Stronger character: Jadzia vs Kira

[Ezri II]

This looks to be an equal contest, Jadzia vs Kira in the question as who was the stronger character on DS9. Think we will get some interesting arguments. Not interested in a real fight with the women, as it is clear that Jadzia is taller and has the advantage there.

Right at this time, I am unsure between the two women. Both had stronger characters and they were very much in balance with each other. They never had any conflicts with each other as characters. Could be the reason they never interacted other than a supporting role for each other.

 

[TheGodBen]

Seriously, you have to put some thought into this? Kira by a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very wide margin.

I also take issue with the idea that Kira wouldn't be able to beat up Jadzia. She would be able to beat her up, snap her neck, remove her organs, stuff her with sawdust, sew her back up, put her sitting at the science station and nobody would figure out that she was dead for two weeks.

 

[Jono]

Kira weighed about 40 kilos and beat up men twice her size every other episode. She fought in a resistance for most of her life. She'd wipe the floor with Jadzia.

Kira had the stronger character. Throughout the series she stood for something. Plus you got a sense of her past and who she was.

 

[scottydog]

I vote for Kira, too. Jadzia was a somewhat boring character, whereas Kira was feisty, dynamic, and passionate.

 

[Marie1]

I think Jadzia was calmer, had the benefit of more wisdom and experience. Jadzia was better socialized with regard to many species, and didn't have prejudices. Jadzia had been to war, or other people whose memories she had had, but it didn't sour her. Kira's knowledge was very internal, she came out of the occupation with a lot of hatreds that she had a hard time giving up- understandable, but it stunted her for a time. They were both well versed in physical combat, but if Jadzia wanted to, she could make Kira stand down- in fact, she did when she had that piano song in her head.

 

[Navaros]

Kira by a landslide.

Kira actually had a tangible, plot-relevant purpose on the show; unlike Jadzia. This alone makes Kira a far stronger character than Jadzia.

 

[Marie1]

Kinda needed the science officer, and other officers than Kira and Sisko. Kira's actions verged on suicidal. Dax's presence helped Sisko, plus Dax and O'Brien kept DS9 from blowing up. Many times. Kira just yelled a lot... and got her butt handed to her by the chick from a pleaure planet.

 

[Seven of Five]

Kira is one of my all-time favourite Trek characters - she was much better written than Jadzia. I did like that Jadzia kinda wore down her tough exterior though.

 

[Damask]

I can't choose. Kira obviously was more important to the show as the main Bajoran. She went on a better character arc.

I still love Jadzia mainly because of the relationship between her and Sisko. I think Jadzia and Sisko were played much better than the equivalant of Crusher/Picard or Tuvok/Janeway.

Jadiza could kick ass and go toe to toe with anyone and swung a mean batleth. Kira could take out Cardiassians with her two fists. I can only be thankful that DS9 could show two powerful but not identical women in prominent roles on the series.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Kira was an extremely strong character--not to mention there was a lot of depth to her. We really got to see the struggle between the faith and the fire in her, to watch her attitudes change and grow...Jadzia I think just got flaky sometimes, as much as I liked her. There were times when, as Worf commented, it went too far. Kira had her funny moments, but didn't overdo it.

 

[Marie1]

I agree that Kira grew and changed, and that Jadzia did some dumb things (Read: Meridian- seriously, what was that?) But Kira had this default attack position to a lot of things for a great deal of DS9, but I thought Jadzia, for the most part, was cool under pressure, knowledgable and capable, she wasn't easily cowed, but still open-minded.

She fought Jem'Hadar hand-to-hand without flinching, but in "To the Death" she was willing to help the Jem'Hadar she was assigned to learn even more, and showed personal interest that, I of course , thought was great. But it may be all those centuries of experience that mellows someone once they get used to it.

"Stop biting chief O'Brien's nails!"

 

[Navaros]

Kinda needed the science officer.

plus Dax and O'Brien kept DS9 from blowing up.

Kira just yelled a lot

Why did they need a science officer? And if a science officer was needed, why didn't the Sisko get another one to replace her instead of replacing her with a counsellor?

O'Brien could have kept the station from blowing up all by himself, didn't really need Jadzia for that.

Yes sometimes Kira just yelled a lot. But I don't see how that's any worse to how Jadzia just monotoned a lot all the time. At least Kira had some personality to her.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I agree that Kira grew and changed, and that Jadzia did some dumb things (Read: Meridian- seriously, what was that?) But Kira had this default attack position to a lot of things for a great deal of DS9, but I thought Jadzia, for the most part, was cool under pressure, knowledgable and capable, she wasn't easily cowed, but still open-minded.

She fought Jem'Hadar hand-to-hand without flinching, but in "To the Death" she was willing to help the Jem'Hadar she was assigned to learn even more, and showed personal interest that, I of course , thought was great. But it may be all those centuries of experience that mellows someone once they get used to it.

"Stop biting chief O'Brien's nails!"

One thing about Kira is that she was very young for her position. I'm not sure she was even 40 and yet was already a major and an XO. Given that, I think she still measures up quite well.

I also think that automatic attack posture did change over time, in MAJOR ways. Could you have imagined the 1st season Kira greeting ANY Cardassian--even one who's very possibly the nicest one in the entire Union--with a great big ol' hug? Can you imagine her going to Cardassia Prime to fight for THEIR resistance? (Don't you think she would've said, "Let 'em fry"?) And I think in general she learned to get along better with the people she worked with than before.

Jadzia just...got loopier over time. To me it seemed like she was going the opposite direction, and I didn't care for that.

