Romance and DS9

[HugeLobes]

Except for Uhura and Janeway. (I assume we're not counting DSC?)

I thought I'd said just the TNG era - my mistake on Uhura. As for Janeway, as I mentioned this was all down to Kate Mulgrew. She apparently objected to the idea of Janeway coupling up. Can't find the exact quote, but I think it was to do with her and Chakotay.

Jadzia wasn't with a regular until a year after the new guy showed up in season 4, and Kira wasn't with a regular until the end of season 6. It doesn't seem pressing, unless I'm misunderstanding.

True, but then the Odo thing was building a while, and it took them until season 3/4 to really flesh out Jadzia. I meant more pressing as something that had to happen rather than something that had to happen soon.

Anyway, Odo was the only character to actually have a major love interest. Y'know, Major Kira...ah, I'll show myself out.

You win this dispute, and all subsequent disputes.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

How about putting it this way: DS9 subverted action adventure show tropes by focusing on interpersonal relationships, be they friendships or romances.

 

[Kate Nichols]

Okay, but not all of them end up relationships, right? I'm not saying it's not possible that they'd end up together, only that there doesn't seem to be much of a reason beyond their friendship. I just think each character feels a little weaker after being forced into this odd little relationship. You're basically saying Kira would settle, which doesn't seem very Kira.



That's pretty creepy advice.



Yeah, I don't get this. He seemed pretty good looking (after they got the makeup right). I guess Kira did tend to go for Bajorans.

Well, in DS9 you have Nog, Jake, Quark, and (sort of) Bashir. Of course, Bashir manages to get a long-term love interest as soon as one becomes available. They were fine having him alone, and then 'oh, a new woman in the main cast, must pair her up'.

Also Sisko might get a love interest, but there's no need for her to be a main character or for that plot to become particularly important. You see the same kinda thing on TNG and VOY. Only real exception is Janeway, and only because Mulgrew wisely vetoed the idea of Janeway getting with someone.



Okay, but not all of them end up relationships, right? I'm not saying it's not possible that they'd end up together, only that there doesn't seem to be much of a reason beyond their friendship. I just think each character feels a little weaker after being forced into this odd little relationship. You're basically saying Kira would settle, which doesn't seem very Kira.



That's pretty creepy advice.



Yeah, I don't get this. He seemed pretty good looking (after they got the makeup right). I guess Kira did tend to go for Bajorans.

I don't see why that's creepy advice, that Kira already liked him, as they were already friends, so he's halfway there. A lot of romance does begin with friendship, with familiarity.

 

[kkt]

Where is all this "Odo isn't attractive" stuff coming from anyway? Close-minded solids, all of you.

I don't think it's physical unattractiveness. But Bareil was a prominent Vedic who might have been Kai. Shakar was the head of government of Bajor. Dukat was right - she clearly likes powerful men. Why would she then settle for the head of security? Sure, Odo didn't look as hot as either of them either, however that's a problem he could take care of in a second without any of that pesky exercise and dieting that solids must use.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I always wondered why at the end of Apocalypse Rising, Odo wouldn't ask for a Bajoran face.

 

[Tosk]

I always wondered why at the end of Apocalypse Rising, Odo wouldn't ask for a Bajoran face.

He already has a Bajoran face. Sort of.

 

[HugeLobes]

He already has a Bajoran face. Sort of.

Imagine Bajoran face with Cardassian neck. Hubba hubba.

 

[eschaton]

I don't think it's physical unattractiveness. But Bareil was a prominent Vedic who might have been Kai. Shakar was the head of government of Bajor. Dukat was right - she clearly likes powerful men. Why would she then settle for the head of security? Sure, Odo didn't look as hot as either of them either, however that's a problem he could take care of in a second without any of that pesky exercise and dieting that solids must use.

Odo is far more interesting than either one of them though. Bareil in particular.

This is a general problem that Berman-era Trek had regarding romantic interests for female characters. They generally came across as pretty damn boring, and sometimes outright creepy.

 

[Nakita Akita]

I think Kira and Sisko would have been a totally hot relationship. The first time I watched the series l, I kept expecting that to happen.
But then again Sisko is almost a hot as Picard in my book so there is a slight possibility that I was projecting myself into the scheme.

 

[CorporalClegg]

If there's one universal truth about Star Trek it's that it sucks at adult romantic relationships. (Heres hoping they don't blow it with Stulber.)

That said, Ezri/Jake was really the only relationship the show ever presented worth exploring and it was a total non-starter.

 

[Armus]

Odo is far more interesting than either one of them though. Bareil in particular.

This is a general problem that Berman-era Trek had regarding romantic interests for female characters. They generally came across as pretty damn boring, and sometimes outright creepy.

The guy Dax fell for in Meridian was the most forgettable of them all, and wasn't she going to leave the station to be with him after only knowing him for what 30 minutes?

 

[Kilana2]

Funny thing is that Nog was even clumsier around women than his father Rom. And Rom got Leeta in the end. Quite endearing couple. Leeter and Bashir was always odd for me. And Bashir and Sarina? Bashir jumped the gun on her.
Also cute: Moogie and Zek!

 

[Kate Nichols]

I thought that Bareil was a good-looking man, and romantic, too. But, did we really know what Kira wanted in life as far as relationship. Was she content with a good relationship with a man that was all about the present, with no end game, or did she want marriage and children. In the end, she didn't want Odo to leave her . . . . but maybe he left her because he couldn't give her children.

 

[Kilana2]

Yes, Bareil was good-looking, but boring. I don't think that Kira considered to have children anytime soon. At least during the run of the show. True, she gave birth to Kirayoshi, but it was Keiko's child. As to Shakaar: I can't fancy him as father, either.

 

[eschaton]

If there's one universal truth about Star Trek it's that it sucks at adult romantic relationships. (Heres hoping they don't blow it with Stulber.)

Miles and Keiko were a very realistic portrayal of how marriages actually work IMHO. Certainly not a romance for the ages, but few are once you settle down and have kids. Thus I think it goes down as the "adult Trek" relationship.

Yes, Bareil was good-looking, but boring. I don't think that Kira considered to have children anytime soon. At least during the run of the show. True, she gave birth to Kirayoshi, but it was Keiko's child. As to Shakaar: I can't fancy him as father, either.

IIRC one of the first decisions Ira Steven Behr made when he took over DS9 in Season 3 was to kill Bareil. He just didn't think the romance was working. Berman tried to argue him out of it, but Behr was insistent.

 

[kkt]

I think the Bareil romance could have worked but it would have been an uphill job. Not a great loss cutting the character. Not really a fan of the way he went, though. Bashir as Dr. Frankenstein-wannabe.

 

[Greg Cox]

I always found Bareill boring.

 

[SolarisOne]

Where is all this "Odo isn't attractive" stuff coming from anyway? Close-minded solids, all of you.

You see, this, this is why the Changelings decided to impose order on the Alpha Quadrant!

 

[Kilana2]

I always found Bareill boring.

Yep. He even was boring as Mirror version. No mean feat!

 

[Nyotarules]

I wish Bareil had more edge and took Kai Winn on instead of being docile about her leadership, even knowing she was not good for Bajor.