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No Star Trek Villain Has Ever Topped ‘Deep Space Nine’s Most Sinister Enemy
The very first villain that the crew of the USS Enterprise ever faced, in “The Man Trap,” the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, didn’t even appear to be one, but, at least to Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), looked like his old flame Nancy Crater (Jeanne Bal), where Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Crewman Darnell (Michael Zaslow) see a slightly older Nancy and a completely different woman altogether, respectively. Only it turns out ol’ Nancy is actually a shapeshifting, vampiric creature, one who feeds off of the salt in living beings (and officially kicks off the disposable red-shirt trope).
Ever since, the Star Trek franchise has had more than its share of memorable villains: the Gorn, the Borg, and, of course, the legendary Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). Q (John de Lancie), who plagued the crew of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, is another, although he is more scoundrel than outright villain. But the franchise’s best, and most sinister, villain is from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo). And it’s not even close.
‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Dukat Checks All the Boxes
Dukat is the primary antagonist of the series, appearing in both the first and last episodes, and in 35 out of 176 episodes in total. You simply don’t get mileage out of a villain like that, without falling into parody, unless the villain is imposing, charismatic, and, most importantly, unpredictable. And Dukat checks all the boxes, and more. He’s a large, imposing figure, devoid of color and free of any softness in his visage to speak of, commanding attention from those in the series and from the audience, through disarming charm and chilling terror alike.
Prior to the events of “Emissary,” the series’ first episode, Dukat, a Cardassian, held the title of Legate, akin to Admiral, and stood as the head of the tyrannical government that oversaw their occupation of the planet Bajor and commander of Terok Nor, a Cardassian space station hovering above Bajor. However, after the Bajorans forced the evacuation of Cardassian forces from Bajor, he is not only demoted to Gul (Captain), but cedes Tarok Nor to the Federation, who dub the station Deep Space Nine. Dukat takes the evacuation personally, not the first time challenges to his narcissism dictate his reactions — his obsessive need to change Sisko’s (Avery Brooks) disdain of him into respect is a perfect example.
‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ Used Its Most Iconic Episode To Say Something Much Darker
This is one of the many reasons why it’s considered the best Trek spinoff.
He’s blackmailed the crew of Deep Space Nine, attempting to use the impending self-destruction of the station to gain approval for a Cardassian garrison to be placed on board, a means of reestablishing a Cardassian military presence on the station, eventually allowing for him to regain control. While it didn’t work then, his alignment with the Dominion, and subsequent leadership of it, allowed Dukat to recapture Deep Space Nine, effectively starting the Dominion War, in “Call to Arms.” And, while possessed by a Pah-wraith, he kills beloved character Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) in “Tears of the Prophets,” and aims to kill his own daughter, Tora Ziyal (Cyia Batten) in “Indescretion.” Those acts alone earn Dukat the dubious honor of one of Star Trek‘s great villains.
‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Dukat Is Complex
It’s what sends him to the top of the list that cements Dukat’s status. While entirely self-serving, Dukat has often done “good” things, showing a depth of character that goes beyond the black hat, making him unpredictable and deeply nuanced. He allied himself with Sisko, going behind the back of the Cardassian Central Command to assist in finding the truth behind the bombing of a Cardassian transport, uncovering a conspiracy involving the Maquis and their leader, a rogue Federation officer, in “The Maquis.” He teams up with Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) to take out a Klingon ship that destroyed a Cardassian outpost, before going on a one-man attack against the Klingons. And, instead of killing his daughter, he spares her life, being overcome with affection, and takes her home despite her being a disgraced half-Cardassian/half-Bajoran, standing by his decision, despite it ultimately costing him everything he has.
Yet his most sinister and villainous trait is in believing himself to be a hero. This is revealed in Season 6’s “Waltz,” when Sisko and Dukat find themselves stranded together on a deserted planet. As they talk, he explains that, as leader of the occupying Cardassians on Bajor, he was benevolent and had nothing but goodwill for his people. Yes, Bajorans died under his tyranny, but not as many as under his predecessors, somehow justifying in his own twisted mind that it counts as kindness. He wants Sisko — again — to respect him, but Sisko calls him out for his hypocrisy. Dukat loses it, admitting that he was wrong and should have killed all the Bajorans, who lacked the respect to know how good they had it under him, not even erecting any statues in his honor to recognize his actions. A villain who can’t, or won’t, recognize he’s a villain is the mark of the truly chilling and sinister. As far as true villainy goes, there’s no keeping up with this Cardassian.