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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
S2.E7
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Rules of Acquisition

  • Episode aired Nov 7, 1993
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
Armin Shimerman, Max Grodénchik, and Helene Udy in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
A female Ferengi named Pel, posing as a male so that she can engage in business, falls for Quark during very important negotiations between the Ferengi and a Gamma Quadrant race.A female Ferengi named Pel, posing as a male so that she can engage in business, falls for Quark during very important negotiations between the Ferengi and a Gamma Quadrant race.A female Ferengi named Pel, posing as a male so that she can engage in business, falls for Quark during very important negotiations between the Ferengi and a Gamma Quadrant race.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Livingston
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman
    • Michael Piller(showrunner)
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rene Auberjonois
    • Alexander Siddig
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Livingston
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman
    • Michael Piller(showrunner)
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rene Auberjonois
    • Alexander Siddig
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Pel the First female Ferengi on Deep Space Nine ( Armen Shimerman is holding her ears)
    Pel Deep Space Nine
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Avery Brooks
    Avery Brooks
    • Cmdr. Benjamin Siskoas Cmdr. Benjamin Sisko
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Odoas Odo
    Alexander Siddig
    Alexander Siddig
    • Doctor Bashiras Doctor Bashir
    • (as Siddig El Fadil)
    Terry Farrell
    Terry Farrell
    • Lt. Jadzia Daxas Lt. Jadzia Dax
    Cirroc Lofton
    Cirroc Lofton
    • Jake Siskoas Jake Sisko
    • (credit only)
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Chief Miles O'Brienas Chief Miles O'Brien
    Armin Shimerman
    Armin Shimerman
    • Quarkas Quark
    Nana Visitor
    Nana Visitor
    • Major Kiraas Major Kira
    Helene Udy
    Helene Udy
    • Pelas Pel
    • (as Hélène Udy)
    Brian Thompson
    Brian Thompson
    • Inglatuas Inglatu
    Max Grodénchik
    Max Grodénchik
    • Romas Rom
    Emilia Crow
    • Zyreeas Zyree
    Tiny Ron
    • Maihar'duas Maihar'du
    Wallace Shawn
    Wallace Shawn
    • Zekas Zek
    Tom Billett
    • Dosi Traderas Dosi Trader
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Coffee
    • Bajoran Civilianas Bajoran Civilian
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Ford
    • Star Fleet Crew Memberas Star Fleet Crew Member
    • (uncredited)
    Mary D. Mascari
    • Bajoran Womanas Bajoran Woman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • David Livingston
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
      • Rick Berman
      • Michael Piller(showrunner)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First mention of the Dominion.
    • Goofs
      The originally-aired version spelled the word "Acquisition" without the "c" and it appeared in the credits as "Aquisition." Also, the actress Helene Udy's name (appropriately spelled Hélène Udy) was given incorrect marks as Hêlene. Both goofs have been corrected in the DVD versions.
    • Quotes

      Zek: Let me remind you that taking business advice from a female is a violation of Ferengi law.

      Quark: I didn't know she was a female.

      Zek: Stupidity is no excuse. Now one more word out of you, and you are going to share her cell.

      Quark: Then you better make sure that it's big enough for three.

      Zek: Are you threatening me?

      Quark: I wonder what your associates will say when I tell them you allowed a female to represent you in a business negotiation.

      Zek: I didn't know she was a female.

      Quark: Stupidity is no excuse.

    • Alternate versions
      The word "Acquisition" in the title was misspelled "Aquisition" in the original airing. It was changed to the proper spelling for all future releases and airings of the episode.
    • Connections
      Featured in What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title
      (uncredited)

      Written by Dennis McCarthy

      Performed by Dennis McCarthy

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    4/10
    Is The Ferengi Male-Dominated Society Really All That Bad?
    1 SENTENCE PLOT SYNOPSIS: Quark gets romantic, woos two women, breaks up a party by tipping over a table, pursues profit in the Gamma Quadrant, is the first from DS9 to hear about "The Dominion" and does it all in a 49 minute episode!

    VIEWERS TAKE NOTICE: *Every time I hear the Grand Nagus (Wallace Shawn) speak with his distinctive voice, I immediately think of the movie, "Princess Bride" and his many one line zingers & cackle laughter in that film.

    *Other reviewers have tried to assert a LGBT agenda with the secret love desire the hidden Ferengi female (posing as a man) feels for Quark. I don't see it as clearly and, in any case, it is certainly not blatant. Hidden sexual identity is a frequent plot twist and other Star Trek series have used it.

    *Doesn't Pel (disguised Ferengi female) remind you of Winnie The Pooh's friend, Piglet?

    * One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is the fixation Dax has toward Ferengi culture and lifestyle. Major Kira is flabbergasted as Dax shares her near admiration of all things Ferengi. Dax is the only non-Ferengi (and only non-male) at the table playing a high stakes card game on at least 2 separate nights and when she tells Kira how Quark had wooed her into a date in a private holo-suite replication of Dax's personal bedroom, Kira is appalled. How could any advanced, space-age society (or person such as Dax) find anything redeeming in the way the Ferengi men isolate and abuse the females in their culture? It is revealed the Ferengi male-dominated society do not ALLOW their women to wear clothing, taking business advice from a female is a serious prison-inducing offense and other interesting misogynistic factoids. The Grand Nagus actually pinches/grabs Kira on her butt as she walks by him at one point. Huh? What is going on in the future for goodness sake?

    *Speaking of grabbing and fondling....popular Quark's bar patron "Morn" (anagram for Norm from the popular NBC series, "Cheers") is seated at a table in the background when Odo and Rom (Quark's brother) have a brief conversation (27:00). It's hard to tell, exactly, but Morn is with either a Bajoran or human female. Take a look at all of the grabbing, pawing, pulling and familiarity going on in extra-ville. And that is in front of the camera - what in the world was going on behind the scenes?!? What a randy set DS9 maintained! Lol.

    *At 33:35 the writers use the word "Dominion" to describe THE super power in the Gamma quadrant and THE group which would dramatically affect the entire rest of the run of the series and 5 further seasons. The whole thing was introduced by a woman from the Dosi race speaking to a Ferengi (Quark).

    WAS THE GALAXY, DS9 or A PERSON AT RISK & NEEDED SAVING?

    Unbelievable.....but NO ONE was in peril & needed saving! Mark this one down!!

    WHAT DID YOU THINK??? FINAL THOUGHTS....... Hmmm. This Quark-centric episode had many relevatory moments. Those back-stabbing, Blood Flea Grub-eating, misogynistic women-hating, obsessed with profit above all things Ferengi men are central to the continuation of plot developments around the wormhole and in the Gamma Quadrant for the next 5 seasons! Can you handle it? I wonder if there was a Women's Rights or Me Too organizations on the Ferengi home world? If not, one of you ladies should advocate for it!
    helpful•2
    7
    • dand1010
    • Aug 31, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 7, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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