Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: 'The Emperor's New Cloak'

When the Grand Nagus is captured by inhabitants of the Mirror Universe, Quark and Rom go with the alternate Ezri to rescue the Ferengi leader.

This is apparently the final Mirror Universe episode, and from this outing, it's probably not before time. It's a great opportunity for the regulars to go out with a bang, and it would have been nice to see the end of the war against the Alliance as a prelude to the end of the Dominion War. However, although several more of the Mirror counterparts bite the dust, it all goes out with a whimper rather than a bang. Although, taking that phrase in a different context, I could be wrong.

The problem with the Mirror stories is that they're turning into clichés. Kira gets to snog everyone in sight, everyone gets to wear leather and be unpleasant, except O'Brien, who stays much the same. Oh, and any Ferengi have to get killed (except our ones, naturally).

And play to these regulations this story does, to the extent that it even ends on a really horrendous 'debriefing' joke that should have been instantly cut from the script. What The Emperor's New Cloak does have, aside from a simultaneously clever and daft title, is some top comedy moments. In fact, it's one of the funnier Ferengi episodes, especially with Rom trying to get his head around the concept of alternate people, a nice Brunt who thinks Quark and Rom deserve better, and some fast thinking from Quark once again. This raises the story slightly, but it's still pretty much by-the-numbers for the Mirror Universe.

***

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