Romance and DS9

[JirinPanthosa]

Kira didn't have any romantic feelings to Odo during Heart of Stone, but she found out about Odo's feelings for her in Children of Time. The idea had a year to gestate in her brain before they got together romantically.

If attractiveness was an issue, she can't not have thought about Odo's ability to take any shape.

A lot of TV shows and movies apply double standards where attractive females are allowed to get together with unattractive males because personality and friendship is more important but you never see it the other way around, an attractive man with an unattractive woman, no matter how nice she is. In real life, some people compromise but there's always at least a little bit of physical chemistry.

 

[Tosk]

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

 

[Bad Thoughts]

How many male characters went without a love interest?

Actually, the show emphasized men needing relationships with women--Jake worrying about his dad, Bashir wondering if his chance will ever come, Quark believing Dax could be the one--whereas women get to enjoy multiple relationships with men and women.

 

[Armus]

Bashir and Melora, Quark and Natima, Sisko and Cassidy were my favorite romances. Odo and Kira had a strong platonic friendship in the first 2 seasons so it was hard for me to accept their romance. Jadzia became too obnoxious in season 4 for me to enjoy her romance with Worf, although I think they were well matched.

 

[Kilana2]

Worf and Jadzia were a better couple than Worf and Deanna. Jadzia respected most of the Klingon customs, was physically stronger and was able to stand up to Lady Sirella. Deanna might be mentally strong, but she was too gentle. For me they were just close friends. And Worf saw mostly Jadzia in Ezri when they were together. But Worf still is an unlucky person: he keeps on losing strong partners, even in the novelverse.

 

[Armus]

Worf and Jadzia were a better couple than Worf and Deanna. Jadzia respected most of the Klingon customs, was physically stronger and was able to stand up to Lady Sirella. Deanna might be mentally strong, but she was too gentle. For me they were just close friends. And Worf saw mostly Jadzia in Ezri when they were together. But Worf still is an unlucky person: he keeps on losing strong partners, even in the novelverse.

Agreed. Worf is a Klingon and he needs a woman who can play rough, bite, and give and take a few bruises. Clearly, in that department, Jadzia was a better match than Deanna.

 

[HugeLobes]

How many male characters went without a love interest?

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.

As a woman with many girlfriends, from the types who only desire from life to be wife and mother to strong, independent career types, I can tell you that even the career types want to be in a relationship, and yes, even a husband.

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.

She already likes you; you're halfway there.

That's pretty creepy advice.

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

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.

 

[HugeLobes]

Agreed. Worf is a Klingon and he needs a woman who can play rough, bite, and give and take a few bruises. Clearly, in that department, Jadzia was a better match than Deanna.

Same. I think the writers probably just needed a storyline for Troi, and this was the best (or easiest) thing they came up with.

 

[Armus]

Same. I think the writers probably just needed a storyline for Troi, and this was the best (or easiest) thing they came up with.

Exactly. It was an example of the character disservice of post-Micheal Piller TNG.

 

[Kilana2]

Odo was a bit gruff sometimes, especially when dealing with Quark. But he was always one of my favorite Trek characters. And with Kira he had more chemistry than Kira had with Bareil. Kira had only few scenes with Shakaar to judge this relationship properly. They were both in the resistance, therefore had common ground.
I loved how Odo and Kira were comfortable with Vic Fontaine. Odo in a tuxedo was good-looking, not only for Nerys. So I can't understand the Odo-isn't-attractive-opinion either.

 

[HugeLobes]

Odo was a bit gruff sometimes, especially when dealing with Quark. But he was always one of my favorite Trek characters. And with Kira he had more chemistry than Kira had with Bareil. Kira had only few scenes with Shakaar to judge this relationship properly. They were both in the resistance, therefore had common ground.

I guess chemistry is always going to be a little in the eye of the beholder. Ultimately, I just feel the friendship worked better than the relationshipand that there just wasn't much of a need to make them a couple.

 

[Kilana2]

I guess chemistry is always going to be a little in the eye of the beholder. Ultimately, I just feel the friendship worked better than the relationshipand that there just wasn't much of a need to make them a couple.

I guess you're right considering that Odo left Kira behind and returned to his people. Both Kira and Odo are still characters I'd like to read more about, though. Even without them being a couple.

 

[HugeLobes]

I guess you're right considering that Odo left Kira behind and returned to his people. Both Kira and Odo are still characters I'd like to read more about, though. Even without them being a couple.

They're my number one and two Trek characters. Not sure which is which though :/

 

[Kilana2]

They're my number one and two Trek characters. Not sure which is which though :/

Depends on the scenes they have - separately or together. Often it is a question of how well written the story is. DS9 has very few really bad episodes as opposed to other Trek shows.

 

[eschaton]

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'.

Jake got occasional flings, as did Quark. Nog never got anything worth mentioning, since he was terrible with women. Bashir dated Leeta tor two seasons, though we didn't really much of her during this time period (she was only onscreen five times up until they broke up, then 11 more times after).

I maintain the series made a terrible mistake not having Quark in a substantive romance. Jadzia would have been very interesting. They had chemistry together, even if they by conventional standards would have been an odd couple. But the big reason why it would have worked is it would have allowed for character growth in Quark - having to figure out how to deal with a relationship with an assertive woman who wasn't willing to stop wearing clothes and working.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

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

Hormones are always more close minded than brains.

 

[HugeLobes]

Jake got occasional flings, as did Quark. Nog never got anything worth mentioning, since he was terrible with women. Bashir dated Leeta tor two seasons, though we didn't really much of her during this time period (she was only onscreen five times up until they broke up, then 11 more times after).

Sure, but flings and short-term relationships are different, especially when they aren't with main characters.

 

[Tosk]

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.

There are just as many male characters who romance a main cast member as there are female ones. Worf is with three regulars.

 

[HugeLobes]

There are just as many male characters who romance a main cast member as there are female ones. Worf is with three regulars.

That's one way to look at it. The other way is that every female lead apparently needed a major love interest. It just doesn't seem like such a pressing issue with the guys, although obviously that might be because there aren't quite as many.

 

[Tosk]

That's one way to look at it. The other way is that every female lead apparently needed a major love interest.

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

It just doesn't seem like such a pressing issue with the guys

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.

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