User Reviews

A professor and two of her students are on the run from the Cardassians. Their crime--wanting a free and democratic government. They take refuge on Deep Space 9--and Quark realizes that the professor is the love of his life.

B Cuzzeyewanna's review really cuts to the heart of this episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space 9"--it DOES feel a lot like "Casablanca"! Instead of Rick (Humphrey Bogart) and his bar you've got Quark and his bar. And, his lost lady love is now Natima, not Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman). Otherwise...the plot IS also amazingly similar! Heck, even the end is about the same! But, at the same time, you don't realize that this is what you are watching! This makes for a very entertaining and very special episode--and one that greatly expands the personalities of both Quark and Garak. Well worth seeing.

When three Cardassians turn up on DS9 Quark is overjoyed; for once he isn't motivated by greed, one of them is an old flame from the time of the occupation. Unfortunately for him she appears to despise him although he won't let that stop him trying to get her back. Things get worse when a Cardassian warship arrives demanding the return of the three arrivals saying that Quark's friend's students are wanted terrorists. When Quark learns this he offers to help at a cost, if she stays with him he will provide an illegal cloaking device. He will also need to get the help of Odo if he is to get them out of the brig.

The main story wasn't the best in the series but it did provide some important character development for Garak, possibly the most fascinating character on DS9. Andrew Robinson did a great job as always as the mysterious Cardassian Garak and Armin Shimerman was fun to watch as Quark, it was nice to see that occasionally Ferengis think of things other than profit.

"Profit and Loss" begins with Three Cardassians, Professor Natima Lang and her two students Hogue and Rekelen, arrive at Deep Space Nine for repairs of the badly damaged ship. Natima was Quark's old flame during the Cardassian Occupation. Quark, still having feelings for Natima, is overjoyed to see her. Natima however, is not and behaves coldly around him - due to a minor lover's quarrel over an incident involving him using her access codes to steal money for a profit opportunity seven years ago. Even though Quark feels bad over breaking her trust and states he never meant to hurt her, Natima refuses to let him come near her heart.

It soon becomes apparent that Natima and her two students are political revolutionists - Their main objective is to free Cardassia from its militaristic government and make Cardassia a democractic society. Their honorable actions (for Cardassians) however, makes them fugitives - And they are on the run from the Cardassian Central Command. Realizing that his love may be in jeopardy, Quark manages to bargins with Hogue and Rekelen (who are the main targets of the Cardassian Central Command) to convince their professor to stay on the station with him in exchange for an illegal yet vital cloaking device for any means of escaping the station alive.

In a scene reminiscent to that of "Casablanca", Natima tries to get Quark to give her that cloaking device, but Quark refuses, not willing to lose her again. However, it is only after Natima accidentally stuns Quark with a phaser in an attempt to get him to give her the device by force, when Natima finally drops her icy facade and reveals her love for him. Their romantic moment is rudely stopped when Natima is arrested with her students. Now, Quark has to find a way to save the woman he loves and help her two fugitive students get away from the Cardassian military.

Although producers Ira Steven Behr and Michael Piller disliked this episode, I have found it an intriguing science fiction love story. Pairing a Ferengi and a Cardassian up as lovers was a very interesting and original idea that surprisingly works well with the Star Trek theme of inter-species romantic relationships. It was surprising yet fun to see the usually cantankerous and greedy Quark to be so in love with someone that he is willing to give up everything - even his bar - to be with her. This episode proves that deep down underneath the rough sometimes callous exterior, Quark has a good heart - and it really, really shows.

I felt that this episode was one of the predesessors of the "Serious Ferengi episodes" featured later in the series.

Armin Shimerman's performance as Quark was stellar as he manages to bring out the gentle, compassionate even noble side of his character - while still keeping in touch with Quark's glib, fiesty attitude. One could tell that Shimerman was giving his all in bringing out the passionate side of Quark, especially in the scene where he explains to Odo why he didn't admit his intentions to let Natima and her students free were based on his love for her earlier, simply because he thinks Odo would not understand anything about love (Which of course is proven wrong later in series where Odo develops romantic feelings for Major Kira). This episode really shows that cynical, greedy Quark is indeed capable of loving someone other than latinum, and that he does have love in his heart (i.e. When he first sees Natima on the Promenade, Quark literally bulldozes his way out of the crowded bar just to see her.)

