Profit and Loss

A cynical bar owner struggles to decide whether or not to help a former lover escape an oppressive regime searching for her.

This is an enjoyable episode for the moments of Cardassian politics and Andrew Robinson's entertaining guest performance.

As far a classic movie tributes go, there is no subtlety about this one, but for Casablanca fans I think it does a good job. There are lots of equivalent plot points and characters that work well with the Cardassian political situation.

Armin Shimerman is a very good actor but he is no Bogart when it comes to anti-heroic leading men. He does his best with the material, but Mary Crosby does not quite convince me as his leading lady. For me the chemistry between the two is patchy at best and feels very one sided.

Robinson, as always, is on great form as Garak and he has the strongest scenes for me. One scene in his shop where he banters with Quark about "fashion" is superbly written and performed by both actors.

Though Garak is his usual beguiling self, the words he and his equally adorable cohort Quark are forced to utter are high schoolish at best. All other actors are just phoning this in, as though everyone knows the script is toxic. DS9 didn't profit from this episode. What a loss.

Quark and his former lover, a Cardassian woman, meet when she, as a rebel, comes to the station, riddle with Cardassian "bullets." Quark is ready to give up everything to rekindle their romance. I guess my unfair appraisal has to do with their relatively unattractive presences. Of course, it's all in the eye of the beholder. Garak returns, playing a major role, speaking in metaphors and illusions. Great character.

This episode is extra juicy.

For one thing, there is substantial character development of Garak. Quark's background, too, is expanded upon.

It has a "Casablanca" feel that impresses.

And here's some more; The guest star and Quark's cardassian love interest is who of "Who shot J.R. Ewing". Her character did it, and everyone realized it in the most watched TV episode ever, or close to it. She is also the tom-boy daughter of legendary crooner and screen actor Bing Crosby.

This particular episode has some real "umph!"

Casablanca, of course.

I had not read any of these other comments but as I was just watching this episode now I noticed the final scene with Quark and Garak (Andrew Robinson)... A very Humphrey Bogart/Claude Rains moment. The discussion they are having is very similar.

Of course what makes the episode is the involvement of Mary Crosby... they did quite a remarkable job with her Cardassian makeup.

And the other guest stars Michael Reilly Burke, Heidi Swedberg, and (RIP) Edward Wiley (Who was also Klingon Governor Vagh in the TNG episode The Minds Eye).

If only we had somebody to represent the Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre characters...

But there is of course a "big silver airplane" waiting on the runway for Hogue, Rokellen and Natima.

I'm surprised I have never noticed this all these years until just now.

I appreciate that somebody else did notice it, the homage is strong and appropriate. And it reminds us that Star Trek has its ties to classic Hollywood going all the way back to the original series being filmed in Desi and Lucy's lot...