with different cultures for the benefit of the Federation.

Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) has a secret negotiation tactic in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that's so effective, it still works over a century later in Star Trek: Lower Decks, when Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) uses it with the Ferengi. In Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 5 "Spock Amok", the R'ongovians are determining whether to ally themselves with the Klingons,...

Warning: This Article Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 6 - "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place"

Star Trek: Lower Decks has made Ferengi history by showing the exterior of Ferenginar, the Ferengi homeworld, from space for the first time in the series. Despite previously seeing the surface of Ferenginar in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, this is the first time the planet is depicted from the perspective of a starship in orbit. The long-awaited reveal of Ferenginar from space comes after a wait of over 30 years since the introduction of the Ferengi in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: Lower Decks just made Ferengi history in an unexpected and surprising way. Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place," brought back beloved Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik) and his Bajoran wife, First Clerk Leeta (Chase Masterson). In addition, USS Cerritos Lieutenants Beckett...

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 6 - "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place"

Grand Nagus Rom's love for baseball is not a ruse - he genuinely loves the game and it holds a special place in his heart. Baseball brought Rom closer to his Starfleet friends and allowed him to form a bond with his son, Nog, outside of Quark's bar. Rom's return to Star Trek: Lower Decks signifies a historic step forward for the Ferengi Alliance, as he plays a key role in their formal intent to join the Federation.

Grand Nagus Rom's (Max Grodénchik) love of baseball on Star Trek: Lower Decks began with one of the funniest episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, Rom and his wife, First Clerk Leeta (Chase Masterson), negotiate the Ferengi Alliance joining the United Federation of Planets with the USS Cerritos' Captain Carol Freeman...

The return of Quark and Rom in Star Trek: Lower Decks highlights the absence of other members of their Ferengi family, making their reunion even more tragic. The deaths of Aron Eisenberg (Nog) and Cecily Adams (Ishka) mean that Nog and Ishka cannot return to Star Trek alongside Quark and Rom. The animated format of Lower Decks allows for the return of Quark, Rom, and Leeta, as live-action sequels to Deep Space Nine have been limited. Fans hope to see an older, wiser Quark in the future.

The welcome returns of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Quark (Armin Shimerman) and his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik) in Star Trek: Lower Decks have made the absence of two members of their Ferengi family even more tragic. In Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place", Star Trek gives fans a glimpse of the progressive changes introduced by Grand Nagus Rom and...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place."

In Star Trek: Lower Decks, watching television has fallen out of fashion in the United Federation of Planets, with characters preferring holodecks and holo-novels for entertainment. The absence of television in the future of Star Trek is ironic considering the franchise's origins and its production of TV content. It seems odd that they would abandon television entirely. Boimler's obsession with Ferengi television in the series shows that television can be just as addicting in the future as it is today, serving as a relatable aspect for viewers.

While movies still have their place in the far future, Star Trek: Lower Decks implies watching television has apparently fallen out of fashion in the United Federation of Planets. When Lieutenants Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), D'Vana Tendi (Noël Wells), and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) are...

Grand Nagus Rom and Leeta return in Star Trek: Lower Decks, brokering Ferengi's joining the United Federation of Planets, while Rom talks about baseball during negotiations. Artist Chris Fenoglio shares amazing fan art of Star Trek: Lower Decks and Deep Space Nine characters playing baseball together in the holodeck, recreating a classic DS9 episode. Star Trek: Lower Decks ingeniously portrays Rom's long-lasting love for baseball, referencing his role in DS9's "Take Me Out To The Holosuite" episode as the hero who brought the team together.

The casts of Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine play baseball together in amazing fan art. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6 features the returns of Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik) and Leeta (Chase Masterson), his wife who is now First Clerk of the Ferengi. Rom and Leeta last appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's series finale, but in Lower Decks,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place."

Rom and Leeta's unconventional love story on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is weird, but great because they see each other for who they truly are and bring out the best in each other. They defy stereotypical expectations and support each other's unconventional beliefs. Rom gains confidence through his relationship with Leeta and learns to speak up for himself and his beliefs, which go against traditional Ferengi values. Leeta encourages Rom to pursue his passion for engineering and helps him find respect outside of Quark's exploitation. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, Rom and Leeta continue to prove that their unconventional pairing is a great match. They use their underestimated personas to their advantage and test whether others will truly see and respect the truth about them. Their love story is ultimately weird, but truly great.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place."

