Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 88: Bar Association [VHS]

Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 88: Bar Association [VHS] Review

Somewhere along the way, Quark's idiot brother got smart. First, Rom's innate mechanical genius was magically revealed (remember "The Spatula"?), and now he's displaying Un-Yawn tendencies and organizing fellow workers in his brother's bar. Either this Ferengi's as dumb as a fox or there's something in the water on DS9.

The idea for a union comes up while Rom (Max Grodénchik) is being treated for a life-threatening ear infection. Rom's unionization may be accidental, but it's also righteous. Working conditions in Quark's Bar are awful--mandatory wage cuts, no paid overtime, no benefits, and certainly no sick leave--and when the employees strike, it means something. Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) gleefully fuels the fire with tales of Sean Aloysius O'Brien's 1902 anthracite union martyrdom. Quark (Armin Shimerman) arms himself with 10,000 years of Ferengi Tradition. Rom stands up to his brother; O'Brien, Bashir, and Worf end up in the brig for brawling over workers' rights; and since unions are both an obscenity and an offense punishable by death on Ferenginar, Brunt, F.C.A., makes a return appearance with Nausicaan thugs in tow. Watch for that kiss, Sisko's gift for extortion, and Nausicaan Darts. For once, Max Grodénchik really gets to shine. The actor always accepted Rom and liked him, and fans came to like him, too. "Bar Association" is a very funny episode that's also brave and kind of wise. Hidden behind the laughter is a good story about brothers--and a reminder that workers' rights are a hard-won privilege. --Kayla Rigney