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Feel cheated by Odo?

Well, there is one upside to all this. He didn't leave Kira with a baby in the oven.
Yeah ive heard people sugemgest that he could have because he was human at some point. But i think that would have been too many angles in the story
 
True, but the writers did control that though. They could have had him be the unusual one, since after all, he was not a nornal changeling. His sense of identity from being around humans could have created something different, which i think was what he was planning to do once he joined. I dont think they entirely lose themselves, u think its just that everything else stops being important to them. But again, he was the different one, which was why they wanted him back so much. I just would have written it differently is all
Yes, it works both ways. He can be more changeling or less changeling depending on what the writers want to accomplish. Is there any particular reason that Odo must choose Kira over his people? Love conquers all is not a universal truth. On the other hand, different peoples and different species have different psychological, physiological, social and cultural needs. Respecting diversity was something that was hardwired into DS9, moreso than any other Trek series. Rather than looking negatively at Odo's choice to go back to the Great Link, I believe it makes more sense to look positively at Kira's choice to let him go, a choice that shows her growth and acceptance of people of other cultures, which would come to include those who oppressed her.
 
Yes, it works both ways. He can be more changeling or less changeling depending on what the writers want to accomplish. Is there any particular reason that Odo must choose Kira over his people? Love conquers all is not a universal truth. On the other hand, different peoples and different species have different psychological, physiological, social and cultural needs. Respecting diversity was something that was hardwired into DS9, moreso than any other Trek series. Rather than looking negatively at Odo's choice to go back to the Great Link, I believe it makes more sense to look positively at Kira's choice to let him go, a choice that shows her growth and acceptance of people of other cultures, which would come to include those who oppressed her.
Thats true too. Although i wouldnt have him choosing her over his people, rather both. Nothing wrong with living with your lover, and then just visiting "your people" often. I just think they could have done more with the story. Instead of a closed society staying that way, it could have had his feelings for her and experiences influence the link. You could yave changelings experiencing love and pairing off, or even purposely venturing out because now that theyve experienced Odo's mind, they want to see for themselves. Kind of like visiting Paris, then going back and telling everyone on the farm. Some of them might want to see it for themselves. This could have changed the link at the basic level. Even having them regularly interact with humans. Or even joining the federation one day. But of course, it wasnt just Odo's show, and the series had to end at some point. But i think a story line like this, is more in line with what tends to happen to cultures in star trek. Enemies becoming friends, species venturing iutsode their own. Even worf being the first Klingon in Starfleet, and nog being the first ferengi. I just didnt care for how it ended
 
How do we know he didn't call her a week later? :shrug:

I have to rewatch the episode, but I don't recall it saying there was no possibility of them seeing each other again and picking up where they left off.
 
Thats true too. Although i wouldnt have him choosing her over his people, rather both. Nothing wrong with living with your lover, and then just visiting "your people" often. I just think they could have done more with the story. Instead of a closed society staying that way, it could have had his feelings for her and experiences influence the link. You could yave changelings experiencing love and pairing off, or even purposely venturing out because now that theyve experienced Odo's mind, they want to see for themselves. Kind of like visiting Paris, then going back and telling everyone on the farm. Some of them might want to see it for themselves. This could have changed the link at the basic level. Even having them regularly interact with humans. Or even joining the federation one day. But of course, it wasnt just Odo's show, and the series had to end at some point. But i think a story line like this, is more in line with what tends to happen to cultures in star trek. Enemies becoming friends, species venturing iutsode their own. Even worf being the first Klingon in Starfleet, and nog being the first ferengi. I just didnt care for how it ended
All those things were what Michael Piller wanted to avoid: the extreme assimilationism that was in evidence in TNG. Everyone was supposed to become like us--like humans, like Americans.
 
How do we know he didn't call her a week later? :shrug:

I have to rewatch the episode, but I don't recall it saying there was no possibility of them seeing each other again and picking uhep where they left off.
He turned himself wearing a tuxedo, and told her to always remember him this way. Sounds pretty final sadly. Its not just abiut their relationship, the whole ending for them seems anti climatic for how high the writers built it up. I think they should have had them saying good bye before the last episode, then popping back up unexpectedly, and telling her how wonderful the changes were that were taking place in the link, and so on. So as it stands right now, he goes to the link to change things, but thats where it ends. I would have been happier with realizing that he could be with her, finally knows who and what he is, can visit his people any time, and they were fundamentally changing for the better thanks to him. That would seem more fulfilled to me for the character
 
All those things were what Michael Piller wanted to avoid: the extreme assimilationism that was in evidence in TNG. Everyone was supposed to become like us--like humans, like Americans.
Yes, but that could have worked both ways too. Humans realized that there were differences. But it also seems contradictory, because wasnt the whole point in sending the baby changelings out into the galaxy was to bring back the new ideas? If they wanted to stay isolated and the same, then that wouldnt have made any sense to have other changelings grow up with humans, and then come back and forget it all. I dont know, it all just seems to be so anti-climatic. All of that to just stay the same ‍♀️
 
The Founders needed his influence. Part of the reason they need absolute control over solids is a history of being hunted and killed by them. So Odo’s presence was needed for healing.

Also nice to see the greater good win over a romance story for once.

I don’t think it was certain he’d never come back, just no plans for a long while.
 
The Founders needed his influence. Part of the reason they need absolute control over solids is a history of being hunted and killed by them. So Odo’s presence was needed for healing.

Also nice to see the greater good win over a romance story for once.

