Dukat's Character Arc

[Tosk]

Let Voyager be Voyager and DS9 be DS9.

I agree, especially because VOY existing helped DS9 be what it was. VOY had all the new network eyes on it while DS9 got a tiny bit overlooked and was able to do some stuff that maybe Berman would have stood firm on if it was the only show. And thank goodness Ira had a strong force of will, able to talk Berman into certain things.

 

[weeping_willow]

In Cardassian reasoning, it could also be that Dukat took on the whole of the occupation responsibility and guilt, on behalf and in service of Cardassia.
It seems to me that of the preceding 40+ years of occupation, and especially upon the initial conquest of the planet, things must have been much worse and turbulent for Bajor than when Dukat was sent there as a prefect. In fact he does go on to point that he tried to soften the occupation for bajorans, inasmuch as his military duty allowed (and it did not allow much).
It could well be that Dukat was never the master of his destiny and because of that, always tried to find a "true" role, wherever that led him. That would have been rich grounds for an elaborate, complex character development, but alas...

So spot on... I agree. The viewer sometimes doesn't take his words what they mean in the context of his character and FOR him, from his POV. A man who is not a master of his destiny but felt enforced or trapped in one while benefiting from some of its aspects could still be an unhappy man. The respect that comes with it comes in handy for him and is welcomed. Alas, this doesn't mean that guilt can not exist, it exists and it's huge when it comes to him. A truly ruthless or evil man wouldn't feel a thing, or a slight itching in his conscience. He did felt it but that didn't stopped him carryng on with his duties. The Dukat from after, the vessel for pa-wraths was so out of character and imo they did dirty to the character, red flags in every episode with him like "look!!! he is bad!!! really bad!!!! You don't believe it??? watch now what happens!!!! he even has the evil laugh" - just such an extreme took of events and change in his character that logically does not add up to the character we've seen before.

 

[Frightscape One]

I agree, especially because VOY existing helped DS9 be what it was. VOY had all the new network eyes on it while DS9 got a tiny bit overlooked and was able to do some stuff that maybe Berman would have stood firm on if it was the only show. And thank goodness Ira had a strong force of will, able to talk Berman into certain things.

Completely agreed.

While DS9 was airing, I was mad that it only got to have 3 months by itself on tv. (The first part of season 3.) I felt DS9 deserved to carry the STAR TREK torch at least a full year... show everyone how awesome it was.

It wasn't until VOY ended that I realized it really was a blessing in disguise, for pretty much exactly the reasons you stated.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Completely agreed.

While DS9 was airing, I was mad that it only got to have 3 months by itself on tv. (The first part of season 3.) I felt DS9 deserved to carry the STAR TREK torch at least a full year... show everyone how awesome it was.

It wasn't until VOY ended that I realized it really was a blessing in disguise, for pretty much exactly the reasons you stated.

Hi! You seem to be new and old here.

 

[Frightscape One]

Hi! You seem to be new and old here.

I guess depending on the day, I can feel young and old. Some days, both at once.

 

[Ragitsu]

The way some of you men regard VOY as a stalking horse is...hm...curious.

 

[Tosk]

Can you make your meaning clearer for those in the back?

 

[Poltargyst]

The way some of you men regard VOY as a stalking horse is...hm...curious.

Yeah, what?

 

[Ragitsu]

Can you make your meaning clearer for those in the back?

Valuing Voyager as a useful diversion that (unintentionally*) afforded DS9 freedom to stretch and flourish, and not so much (or at all) valuing Voyager as an addition to the Trek franchise; at least, that is my perception.

* I seriously doubt there was some master plan behind the scenes.

 

[Frightscape One]

Valuing Voyager as a useful diversion that (unintentionally*) afforded DS9 freedom to stretch and flourish, and not so much (or at all) valuing Voyager as an addition to the Trek franchise; at least, that is my perception.

* I seriously doubt there was some master plan behind the scenes.

One can value VOY for being both an addition to the franchise and being the focal point of the suits to allow DS9 to be as awesome as it was.

 

[Kor]

Attempted murder. Being a dictator. Torture.

To borrow a quote from another show, "You think because he is friendly he is less evil but he is evil nonetheless."

Torture in Space Seed with the decompression chamber. And then, in TWOK, "He tortured those people. But none of those people would tell him anything. He went wild. He slit their throats. ..."

Kor

 

[Tosk]

* I seriously doubt there was some master plan behind the scenes.

I agree.

and not so much (or at all) valuing Voyager as an addition to the Trek franchise; at least, that is my perception.

If that was the case, what was...hm...curious? ...and why did you specify men?

 

[Poltargyst]

I don't much value Voyager as part of the Star Trek franchise because I thought it sucked not for any ulterior motives.

 

[Laughing Dragon]

His "arc"... I almost saw Dukat as a comic relief as time went on. Things just got zanier and zanier. He was best in the early seasons.

 

[Kount Korbula]

it's still an arc even if you think it went off the table

 

[kkt]

* I seriously doubt there was some master plan behind the scenes.

"And Trakor saw it all three thousand years ago."