RAR DS9, RAAAAR!

[lonespark]

This post is ranting about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, espcecially season 7. If you fear spoilers, don't read it. I'm just going on the assumption that people who read here have all seen DS9 12 times, like me.




On the subject of Garak and Bashir, and the fact that TBTB "broke them up," my rage comes not only from the fact that it was done because "OMG queer viewers might get to see themselves in the allegedly perfected future! Hide the children! Release the hounnds!" which is BIGOTED and HORRIBLE, you STUPID, BIGOTED JACKASSES... at least as much of my rage derives from the total lack of respect it showed to the characters and story. There's quite a lot of that in the last season, and it's pretty much all mysogynistic. It stands in marked contrast to earlier seasons that sucked, but just sucked due to generic weakness of characters and plots all around.

So Ziyal. Some fans hate her, and I used to think I did. But she was so cool and interesting when she was introduced, so how could I really... Nah, I don't hate Ziyal. I hate the way she was used, largely as a Random Female So-Called Love Interest to wedge in between Garak and Bashir, sort of. Her other storylines are decent, if still largely afterthoughts and accessories to the endless Moral and Sanity and Watchability Event Horizon-Crossing of late-series Dukat.

Garak and Ziyal really don't have any romantic chemistry. And we could say this is because he's damn near old enough to be her grandfather, but that isn't necessarily so. It does say something pretty icky that two guys who like each other and have great chemistry are OMG Hide the Children and some guy and a young woman realistically young enough to be his granddaughter are Totally Ok, Bring All the Kids and Their Popcorn. Yuck and screw you, TPTB.

I'm trying to think if I've read Garak/Ziyal fic that sold me on a romantic partnership. It could work, certainly but not as Troo Luv. Mainly there would be AAAAAANNGSSTT. And plotting, and variations on truth...it could be hot, though. An important factor would be interactions with Bashir. Woo fun. Now I wish to go read more fic of this type. But on the show, people's motivations were not allowed to interfere with the need to keep the male action figures at a safe distance.

I have at least twice as much rant on the subject, but that's all for today.

Comments

[ladydrace]

I actually read a fic once where Garak ended up sleeping with Ziyal, simply because she kept pushing and he was simply too desperate for some loving company that he ended up giving in. It was very well done (and had some G/B in it, or I probably wouldn't have touched it) and was actually believable.

It's all down to the writing I guess.

But I agree with you. Ziyal is totally likable, which I did not expect at all. Ezri on the other hand. Holy wow, I despise her!

[lonespark]

Yeah, the second half of this post was gonna be about Ezri, but it was getting long, so there will probably be a sequel. Ezri is another character who could be ok except for the way she's crammed into a certain role. People in space could use lots of counseling, I'm sure, but in Star Trek it's all Girls getting you to talk about your FEEEEELINGS and gaaaaaah. My dad is a counselor, so it kind of makes me doubly pissed.

[lonespark]

I do find her annoying, but no more so than, say, Nog early on.