Of all the Star Trek episodes I have seen, "Family Business" is the one episode that emotionally affected me. And the one of the very few episodes where I, as a Star Trek viewer, actually got mad at Quark. I got even mad at Ishka.
Quark learns that his mother, Ishka, has broken the Ferengi law by making profit and decides to get his mother to sign a confession, in order to save her from being sent to prison. But then it turns out that Quark's resentment towards his mother goes far deeper - and the resentment is mutual, as Ishka is resentful of Quark's steadfast loyalty to the Ferengi misogyny and tradition and Quark secretly blames his mother for undermining his deceased father, Keldar. Feelings are hurt and insults have been spoken and Quark, in a fit of anger, gets into a fight with Rom and decides to turn his mother over to the authorities. But the scene that really stunned me was the scene where after Rom reveals that he lied to get Quark and Ishka to talk, and when the two refuse, Rom comes in with his topper and berates them into setting their differences aside for once. It was almost satisfying for me to see Quark and Ishka so ashamed and shocked, I wanted to berate just as or more harshly than Rom did, because I felt that Quark and Ishka were being selfish and that they didn't know anything about love.
But the feeling towards the two characters died when Ishka makes the first move to healing the rift by confirming that she does love Quark and that she always felt that he was like her as they both have the same business acumen. Even though she disliked her son's views, Ishka's motherly love for Quark is strong. The most touching scene was where Quark, who has addressed Ishka as "Mother", finally realizes that his mother does love him and he calls her "Moogie" for the first time, signifying his letting go of resentment towards his mother.
After watching this episode, I felt I have been sent in an emotional feedback loop which led to an emotional breakdown. Armin Shimerman (Quark) had said that this episode was "a thoughtful psychological study". I felt that he was right about his description, as it focuses a lot on emotional turmoil in families, especially those who have different views. Although the episode's touches on the stupidity of misogyny and sexual discrimination, I seemed to focus more on deep, emotional topic on family issues. Throughout the Star Trek Franchise, there is a handful of parent-child relationships, there was Spock and his father, Sarek; there was Counselor Troi and her mother, Lwaxana Troi; there was Worf and his son, Alexander; there was Data and his creator/father, Dr. Noonien Soong and finally, there is Quark and his mother, Ishka - which proved to be (in my experience) one of the most emotionally and psychologically complex of them all.
This episode also proves to be a series landmark, as it introduces Kasidy Yates, who would eventually become Captain Sisko's wife and Jake's stepmother. We are also introduced to Liquidator Brunt, who would become Quark's arch-rival. Ishka (played wonderfully by Andrea Martin, and in later episodes, by the late great Cecily Adams) steals the show - literally. Personally, I felt that Andrea Martin (of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" fame as Aunt Voula) did an exceptional job portraying Ishka. It was a shame that she only portrayed the character only once, but I can understand why she thought the makeup she had to wear was too much. I guess everybody's got a different experience with prosthetic makeup.
Over all, "Family Business" is a good, deep episode - though it is not for the faint of heart.
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