If Michelle Forbes had taken the job

[doctorfoto]

Of course I'm well aware of Ro Laren's role in the relaunch books, but what do you think the series would have been like if Michelle Forbes had taken the role of Ro on DS9, eliminating the need to create Kira Nerys?

Here's my thoughts:

• She would have had not joined the Maquis in TNG, but perhaps would have been sympathetic to their cause.
• In Emissary, Picard would have said to Sisko, "Here. You're getting this crappy station, oh and I'm pawning off this irascible Bajoran as your liaison officer."
• Ro would have hated the assignment (Even though Picard would have said she'd be perfect for it). She would have been on bad terms with both Starfleet and the Bajoran people, particularly the religion. She would have seen the Bajoran's recognition of Sisko as the Emissary as a joke. Over the series her faith in the Prophets would have increased as well as an appreciation for her people and acceptance of the Emissary.
• She would have been constantly struggling over deciding between her loyalty to Bajor or to Starfleet.
• She would have had to face more of the demons she left behind on Bajor from her days in the Occupation.
• She would have been much more comfortable with sleeping around than Kira was.
• The fact that she was in Starfleet might have resulted in different dynamics with the crew than did Kira.
• Her relationship with Odo would have been much more shaky and she would have been much more inclined to go to Quark for help.
• Intendant Ro would have been awesome.

 

[PorthosShadow]

Honestly this is one of those "what if" questions I really have a hard time answering. I'm so in love with Kira as a character and so impressed on how Nana Vistor played it that I really can't see anyone else in the role.

 

[Photon]

Ro woulda had a Damascus Road Experience

Of course I'm well aware of Ro Laren's role in the relaunch books, but what do you think the series would have been like if Michelle Forbes had taken the role of Ro on DS9, eliminating the need to create Kira Nerys?

Here's my thoughts:

• She would have had not joined the Maquis in TNG, but perhaps would have been sympathetic to their cause.
• In Emissary, Picard would have said to Sisko, "Here. You're getting this crappy station, oh and I'm pawning off this irascible Bajoran as your liaison officer."
• Ro would have hated the assignment (Even though Picard would have said she'd be perfect for it). She would have been on bad terms with both Starfleet and the Bajoran people, particularly the religion. She would have seen the Bajoran's recognition of Sisko as the Emissary as a joke. Over the series her faith in the Prophets would have increased as well as an appreciation for her people and acceptance of the Emissary.
• She would have been constantly struggling over deciding between her loyalty to Bajor or to Starfleet.
• She would have had to face more of the demons she left behind on Bajor from her days in the Occupation.
• She would have been much more comfortable with sleeping around than Kira was.
• The fact that she was in Starfleet might have resulted in different dynamics with the crew than did Kira.
• Her relationship with Odo would have been much more shaky and she would have been much more inclined to go to Quark for help.
• Intendant Ro would have been awesome.

with Sisko about Season 5

 

[StarryEyed]

It's hard to imagine. It definitely would have been a different dynamic. Instead of Sisko and Kira learning to trust each other, it would have been Ro and the Bajoran provisional government trying to come to terms. Ro and Odo would have been uneasy with each other at best while Ro and Quark would probably have become fast friends - perhaps even more.

 

[PorthosShadow]

It's hard to imagine. It definitely would have been a different dynamic. Instead of Sisko and Kira learning to trust each other, it would have been Ro and the Bajoran provisional government trying to come to terms. Ro and Odo would have been uneasy with each other at best while Ro and Quark would probably have become fast friends - perhaps even more.

That would have been a likely outcome and it's possible a Michelle Forbes Kira might have become a first season Dax. Makes me wonder where Terry Ferrell would have taken her character had that been the case.

 

[StarryEyed]

It's hard to imagine. It definitely would have been a different dynamic. Instead of Sisko and Kira learning to trust each other, it would have been Ro and the Bajoran provisional government trying to come to terms. Ro and Odo would have been uneasy with each other at best while Ro and Quark would probably have become fast friends - perhaps even more.

That would have been a likely outcome and it's possible a Michelle Forbes Kira might have become a first season Dax. Makes me wonder where Terry Ferrell would have taken her character had that been the case.

Well it wouldn't have been a 'Michelle Forbes Kira.' Michelle Forbes would have played her original role of Ro - a completely different character.

I didn't think about how Jadzia would have fit into that. There's no question that her role would have had to have been altered because it would have been Ro in the pro-Ferengi role.

Like I said, it's hard to imagine the change. The entire cast dynamic would have been altered. Who knows if it would have been for the better or worse.

 

[Admiral Shran]

• Intendant Ro would have been awesome.

Intendant Kira was pretty awesome herself. However, I will hand one that one to you. Intendant Ro would have been spectacular!

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

She would've left the series within a few seasons, becoming the show's Tasha Yar or Kes.