 

[Ezri II]

Have to say Kira as well. Jadzia as a character, was already developed since season 3 without much change to her character. Kira, she was willing to change her viewpoint and it did produce growth.

 

[jamestyler]

I have to add to the Kira vote. However, and I know few will agree, Jadzia was more interesting.

Nana Visitor is a wonderful actress, much better than Terry Farrell, but Jadzia's history and multiple persona as a result of that history gave more options. The Kira character was always centred around Bajor, which isn't a bad thing - it's a Bajor-centric show - but the nature of the Trill just gave more options and a freer spirit.

 

[Kronos]

Kira by a landslide, Jadzia was a dull charecter who was actually pretty mean to others.

 

[indranee]

Jadzia started out with a lot of promise but petered out because of Terry Farrell's lack of acting prowess. Kira may have had too much fire in her belly at times (hence, some people found her annoying), but Nana took her to heights that the writers were fully able to explore. so, by "stronger", if you mean the character -- then Jadzia definitely had promise that was not realized, whereas in terms of personality, Kira was the stronger one.

 

[Marie1]

Kinda needed the science officer.

plus Dax and O'Brien kept DS9 from blowing up.

Kira just yelled a lot

Why did they need a science officer? And if a science officer was needed, why didn't the Sisko get another one to replace her instead of replacing her with a counsellor?

O'Brien could have kept the station from blowing up all by himself, didn't really need Jadzia for that.

Yes sometimes Kira just yelled a lot. But I don't see how that's any worse to how Jadzia just monotoned a lot all the time. At least Kira had some personality to her.

I think Sisko did that just so Dax would be nearby, it sounded like a last minute decision on his part. And there were probably lots of science-y people on DS9. They needed a science officer when they went to DS9 to help Bajor that was damaged by the Cardassians ecologically. They needed her for exploration of the GQ, for finding the Wormhole. After Jadzia died, then needed they needed a councilor for dealing with all the war issues, instead of science ones. It makes perfect sense.

Jadzia was a professional authority, she didn't need to yell. Kira just freaked out. "If this happens during a docking procedure, we could lose and ENTIRE PYLON!!!" Duh. And then "Kira to security" about Q. Q!!! Thats just great.... security to deal with Q!!
And poor Jadzia had to deal with Bashir. Just... couldn't he understand NO??? Honestly...

I agree that Kira grew and changed, and that Jadzia did some dumb things (Read: Meridian- seriously, what was that?) But Kira had this default attack position to a lot of things for a great deal of DS9, but I thought Jadzia, for the most part, was cool under pressure, knowledgable and capable, she wasn't easily cowed, but still open-minded.

She fought Jem'Hadar hand-to-hand without flinching, but in "To the Death" she was willing to help the Jem'Hadar she was assigned to learn even more, and showed personal interest that, I of course , thought was great. But it may be all those centuries of experience that mellows someone once they get used to it.

"Stop biting chief O'Brien's nails!"

One thing about Kira is that she was very young for her position. I'm not sure she was even 40 and yet was already a major and an XO. Given that, I think she still measures up quite well.

I also think that automatic attack posture did change over time, in MAJOR ways. Could you have imagined the 1st season Kira greeting ANY Cardassian--even one who's very possibly the nicest one in the entire Union--with a great big ol' hug? Can you imagine her going to Cardassia Prime to fight for THEIR resistance? (Don't you think she would've said, "Let 'em fry"?) And I think in general she learned to get along better with the people she worked with than before.

Jadzia just...got loopier over time. To me it seemed like she was going the opposite direction, and I didn't care for that.

Actually- I think in the DS9R's latest book FS, she's still only 35-ish. So yeah, young, and angry. I do believe she made tons of progress, and managed to see Cardassians as individuals, and later victims. And I understand her anger. I guess my thing is that even tho I can get angry... Jadzia reminds me more of me, which is probably why I'm harping at this.

Scientific, reasonably calm, low-ish voice, I kinda look like her (wouldn't date a Ferengi or a Klingon!!!!) so Kira is like a sub-personality of me...

Kira by a landslide, Jadzia was a dull charecter who was actually pretty mean to others.

Who? I mean when there wasn't extenuating circumstances?
She was far less specist than a lot of others, even Sisko and Kira.

 

[Ezri II]

I have to add to the Kira vote. However, and I know few will agree, Jadzia was more interesting.

Nana Visitor is a wonderful actress, much better than Terry Farrell, but Jadzia's history and multiple persona as a result of that history gave more options. The Kira character was always centred around Bajor, which isn't a bad thing - it's a Bajor-centric show - but the nature of the Trill just gave more options and a freer spirit.

You are right, Kira was very limited to Bajor and she had a very limited viewpoint of other people outside of Bajor. Still, Kira was needed because she gave Bajor the voice. With Jadzia, she had a deeper understanding and was willing to talk about her past hosts and their place in history. Yes, past lives made her deeper but it was not over done.

 

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

This is an interesting question, and one that I recall the boyfriend and I talking about sometime back. (Although, I think we were just talking about Kira and her attitude towards Sisko).

Here it goes:

Kira was not a likable character, in my opinion, in DS9's early days. She was insubordinate, always on the defensive, and didn't seem to have much respect for authority. (Yes, you can use the argument that she has just gone through an occupation, but....you would think she was a professional. It was sort of like Worf in the early days of TNG; he too was always on the defensive).

Jadzia was a Spock-like, cool character who became more tough, and outspoken when she needed to be...(you can see the change especially when they started the Jadzia/Worf relationship).

Both characters grew throughout the show, and both became very likable characters (IMO).

So, I think it's neck and neck. Both characters are 'strong.'