Quark's brother Rom and his wife Leeta have had a positive impact on Ferengi society, bringing about progressive reforms and gender equality. Nog became the first Ferengi in Starfleet, rising through the ranks and playing a significant role in the Dominion War. Quark and Nog made important first contact with the Jem'Hadar and Vorta, shaping the future of Starfleet and the Federation.

30 years after they were introduced, Quark (Armin Shimerman) and his Ferengi family from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continue to change Star Trek history. In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place", the USS Cerritos arrives at Ferenginar for an important diplomatic mission. While Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) observes negotiations between the Federation and Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik), the Lower Deckers visit Ferenginar to update the Starfleet guidebook.

Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, Episode 6 - "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place"

Genesis Device technology has been stolen and is available on the black market in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6. The appearance of a Genesis Device in Star Trek: Picard season 3's Daystrom Station is explained, implying that Section 31 has secured the technology. The stolen Genesis Device was destroyed along with a Ferengi vessel, reducing the number of devices in existence.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6 reveals that Genesis Device technology has been stolen, which helps explain the Genesis Device guarded in Star Trek: Picard season 3's Daystrom Station. Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place," is a gloriously Ferengi-centric affair centering on Star Trek's devoted capitalist empire. As Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Grand Nagus Ron (Max Grodenchik) and his wife, First Clerk Leeta (Chase Masterson) negotiate Ferenginar's entry into the United Federation of Planets,...

This Star Trek: Lower Decks article contains spoilers.

Remember when we first met the Ferengi, way back in “The Last Outpost,” episode five of Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s first season? Gene Roddenberry and co. wanted so badly to make the Ferengi menacing, with their laser whips and hunched appearance. But despite Roddenberry’s plans, the Ferengi proved to be a terrible replacement for the Klingons as the Federation’s new big bads, and quickly found themselves reduced to occasional appearances throughout the rest of the series.

But instead of letting the Ferengi go to waste, Michael Piller and the producers of Deep Space Nine followed Rule of Acquisition #292: “Only a fool passes up a business opportunity.” They added Quark to the main cast, bringing back “The Last Outpost” actor Armin Shimerman to play him, and added his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik) and nephew Nog (Aron Eisenberg).

Over seven seasons,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place."

Captain Freeman successfully convinces the Ferengi Grand Nagus and his Bajoran wife to consider Federation membership. The Ferengi seek Federation membership due to threats to their trade routes, while the Bajorans' status remains uncertain. It is likely that Bajor will join the Federation at some point after the Ferengi, as suggested by a Star Trek: Picard season 2 Easter egg.

Star Trek: Lower Decks confirmed that the Ferengi will join the Federation, but the membership status of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Bajorans is still unconfirmed. "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place" sees Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) meet Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik) and his Bajoran wife Leeta (Chase Masterson) to discuss terms for Ferenginar's Federation membership. While both species were introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Ferengi and Bajorans came to prominence in DS...

First Orion, now Feringinar. Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4 Episode 6 takes us to another alien homeworld never closely examined in the franchise's live-action offerings.

Meanwhile, Mariner hasn't quite shaken the self-destructive compulsion, and Boimler discovers his Achilles' Heel.

Also, it finally explores the question of whether Rutherford and Tendi could ever be more than friends.

But before the LTJGs' antics distract us, let's point out the tidbit of intel revealed in the teaser. The Ferengi lower decks crew member on the ship that encounters the mystery vessel has foreknowledge they were going to be taken.

Also, he doesn't seem afraid, which is a strong indication that the abduction/collection theory has some credence. How this is a profitable endeavor is yet to be revealed.

Lower Decks continues to astound with the guest cast they are able to round up.

After the stunning appearance of comedic guest trio Wendie Malick, Janelle James,...

This post contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

The Ferengi have popped up a few times before on "Star Trek: Lower Decks." Back in last season's "Hear All, Trust Nothing," when the USS Cerritos visited Deep Space Nine, we got to check back in on everyone's favorite bartender Quark (Armin Shimerman). In this season's latest outing, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place," we again meet his younger brother, Rom (Max Grodénchik). Continuing on from where "Deep Space Nine" left off, Rom is the Grand Nagus (Chief Executive) of Ferenginar.