 

[Arix]

I wonder this myself - just as I wonder what TNG would have been like if Tasha Yar hadn't died in Skin of Evil.

But the problem with either of those possibilities is that we'd be missing out on a fantastic character.

Kira was created instead of Ro, and Worf's role was expanded to fill Tasha's place.

Kira is probably my favourite character in all of Star Trek - so as much as I'd love to see how the dynamics would have been different, and what might have happened... to do that at the expense of the Kira character would be a real shame. So I'm kind of glad it turned out the way it did...

Of course, Ro could have showed up at any point during the series (like in the relaunch novels) - it would have been great to see her again as a Maquis.

 

[RegFan]

If Ro had joined DS9 I don't think there would have been so many episodes about Bajoran religion. I don't remember Ro ever making a reference to the Prophets in TNG. Also, I don't see Ro being in love with Bareil. However, I don't think Ro would have changed the Dominion War. She's quite similar to Kira even though they are different.

 

[Jono]

Given I dislike Ro Laren a lot I'd probably be in an alternate universe Trekbbs bitching about the writers not going for an original character whose loyalty was to Bajor and was all about the Prophets.

 

[RyuRoots]

I do like Ro, but I love Kira and the dynamic she had with Sisko far too much to really wonder for too long, personally. It's hard to imagine it turning out quite as good as what we got. Because Ro IS a Starfleet officer, I don't think she'd be as at odds with Sisko or have as much growing to do in that working relationship and (eventually) friendship. At least not the same way that Kira did, which is one of the things I love about DS9.

 

[Anwar]

Also, unless she got some double promotion she'd be outranked by every other officer on DS9 and thus wouldn't fill the "Second-in-command" plot role that Kira did. So who'd fill in as Sisko's Second?

 

[Pseudo]

She would've left the series within a few seasons, becoming the show's Tasha Yar or Kes.

This could have worked quite well, I think there would have been a lot of suspicion between Ro and the Provisional Government. She might even be something of an outcast among her own people having joined Star Fleet rather than fought Bajor's freedom. I could quite easily see her joining the Maquis at the end of season two.

Then the Provisional Government would undoubtedly petition Star Fleet to allow them to appoint the next First Officer, Star Fleet would, despite Sisko's objections agree and we'd find ourselves with Major Kira. But this Major Kira would initially be far more influenced by the Provisional Government and far more suspicious of the Federation's intentions. She would be there to carry out its orders, not Sisko's. She might even see the Dominion as a threat to the Federation and not to Bajor itself, possibly even sowing the seeds of insurrection among the station's Bajoran personnel. This would change mid/late season three as the threat the Dominion poses becomes more obvious.

 

[DevilEyes]

Kira is probably my favourite character in all of Star Trek - so as much as I'd love to see how the dynamics would have been different, and what might have happened... to do that at the expense of the Kira character would be a real shame. So I'm kind of glad it turned out the way it did...

Same here.

Of course, Ro could have showed up at any point during the series (like in the relaunch novels) - it would have been great to see her again as a Maquis.

That, too.

As for Tasha Yar, I'm not sorry at all, since Denise Crosby was not a good actress, and Trek writers subsequently learned to write the "tough kickass woman with a vulnerable side and a traumatic past growing up on a violence-torn world" character much better with Ro and of course Kira.

 

[nx1701g]

I wonder if they may have gone the route that Ro would resign from Starfleet and join the Bajoran Militia?

 

[Tallis Rhul]

Given I dislike Ro Laren a lot I'd probably be in an alternate universe Trekbbs bitching about the writers not going for an original character whose loyalty was to Bajor and was all about the Prophets.

I'd most likely be joining you. I was never keen on her in TNG really, and the only reason I like her now is because they do a good job of making her more of a tolerable character in the relaunch books.

If Ro had been the Bajoran liaison then I'm pretty sure we wouldn't know anywhere near as much about Bajor as we do now.

 

[Dave Scarpa]

I'm also Wondering if Ro was Onboard would the Powers that be still bring Worf in the later Seasons. Worf was brought in to Bolster the show, would it had needed bolstering?

 

[Arix]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder why the producers didn't bring her in for some of the Maquis episodes?

We know Michelle Forbes didn't want to be a regular on a TV show - but she had been a guest star in the past, so why not again?

Eddington was Sisko's... nemesis/rival - Ro could have been Kira's. We already knew that Ro defected to the Maquis, and I think it would have been a great opportunity for the show - yet another way DS9 showed the consequences of a past action that would have most likely never been followed up in TNG.

And of course, rather than Ro replacing Kira, it would have been yet another opportunity for Kira to grow - by having to interact with a fellow Bajoran who was once again fighting against the Cardassians.

 

[Tallis Rhul]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder why the producers didn't bring her in for some of the Maquis episodes?

Well, she turned down the job of Kira so it was either because they didn't want to give her any more money, or because she turned down any offer they did make... at a guess