Andrew Robinson, who plays the Cardassian exile/spy/tailor, Garak, provides important character development in his character's performance. The conversation between Garak and Quark over Cardassian radicalism against the Central Command, using fashion terms as personifications of the serious repercussions that might happen to Natima if her students "go out of fashion", is deep and intense. In the end, Garak decides to act for the future of Cardassia by shooting a Cardassian Gul who was using him to secure the whereabouts of the fugitives. Garak and Quark did some good deeds out of love for someone/something (Quark let Natima Lang leave the station because he loved her, and Garak shot the Cardassian Gul who lied to him because of his nationalistic love for Cardassia).

Mary Crosby was remarkable as Quark's leading lady, Professor Natima Lang. It was incredible to see the progression of Professor Lang's character development and "layers", from telling Quark to never speak to her again to apologizing for her cold treatment towards him and admitting that she still loves him. In the end however, it is her love for Quark that makes her decide that it is best for her to leave rather than stay with him - with the promise that she will return to him after her revolutionary work to better Cardassia is done. I felt that Natima Lang was an incredible, dynamic character who deserved to be featured in another Star Trek episode, so we can see if she does keep her promise to Quark (But I guess we'll never know). This episode proves that Natima Lang is a true woman who brings the best out of Quark and she is certainly a strong female character who deserves more or just as much credit as Grilka from "The House of Quark".

This episode is truly for those who love Science fiction, romance stories and revolutionary drama.

WARNING: possible spoilers DS9 is not only the best of the Trek series but I believe was one of the best series ever put out to the TV watching public. In the episode "Profit and Loss" it becomes evident what may have been the historical influences. It's obvious that the Cardassians and Bajorans are not so loosely based upon the Nazis and Jews, respectively during WW2. Here we have what seems to a return to the story of Hans and his sister Sophie Scholl; young resistance fighters against their own militaristic and unfair government. If you've watched the episode and liked it, research Hans and Sophie Scholl and "the White Rose" (Wiess Rose) and see the glaring similarities.

Excellent plot and writing here. The issue I have is basically the same with all of season 2 so far. They have more plot than time for the episode. Somehow Garik is involved in the plot and Odo helps the wanted Cardassians escape but there is no Cisco coming down on them. The episode just ends.

1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT.....................

*CARDASSIA = COMMUNIST RUSSIA.......... At approximately 1:40 - Doc Bashir and the Cardassian Tailor Garak (Andrew Robinson) are talking about Cardassian politics. As they discuss listen to the principles they are debating: Individual freedom VS the power of the state. Loyalty to the state VS loyalty to your loved ones. During the filming of this episode (1994) Russia was just coming out of a long darkness where everything done in Russia was filtered through the eyes of the state. It is obvious (even with some of the names used in Garak's illustration) Cardassia is Russia - or at least similarities can be made - for the inspiration of the DS9 writers. Bashir also tries to get Garak to admit to being a spy for Cardassia but Garak, in wily fashion, evades the issue....again.

*QUARK GRABBED AROUND NECK/THROAT AGAIN..... At 2:55 Odo is questioning Quark about an illegal cloaking device. Odo has learned from sources that Quark may have one such device in his possession - illegal in Bajoran law. Quark vehemently denies this but Odo still feels free to reach across the bar and grab Quark by the collar against the neck.

*QUARK IS QUITE THE LOTHARIO......... Many reviewers and viewers have made the comparison between this episode and the movie, "Casablanca" with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Quark would be in the Bogart role and Natima - the Cardassian dissident (played by Mary Crosby - Bing's daughter) would be in the Bergman role. I've never seen Quark so smitten with anyone. Armin Shimerman, as Quark, really sold out to this episode and gave everything he had in a range of Ferengi-type emotions. When Quark and Natima are nuzzling each other and going all kissy poo - it is fairly disconcerting. To see a guy who looks like a little demon with giant ear lobes and spiked teeth kissing and mushing with a woman who looks like a reptile is definitely not sexy. When Shimerman talks you can tell he is talking through a teeth prosthetic - he mostly hisses when he speaks. It's not a speech impediment he was born with. The make-up crew was concerned because Quark mostly is an orange guy with orange make-up everywhere. Natima, as a Cardassian, was mostly gray. The make-up artists were standing by during the kissy, kissy, nuzzle, nuzzle stuff. Quark seems to only be attracted to women that are not Ferengi. He has made strong overtures to Cardassian, human, Klingon and Bajoran women. The episode where he thought his business partner Ferengi was a man and turned out, instead, to be a woman who was attracted to him -never went anywhere because even when Quark learned she wasn't a man - he wasn't interested.

