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Revisiting DS9...

So, given these examples where Trek writers would create new characters when a new actor was hired, why do you blame Nana Visitor's acting for the differences between Ro and Kira and not the writers wanting to create a very different character?

I'm pretty sure the scripts didn't say in every line:

Kira
(complaining)​


I simply found Visitor to be a very one-note actress. :shrug:
 
You're right, the writers didn't write Kira like that, Nana Visitor ad-libbed all those scenes. For example, in the script for Emissary, this is what was originally written for Kira and Sisko's first meeting.

KIRA: Yes?
SISKO: I'm Benjamin Sisko.
KIRA: I suppose you want the office.
SISKO: Well, I thought I'd say hello first and then take the office, but we could do it in any order you'd like.
KIRA: Hello.
SISKO: Is something bothering you, Major?
KIRA: No, I'm super. I just had a big bowl of ice-cream.
SISKO: What flavour?
KIRA: Raspberry ripple, it's my favourite.
SISKO: I'm more a fan of honeycomb.
KIRA: Nah, I don't like the crunchy bits. So you're from the Starfleet?
SISKO: Yes. Is that going to be a problem?
KIRA: No! I love the Federation! You guys are swell.
SISKO: I just thought you might have a problem with the Provisional Government inviting us.
KIRA: That's no problem for me, I love the Provisional Government, they're doing one heck of a job!
Frankly, I'm surprised that Nana was allowed to get away with changing the script so much because of how incapable she was of acting happy. If I had been a producer on the show, I would have fired her and hired someone that could play the role that she was supposed to, but I guess Rick Berman was a pretty terrible producer.


(I think you'll find that if you actually read the scripts of the scenes where Kira is complaining, you'll find that she's complaining in the scripts too, not just on the screen.)
 
You're right, the writers didn't write Kira like that, Nana Visitor ad-libbed all those scenes. For example, in the script for Emissary, this is what was originally written for Kira and Sisko's first meeting.

KIRA: Yes?
SISKO: I'm Benjamin Sisko.
KIRA: I suppose you want the office.
SISKO: Well, I thought I'd say hello first and then take the office, but we could do it in any order you'd like.
KIRA: Hello.
SISKO: Is something bothering you, Major?
KIRA: No, I'm super. I just had a big bowl of ice-cream.
SISKO: What flavour?
KIRA: Raspberry ripple, it's my favourite.
SISKO: I'm more a fan of honeycomb.
KIRA: Nah, I don't like the crunchy bits. So you're from the Starfleet?
SISKO: Yes. Is that going to be a problem?
KIRA: No! I love the Federation! You guys are swell.
SISKO: I just thought you might have a problem with the Provisional Government inviting us.
KIRA: That's no problem for me, I love the Provisional Government, they're doing one heck of a job!
Frankly, I'm surprised that Nana was allowed to get away with changing the script so much because of how incapable she was of acting happy. If I had been a producer on the show, I would have fired her and hired someone that could play the role that she was supposed to, but I guess Rick Berman was a pretty terrible producer.


(I think you'll find that if you actually read the scripts of the scenes where Kira is complaining, you'll find that she's complaining in the scripts too, not just on the screen.)

We'll just have to agree to disagree. For me her character (whomever you want to blame it on) ruined the show to a point that I quit tuning in on a regular basis. I could have absorbed her as a minor or recurring character but not as the XO being featured every episode.

By the time season four rolled around, I wanted them to put Sisko, Dax and Bashir on a starship and leave Kira and the Bajoran non-sense behind.
 
^ That's all well and good as far as your personal opinion is concerned. However, it's not to be confused with anything resembling an objective assessment.

Personally, Kira was one of the characters that interested me the most on DS9 from day one. That is also just an opinion, of course.

Having said that, if you take a glance at online reviews by Tim Lynch, Jammer and Michelle Erika-Green, all of which were being written while the show was on the air, you will see that they are all in agreement that Kira/Visitor is one of the show's strengths starting immediately in season 1.

That's actually blatantly true as most of the best episodes in the first couple of seasons revolve around Kira and, along with Odo and Quark, her character has the most depth and nuance. Your assertion that all she does is complain is merely a sign that something about the actress rubbed you the wrong way to the point that you are not really paying attention to what is happening on the screen. The character evolves more in season 1 than most Trek characters do throughout their entire existence.

