Product Details

• Actors: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, Terry Farrell, Cirroc Lofton
• Directors: David Livingston
• Writers: David Livingston, Ira Steven Behr, Gene Roddenberry, Michael Piller, Rick Berman
• Producers: David Livingston, Ira Steven Behr
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: March 15, 1997
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304342322
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #428,320 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Wallace Shawn makes his first of many memorable appearances as the Grand Nagus, the daffy, duplicitous leader of the Ferengi business empire. If the Ferengi are the comic relief of the DS9 universe, then the Grand Nagus is its clown prince and Shawn's lisping rants and devious cackles make him a terrific gnome of a corporate pirate. Boarding the station with imperial pomp, he indulges in a few choice holosuite fantasies and proclaims Quark his successor before abruptly dying, leaving Quark the target of a treacherous assassin. In a related story, Commander Sisko frets over his teenage son's friendship with Nog, Quark's mischievous nephew and the only boy his son's age on the station. It's a nicely handled drama of single-father frustrations and teen independence, but Quark steals the episode as he bounces between nervous paranoia, greedy scheming, and cocky power plays, doing his best Godfather impression while striking deals with former rivals. It's a whole new lesson in the Ferengi "Rules of Acquisition." --Sean Axmaker

From the Back Cover

Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn), the revered leader of the Ferengi business empire, pays a visit to Quark (Armin Shimerman), who worries that the legendary Ferengi wants to buy his bar out from under him. Instead, Zek plans an important conference at the bar to discuss the future of Ferengi business in the Gamma Quadrant. There, to everyone's surprise, he announces his retirement and selects Quark to replace him!

After a few threatening encounters, Grand Nagus Quark quickly learns that great power comes with great danger. When Zek dies, Quark barely avoids an assassination attempt at the funeral. Soon the greedy new Nagus finds himself trapped in a treacherous battle for power-and like a true Ferengi, he loves every second of it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice, comic-relief show, December 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 11: The Nagus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"The Nagus" is one of the better Ferengi(a people with an economy centered society)-comedies of DS9. Wallace Shawn as the Grand Nagus is excellent, he manages to steal every scene he's in. The Ferengi-plot is quite good, and has many good lines. For example, "Is the Nagus here on business, or pleasure?" "Is there a difference?" There is also a suprisingly engaging Jake/Nog subplot, which is carried nicely by the actors. Overall, not a stellar show, but a good comedy, and Ferengi fans will definatley enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars don't let the power get to your big, bald head, October 23, 2004

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 11: The Nagus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

After belittling his brother, Rom, for returning a lost purse to a customer (hence violating the 1st rule of acquisition: "once you have their money, you never give it back"), Quark finds himself in the presence of the Grand Nagus. Wallace Shawn brilliantly plays the somewhat fun-loving, yet peculiar, lisping spiritual and monetary leader of the Ferengi Empire. He is the only Ferengi you ever see in this hairless species that has hair tufts coming out of his very wrinkled ears. He's like an alien cross between the Pope and the Godfather.

Introducing the Nagus, Zek, is his son, Krax. We never know what happens to Krax, but he vanishes off the radar after this episode and no reference to Zek having any children is ever made - as he eventually has Rom & Quark as his stepsons when he marries their "Moogie."

Quark is terrified that Zek will "buy him out" and take the bar, but instead, the Nagus praises Quark for being the first Ferengi to put a bar adjacent to the only known stable wormhole. The Nagus asks Quark to host a small conference of large Ferengi stake holders as he plans on directing the path of commerce in the Gamma Quadrant and announces that he will not be the one to lead the way, as he's "not as greedy" as he used to be and wants to take a vacation for a change. His son, Krax, is the likely successor, but to everyone's surprise, he names Quark as the next Nagus. The other Ferengis all believed they were worthy and throw fits that this worthless barkeep is their next leader.

Quark eats it up. He gets to wear a big purple robe, people must bow and kiss his scepter, and call him Nagus... not to mention a grovelling entourage following him everywhere he goes, bowing to his every whim.

One of the Ferengis, Nala, offers to give Quark "protection" if he gives him key mining interests in the Gamma Quadrant. When Quark refuses, Nala indirectly threatens his life and Quark suddenly realizes that being Nagus is going to be more stressful than profitable.

When Quark goes to Zek for advice, the crazy old coot just laughs and talks about the buxom women on Risa, one of the places he plans on visiting - and then slumps over and dies in his chair.

Quark, a renowned coward and self-centered little gnome, does not ask for protection - on the contrary - when he narrowly misses being killed by a deadly-accurate bomb, he refuses protection from both Odo and Sisko. This is simply ridiculous. As an official head of state of another world, Quark could get Federation protection and also have them out of his "hair," but he refuses and his refusal is never explained other than something about "offworlders" which is just thrown in to make the story work.

Meanwhile, Sisko is worried about his son, Jake. As a single father and commander of a Federation outpost, he doesn't get to spend the time with his young son as he'd like - and the only other boy his age is a thieving Ferengi boy, Nog, nephew of the new Nagus. Interestingly enough, Sisko is only concerned that Nog may be giving Jake the wrong idea about women - not that someone may attempt to kidnap or kill Nog when Jake is nearby. Where is security when you need them?

It soon becomes evident that Quark's own brother, Rom, is in collusion with Krax to assassinate him, but when it's all said and done, no one is charged with the attempted murder or damage to the bar.

Sisko stealthly follows Jake to find out what he's up to with Rom, suspecting that the Ferengi is teaching his son how to gamble or be a pimp, but finds that it's his son who is the influence, and not the other way around.

Despite Quark's refusal for help, Odo slithers about, trying to find out who the assassin is (or rather, "are") and saves Quark from being thrown out an airlock. Even though his brother and Krax are standing there discussing who will press the button to push Quark into empty space - right in front of Odo, they are not charged. Where is the justice? It's interesting to see Rom in these early episodes - where he is a thieving, scheming moron - only later to develop into a thoughtful, sensitive, engineering genius that helps to topple the Dominion.

A fun episode, despite the holes in the plot.

3.0 out of 5 stars Never go in against a Ferrengi when death is on the line!, August 14, 2003

By 

Andrew McCaffrey "The Grumpy Young Man" (Satellite of Love, Maryland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 11: The Nagus [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When Deep Space Nine first aired, I never quite realized how goofy it was (at least, during its first season). Going back and catching episodes that I never saw, I'm surprised at the amount of humor present. By my reckoning, this is the second episode in a row played almost strictly for laughs and already the third since the season began.

THE NAGUS guest-stars the talented Wallace Shawn as the Nagus of the episode title. Movie fans will remember Mr. Shawn for his portrayal of the bald, squeaky evil guy in THE PRINCESS BRIDE. In this episode, he is playing an entirely different sort of bald, squeaky evil guy. I can't help but laugh anytime Shawn is speaking; his strangely high-pitched voice seems to be tuned exactly to the humor portions of the human mind. You cannot possibly take his characters seriously, which is why his performances turn out so entertaining.

In addition to the main plot (consisting of Quark succeeding some Ferrengi official or ruler or something), there's a short story of Sisko's son Jake and his budding friendship with a classmate. It's actually quite sweet, in a way that it wouldn't have been if it had been chosen to be the "A" plot. Since it isn't given much screen-time, it's allowed to stay understated, and it works well that way.

This is a Ferrengi episode, so there isn't much in the way of plot. It's mostly just a bunch of diminutive extras running around in heavy makeup while pulling ludicrous facial expressions (and only occasionally having a speaking part). This is not hard science fiction, or gritty, hard-hitting drama. This is Goof-Ball Central, and it's very amusing.