*QUARK, THE DS9 CRASH DUMMY!........... I don't know why it always strikes me as funny when Quark is thrown, shot, punched or runs around like a scared E. T. alien. I'm not sure It has anything to do with him being Ferengi. I think it's something that strikes my funny bone whenever I see him flung around or in quick little running step-type movements. I can't control it either. It hits me, every time, unexpectedly and spontaneously - I laugh out loud. At 25:35 I was laughing.......loudly. I think, for some unknown reason, the writers have felt the same funny bone because Quark is tossed, shot, thrown and flung more than any other character on DS9.

2- Final Reflective Thoughts and Analysis & Final Grade For Episode (SPOILER ALERT!!!):

*I don't understand how Odo just completely circumvents Sisko's direct orders -to imprison and then hand over Natima and her students to Cardassia in exchange for Bajoran prisoners? As he is talking to Quark in his office he just arbitrarily decides to go set the prisoners free and undermine the deal the Bajoran and Cardassian governments had made with each other. In the scene before that, Sisko, disappointedly, places Natima and her students under arrest and says he has no choice because the Bajoran government calls the shots on DS9. After the excitement of releasing them and the confrontation with Garak and Gul Toran, there is no epilogue where Odo's actions are dealt with. It would seem that Sisko would be extremely upset and the Bajoran government, having lost several POW's would be infuriated - but it is never resolved. This is one of the biggest plot holes of the season.

The character of Garak endears himself to the DS9 loyal viewers with one squeeze of his trigger finger. His development as a character makes a MASSIVE evolutionary leap with this episode.

Quark and Odo's friendship deepens in this episode and we see a side to Quark rarely brought out in other episodes and seasons.

Final Grade For Episode: B+

NATIMA LANG: How such a fine Cardassian woman ever got caught up with the wrong crowd, I'll never know... her execution for 'Comments likely to discredit the state' may be considered rash, but it is no doubt necessary. "Remove the military from Cardassia, indeed." We at the Obsidian Order have been saying as much for years, but we whisper such words quietly. We certainly don't go broadcast such comments across the Alpha Quadrant. Dissidents are more trouble than they're worth.

THE TAILOR: Toran the ambitious seems to have got himself lost. He made the excuse that he needed to buy a new suit from a man on Terok Nor, but he hasn't been seen since. Maybe he has gone on the Federations own Witness Protection Programme. Traitor.

2.18 "Profit and Loss"

A damaged Cardassian shuttle comes aboard DS9 carrying three passengers, one of whom is an old flame of Quark's named Natima. He is determined to reignite their romance, but it quickly becomes clear that she is a political refugee and her focus is on the larger picture.

Cardassian politics, especially when they involve Garak, are usually a reliable source of good DS9 episodes, but this one focuses heavily on the not-very-believable romance between Quark and Natima and it hurts the episode overall. Romeo's professions of "love" may work in Shakespeare, but only because that play was a satire. This episode tries to play it straight and it doesn't work for me. Add in some sloppy writing towards the end of the ep and you have an average episode overall.

THE GOOD

-Garak

-Cardassian politics

-The scene in the tailor shop between Garak and Quark. Great dialogue and acting, especially from the incredible Andrew Robinson. He could have a YouTube channel called "Garak Talks Around Things" where each video he just talks about a subject without actually talking about it and I'd watch the hell out of that.

THE BAD

-Juvenile proclamations of love

-Unbelievable romance

-Odo disobeys orders and releases the Cardassians with seemingly no consequences. If the Bajorans found out what he did, he would be the one in prison. His betrayal of them here is massive and he makes the decision to betray them way too casually. The episode's failure to deal with the consequences of both Odo and Garak's actions in this ep is a major blow to its quality and it undermines DS9's premise as a show that deals with the consequences of its characters' actions.

THE UGLY

-Garak kills a Cardassian officer on a Bajoran station. The diplomatic fallout from that would be nightmarish but the ep doesn't address it.

I am a sucker for a love story. We have established that Quark does have a thing for alien women so the idea of him falling for a Cardassian is not out of the realm of possibility ---- and lets be real ---- Natima is an absolute stunner on top of being intellectual and passionate in the love making department.

I enjoyed the small glimpses at Garak backstory. In this particular episode he definitely comes off as a man in conflict ---- in the beginning of the episode he is talking to Bashir about the virtues of sacrificing for the state in Cardassian culture but at the end of the episode he let's Natima and the 'radicals' escape. The mind wanders in thought at whether Garak new the Gul would show up and this entire situation was pre-planned?

Another scene that is up for interpretation (in my opinion) is when Odo agrees to release Natima and the students. He states that he does it because handing them over would violate Odo's personal code but I think he can see the genuine heartache in Quark and decides to help me out. Who knows for sure though.