It's the Starfleet characters that are flat and uninspired in the first couple of seasons of DS9, O'Brien aside.
 
^ That's all well and good as far as your personal opinion is concerned. However, it's not to be confused with anything resembling an objective assessment.

Hence the "for me" in the previous post. :techman:

Three people who I've never heard of think she's a good actress... guess I gotta rethink my whole position! :lol:
 
Three people who I've never heard of think she's a good actress... guess I gotta rethink my whole position! :lol:

I'm not suggesting you should rethink your position. I'm merely pointing out that three people who've reviewed a lot of Star Trek and whose points of view are, at the very least, well informed, well reasoned and clearly articulated, are in stark disagreement with you :techman:
 
Three people who I've never heard of think she's a good actress... guess I gotta rethink my whole position! :lol:

I'm not suggesting you should rethink your position. I'm merely pointing out that three people who've reviewed a lot of Star Trek and whose points of view are, at the very least, well informed, well reasoned and clearly articulated, are in stark disagreement with you :techman:

I guess I'll live... somehow. :p
 
“Q-Less” *

A runabout returns from the Gamma Quadrant with a familiar face aboard.

:wtf: Well...I have nothing good to say so I have nothing at all to say.

Well perhaps...nah, not even that. This was just pure crap. :barf:
 
“Q-Less” *

A runabout returns from the Gamma Quadrant with a familiar face aboard.

:wtf: Well...I have nothing good to say so I have nothing at all to say.

Well perhaps...nah, not even that. This was just pure crap. :barf:

Yeah, the episode didn't have enough Kira in it. :)
 
"Pugilism! The manly art of self-defense! Marquess of Queensbury Rules!"

Q should have stuck to TNG. His appearances in DS9 and VOY were a bit contrived. I'm surprised noone tried shoehorning him into an episode of ENT.
 
It's the Starfleet characters that are flat and uninspired in the first couple of seasons of DS9, O'Brien aside.

This I agree with. Jadzia Dax was flat, though I prefer that version to the Klingon Party Girl (Warped--you'll see THAT term again in our discussions... ;) ). Bashir...he was just badly acted for the first season. B-movie badly.

Kira, on the other hand, was acted decently from the start.
 
“Q-Less” *

A runabout returns from the Gamma Quadrant with a familiar face aboard.

:wtf: Well...I have nothing good to say so I have nothing at all to say.

Well perhaps...nah, not even that. This was just pure crap. :barf:

I wouldn't call it a complete loss...I did enjoy watching Q get punched in the face. I certainly wouldn't call it that good of an episode, but I was at least able to watch it.
 
“Q-Less” *

A runabout returns from the Gamma Quadrant with a familiar face aboard.

:wtf: Well...I have nothing good to say so I have nothing at all to say.

Well perhaps...nah, not even that. This was just pure crap. :barf:

I'd give it two stars, if only for the moment when Sisko punches Q right in the face, but it's not very good. It's a bit odd, actually, that the writers decided to continue the Q/Vash story, but do it without Picard.
 
It feels like they parachuted TNG characters in just to generate some interest among TNG fans who mighn't be watching DS9.
 
I'd say that's exactly right. Can't entirely blame the producers for hedging their bets, however. There had never been 2 ST series on the air at once, and anything that could convince the viewership of the very successful TNG to tune into DS9 must have made sense. But the very thing that makes DS9 rich and unique is when it doesn't fall back on TNG style stories and characters, so I'm glad they gave up on this approach rather quickly.
 
It's not quite the same thing, because it wasn't just a guest appearance and Worf is the only TNG regular who could fit in on DS9. Worf was the least TNG-like character (of the regulars) on TNG.

By the time Worf shows up, DS9 is well-established, he's not focused on any more than the other characters, and they manage to integrate the Klingons into the tapestry of the series.

I'm not denying that it was stunt casting to bring in ratings, but it could've been worse. They could've brought Troi on to the series, they coudl've had the Klingons show up and have it have nothing to do with paranoia over the Dominion...

... but that's all for the fourth and fifth season. The type of frequent, random TNG guest apperances seen in the first season stop by the second.
 
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