The Orb 58: The Woman Behind the Curtain

Moogie.

Let's be honest. Ferengi episodes are not amongst the fan favorites—even for die-hard Niners. But even in the midst of ludicrous social customs and the grating laugh of Grand Nagus Zek, the writers found a wonderful vehicle for discussion of women's rights in the character of Ishka. She's better known simply as "Moogie," mother of Quark and Rom, and she threw the lives of her children and everyone on Ferenginar into chaos by… wait for it… earning profit. Egads!

In this episode of The Orb hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing take a close look at the woman behind the curtain, the woman with the lobes for business. We discuss how her presence on the show adds depth to Quark and Rom, what her relationship with Zek says about the evolution of societies, and how DS9 was able to deliver comedy with meaning.