"Rules of Acquisition" 30th-anniversary reflections

Word is there's profit o' plenty in the Gamma Quadrant, and the Grand Nagus wants a piece of it. And who better to send as chief negotiator than Quark? But never forget the 48th Rule of Acquisition: "The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife." Quark's new waiter, Pel, thinks Zek is setting him up to take the blame if a deal for the totally reasonable ask of 100,000 vats of tulaberry wine falls through. Thankfully for Quark, he won't be alone at the table, because Pel turns out to be more than a waiter. He's a skilled entrepreneur. And a she. Despite their combined negotiating prowess, Quark and Pel return without the wine. But they aren't entirely empty-handed. They have the memory of an awkward kiss and information about some group called The Dominion.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Rules of Acquisition,"what the story says about identity, how it sets up The Dominion, and how DS9 makes the Ferengi matter.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Making the Ferengi Matter (00:03:31)
Finding Common Ground (00:10:33)
Hiding Your Identity (00:15:45)
Originally a TNG Story (00:21:26)
A Rom Regression? (00:25:38)
Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:27:54)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:54)
Closing (00:46:08)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

"Melora" 30th-anniversary reflections

Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien prepare for the arrival of a new cartographer, Ensign Melora Pazlar. She is the first Elaysian to join Starfleet. Why? Her homeworld has low gravity, which makes it difficult for her people to function in environments common to Starfleet operations. She generally must use a wheelchair to move around, and Bashir has modified a special one for her to use while aboard Deep Space 9. When he and Melora start to fall for one another, Bashir begins searching for a treatment that could allow her to walk. But there's a catch: she would never be able to return to her homeworld for more than a short visit. Meanwhile, some other stuff is happening with Quark.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Melora,"what the story says about challenges and limitations, becoming comfortable with yourself, and how the character connects to the original concept for the series.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Part of the Original Series Concept (00:03:50)
We All Have Limitations (00:10:56)
Firsthand Experience Matters (00:12:50)
The Melora Problem (00:19:53)
Becoming Comfortable with Yourself (00:25:00)
Not Your Doctor Anymore (Still Your Doctor) (00:29:51)
Manatee Idea Balls B-Story (00:36:12)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:04)
Closing (00:48:26)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

"Cardassians" 30th-anniversary reflections

A biting boy in the replimat presents a mystery that leaves Garak's arm in pain and puts the tailor's suspected spy skills to the test. Teaming up with Bashir, he helps uncover the background behind this young Cardassian wearing a Bajoran earring. The boy turns out to be an orphan, left behind after the Occupation and adopted by a Bajoran family. But there is much more to the story than it first seems, and when it is discovered that the boy is actually the son of one of Gul Dukat's opponents, Sisko's decision to allow him to remain on Bajor or be returned to his father becomes all the more difficult.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Cardassians,"how the story expands the rich world created for the series, the return of Garak, and the difficult questions around culture and identity.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Plain Simple Garak (00:03:40)
Complex Cardassians (00:10:30)
Impacting the Innocent (00:17:34)
All in the Family (00:22:08)
Oversimplifying Issues? (00:25:32)
Culture and Identity (00:27:12)
Misguided Assumptions (00:35:06)
A Father's Choice (00:42:03)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:47:48)
Closing (00:52:37)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)