Happy to See...

[AdmiralGarak]

I miss the "good" Dukat from series four's 'Return to Grace', 'Indiscretion', and 'The Way of the Warrior'. I know, I'm weird, but still..

Dukat was getting too likeable in those days. His fans were touting him as a hero because only so many million Bajorans had died during the Occupation. The writers saw it as disturbingly similar to Nazi appologists. The Kira/Dukat shipping certainly didn't go over well with them either, what with their view that Dukat was basically Hitler to Kira. Dukat's ranting hatred of Bajorans in "Waltz" was done specifically to put an end to the Dukat appologists.

My own personal view is that the writers should have left well-enough alone and never brought him back after "Sacrifice of Angels". His story had ended in true Shakespearean fashion, and every Dukat scene after "Waltz" was terrible character assassination. Weyoun, Damar, and the female Shapeshifter were more than filling the villain quota at that point.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

You make a good point about the Shakespearian nature of the Dukat arc up to that point...all the more appropriate considering Alaimo was indeed a Shakespearian actor.

Now here's one thing I'm curious about.

How would you guys have reacted if they'd decided to follow a route more like Crime and Punishment instead? What if, instead of being solidified in his evil, he was overcome by the realization of his sins? Some sort of redemptive suffering (which would only be heightened by the Cardassian notion of accepting one's punishment without resistance), perhaps? He probably would've had to die in that version as well to complete the cycle, but would that have been a better death?

(You could even draw a parallel to St. Paul and the "Road to Damascus"...remember, Paul was a really, REALLY hateful, destructive zealot before that incident.)

Leaving it alone probably would've been the best thing...but what do you think? Better alternative than the red-eye plot?

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I'm not sure how believeable that story would have been coming form Dukat. The man was narcissistic and self-righteous to the extreme. To have him suddenly see the light would be a stretch. He was well aware of the evils being carried out by his commands, and revelled in the lavishes of his post.

Damar would have been more believable in such a role. In the last couple episodes, he had started to realize the evils committed by Cardassia. Perhaps if he had survived, the novels could have taken him in this direction. Garak seems to have spent some time wallowing in self-contempt, as well. Though he was more resigned and more of a realist to believe in any sort of atonement.

And of course, there was Maritza. He's perhaps the closest to what you described. He was ready to die to atone for his guilt.