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Most Sympathetic Antagonist

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For similar reasons, I felt bad for V'Ger...who may or may not even still be an antagonist by the end. :)

If I didn't already say this up above, I was referring to the individuals who have unwillingly been chained to an overriding will.

The individuals comprising the Borg deserve sympathy.
 
I thought captain Maxwell's actions in TNG"s The Wounded were very understandable, even if he went too far. And I suppose he is an antagonist for most of that episode, even though the ultimate antagonists in that context are the Cardassians.
 
From the original series I'd say Apollo, as he meant no harm, wanting to care for Humanity, but he just couldn't grasp that times had changed and Humanity no longer needed what he offered. The crew's reaction at the end was one of utter sympathy and sadness for having beaten him.

From the films, I would have to say Khan. I believe he genuinely parted on good terms with Kirk at the end of "Space Seed", grateful for the opportunity to build a new life. When that is snatched away from him, cruelly, and he strives, desperately (portrayed well in the novel "To reign in hell") to keep his people alive only to see them begin to die, along with his "beloved wife" , all the while hoping, in vain as it turns out, for Kirk to come back, I think it's understandable why he goes over the edge and thirsts for revenge.
 
The enterprise herself in practical joker. She didn't harm anyone, demonstrated sentience, saved her crew....and was then made back into an automaton for her crime.
 
Ultimately, I don't think there were too many pitiable antagonists in Star Trek. If you're looking for that, I would suggest the series "Cold Case". In many episodes, the doer is often sympathetic, sometimes as much as the victim (or even more so).

I would also recommend Flashpoint if you want sympathetic antagonists. You get to see the reasons that cause ordinary people to snap. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1059475/ There but for the grace of God goes all of us...
 
I'll think of one from each series which sticks out for me:

The Romulan Commander
Captain Benjamin Maxwell
Gul Dukat
Annorax
Soval
 
Tokath (TNG, Birthright). A "man protecting his family," and at Khitomer showed far more mercy to his Klingon adversaries than I would have expected any Romulan to.

Damon Bok (TNG, the Battle). Guy's son was killed and it drove him over the edge, and this also shows us that Ferengi DO care about more than ledgers. And the briefly seen Kazago gets honorable mention for the most likable Ferengi I can remember.

This may sound crazy, but Admiral Satee (TNG, the Drumhead)? She was malevolent alright, but I really felt bad for her when she self-destructed. But....naaa. Too dislikable.

Bruce Maddox (TNG, the Measure of a Man) is definitely an adversary of sorts for the episode, but ends very sympathetically for his rueful and somewhat stunned acceptance of some truths (or at least big questions) about Data.

It is hard not to feel bad for Ben Finney (TOS, Court Martial).

Horta (TOS, Devil in the Dark).

The Grups in Miri. How can you not feel horrified pity for them, especially after the tricycle scene? "It's broken...fix...please fix it..."

Violent Kirk (TOS, the Enemy Within). Yes, Rand. But really you're not moved by "I want to live! I want to live!"? It isn't like he is really responsible for what he is, either. He's NOT a full human being who actually understands the concepts of right and wrong, or even of not fulfilling every impulse, by dint of being this distilled archetype of violence created by the transporter.

Mirror Spock (TOS, Mirror Mirror).

Gary Mitchell (TOS, Where No Man Has Gone Before). That brief moment on Delta Vega when his eyes return to normal is enough to remind us that this is Gary, Kirk's good buddy. He goes pure megalo, but I do feel bad for him anyway.

Kruge (so kidding--this is of course the poster boy for nonsympathy).
 
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I don't know if I'm thinking of 'sympathetic' in the same way as everyone else, but the first name that popped into my head was Damar.

Yes, he was a jerk in much of his earlier episodes, but he truly believed in his worldview and he always did what he had been taught to believe was right (kind of like what Worf might be if Klingon culture had been actively and openly selfish and authoritarian). Watching the process of him finally realizing that his worldview wasn't right and have to come to terms with a lifetime of wilfull blindness was really powerful.

