Best Star Trek: DS9 Antagonists

[Lord Pendragon]

It's interesting to note that Gul Dukat's great weakness is also self-delusion. He thinks of himself as a noble protector. He doesn't understand why the Bajorans don't love him, since he only subjected them to mild atrocity and genocide, as opposed to the much more severe treatment he could have given them.

Throughout the series it's his defining characteristic. The idea that he's the good guy. It allows him to do some truly terrible things.

 

[Darthjaye]

It's interesting to note that Gul Dukat's great weakness is also self-delusion. He thinks of himself as a noble protector. He doesn't understand why the Bajorans don't love him, since he only subjected them to mild atrocity and genocide, as opposed to the much more severe treatment he could have given them.

Throughout the series it's his defining characteristic. The idea that he's the good guy. It allows him to do some truly terrible things.

He was often quoted as calling them a "soft" people. I really think he believed he was toughening them up for their own good and that their eventual "liberation" was even a sign of his progress with them. I think maybe, in his screwed up mind, he was their saviour from ignorance.

 

[Aesthetic Monk]

I voted Jem'Hadar, but really there should have been an option for the Dominion as a whole.

The reason I say that is because what truly made the Dominion the best post-TOS big bad in the entire trekiverse was the interesting relationships between the big three: Vorta, Jem'Hadar and Changelings.

Those three races and their relationship to each other truly made the Dominion something frightening: an anti-Federation.

Chuck

This sums up my general feelings rather well.

I'd also say that what made DS9 great and arguably the best of the 5 series top-to-bottom (and certainly, from my POV, the best of the 4 sequel series) was the plethora of recurring characters and elements. I really could've made a case for most any of the characters on the list.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

He was often quoted as calling them a "soft" people. I really think he believed he was toughening them up for their own good and that their eventual "liberation" was even a sign of his progress with them. I think maybe, in his screwed up mind, he was their saviour from ignorance.

You make a good point. And of course, this belief opens him up nicely for the Pah Wraiths.

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

Gul Dukat wins. Nobody else even came close.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Gul Dukat is one of my favorite villians of all time across tv, movies, books, etc. His constant assertation that he was always being too kind and how he saw them as his children just made all the evil he did even more pronounced. Then, you would see some good, like his devition to his daughter (who he was origionally going to kill!), and you'd think maybe he isn't so bad, but then he would do something evil again, and you'd have to admit that he got you. Plus, his voice just fits the role so very well, the actor was great in the part.

I've always wanted to add a D&D villian who emulates certain aspects of him.

 

[Welverin]

I'm curious. Did you watch the entire series? If so, you should also remember a few good episodes centered on Wynn and Major Kira that illustrated the complexity of the Wynn character. Borial's lover and Sisko's trusted ally, Major Kira at first believes Kai Wynn is the embodiment of evil. But she is forced to consider the possibility that Wynn is not so easily labeled.

I did watch the whole series, with an exception here or there since I was watching via Spike. I admit my memory isn't the best adn my perceptions my have ended up being overly influenced by what comes later.

I've been thinking of watching it over again once I'm done rewatching Buffy, though I could watch selected episodes if you have some suggestions. I know her first appearance would be the place to start.

 

[Orius]

Hmm, the Jem'Hadar were great antagonists, but I never really saw them on the same level as some of the other villains presented here. For one, they very rarely acted on their own, but rather nearly always acted upon the wishes of the Founders. They were basically lackeys, and in many ways had little choice either, since they were created to kill and obey.

As for the Breen, I'm not really sure what their motivations were, since they were always presented as a mystery of sorts, but I don't think they cared one way or other about the Federation. I think they were more interested in attacking the Romulans, there were occasional hints in the show that seemed to indicate that the two didn't like each other very much.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I've been thinking of watching it over again once I'm done rewatching Buffy, though I could watch selected episodes if you have some suggestions. I know her first appearance would be the place to start.

I'm afraid I can't help you there. I do not yet have the series on DVD myself, though I very much want it.

 

[Welverin]

I'm afraid I can't help you there. I do not yet have the series on DVD myself, though I very much want it.

First off, you don't need the dvds to make suggestions, episode guides can help there (tv.com seems to be a good one place stop).

Secondly, you may be interested to know that the price on the dvd sets for DS9 and TNG have bee dropping. They've gone down to ~$55 per season, DS9 is up to season five, with TNG a season or two ahead, and a new season dropping every few months or so. I've seen them at Walz Mart and Amazon, haven't seen them at all at Best Buy or Ciruit City, and haven't looked elsewhere.

If you're o.k. getting things used, you should be able to find them even cheaper.