Whenever Deep Space Nine allows Ferengi the chance to be more than just punchlines, the result is often enjoyable, even deep–such as Quark’s wonderful admonishment of some of humanity’s past acts way back in “The Jem’Hadar”, or Nog’s drive to do more than just seek profit, which we saw just a few episodes back.

When the show reduces the Ferengi to caricatures, however, it’s a mixed bag. And, sadly, “Prophet Motive” milks this method to the point that it becomes tiring, while also managing to betray the air of mystery surrounding the wormhole’s inhabitant race, the Prophets. If I could choose the worst way for this enigmatic species to appear on the show, it would be this one.
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