Pick-A-Dax

[Nerys Ghemor]

OK...this subject has come up in some other threads, both in the DS9 forum and the general forum, and I think it's been long enough that if I bring up an old thread, it'll be necro-posting.

Still, I'm not sure anyone has actually polled it this exact way, so I still think this could be interesting.

What I was wondering is what people thought of the different incarnations of Dax, and how strongly people feel about it.

I decided to split Jadzia into pre-"Blood Oath" and post-"Blood Oath," because at least to my mind, there is sufficient difference between them that they almost qualify as separate characters.

So...what do you guys think?

 

[Admiral Shran]

It will probably come as a surprise to some people (), but I chose Ezri Dax.

She's the polar opposite of Jadzia. Instead of using and manipulating men, Ezri respects them. Her personality is sweet, innocent and caring - not arrogant, self-absorbed and ball-busting. She cares about the needs of others. She's warm, inviting and, dare I say it, feminine. She's also vulnerable; not all female characters have to be hard-charging, gung-ho, hoorah Amazons.

She is respectful of others, respectful of men. She's the kind of girl you can build a deep, abiding friendship with...one that you can refer to when you're down, and need someone to help you in your hurt.

That, and she's hands down one of the most attractive women I've ever laid eyes on.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

From my own perspective as a woman, Ezri strikes me much more as someone I would be friends with and respect. I found Jadzia's behavior towards men to be disrespectful as well. I have a feeling that had we seen an Ezri relationship become fully developed, we would've had a sense of equality in the relationship. Real partners, not just sparring partners.

I definitely think it's great that we had characters like Kira who excelled in the kickin' ass and takin' names department. But I agree, it's OK for Ezri to be Ezri. It didn't make her any less than a man, or than a woman like Kira.

 

[MHT1138]

I like Jadzia, any version of her, but i love Ezri! I named my cat after her
I think she was the more interesting character. I loved the whole, not prepared to be joined aspect of her personality. Though that might not have been as interesting if we hadn't learned so much about a regular trill joining in Jadzia's character. (well except for the whole Joran aspect.)

 

[Art Vandelay]

Ezri!

I love Ezri.

 

[Eyes]

Ezri. She managed to connect with me more in 3 episodes than Jadzia ever did in 6 seasons. Not that I minded Jadzia especially, she just wasn't interesting enough.

Whereas by the end of Afterimage, I was in love with Ezri.

It also helps that Nicole de Boer is a very attractive woman.

 

[lurok]

If I was given a Sophie's Choice I'd have to go for Jadzia (pre and post), but I loved Ezri as well. They're both Dax...just different

What was great about Jadzia was strength and confidence; what was great about Ezri was seeing the process of her coming to terms with symbiont. Shame it was all a bit late in run.

 

[Admiral Shran]

I'm loving all the Ezri love so far.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Ezri, every man dreams of having a Ezri in his life, and every women wants to have a friend as good as Ezri. (Or of course in this modern world, some of the men would want her as a friend and women would want a Ezri in her life, but I am digressing)

That, and Ezri had more personality in about 3-4 episodes then Jazdia had in the entire run.

 

[Gul Re'jal]

Jadzia Dax, pre-Blood Oath. Not that she was such a great character, but better than Klingon Jadzia and certainly much better than constantly whining Ezri.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

I'm gonna jump on the Ezri love bandwagon in this here thread.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Well! No suprise at how I voted, eh?

Shran, Nerys, and Distorted Humor basically conveyed my feelings about Ezri Dax!



And I definitely see your reason for splitting Jadzia into two, Nerys. Pre-"Blood Oath", she swears up and down that she's "above" romantic relationships--and constantly acts amused, in an "aloof" sense, at men finding her attractive. After that ep, she's a hard-core man-izer (counterpart to "womanizer"), basically contradicting everything she'd said beforehand.

Either way, Jad's a living embodiment of a modern stereotype extremely common in today's TV and Film. The former: the "cool girl" who is "in control" and "self-reliant", to the extent of considering herself "above" romance of any kind--and in a sense, "above" men. Austere, proud, and all too amused at the "petty" appeals to her heart.

The latter: the hard-core "tomboy" who is "tied down" by precious little, if anything. As Nerys has often called it, the "Party Girl". One for gambling (even a drinking bout or two)--one for kicking butt and taking names--basically, "One o' the guys!"


Also...I'm amused at the description of Ezri as "constantly whining". She's insecure at the beginning of the season, to be sure--but we see her grow as it progresses.

Going on about Ezri...

As Shran pointed out, she's a very "warm, inviting and, dare I say it, feminine" woman. She has a nurturing heart, helping people up when they're down--and unafraid to be vulnerable herself--to a point. When Julian offers a hand on the shoulder in "Field of Fire", you see her non-verbally thanking him for it, as she looks at him.

Still, her sense of dignity and nobility wouldn't allow her to mooch off of others. Case in point: when Kira seems ready to giver her sympathy in "Afterimage", Ezri stiffens and quickly says, "Well--I'll let you get to your prayers...." Also, when her mother seems ready to "baby" her a bit, she says, "I think I've got it under control."

And of course, there's her sweet, enthusiastic, playful nature--and her idealism, her "innocence", if you will.