Why is the Cerritos visiting the Ferengi homeworld? Because Rom has plans to bring his homeworld into the Federation. This is quite an about-face for the Ferengi. They were introduced as villains in season 1 of "The Next Generation," but poor reception turned them into comic nuisances. It was "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" that gave them depth, and...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place."

The Ferengi have abandoned arms dealing and embraced leisure and hospitality for greater profits. The progressive changes to Ferengi society, including equality for women, are evident on Ferenginar. Ferenginar is filled with gambling dens, sleazy television shows, and quirky customs, such as chocolate statues and harsh punishments for discounts falsification.

Star Trek: Lower Decks returns to Ferenginar for the first time since the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and massively updates Ferengi society while they're there. After a Ferengi ship falls victim to the mysterious starship attacking species across the galaxy, Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik) seeks Starfleet's help. Applying for Federation membership, Rom and his wife, First Clerk Leeta (Chase Masterson) arrive on the USS Toronto to negotiate terms with Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) and Admiral Vassery (Fred Tatasciore). Vastly underestimating the newly progressive Ferengi Leadership,...

The latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks" is set on the Ferengi homeworld of Ferenginar, a planet that has long been ruled by an aggressive capitalist philosophy. Everything in Ferengi society revolves around profit and acquisition, and money forms the basis of every one of their major beliefs. In the Ferengi afterlife, one enters Heaven by paying the exorbitant entrance fee. The holiest Ferengi book is a list of 285 money-related aphorisms called The Rules of Acquisition. All of Ferenginar's financial interests are overseen by a Pope-like figure called the Grand Nagus. In the final episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," the largely underestimated and surprisingly compassionate Rom (Max Grodénchik) became the Grand Nagus, ushering in a new era. Rom gave rights to workers, previously forbidden in Ferengi society.

The plot of the new episode involves Lieutenants Tendi (Noël Wells) and Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) having to go undercover as...

This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Lower Decks."

Talk about rags to riches. Once considered a blight on "Star Trek" with their introduction in "The Next Generation," the Ferengi have come a long way since an inauspicious appearance that even veteran "Trek" actor Armin Shimerman once called a "disaster." Originally conceived as an alien species that would pose a Klingon-like threat, the distinctive and prominently earlobed characters received a much-needed overhaul throughout "Deep Space Nine," where they were reimagined as a more comedic, profit-hungry, and staunchly capitalist society that functioned as a dark reflection of everything that the "socialist utopia" of Starfleet stands for. That's what makes it all the more meaningful that "Lower Decks" has now dedicated an entire episode to the fan-favorite Ferengi and, more importantly, the post-"Deep Space Nine" whereabouts of their newest leader, Rom.

Episode 6, cheekily titled "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place,...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine broke the mold of the original vision by exploring the impact of Starfleet's decisions on a micro and macro level. Commander Sisko's character arc and the depth of the cast in DS9 were major successes, adding complexity to episodes that could have been lightweight. "In the Pale Moonlight" is a breathtaking morality play that challenges Roddenberry's utopian vision, showing the tough decisions that must be made to maintain it.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is acclaimed for its darker and mature approach and its 20 best episodes perfectly combine the core ideals of Star Trek with a more complex morality. DS9 broke the mold of Gene Roddenberry's original vision to rebuild Star Trek with contemporary relevance. Swapping a starship for a space station, Deep Space Nine was able to explore the impact of Starfleet's decisions on a micro and macro level. Many of...

DS9's Nog and Tng's Wesley Crusher both defied family tradition and pursued their own paths in Starfleet. Nog's journey in DS9 showcased the positive social changes in Ferengi society and exposed Starfleet's narrow view of the residents of Ferenginar. Despite initial doubts, Nog proved himself as an exemplary Starfleet officer, while Wesley struggled under the weight of expectation.

The failed Starfleet career of Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) was perfectly flipped by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the story of prospective Ferengi officer Nog (Aron Eisenberg). DS9 took the Ferengi from failed Star Trek: The Next Generation villains and turned them into a fully realized and nuanced society. At the core of DS9's Ferengi rehabilitation was Quark (Armin Shimerman), his brother Rom (Max Grodenchik), and Rom's son Nog. They very quickly established that there was more to the Ferengi than the pursuit of profit, hinting at the positive...