LogFAQs > #934183140

6. Odo
Rrgh.

I think Odo wins the award for most Torn Between Two Worlds character. Its obviously between him, Seven, Spock, and Worf, but with Odo its the entire character, whereas the others all have other stuff going on. Odo also wins the dubious double title of Character Who Uses CGI the Most Often and Character Whose CGI is Most Babylon 5-Tier, but we wont talk about that.

So, Odo. I think the writers had no idea what they were going to do with him when the show started, because I know the decision to make the Founders Changelings happened after like season 2 or 3, and thats why that Vorta chick treats him so disrespectfully in that one episode. Can you imagine another path his character could have taken? Like what if the Founders were just robots or something, and Odo was just part of a random species no one knew about? The show would be a completely different beast.

I guess I should say right off the bat that the entire premise of this character makes no sense. Im fine with a species that hates humanoids and hides itself to avoid them, and Im fine with a species that sends 100 of its babies to explore the galaxy, but you cant be both. But fine, lets move on.

Odo is a really interesting character when it comes to the idea of compromise, I think. The Changelings are completely uncompromising dicks who cant really be reasoned with to a meaningful extent, who engineer their subjects to be ideologically incapable of opposing them, and who are just convinced of their beliefs. Odos sort of the opposite of that, which is what makes him compelling. Hes like I really want to be part of my people and just be normal and whatever, but like, theyre evil douchebags, so I cant, and it forces me to think about the world in a way that I dont want to have to. Man, isnt that a cool idea? Characters who have ethical conflicts that dont involve laser explosions? I guess the Dominion War actually does involve laser explosions, but whatever. The point is, Odo and Worf are the most argh what do I do characters in Star Trek, except with Worf, his code of honor makes him always certain of what he needs to do, whereas with Odo, hes a little more malleable (DO HO HO). Hell work with Quark and maybe overlook a few bad things if it results in some good things, which is really neat.

I like the idea of a species that feels an innate need for order in all things, where one member is like no way jose, my particular manifestation of order demands justice, so I dont really care much for laws. Remember Garrus? Same ****, except you can add a racism angle.

I like how the Changelings are so orderly and dedicated to their superiority that theyre repeatedly willing to compromise everything just for Odos sake. Like they wont call off the war, but theyll make incredibly stupid decisions to win him over or avoid putting him at risk. Like really, youd think the first thing theyd do is kidnap Odo, replace him with another Changeling, and just screw everything up. At least with Sisko you can say well maybe Sisko has really good security, hes an obvious target, but they have like a million opportunities with Odo. Thats great! Its such good implied characterization to their species.

Id also say that Odo is probably the most separate of the cast? Aside from Kira and Quark, there arent a lot of really good character interactions between Odo and someone else. Sure, he occasionally complains to Sisko about something, or asks Chief OBrien about the whatever-o-tron, but about the only thing I can think of like that outside of Kira and Quark is when he butts heads with Worf super early on. Its weird, too, because Odos story is still really woven into the rest of the show.

I think part of what makes Odo work is that hes played by one of the few real actors in Star Trek. Like can you imagine a Tom Paris-tier actor trying to play this ultra-guarded guy feeling half a dozen conflicting emotions at the same time? It would be worst. I think Rene Auberjonois is probably the best actor in Star Trek after Patrick Stewart.

Anyway, Odo. Pretty cool guy.

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Started: July 6, 2005