Star Trek Voyager Ruminations: S3E05 False Profits

[@skapunker1986]

"Arridor?" "What is it now?" "We had seven years of Pure Profit !" "we did, didn't we?" Absolutely loved this scene, Those Ferengi could burn Happy now, no regrets whatsoever.

[@seanoneill9606]

Ethan Phillips also played a Ferengi before this. He was in the episode Ménage à Troi.

[@Nimiety327]

I was just about to mention that myself. He played a Ferengi before he played a Talaxian. It was a minor part though. I never noticed it myself until someone pointed it out to me.

[@Flaris]

Yeah, this was one of those where I groaned just seeing the title. I'm actually alright with the "getting home" plot. The longer they are there the more they'd want to get home, before everyone who knows them has completely forgotten they existed. Now even I don't like how they do the same thing for every possibility of getting home when we all know they won't/can't. But I still appreciate them chasing leads and going for possibilities. I did really like the potential of the replicator situation. Just one piece of technology can make an incredible difference.

[@fredrikcarlstedt393]

Love how Chakotay and Tom being swindled out of their shoes .

[@tubeviewerX20]

Points well-taken, but this is still one of my favorite Voyager episodes. It's fun and serves continuity from TNG.

[@Netherfly]

I actually do like this episode somewhat, and my affection for Voyager in general is likely lower than most.... I find I'm able to enjoy just about any story where we interact with a pre-warp civilization. I enjoy the... Power dynamic inherent in those episodes--the Trek crew trying to help people who will never know them, and cannot even comprehend them. I find these one-off visits much more interesting than the one-offs "alien of the week" encounters. Possibly because the latter only comes in three varieties (same as us but stronger/weaker/same) discounting the occasional demigod, whereas with the former we find alien societies in much more varied stages of technological and cultural development. I also have somewhat fond memories of this episode, specifically (though its been some time since I watched it), because it embraced the same Trek continuity that the rest of Voyager was trying so hard to forget.

[@DJonScott]

Dramatic tension was definitely destroyed by the fact that we knew they weren't going to get home. The ending was horrible. But, at the same time, a TNG episode did establish there was a wormhole to the Delta quadrant. They couldn't just not address that in an episode. The fandom would've been up in arms were it not addressed.

[@thomasn3882]

There are lots of episodes I dislike more than this one. Anything involving Fair Haven; or anything involving the holodeck at all. How many times can a holodeck program malfunction, thereby threatening the destruction of the ship? I get your point about the "will they get home again...?" plot being beaten to death on this show. It almost felt like Gilligan's Island in that respect. Except on Voyager, it actually turned out to be Janeway who ended up being Gilligan - who constantly ruined their chances of rescue.

[@mr51406]

This was just a fun romp. The three actors really did good. I’m a fan of Leslie Jordan who played “Brother Boy” in the outrageously funny movie and series “Sordid Lives.”

[@mr51406]

Watched again. Still loved it. This episode was indeed eagerly expected. And of course it could been more witty. I feel like being indulgent because of the outrageous fabulous Leslie Jordan (Kol) who unfortunately died in 2022. There are 3 Ferengi cultures: 1) Last Outpost crazed gerbils; 2) stupid schemers (example here); 3) Quark, Rom and Nog and those after. Comedy is a question of taste. I like Red Dwarf and Lower Decks and this episode.

[@reyjusuf]

gee...i never realized this was the continuation of The Price

[@davidkidd4106]

Ethan Phillips played a Ferengi twice prior to this on TNG. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THIS?

[@RA-VEN8]

Exactly 💯

[@mulletboater]

If they simply, got home in this episode, and, the series continued: would have been quite a surprise for sure. The only possible issue is: The Dominion War would be heavily involved, and, with DS9 , its doubling down on the space war stuff. Seeing what Neelix, and, Tom, and, the former Marquis do would be interesting, but ultimately: it would be Voyager fighting in the war, and, a lot of overlap with DS9. I suppose, if: that wormhole was permanently stabilized : they could continue exploring the delta quadrant, just being able to return to The Federation for repair and resupply, this allowing viewers to not stress them never running out of torpedoes, shuttles, and, stuff in general.

[@EnvisionerWill]

Someone who's seen this episode lately, what is the "so obvious I won't even mention it" thing?

[@malvane8061]

I thought Motion Picture had a wormhole at the beginning

[@mediaworldwide9848]

Gilligan’s Island in space.

[@andrewthorne3570]

4:44 Surely you mean "what they used to call a black hole"

[@Goodiesfanful]

This episode would be so much better if they’d put more thought into it, particularly into why the wormhole becomes useless for Voyager. It and “Spirit Folk” (talk about having a cow) are my least favourite Voyager episodes.

[@Jason-jb3xt]

Over acting? You mean the Calculon Effect?

[@Netherfly]

Also, its going to be years and years before you get to TNG, especially if its queued up behind B5 and DS9. Might want to consider doubling up, or something.

[@Lorerunner]

I've considered doing exactly that, but I'm worried about falling behind on the game Ruminations again (which take up the most time of anything I do by far). Maybe during chunks of schedule where I'm going through shorter games.

[@primroan5354]

Archengeia I think that sounds good. Right now I'm really enjoying the schedule you have now. The roleplay, the Trek, the Then and Now, and the Ruminations. It's all good.

[@Netherfly]

Archengeia Probably a good idea. There's a hell of a difference between a short game (6-8 hours) and a 44-minute TV episode.

[@SchneeflockeMonsoon]

I suppose time really does make fools of us all.

[@timf7413]

I find it interesting that you had a negative reaction to this one after watching your rumination on The Last Outpost from TNG. While this is far from a great episode, it seems to me the closest Trek has ever come to the hypothetical potential portrayal of the Ferengi as a legitimate antagonist via the mercantile qualities of their culture.

[@Yura-Sensei]

There were countless times where you don't mention the OBVIOUS, because it seems OBVIOUS to you, and I'm sitting here, clueless.

[@batgurrl]

Seems like you hate voyager in general. This episode Stinks. Can’t stand the creepy, greedy Race. Ferengi all the time is the main reason I can’t rewatch DS9 Nothing interesting in this episode. If they get home, the series has no purpose to exist. I agree that Ethan Phillips, Neelix did a solid job of playing a Ferengi

[@kellykarjola1886]

you hate every episode I like, what is wrong with you???