'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Continues One Of 'Deep Space Nine's' Best Character Arcs
Image Source: CultureSlate
The fourth season of Star Trek’s first comedy, Star Trek: Lower Decks, has had one phenomenal episode after another. Several prior episodes of the series have brought back characters that Star Trek fans already know and love, like Kira Nerys and Quark from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Will Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation; and Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager. Just like we saw with Will Riker in previous seasons, Lower Decks can build upon already established character arcs to present a “where are they now” scenario. The season four episode “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place” is able to continue this trend, bringing a sense of closure for Deep Space Nine’s Rom and Leeta. The title of the episode stems from the short-lived British cult comedy series Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, created by Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness.
The main plot of “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place” has our main crewmates – Brad Boimler, Beckett Mariner, Samanthan Rutherford, and D'Vana Tendi – exploring “tourist attractions” on Ferenginar, the home planet of the Ferengi. Meanwhile, Captain Carol Freeman and Admiral Vassery are attempting to negotiate with the Ferengi to have them join the Federation. Their negotiations are with none other than Grand Nagus Rom, accompanied by his Bajoran wife, First Clerk Leeta, both voiced by returning Deep Space Nine actors, Max Grodénchik and Chase Masterson.
RELATED:
Image Source: Geek Girl Authority
Rom’s character arc on Deep Space Nine was one of the most complex as he proved to be a likeable and valuable member of Starfleet. When we first see Rom, he is greatly overshadowed and typically controlled by his brother Quark, but later both he and his son Nog shine throughout the seven seasons of Deep Space Nine. By the end of the series, Rom establishes a new era for all Ferengi when he becomes the Grand Nagus.
In this episode among others previously, Lower Decks has done a fantastic job at showing the growth and progress of the Ferengi culture, while also keeping all societal changes within reason. These reforms are noticeable both in the negotiation progress as well as on Ferenginar, detailed through elements such as dialogue, conflicts, and settings. In the end, Captain Freeman realizes that the Ferengi joining the Federation depends on her own negotiation tactics as well, beating them at their own game. Rom and Leeta want to see that she can prove Starfleet’s worthiness to the Ferengi. It really is worthwhile to see Rom come full circle from his Deep Space Nine beginnings to be the one responsible for the Ferengi joining the Federation.
Image Source: Live Long and Podcast on YouTube
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