As I've said once, Jad's someone I could see being friends with in a "guy" sense--the "tomboy" one, anyway. Pre-"Blood Oath"...I wouldn't know what to make of her. Probably an acquaintance whom I could rely on, if I needed backup...perhaps someone whom I'd get along well enough with, say, when researching things, learning, etc.

Ezri...she is someone whom you can't help but want to be close friends with...at the very least.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

I think I'd like Ezri more if she had gotten more time onscreen and therefore more character development. As it was, I did like her but she was there for such a short time that I didn't really identify with her as much as some of the other characters. That's probably why I liked Jadzia so much - she had time to grow as a character. (Whether you like where her character went or not - personally I think people tend to read too much into her flaws, but that's just a matter of opinion.)

Don't get me wrong, I liked Ezri...I just wish she'd had more screen time. Perhaps if she was introduced earlier like some people on this board have suggested.

But I have to say, Rushbo, my favorite Dax has got to be the one you and I and ares93 created - the one and only Perjon Dax.

Canonically speaking, though, I can't say I like Ezri or Jadzia any more or less than one another. Jadzia's the one you want to have your back in a game of Tongo or while fighting Jem'Hadar...but Ezri's the one who helps you get over your irrational fear of Jem'Hadar (or of Tongo.)

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

And I definitely see your reason for splitting Jadzia into two, Nerys. Pre-"Blood Oath", she swears up and down that she's "above" romantic relationships--and constantly acts amused, in an "aloof" sense, at men finding her attractive. After that ep, she's a hard-core man-izer (counterpart to "womanizer"), basically contradicting everything she'd said beforehand.

I know you and I probably disagree on this, but it's my theory that Curzon took her over. We saw in the zhian'tara JUST how strong-willed Curzon really is, and all the descriptions of him that we get sound JUST like Jadzia the Klingon Party Girl.

I also think the other key piece of evidence is "If Wishes Were Horses." Look at those two Daxes (the real and imaginary one) side by side, and then look at Klingon Party Girl. It's amazing how much, post-Blood Oath, she looks like what was supposed to be an intentionally bad and embarrassing caricature in earlier seasons!

Also...I'm amused at the description of Ezri as "constantly whining". She's insecure at the beginning of the season, to be sure--but we see her grow as it progresses.

I guess I tend to see her as someone who was traumatized in a very serious way, hence some unstable behavior. I can't imagine having to take a symbiont against one's will is a good thing, any more than having a symbiont removed against one's will is. Ezri Tigan didn't like it, and I'm willing to bet that, if it could speak independently, Dax didn't like the idea of forcing its presence on someone, either.

 

[Rush Limborg]

And I definitely see your reason for splitting Jadzia into two, Nerys. Pre-"Blood Oath", she swears up and down that she's "above" romantic relationships--and constantly acts amused, in an "aloof" sense, at men finding her attractive. After that ep, she's a hard-core man-izer (counterpart to "womanizer"), basically contradicting everything she'd said beforehand.

I know you and I probably disagree on this, but it's my theory that Curzon took her over. We saw in the zhian'tara JUST how strong-willed Curzon really is, and all the descriptions of him that we get sound JUST like Jadzia the Klingon Party Girl.

Actually, I firmly agree with you on that.

I also think the other key piece of evidence is "If Wishes Were Horses." Look at those two Daxes (the real and imaginary one) side by side, and then look at Klingon Party Girl. It's amazing how much, post-Blood Oath, she looks like what was supposed to be an intentionally bad and embarrassing caricature in earlier seasons!

Ironically, I actually found the "caricature" pretty likeable. Near the end, she seems quite vulnerable, letting Julian hold her, etc. And then when she's "dying"--and Julian saves her--she seems very sweet, as opposed to KPG Jadzia, who doesn't allow vulnerability to show.

Frankly, the "caricature" I found to be quite...stimulating.

Also...I'm amused at the description of Ezri as "constantly whining". She's insecure at the beginning of the season, to be sure--but we see her grow as it progresses.

I guess I tend to see her as someone who was traumatized in a very serious way, hence some unstable behavior. I can't imagine having to take a symbiont against one's will is a good thing, any more than having a symbiont removed against one's will is. Ezri Tigan didn't like it, and I'm willing to bet that, if it could speak independently, Dax didn't like the idea of forcing its presence on someone, either.

Dittos on that. And her triumph over the trauma is very inspirational, to be sure.

 

[T'Girl]

it's my theory that Curzon took her over. We saw in the zhian'tara JUST how strong-willed Curzon really is, and all the descriptions of him that we get sound JUST like Jadzia the Klingon Party Girl.

I've had this though too, but somewhat different, in that instead of being taken over by Curzon, a few years after being implanted with it, Jadzia was being directly taken over by the personality of the Dax symbiont itself. As earlier Curzon had been.

In this tread, my pick is early Jadzia.

 

[MHT1138]

Ezri!

I love Ezri.

I love your avatar, in fact your kitty looks like my cat, Ezri

 

[Mage]

I voted Ezri, but only Ezri as seen in the series. Ezri from the novels turned into a bit of a bitchy know-it-all really.

If I had to choose a Jadzia, it would be post-Blood Oath, she had a cool thing going with the Klingon stuff, but not enough to get me interested in her as a character.

 

[Deckerd]

It's a bit unfair to split Jadzia, IMO. However, she's holding her own, so fair's fair I suppose.

 

[lurok]

Seems fairly evenly balanced so far. Which makes me happy