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Grand Nagus Zek has been kidnapped while visiting the Mirror Universe. He was there to open trade negotiations with the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance but Regent Worf had other ideas. Zek’s only hope lies in the orange hands of Quark and Rom. The two Ferengi brothers steal a cloaking device and head into the Mirror Universe to trade the technology for Zek’s life. And hopefully make a tidy profit! It’s “The Emperor’s New Cloak”.

Fortunately, Mirror Universe Ezri is able to act as a guide for Quark and Rom. Once in the Mirror Universe, Rom and Quark learn that not all is as it seems and the Mirror Universe is not actually always a mirror. It can be very confusing! The trio locate Zek and work to free him, but trouble never seems far behind.

“The Emperor’s New Cloak” features the last appearance of the DS9 Mirror Universe. At the same time, it also serves as the final “Ferengi episode” of DS9. Two birds with one stone! It’s a strange episode that unfortunately contains many of the worst characteristics of both the Mirror Universe and Ferengi plots. It is confusing, unfunny, muddy, silly, pointless and dull. Not exactly a winning combination.

Despite all that, there is quite a bit to talk about! The Mirror Universe has been an a consistent down slide since it was first introduced. Examining why that is the case could power an entire podcast. When you add the strange Ferengi infatuation that DS9 has to that kind of pointless narrative structure, you end up with a semi-comedy that has nothing of substance to say or do.

In this podcast, Wes and Clay get together to discuss their final journey into the “alternate universe” and they compare how TNG and DS9 waste their respective audiences time.

Plus!

The guys talk about wasting time with Ezri, forgetting where you put your invisible coffee table, and being confused by the alliances of the Mirror Universe!