Episode complete credited cast: | |||
Avery Brooks | ... | Capt. Benjamin Sisko | |
Rene Auberjonois | ... | Odo | |
Michael Dorn | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Worf | |
Terry Farrell | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax | |
Cirroc Lofton | ... | Jake Sisko | |
Colm Meaney | ... | Chief Miles O'Brien | |
Armin Shimerman | ... | Quark | |
Alexander Siddig | ... | Doctor Bashir | |
Nana Visitor | ... | Major Kira | |
Megan Gallagher | ... | Nurse Faith Garland | |
Charles Napier | ... | Gen. Rex Denning | |
Max Grodénchik | ... | Rom | |
Aron Eisenberg | ... | Nog | |
Conor O'Farrell | ... | Jeff Carlson | |
James MacDonald | ... | Captain James Wainwright (as James G. MacDonald) |
Nog is about to leave for the Academy and Quark spots a perfect opportunity. He has just received a shuttle from his cousin Gaila, that was promised him ten years ago. He doesn't trust it and asks Rom to, but he can find nothing out of order. Quark and Rom decide to take Nog to the Academy with it. Not because Quark approves or wants to do the boy a favor, he wants to take contraband along: kemacite. When they arrive at Earth, they find out Gaila intention's weren't so good after all. He sabotaged the ship, they can't get out of warp and eventually it will tear to pieces. Rom can think of only one thing: start a cascade reaction in the kemacite, create an inversion wave in the warp core, then crash land on Earth and hope for the best. When they wake up, they are locked up in a room. Earth seems to have changed a bit. It's 1947... Roswell, New Mexico. The three "aliens" are then taken by the local authorities who are both fascinated and fearful of these extraterrestials, and Quark must... Written by Arnoud Tiele (imdb@tiele.nl)
I've often despaired a little at Deep Space Nine. It often maintained a fairly bland story without enough key episodes to get your blood going but I have to admit I've always enjoyed the Ferengi episodes.
Its a very old story of wily cop (Odo) vs lovable rogue (quark) and both actors clearly enjoy playing it to the full. Its Armin Shimmerman as Quark who raises the.bar on character acting though. He plays Quark as a floored career swindler who is cursed with a moral centre. He hates the fact he can't be as ruthless as other Ferengi and we love him for it.
Throwing these characters up against 1950 America really brings home some resonant messages. The Ferengi as a race are vile profiteers who'll stop at nothing for some gold pressed latinum but even Quark is horrified when he realises "they irradiated they're own atmosphere!! They're insane!".
Time travel plots can be very clunky. See "times arrow" in TNG for how not to do it but get the right characters and set them against the right time period and your onto a winner.
This is also an episode that will please trekies and non-trekies alike. Highly recommended watching.