I don’t think at first. But for our podcast we just watched Waltz for Monday’s episode. He was most definitely evil after that . And he really didn’t realize how bad he was until that.re-watching "the waltz", i must say i kinda think Dukat had some points. I know people will be mad at me, but, sincerely, Sisko says Dukat was evil because of he's actions while under orders from an entire different culture, wheres the prime directive now? I mean, Earth itself had it's share of bloody wars, hell, even Sisko bombarded a planet to stop the Maqui because they ware threatening the peace.
How can he judge Dukat? Cardassia was desperate to get resources at the time they made the occupation. Can we judge the way a entire race behave? Where is the prime directive? Besides, Bajor was NOT a part of the federation by that time. As i remember Picard didn't get involved in the beginning of the Klingon civil-war because of the prime directive, and for that he could have sacrificed Worf's life...
About all that villainy stuff Dukat said, with he's state of mind, i don't think it's fair to judge the man that was hallucinating. Having a Bajoran major at your side telling how bad and disgusting you are can let you really mad. Especially if you used to be a proud man ruling an empire.
So, i dare to ask:
WAS DUKAT REALLY THAT EVIL? Or was he just being what he is, a Cardassian? Would we not do the same at the situation?
By the way: This is a complete objective analysis, we're as the federation here, NOT the Bajorans.
Was Dukat really evil?
- Thread starter Inactive-Shapeshifter
- Start date
Lol.
Dakat had this image of himself as being a great or important man, exalted above others like a King or something, and it always frustrated him when other characters didn't recognize this "obvious" fact about him. He wanted to be loved and worshipped. He didn't want to see himself as some sort of lowly commoner or murderer who takes life indiscriminately, so he was compelled to make it clear that her death was not what he wanted, his only beef was with that dastardly Benjamin Sisko. Why, if it wasn't for Sisko turning everyone against him, surely Jadzia would have seen him for the great man he truly was and given him the love and respect he so richly deserved (in his mind of course).
I remember when Weyoun was discussing conquering the Federation, he said they should obviously kill everyone on Earth, but Dukat was against it, he wanted everyone to simply realize it was wrong to oppose him to begin with (and basically "fall in line" and become willing subjects in his grand Kingdom). Weyoun (who was truly a rat bastard) then said "and then you kill everyone?" and Dukat said "only if it's absolutely necessary". In a contest of who was the worse person, I'd say Weyoun was the clear winner after this scene (at least up to this point anyway).
That 'absolute necessary' reason in Dukat's world could still be a very petty, vindictive reason in our eyes. He is a deranged and narcissistic madman, after all.
Exactly. Like when villains try to link a hero to them by saying, "We're alike, you and I." Dukat was just trying to make himself sound better than he actually was.
I wish the pah wraith had infested Winn instead of Dukat in the end. Dukat could have been killed by them trying to stop her. Still wouldn't mean Dukat had forgiveness for all his craziness, but it would have added another layer to his character. I understand Winn's turn was supposed to mean she realized her error, but still, I never liked her to begin with. Dukat kept you guessing. But the writers eventually made him more of a stereotypical villain.
Evil of course is a relative concept, but by almost any standard I think it's clear Dukat is evil. Although I would say his evil is no more extreme than that of any leader of an imperialist power engaging in colonialism and genocide, which is essentially all of them both historically and currently. His ranting in Waltz is merely the Cardassian system laid bare in all it's ugliness.
Dukat reminds me of Lionel Luthor from Smallville for some reason. Whenever he and Sisko are in a scene together, I keep expecting him to say: "You're not my enemy, Benjamin! You're my SON!" 
He certainly thinks he's a good guy (I have read that Alaimo liked to perceive him and play him as a good guy), which most people think but actually is pretty thought-provoking and challenging. If we do condemn him as just outright evil we would have to call a lot of real historical leaders evil too.
Dukat was extremely ambitious and a clear opportunist... however by the time we get to events outlined in Covenant, I feel like he's crossed a line to become a raving lunatic fueled by hate and revenge. I think the turning point happens when Ziyal was murdered at the end of Sacrifice of Angels....
Sounds very human.
Yes. It does.
One of my favorite quotes about the moral paradox of the Cardassian psyche was attributed to Lwaxana Troi: "...watching a Cardassian weep at the death of his child's pet wompet, you can't imagine him cutting down a foe without blinking... but he will."
... yes, and?
You, uh, you don't think the turning point happened when he became personally responsible for the deaths and enslavement of millions of people and personally engaged in institutional sexual slavery, all as Prefect of Occupied Bajor?
When did she say that?
I'm always bemused when people defend Dukat.
He was so reasonable and kind of nice until the writers fucked him!
This is why people fall in love with serial killers, or fall for cult bullshit. Just because someone presents a somewhat pleasant exterior, doesn't mean they don't do unspeakable things. Dukat is so skilled at emotional manipulation that he even got some viewers fooled too.
He was so reasonable and kind of nice until the writers fucked him!
This is why people fall in love with serial killers, or fall for cult bullshit. Just because someone presents a somewhat pleasant exterior, doesn't mean they don't do unspeakable things. Dukat is so skilled at emotional manipulation that he even got some viewers fooled too.
She never did. Not on screen, at least.
No, Skrain Dukat wasn't really evil. He was really, really, really, really, REALLY evil.
