2.18 — “Profit and Loss”
Plot: Natima Lang, a Cardassian professor of political ethics, comes to the station with two Cardassian “students” who are recognized by Garak the Tailor as political dissidents fleeing for their life from the Cardassian Empire’s military rulers. Natima is a former lover of Quark’s from the days of the Cardassian occupation, and her arrival touches off intrigue involving Quark, Odo, Sisko, and Garak.
Thoughts: I do not care for this episode. Quark is out of character. Since when is he sentimental? In the superior episode DS9 2.7, “Rules of Acquisition,” we see him horrified by the impropriety of being seen associating with a Ferengi female who wears clothes and participates in business. Now we’re supposed to believe he’s pining after a relationship with a Cardassian, who is so important to him he’s ready to throw away his reputation and business prospects at a moment’s notice? I don’t remember the Rule of Acquisition that says “Love recklessly, it’s all that really matters.”
The sense that these events could actually happen to these characters is further undermined by trite dialogue, making it hard to believe the scenes between the ex-lovers, or the scene where Quark appeals to Odo to do him the small favor of breaking the law and disobeying orders by saying “Do it for me . . . For everything we’ve been through together.”
I’m afraid the politics of the episode are hopelessly muddled. We learn Garak is a disgraced exile from Cardassia, but he is still dispatched to negotiate with Sisko. Sisko betrays everything we know about his diplomatic acumen by yelling and making threats that seem calculated to escalate the situation, without having the backing of Starfleet.
Then we learn that Starfleet isn’t important, but the Bajoran government can order Sisko to arrest the fugutives and extradite them to Cardassia for presumed execution, in exchange for the release of Bajoran political prisoners. Prisoner exchanges do happen among enemies that hold political prisoners, but I have never heard of mixing exchanges with extradition proceedings, or making new arrests to turn someone into a political prisoner expressly for the purpose of a prisoner exchange. That’s just hired vigilantism.
I thought Cardassia denied retaining any Bajoran prisoners? That’s why finding the secret labor camp in DS9 2.1 “The Homecoming” was such a big deal, and Maj. Kira went on a commando mission to break it up and rescue Li Nalas. And since when does Sisko have to follow orders from the Bajoran provisional government? Meanwhile, there is no explanation why Starfleet would be not be concerned about him (re-)starting a shooting war with the Cardassians.
For a substandard episode, “Profit and Loss” makes a lot of momentous, seemingly irrevocable character changes. A number of confusing, potentially contradictory things are learned about Garak (having betrayed the dissidents to Caradassia, he was prepared to kill them and Quark moments before Gul Toran’s conveniently timed betrayal, right?), which the series can’t walk back. He is not a spy, but a disgraced exile who is out of favor with the Cardassian military, whom he previously served in some kind of murderous capacity.
We do see Garak kill Gul Toran in cold blood, which he and the others present treat flippantly. We conveniently forget again that DS9 has sensors that detect any weapons brought on the station, let alone their use to vaporize anyone. Odo will presumably be upset, if he isn’t too preoccupied with being sacked and court martialed for releasing prisoners without authorization.
All in all, an episode that should be forgotten, but will be hard to ignore due to the changes to Quark and Garak. Quark now has a true love out there, for whom he is prepared to sacrifice his ambitions and business. This significantly diminishes the character.
Because DS9 sets a high standard, this episode is disappointing. The previous episodes with Garak have been among the best of the series.
2 out of 5 egg-sized portable cloaking devices.
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