I agree that her presence on the show was minimal enough to clearly justify the character's description as a secondary character, although one that didn't necessarily suffer in screen time compared to others, especially after Seven's introduction. As well, I'm in no way saying that she is one of the most
important characters in the franchise, though I don't believe your statements necessarily reflect that apprehension. The phrase "stunning abilities" is not something I introduced as my opinion, though I do agree with it, but is expressed by at least four of her castmates (Mulgrew, Phillips, Russ, and Picardo) who have stated it numerous times in forums ranging from DVD extras commentaries to responses at conventions, and again not just immediately after Lien's departure, but extending to the present. What would account for their doing so, unless they, as seasoned veteran performers who've appeared with many commonly recognized excellent actors otherwise, truly meant what they were saying? At the least, I would wager that they are all aware of Lien's isolation and basically having fallen off the face of the earth, if not how she has made manifest the depth of her illness in recent years, so I sincerely doubt that they would consider for a moment, that she would ever be aware of any comments that they made if for the purpose of communicating some kind of affirmation to her.
As to my apprehension of her talents, I should have mentioned that it also takes into consideration her two film roles as well, though I would hold the same opinion without those being present. I have made more than a few posts about the reasons for my perception of those abilities (including my very first one) and I don't feel inclined to launch into an exegesis at the moment to fully explain them. However, I will say that I think Lien brings an exceptional intuitiveness and perceptiveness that informs in a most
vivid way how her character is constituted. Yes, I did use the word vivid, because I find, even as Kes, that Lien is able to wield a most discerning expressiveness that belies the common description of blandness or even invisibility, with an extremely nuanced and mature understanding that communicates a wealth of detail that other actors might choose to much more overtly represent. As opposed to a vacuousness that many see, I witness a determined strength and steeliness of resolve, expressed with such a seeming minimum of effort, but unmistakably present as one of the most cardinal aspects of this multi-faceted character. I recently referred to what seems to me be a remarkable passage in which she calmly, lucidly, and most importantly, believably propounds an argument to a character who vehemently doesn't want to hear it, yet as portrayed, is quite plausibly drawn into its clarity. I certainly wouldn't warrant that there haven't been a number of such demonstrations in episodes I've never seen, but of those many of the various series that I have, I've rarely, if ever been struck by the artistry shown that so expertly defines the core of a character in such a telling and feelingly manner. I can't find a clip of the sequence on its own, but you can view it at on the link below from 35:50-37:20. What it also displays is the innate wisdom of Kes, which Lien is able to transmit even in a situation of extreme apparent danger.
I don't claim any bonafides as a acting critic. However, what I think strikes me most about what Lien is able to do, perhaps lies outside any performing technique and is much more a matter of presence. I find that there is a remarkable, preternatural perhaps, sense of empathy that imbues her appearance as Kes. It's almost as if it's a quality that resonates outside the character itself. For me, it inspires a feeling that endures as a memory in the same way that seeing an extraordinary act of random kindness by happenstance, likely would remain in one's consciousness long after its occurrence, perhaps always.
So maybe for me, the experience I hold can be described more as a result of a kind of alchemy than acting, made all the more remarkable by its practitioner being so amazingly young and yet so assured. So, as I said earlier, while there is professional validation of Lien's talents available to sample as well, the affirmation that I personally experience is a profound and moving one.
http://ishare.rediff.com/video/ente...e-darkling-snake-eyes-/2367130?pos=playerreco
