Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's history?

[Norrin Radd]

I don't think there was ever a series regular who was better at straddling the line between good and evil or maintaining an unending aura of mystery.

You liked Garak, but you never trusted Garak.

One moment he's playing a hero, the next he's playing a villain...but always with an enigmatic grin...

 

[LutherSloan]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

Yes, also because his background is ambiguous.

 

[MyCylon]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I agree that he was one of the most fascinating characters. On the one hand, there is this intelligent, polite and even almost gentle character. Yet there is also his past, a past full of cruelty, deceipt and torture, no less. And I just get a perverse delight out of seeing somebody like that having breakfast with the rather naive (in the beginning, anyway) Dr. Bashir.

In addition, you have his betrayal by his own father, his 'redemption' which puts him in the place of having to torture Odo (and see the pain it gives Garak himself), his true redemption in the eyes of his father, his siding with the Federation against his home, and, when the fight is done, the ultimate discovery that his beloved Cardassia has all but destroyed.

So throughout the show you can both hate and love this guy, wish the worst upon him and feel sad for him in the end.

Fortunately, they found somebody like Andrew Robinson who brought the talent, the charme and the charisma needed to pull it all off.

 

[Michael]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I got to say yes, he's definitely one of the most fascinating characters. Just look at my signature for further evidence ...

 

[Starkers]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

Its a toss up between Garak and Damar-- Thug to murderer to political leader to drunk to hero...

 

[MorganScorpion]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

Garak is the most fascinating character in all of Trek. In fact, I found it very difficult to get interested in episodes that didn't have him in it.

I think Garak was a person who always tried to do what was right, according to the standards by which he was raised. When he began to feel that his standards were wrong, he felt pain, and changed them. It is a sorrow and a shame that it was doing the RIGHT thing (turning against the Dominion) that brought ruin upon Cardassia, rather than doing the wrong thing (Invading Bajor).

I would have loved to see Garak's contribution to rebuilding Cardassia, and felt it a great shame that his story ended where it did. Still, there are always the novels.

 

[trevanian]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

In 24th century, probably. Very Kerr Avon at times, if anybody remembers BLAKE'S SEVEN. Either him or Barclay (how do you get a throwback like Barclay given the way century 24 is shown?), though in terms of admiration, I gotta go with Eddington, who if you had a character focus like RESCUE ME could have become that fascinating.

Up until the last 1-1/2 of ds9, I think Dukat would've been up there too, but they started jerking his character around too much to make him fit what they needed for the story to end, and I think they turned him from an interesting antagonist into plot taffy.

I remember thinking that the ideal trek series would have kept Dukat on that little freighter he stole, but crew him up with the odd or interesting characters from that time, like Yar's sister. Then again, I've always thought Kirk & co should have finished up their years on that stolen Bird of Prey too ... I'd always prefer to see a show that has folks operating without the umbrella of an organization to direct and protect them.

 

[Too Much Fun]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I don't know, it seems to me (especially based on things said in this thread) that it's Garek's backstory that's more interesting than the character itself. Personally I find myself having difficulty tolerating him most of the time and I go back and forth between thinking he's cool and unbearably irritating. He's just so smug and relentlessly talkative and like so many Star Trek characters for some reason (i.e Neelix, the doctor on Enterprise, and the doctor on Voyager), he has a very mannered way of speaking that gets grating very quickly. I enjoy some of his interactions with Bashir, but his constant criticism of everyone and preoccupation with talking about how great he is gets on my nerves. The fact that he's a tailor with a history as an assassin does make him mysterious and interesting, but his personality can be insufferable.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I disagree about his personality--it's quite chilling.

The backstory is interesting, too, but the thing that I find most fascinating--and frightening--about him is that somebody that lacking in a moral center keeps getting ahead, keeps being "rewarded" for his behavior by survival and success. That very notion is so opposite to what Trek is usually about that it makes a startling contrast...and one that I think was perfect for Deep Space Nine.

 

[Jeri]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I love Garak; but Spock is the most fascinating character in Star Trek history.

 

[plynch]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I don't think there was ever a series regular who was better at straddling the line between good and evil or maintaining an unending aura of mystery.

You liked Garak, but you never trusted Garak.

One moment he's playing a hero, the next he's playing a villain...but always with an enigmatic grin...

Is he the most nuanced, fascinating? Yes, hands down. Spock as played by the great Nimoy a close second. IMO

 

[plynch]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I disagree about his personality--it's quite chilling.

The backstory is interesting, too, but the thing that I find most fascinating--and frightening--about him is that somebody that lacking in a moral center keeps getting ahead, keeps being "rewarded" for his behavior by survival and success. That very notion is so opposite to what Trek is usually about that it makes a startling contrast...and one that I think was perfect for Deep Space Nine.

I THINK he loves the Cardassians and the Cardasssian state pre-Dominion. His guilt at hurting his own people drives him crazy early in season 7. It seems authentic.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I remember thinking that the ideal trek series would have kept Dukat on that little freighter he stole, but crew him up with the odd or interesting characters from that time, like Yar's sister.

Great idea!

In fact, they should have just kept it that way for the rest of DS9.

 

[plynch]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

Its a toss up between Garak and Damar-- Thug to murderer to political leader to drunk to hero...

Garak pre-pagh wraiths: great character who believes he did good in helping Bajorans under his state's yoke. Forced to be a tyrant, in his mind. Damar is very under-rated. Your thug to murder line sounds like Capone, Hitler, Saddam. Very authentic character when you think about dictators and their lives.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

plynch--I think you've got Garak confused with Dukat.

 

[Tachyon]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

He is definitely one of the most fascinating ones. I am a HUGE Garak fan. And I mean HUGE.

 

[Starbreaker]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I don't know... I might think so if I were to sit down and watch a bunch of Garak episodes. I've always been fascinated with Worf, but it has been 10+ years since I've been into Trek now.

 

[Piper]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

It's either Garak or Harry Kim, I can never decide between the two.

 

[dreadpiraterose]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

I don't think there was ever a series regular who was better at straddling the line between good and evil or maintaining an unending aura of mystery.

You liked Garak, but you never trusted Garak.

One moment he's playing a hero, the next he's playing a villain...but always with an enigmatic grin...

Garak is by far one of my personal favorite characters, and in my not-so-humble-opinion, one of the most well written characters in all of Trek.

 

[Astraea]

Re: Is Elim Garak the MOST FASCINATING character in Star Trek's histor

It's either Garak or Harry Kim, I can never decide between the two.

Don't you mean Harry Kim or Travis Mayweather?

I think that Garak is the best Trek character ever. And he's certainly got nearly all the best lines.

*insert plug for A Stitch in Time and the other DS9R novels here*