I don’t think it was certain he’d never come back, just no plans for a long while.
I like that, i mean i had no objections to him returning, but even outside of his relationship, it felt something was lacking. Like i said on others posts, they should have had him leave maybe an episode or two before the finally, then had him come back, and we learn of all the changes that had already happened in such a short time. Kind of leave the future open and hopeful, with specific changes already revealed or something. I dont know i just didnt find it satisfying
 
I was someone who always felt that romance was a bit forced, so take this with a grain of salt, but narratively, I found how they handled the end (pause, perhaps?) of that arc extremely satisfying and beautiful, as well as consistent with who the Changelings were at the core of their essence, a joined collective, not in the way of the Borg but completely opposite, individuals celebrated as part of a greater whole.

Beyond the genetic pull, from the start we saw Odo as a person longing for a people and a home, where he wasn't the odd man out but felt all in. Not only did he have that once he joined the Great Link, by the end of the series he saw where he could be of valuable service to them, as well as to his friends and loved ones back in the Alpha Quadrant, by trying to break the cycle of xenophobia and hate. I don't think he'd have had much chance of success at convincing his people of much if he lived with one foot in the pool and one foot out.

Then again, I'm also a sucker for ambiguity and feel content when things don't tie up neatly or end as well as one might wish. *cough*avatar*cough*
 
I was someone who always felt that romance was a bit forced, so take this with a grain of salt, but narratively, I found how they handled the end (pause, perhaps?) of that arc extremely satisfying and beautiful, as well as consistent with who the Changelings were at the core of their essence, a joined collective, not in the way of the Borg but completely opposite, individuals celebrated as part of a greater whole.

Beyond the genetic pull, from the start we saw Odo as a person longing for a people and a home, where he wasn't the odd man out but felt all in. Not only did he have that once he joined the Great Link, by the end of the series he saw where he could be of valuable service to them, as well as to his friends and loved ones back in the Alpha Quadrant, by trying to break the cycle of xenophobia and hate. I don't think he'd have had much chance of success at convincing his people of much if he lived with one foot in the pool and one foot out.

Then again, I'm also a sucker for ambiguity and feel content when things don't tie up neatly or end as well as one might wish. *cough*avatar*cough*
Yeah alot of it comes down to the person. Im grew up in a bad situation, so i prefer happy endings, where suffering can eventually lead to "happily ever after" as it were. I definitely dont like loose ends lol. That was my main complaint with the remakes of Star wars as well. That ultimately nobody had peace. All the celebrating from defeating the emperor in Return of the jedi, and ultimately, everyone still suffered, like their all their struggles were for nothing.
 
My only problem with the way Force Awakens handled it was they didn’t justify how the new Empire became powerful. All the stuff in Luke’s flashback should have been the story of Episode VII.

I don’t consider Odo’s ending bittersweet. I like the. “Happy, but bittersweet” moments of endings more than the idyllic perfectly wrapped up ones. Those perfect endings are the ones that feel predictable, unrealistic and almost pandering.
 
I am new here but ds9 is my favorite show so i will try and articulate my interpretation. Odo and kira’s relationship was personal and special between them. They were both thrust into galactic circumstance and odo was in the unique position of being able to change the founder’s perspective on solids. Even by leaving kira, that sacrifice would be felt by the great link. Even before the end of the series, odo had a tremendous impact on the founders and how they viewed the solids and even their own morality. By joining with them he was fulfilling his destiny basically. He was sent out as a child to spy on the solids and evaluate the threat they posed. It was a mission success by the end of it and changing the whole founder’s world view was a much needed bonus for them.
 
There's another factor. Is he really Odo anymore? The link would change him. Would the Odo we know still exist?
 
Yeah alot of it comes down to the person. Im grew up in a bad situation, so i prefer happy endings, where suffering can eventually lead to "happily ever after" as it were. I definitely dont like loose ends lol. That was my main complaint with the remakes of Star wars as well. That ultimately nobody had peace. All the celebrating from defeating the emperor in Return of the jedi, and ultimately, everyone still suffered, like their all their struggles were for nothing.

Yeah, I can totally understand that. I think everybody responds differently to their life circumstances, and in the end we're all looking for what makes us feel good or what works with our wiring. I appreciate hearing your perspective.
 
But it also seems contradictory, because wasnt the whole point in sending the baby changelings out into the galaxy was to bring back the new ideas?

It seemed more like they detached a hundred eyes and sent them out to spy on Solids so that the Dominion could better crush them...

If they wanted to stay isolated and the same, then that wouldnt have made any sense to have other changelings grow up with humans

That probably never was part of the plan, though. Odo just had bad luck and got stranded farther away than the rest. Or was somehow defective and did not evade his captors but instead went all Stockholm Syndrome on them. Laas is our other example of The Hundred, and he never mingled.

..and then come back and forget it all. I dont know, it all just seems to be so anti-climatic. All of that to just stay the same ‍

But status quo would be what the Dominion is all about, and all their efforts would be aimed at that, including the launching of The Hundred. It's what the bad guys do, and what defines them as eeeevil.

There's another factor. Is he really Odo anymore? The link would change him. Would the Odo we know still exist?

The Founders refrain from harming each other, by policy. It's a policy they can reverse, though, and they did essentially send a hit man after Odo in "The Adversary". Odds are that as soon as he Linked, Odo would be put on trial and then executed for treason.

Timo Saloniemi
 
It sounds very human: why do we send our young men off to war, to experience horror, viceand death ? To protect the future of the nation and defend the virtue of its people, of course.
 
The Founders refrain from harming each other, by policy. It's a policy they can reverse, though, and they did essentially send a hit man after Odo in "The Adversary". Odds are that as soon as he Linked, Odo would be put on trial and then executed for treason.
I just mean that when a changeling joins the link, they are no longer an individual. The link would get all of Odo, but Odo would get all of the link. The person that comes back out(If he ever came back out)might be unrecognizable from the Odo we know.

I don't think he was put on trial by the link. He's more like "the returning savior" and "righteous rightful king" who will "bring balance to the goo"
 
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