Having read the thread, though, I also very much agree about the Romulan Commander, as well.
 
Garak falls more under the "reformed bad guy, now good guy" column.

One villain that is sympathetic from DS9 is Michael Eddington. You understand his motive, and from a certain point of view, he is actually right about the Cardassians, and even the Federation. DS9 writers had to intentionally write him as a douche in some episodes to make it clear why we need to root for Sisko. But I found him sympathetic, and interesting. And Kenneth Marshall did a great job acting, as well.

Yes good one! I agree with you on Michael Eddington. I love the heated back and forth exchanges and debates between Sisko and Eddington and you can see both the Federation and the Marquis point of view. I recently watched those episodes again and they never get old! "What are you really up to Javier?" "YOU BETRAYED YOUR UNIFORM!". Superb acting. I love how Sisko does some questionable things in that episode too like poisoning an entire planets atmosphere rendering it uninhabitable to all life for 50 years - he may have got his man but at what cost. A lot of morality in those episodes - I love episodes like that - it's one of the reasons why we love DS9!
 
I don't want to make anyone angry or debate the morality of this answer please if you don't mind. But I've just got to say Gul Dukat. Sorry! I just can't see him as a bad guy (at least not until after he cracks up and goes full on nuts/evil and allegedly during the occupation) and even then I still understand why he does the things he does and can relate to what he's going through. Obviously if it was real life I would question the morality if liking such a man, but it's not real, it's just fiction - so I can like any character I want, even if they some times do bad/questionable things so there lol! I can't help being in love with Dukat I mean he's so beautiful and majestic and sexy. I am utterly in love and have a massive crush on him too so yeah that doesn't help lol but I can't help it he's just THAT hot and intoxicating and sexy! I can't help seeing the beauty, the good, kindness and decency in him as well as the bad and "evil". He's definitely one of the more well-rounded relatable villians/anti-heroes. Not to mention the sexiest man on Star Trek and the entire galaxy! Sorry just had to add that you can now throw stones at me. "...but when it comes to Dukat - I regret nothing! (hah see what I done there) <3
 
Mullibok. The dude just wanted to keep his house.
Ooo yes Mullibok! The Marquis just wanted to keep their homes too but then I suppose they resorted to terrorism in order to achieve that where as poor Mullibok was just a harmless and very likeable old man who was just stuck in his ways.
 
Dr Kila Marr from "Silicon Avator." Not even a villain most of the episode. A grieving mother who kills when giving a chance because she lost control of her pain. When Data talks about how her dead son would be sad for her to me is heartbreaking. I like this episode a great deal. More than most I suspect because people don't seem to talk about it much.


Jason
 
I don't want to make anyone angry or debate the morality of this answer please if you don't mind. But I've just got to say Gul Dukat. Sorry! I just can't see him as a bad guy (at least not until after he cracks up and goes full on nuts/evil and allegedly during the occupation) and even then I still understand why he does the things he does and can relate to what he's going through. Obviously if it was real life I would question the morality if liking such a man, but it's not real, it's just fiction - so I can like any character I want, even if they some times do bad/questionable things so there lol! I can't help being in love with Dukat I mean he's so beautiful and majestic and sexy. I am utterly in love and have a massive crush on him too so yeah that doesn't help lol but I can't help it he's just THAT hot and intoxicating and sexy! I can't help seeing the beauty, the good, kindness and decency in him as well as the bad and "evil". He's definitely one of the more well-rounded relatable villians/anti-heroes. Not to mention the sexiest man on Star Trek and the entire galaxy! Sorry just had to add that you can now throw stones at me. "...but when it comes to Dukat - I regret nothing! (hah see what I done there) <3

First, welcome to the board.

Second, please take some time to familiarize yourself with the posting rules, located here.

This thread has been dead for well over three years. Let's let it rest in peace, shall we?

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