Next Generation Episode 5 (The Last Outpost)

With the introduction of the Ferengi, one would think that I would have loads to say on this episode. But owing to the fact that there was no trade involved, indeed only thievery, I will make this short.

What I think is important to note in this episode (aside from appallingly bad acting) is authorial intent (a hermeneutic approach? yes please!).

Ferengi were originally intended to be the new baddy in Star Trek. However, there absurd appearance and actions due to some poor choices in direction led them down the road towards comic relief rather than enemy. Perhaps, and this is really reaching, the authors just couldn't make an enemy out of pure capitalism.

That aside, the fact that they were originally intended to be baddy notes that capitalism is the enemy to the Federation. In such a dichotomy, one would almost assume the Federation is communist, that is until the realization of the ultimate baddy, the BORG, who seem to represent collectivism, which would suggest that the Federation is in fact liberal.

With this in mind, I guess I must now think of Lefebvre, who suggests that whenever there seems like there is a binary of spaces, there is always a third option. Is that what the Federation is?