The Orb 6: Mostly Harmless

Quark. Coming into Deep Space Nine, the Ferengi were a joke. Their disastrous introduction in the first season of TNG left them as little more than (perhaps unintentional) comic relief. But Armin Shimerman’s brilliant portrayal of Quark breathed new life into the Ferengi and turned this profit-driven race into a vehicle for meaningful commentary—all without losing the fun. In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a closer look at Quark, what drives him in business, what motivates his decisions, and how—like the Grinch—his heart grew three sizes by the end of his story.