Is Kira the Most Badass First Officer? - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Subspace Transmissions

The crew of Subspace Transmissions ask: what strong leadership qualities differentiate Major Kira from fellow second-in-commands like Riker and Chakotay?

[CoolsBreeze]

I loved her character development, she was always strong through her time as a rebel fighter. But in the beginning she was more erratic, and towards the end she became stronger, focussed and more capable leader.

[TheSaoMagnifico]

"Duet" was the first great Kira episode, of course, back toward the end of season 1.

[TheChristianaut]

Kira may not have gone to therapy, but she had an amazing transformational moment in the first season when she confessed to Kai Opaka that she was afraid the Prophets wouldn't forgive her for her past. Opaka tells her that the Prophets are just waiting for her to forgive herself, and Kira just totally breaks. Opaka instructs Kira not to deny the violence within her, but, rather, incorporate it into her identity and acknowledge that it is part of what makes her Kira. It's a really emotional moment, and, for me, the moment where Kira's character really begins to gel. "That's not who I am, " she says, and Opaka deftly points out that it is precisely who Kira is. It's certainly the Kira we've seen up to this point. Opaka's advice leads her to accept that and gives her permission to open up and let others know her for who she is. She grew more in that five minutes than she would have with years of therapy, and it played out well in the rest of the season, particularly the great character growth she showed in "Progress, " "Duet, " and "In the Hands of the Prophets."

[contrafax]

I loved Nerys' character arc. So not a two dimensional character. While she was tough as hell she never seemed to let her horrible experiences turn her cold or bitter. I loved her development.

[dralberthofmann]

Kira was *a* leader in the Shakaar resistance cell during the occupation but of course *the* leader was Shakaar Edon.

BTW did you know the original idea was that Ro Laren was being developed on TNG for this role? I'm glad how everything worked out but I wish they had told us more about Ro's story in DS9.

[unboxings]

you know kira and bashir were married in real life

[Xaviar_St.Thomas]

Well done and well thought out analysis.

[kazekage]

Man, Kira Nerys was such a good portray of what a true strong, heroic, independent female character is.
Yes, she was a complete badass. One of the most capable character on the show, who kicked everyones ass from Quark to to Dukat, hell even Sisko got a taste of Kira's sharp temper from time to time. But, she also had flaws, she was rude and xenophobic, especially during the first few seasons. Too often she saw the world in terms of black/white, Bajorans good, aliens bad, and that caused her to sometimes make mistakes, like her initial support of Wynn.

But despite her flaws, you know that deep down inside she's a really good person. You understand that her flaws are just a result of her very unfortunate childhood. She had been a child soldier who had suffered through atrocity after atrocity at the hands of the Cardassians. All she had known her whole life was pain and conflict.

And throughout DS9 7 seasons Kira learns to overcome her past. She learns to open up to the Federation and to accepting help from others. She learns to trust and be vulnerable. Hell, in the end, she even learns to put aside her hatred for the Cardassians and help Damar's uprising against the Dominion.
In the end, Kira is a role model character, and I loved her. In my opinion she's absolutely better than Riker, though perhaps not Spock only because he really was the perfect foil to Kirk.

[voyager]

Kira is one lady you didn't want to mess with! If she was your ally, you could take to the bank she had your back! If she was your enemy, you might want to keep one eye open when sleeping!!!! For a lady who could be elegant at times, she could fight you, hand to hand, where you thought you were in the ring with Joe Louis and Mike Tyson, COMBINED!! Case in point: the pure beat down she put on Damar, where Damar didn't even get in a single lick! It was ALL Kira Nerys and he was left unconscious and in a great deal of pain and humiliation!!!!

[chrisconlin]

I’m detecting a sub space oscillation, what the hell does that mean!

[WHALEDOGS]

Kira was No match for Mareel in invasion procedures

[grahamharper]

What about Spock, he has had badass moments and he is 3 times stronger than Kira.

[teddykgb]

Badass??? You forget Kira got her ass kick by Mareel in invasion procedures. Even Kira got the first shot in, than Mareel gave poor Kira a beatdown. After that Kira wanted no part of Mareel.

[harrukuehn]

Kira is spiritual first and foremost; Sisko is the emissary of the prophets so meaningful relationship was going to happen. The Domion War changed everything and everyone. Kerala no longer saw the federation like the Kardashians who were oppressors. That more than anything changed the dynamics in her relationships.

[manwaiko]

Kira Nerys first Command and Controls her Command she was
Not do that fellow Order no right
and she always She things to do
So you need to control behavior?

[rollerbladinggeek]

wait... you know it's not real right? and it was made around 20 years ago?

[veljkostevanovic]

How the hell Kira, a Bajoran guerilla, knows how to command or even be a useful crewmember of the Defiant or even a runabout having no prior starfleet training, and why is she even allowed to do it since she is not a starfleet member?

[dwolfg]

No, I'm sorry but Kira was among the worst 1st officers in ST lore. As a 1st officer your duty is to enforce the captains orders as it pertains to all star fleet laws and lawful orders, while protecting the crew from unreasonable risk. Time and time again the spiritual demands of her home planet ran contrary to the duties of a first officer. She always chose Bajor over the general welfare of the alpha quadrant. But that is part of what makes DS9 unique, the dual priorities between the federation of planets and Bajor, which controls the only real estate that matters in the ds9 universe.

[yup]

She was my least favorite character in any star trek series.