Rom Appreciation Thread

[Weyoun 251]

I know it is a trivial as anything reason to start a thread but dammit if I don't just love Rom!

He is so sweet - I am just finishing up watching The Assignment and the way he is with his new work mates, the awkwardness, the social anxiety, the pride in getting the recognition he deserves, the potential signs of neurodiversity (maybe Aspergers/ADHD?)

He just feels so relatable, such a great character - especially the way he interacts with O'Brien, Quark, and then in the Occupation 2 - Electric Boogaloo arc with Kira and Odo

He also has the co-champion position as best father in Trek alongside Sisko.

I just love the guy and feel he needs the love from all of us

 

[Ragitsu]

The more I think on it, the more I realize that Rom is my favorite DS9 character.

 

[kkt]

He's got a pretty great character arc too, idiot brother with zero self esteem or respect from anybody, to Ferengi head of state.

 

[NCC-73515]

He alone pretty much won the war

 

[kkt]

With a little help from Garak

 

[Vger23]

Rom was good. I appreciate him.

 

[Ragitsu]

He alone pretty much won the war

While he was thinking of space toilets, to boot.

 

[Amaris]

Rom is a good comrade.

 

[Weyoun 251]

He's got a pretty great character arc too, idiot brother with zero self esteem or respect from anybody, to Ferengi head of state.

I know it was maybe not the writers intention due to awareness at the time not being common but that idiot brother to maverick engineer arc is a perfect example of how someone who is not neurotypical can be misunderstood or demeaned (by the other characters, not by you) until they find their place in the world and are "suddenly" near genius levels

 

[kkt]

I think the writers had a pretty good idea what they were doing. Rom suffered emotional abuse from his father and from Quark. Someone freeing themselves from that in adulthood is not really a new idea. Non neurotypical people had several diagnoses that could apply to them back to the early 1900s.

 

[Orphalesion]

Oh Rom!!

I like Rom! I really liked that with Rom and Nog went away from that patronizing notion that Berman Trek had that people must conform the culture they were randomly born in and are supposedly happier if they do.
Rom's strengths came exactly from how different to the "standard Ferengi" he was. And once he discovered that those aspects of him that were considered "weaknesses" in mainstream Ferengi society were actually his strengths he thrived.
Also his relationship with Leeta was just delightful.

 

[Trekker09]

Rom was a lovable character almost all through the series, the perfect foil to Quark.
Wish they’d done more on his first wife Prinadora, she was supposed to appear in a sixth season episode.
I loved the fact that Max Grodenchik played semi-professional baseball and, before becoming an actor, considered going pro….despite how clueless he looked in “Take me out to the holosuite.”

 

[Tupperfan]

Rom not only saved the Federation with his mine field, he also got the only RBI in the ballgame against the Logicians. The guy's a true hero!

On that subject:

I loved the fact that Max Grodenchik played semi-professional baseball and, before becoming an actor, considered going pro….despite how clueless he looked in “Take me out to the holosuite.”

Apparently, it was so hard for him to pretend to be this bad that he had to switch hands and play as a lefty (Source)!

 

[Oddish]

Interesting... I never saw Rom as an ASD poster child, i more saw Data, Barclay, and Tilly there. But on closer examination, he does fit the part: mechanical genius, socially awkward, and often regarded as stupid (I can't tell you how many times I got called "retard" as a kid). So kudos on some good insights.

 

[Weyoun 251]

I think the writers had a pretty good idea what they were doing. Rom suffered emotional abuse from his father and from Quark. Someone freeing themselves from that in adulthood is not really a new idea. Non neurotypical people had several diagnoses that could apply to them back to the early 1900s.

Could be a US v UK thing - the US tapped into the importance of therapy and society was actively identifying these sorts of things by then but it felt like the UK lagged behind somewhat and it was still "well that kid is just some dumb shit" so I may be coming at it more harshly in terms of not expecting the writers to know or care overtly about these sorts of things

 

[Captain pl1ngpl0ng]

RM

 

[Ragitsu]

If he had followed in his brother's footsteps, would he have been a CD-ROM?

 

[Trekker09]

If he had followed in his brother's footsteps, would he have been a CD-ROM?

I'm surprised no one has chosen the seasonal name "egg NOG"

 

[kkt]

I'm surprised no one has chosen the seasonal name "egg NOG"

(facepalm)

 

[Weyoun 251]

If he had followed in his brother's footsteps, would he have been a CD-ROM?

I'm surprised no one has chosen the seasonal name "egg NOG"

I love you both so much!

Also @trekker - I've not seen a First Noel Wells either which seems like a missed opportunity