Comments on: Retro Review: Family Business

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:59:00 +0000

Ferengi episodes: Hollywood writers cashing paychecks for their scripts about how pursuit of profit is bad

By: Bobby

Bobby — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:41:00 +0000

No kidding.

The writers have explained that the “joke” is that the Ferengi are supposed to be us. (“Ferengi” is a word derived from the word “westerner” in some eastern language that I’ve forgotten now.)

So they’re caricatures, and often they are extremely BAD caricatures. This episode is one of those times. At best the Ferengi can sometimes be somewhat amusing, but at worst they are extremely offensive and embarrassing. I would expect this episode to be offensive to nearly everyone, regardless of beliefs.

I agree with Michelle that the Ishka storyline gets somewhat better later on, so that (maybe?) makes this one tolerable. Not very tolerable though if you ask me. Ugh.

By: SJStar

SJStar — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:19:00 +0000

This episode is so shockingly awful that I surprised Michelle could write anything positive. (Well, congratulations for doing so.) In all this story it is a mish-mash of clearly ridiculous ethical and social practices being played to the hilt, mostly wanting to provoke or confront the viewer with its utter silliness. The anti-female attitudes are equally cringeworthy, which if I recall, was enforced so they could not keep or hide latinum in their pockets. (Inferring they are not trustworthy and likely to steal things.)

This episode is plainly unfunny and quite embarrassing to watch. The only worse episode is the truly dreadful “Profit and Lace.” Groan.

The only thing useful we learn about Ferengi homeworld is that it is a miserable, they eat bugs and insects, it rains all the time, and those who suffer destitution are thrown from the forty-story Tower of Commerce. (No wonder the Ferengi are so miserable most of the time!)