Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 3, Episode 24
Original Air Date: May 28, 1990
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| via Memory Alpha |
The Enterprise visits Betazed for a trade conference. While they're in the neighborhood, the Ferengi Daimon Tog takes a shine to Lwaxana Troi, Deanna's mother. When she spurns his advances, he kidnaps her, along with Deanna and Will Riker. However, the combined cleverness of Lwaxana, Will and Wesley Crusher, all is made right by story's end. Plus, Wesley earns a field promotion to full Ensign (grumble, grumble... never should have been on the bridge to begin with... grumble, grumble...)
Okay, I'm starting to appreciate the point of Lwaxana episodes: comic relief. Also, in light of our current family binge of DS9 (almost to the end of Season 6), it's interesting now to see this early stage of development for the Ferengi. In late TNG Season 3, they're still 60% villains, 40% clowns. The status of females only improves minimally during the time in between. It's fun, too, to see Ethan Philips, the future Neelix on Voyager, in the role of Farek, a Ferengi doctor on Tog's ship.
Acting Notes
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| via Memory Alpha |
Frank Corsentino played the role of Tog. Corsentino was born July 13, 1941 in Los Angeles County. Most of his work was on television, including guest appearances on Gunsmoke, The Odd Couple and Starsky & Hutch. Film credits included Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Simon, King of the Witches and Moonchild. This was the second of three Trek appearances, each as a different Ferengi character.
Corsentino passed away January 7, 2007.
I recall this episode but only vaguely. To be honest, I hate the ferengi
ReplyDeleteHaha!
DeleteThey don't really come into their own until DS9. Quark is an excellent character: a more cynical Guinan.
This one surely has a great ending, Squid?
ReplyDeleteHa! It's certainly a funny ending. And I'm a sucker for Shakespeare, especially Patrick Stewart reciting Shakespeare.
DeleteNot to change the subject, but are you watching WandaVision?
ReplyDeleteNot yet... Daughter and I were watching The Runaways for a while and enjoying it but even with that, it's been a while. The girl's too busy with school work...
DeleteI listen to the Star Trek podcast called "Mission Log" and I like how they described the Ferengi at the final episode of TNGs first season. With the appearance of the Romulans in that epsiode, both hosts of the podcast said the Ferengi had just been given their pink slips as that series bad guys.
ReplyDeleteI think I understand what Roddenberry wanted to say about the Ferengi. But their appearance and behavior during the first season was badly conceived. They did indeed come off as barely competent clowns.
That did change during DS9 to the point Quark, Nog, and Rom were some of the best characters.
Agreed, the Ferengi characters in DS9 are wonderful. But then it is, quite frankly, a better series.
DeleteStay tuned.