Star Trek: Lower Decks has teased a surprising possible future for the Ferengi. Although the Ferengi were originally intended to be the main villains of Star Trek: The Next Generation, they came across as too comical during their earliest appearances. After popping up a few times on TNG, the Ferengi finally got more depth on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine thanks in large part to Armin Shimerman's portrayal of Quark. Quark embraced the profit-focused nature of Ferengi culture and made his fair share of mistakes, but he ultimately proved to have a good heart.
Since their introduction, the Ferengi have been depicted as a greedy and cunning species who are often underestimated. They value earning a profit above all else, and their society is built around this concept, meaning the most powerful Ferengi are usually the most savvy businessmen. When participating in business dealings, the Ferengi rely on a list of nearly 300 rules known as The Rules of Acquisition. Although Ferengi culture had begun to shift somewhat by the end of DS9, particularly the role of Ferengi women, they remained focused on profit. This trait means that Star Trek: Lower Decks may have revealed an unexpected insight into their future.
Did Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Tease The Ferengi’s Future?
What Will Happen To Ferenginar If They Join The Federation?
In its fifth and final season, Star Trek: Lower Decks continues depicting the often zany adventures of the USS Cerritos and its ragtag crew. In Lower Decks season 5, episode 2, "Shades of Green," the Cerritos visits the planet Targalus IX, which has just joined the Federation. Because the Federation has long abandoned the concept of money, the people of Targalus IX celebrate their new membership by dismantling their capitalist society. While the wealthy elites who benefited the most from capitalism were not particularly happy, most of the planet's people were ready to celebrate.
Back in Lower Decks season 4, Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik) and First Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson) agreed to begin negotiations for Ferenginar to join the Federation. Star Trek has yet to explore this plot thread further, but it could mean that the Federation would want the Ferengi to abandon their capitalist system. Not only would this completely overhaul the governing system of Ferenginar, it would also radically change the Ferengi's way of life in almost every way. It seems unlikely the Ferengi would accept such a drastic change, suggesting profound implications for the Lower Decks plot point.
Everything DS9 Revealed About Ferengi Shows They Can’t Change From Being Capitalists
Most Ferengi Will Always Be Focused On Making A Profit
Based on everything revealed about the Ferengi in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, it's highly unlikely they would be willing to abandon their way of life entirely. For one thing, the Rules of Acquisition are so ingrained in Ferengi culture that male Ferengi are expected to memorize all of them. Quark quotes them throughout DS9, and regularly makes decisions based on one rule or another Considering how important profit and finance are in Ferengi culture, it would be an incredibly slow and complicated process to dismantle their capitalistic system. Even unconventional Ferengi like Rom understood this.
While on DS9, Rom discovered a talent for engineering and he used his knowledge to aid the Federation during the Dominion War.
At the end of DS9, Quark's brother Rom became Grand Nagus of Feringinar, despite his supposedly poor business sense. But Rom knew that Ferenginar could not change overnight. Rom and his wife Leeta did implement reforms, such as improving women's rights and banning weapons sales in favor of profitable hospitality ventures, but they did not completely overhaul Ferengi society. Still, some Ferengi were unhappy with even these changes, meaning they would likely find a way to depose Rom if he took things much further.
Star Trek: Picard Shows Quark Stays A Capitalist
Quark, In Particular, Will Always Be A Businessman
Star Trek: Picard may not have revealed much about the ways Ferengi society had changed, but the show did offer a glimpse into Quark's future. Quark ran a popular and profitable bar on space station Deep Space 9, and he eventually turned it into a successful franchise. Whatever happened with Ferenginar and the Federation, Quark, at least, remained a capitalist. By the year 2381, Quark's Bar had 21 locations across the Alpha Quadrant and likely had even more by the time of Picard season 1.
In Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 5, "Stardust City Rag," Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his friends visit a nightclub in Stardust City on the planet Freecloud. While they do not visit a Quark's bar location, a sign can be seen advertising one on Freecloud. Lower Decks has also brought up Quark's franchises, revealing that stolen replicator technology was at least partially responsible for the success of his bars. Whether or not Ferenginar ever abandons its capitalistic ways, it's apparent that Quark could never give up his love for gold-pressed platinum – whatever Star Trek: Lower Decks might suggest.
