Odo and the link after 'What You Leave Behind'

[Peach Wookiee]

Other changelings can fill in for Nerys, they can take her form...

But they're not her.

 

[kkt]

Yes. A changling can look like her but wouldn't have her emotions, her spirituality, all the things that attracted Odo to her. And I don't think a changling would have as easy a time fooling another changeling as they do fooling humans.

 

[Prax]

By the time Odd steps back out of his ecstasy ocean, 100 years will have passed. He'll say "whooooaaa...what happened?" and realize that all of his friends are gone except for Worf, and Dax.

It's a sad story, really, as such is the fate of all immortal beings.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

and realize that all of his friends are gone except for Worf, and Dax.

Not his buds, Quark and Garak?

 

[at Quark's]

If Odo could reform Changeling society in a shorter time, then perhaps he and Kira could have come together again and see if they could pick up again, but I always had the feeling from their parting scenes that Odo and Kira assumed it would take quite some time, their separation could therefore be permanent, and sacrificed their relation for this higher goal.

 

[JesterFace]

If Odo could reform Changeling society in a shorter time.

Was that the goal, that and "fixing" the link?
Do I remember correctly, it was never really mentioned for how long Odo might be in the link?

 

[kkt]

Kira suggested he could come back. His expression told her that wasn't in his plans. However, I'm thinking that if Kira needed him and asked him to come, he would, but it wouldn't be forever,

 

[JesterFace]

I wonder why Behr had decided way before 'What You Leave Behind' that Odo would go into the link.

 

[AfricaMatt]

Perhaps it was part of the deal he made with the female changling, (Salome Jens), that he stayed there and he never told anyone. Or perhaps, as he got lost in the link as he did when he first explored it on DS9.

 

[Prax]

That's sort of implied:

ODO: Don't worry, Garak. She won't try to escape. She's agreed to stand trial and accept responsibility for what she's done.
...
KIRA: I would have thought she'd insist on going back to the Gamma Quadrant to cure her people.
ODO: There's no need for that. I'm going in her place.
KIRA: For how long?
ODO: Nerys, it's time I rejoined the Great Link.

 

[JesterFace]

KIRA: I would have thought she'd insist on going back to the Gamma Quadrant to cure her people.
ODO: There's no need for that. I'm going in her place.
KIRA: For how long?
ODO: Nerys, it's time I rejoined the Great Link.

Odo doesn't sound like good boyfriend material.
Seems like he has planned to join the link, it's only a matter of time. Still, he started a relationship...

 

[Prax]

He's just not in touch with his feelings.

 

[Jayson1]

Would it not be feasible in time for KIra to go be with him? I know she could never be part of the great Link but they could create a home together and maybe after Odo gets the Changlings to trust solids you could have the Link on some world were you share it with other solids.

Jason

 

[Kronos]

He's just not in touch with his feelings.

Oh he was, he was just interested in getting lucky.

 

[JesterFace]

I guess I have wondered about this since I watched 'What You Leave Behind' for the first time long ago.

Odo finally got the girl of his dreams. All seems to be well after the war. Suddenly he wants to go to the great link. And then he goes to the link.

He never mentioned the possibility to return when the link was cured. He just said he would join the link for good. That link must be something amazing, Odo left his entire life behind and joined the link with no intention to return.

Didn't Odo say something like "I have to go to the link" ?
Might it be an instinct with the Changelings, they just have to return to the link if possible?

 

[JesterFace]

After posting this thread I had a feeling I had wondered this thing before.... apparently I have. Sorry.
https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/odo-and-the-link-after-what-you-leave-behind.292676/

 

[TheSeeker]

Shall I close it then? I don’t have a problem leaving it open if you still have some unanswered questions.

 

[JesterFace]

Shall I close it then? I don’t have a problem leaving it open if you still have some unanswered questions.

If that older thread is not too old to be revived, this discussion could take place there.

 

[TheSeeker]

How about I just merge the two?

Edit: And done!