It’s hard to imagineStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewithout Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), but the original plan forStar Trek: Deep Space NinefeaturedStar Trek: The Next Generation’s Ensign Ro Laren(Michelle Forbes) as the station’s Bajoran First Officer. Because Forbes turned down the role as a series regular in the newStar Trekshow,Star Trekwriters needed to create a brand-new character to be First Officer to Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). The result was Kira Nerys, a Major in the Bajoran Militia who also served as the station’s liaison to Bajor.
In thefirst few episodes ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, it’s clear that Major Kira’s role was originally supposed to go to Ensign Ro. Kira’s longer hairstyle inDeep Space Nine’s premiere episode, “Emissary”, seems to be modeled after Ro’s. Kira being so antagonistic and cynical towards Starfleet, and Sisko in particular, makes a lot more sense when you consider she was supposed to be Ro all along.Kira changed over the course ofDS9, and it’s likely Ro would have undergone a similar evolution, but I have to wonder what that original show would have been like.
Here’s One Potential Way Ro Laren’s DS9 Story Could Go
In an alternate timeline,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s First Officer was Ro Laren instead of Major Kira Nerys. With two leads in Starfleet, this version ofDS9focuses on its Starfleet characters, making it a lot more like otherStar Trekshows. The Bajoran Militia doesn’t have a command-level presence on the station, which makes Bajor’s provisional government regard Starfleet with suspicion.Ro tries to bridge the gap as Starfleet’s Bajoran liaison,but keeps getting caught between loyalty to her own people and the fact that she ran away to Starfleet instead of fighting for the Resistance.
Constable Odo’s (Rene Auberjonois) story requires Odo to be devoted to “the solids”, but without Major Kira inDS9, Odo needing a different love interest could mean Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) has a much bigger part in the alternate reality’sDS9.
In this alternateStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, Ro Laren’s character arc reconciles her Starfleet career with her Bajoran roots. Intriguingly,Ro finds purpose in Starfleet espionage and peace in the Bajoran faith. Like inStar Trek: The Next Generation, Ro is tempted by the Maquis, but helps take down Michael Eddington (Kenneth Mitchell) as Sisko’s woman on the inside instead of joining them. DuringDS9’s Dominion War, Section 31 recruits Lieutenant Ro instead of Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig). Ro’s shaky faith is renewed simply by being closer to Bajor and the Prophets.
Why Major Kira Was A Better Character For Star Trek: DS9 Than Ro Laren
Kira Being A New Character Gave DS9 A Proud Advocate For Bajor
Major Kira was a much better character forStar Trek: Deep Space Ninethan Ro Laren, becauseDS9’s writers created Kira Nerys to fit the story they wanted to tell aboutSisko’s mission to bring Bajor into the Federation. Ro revealed inStar Trek: The Next Generationthat her childhood in the Bajoran diaspora made her ashamed of being Bajoran—but Kira never left Bajor, and Nerys was proud of fighting in the Bajoran Resistance.Kira’s strong faith in her people and clear motive to protect Bajor made her an advocate for Bajor’s independence, and a great foil for Sisko.
TNGseason 5, episode 3
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“Cause And Effect”
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“Preemptive Strike”
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Chances are Ro Laren would have enjoyed a transformative character arc inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, becauseall ofDS9’s charactersunderwent huge changes over the show’s seven seasons. Kira Nerys softened over time, but never lost her fighting spirit or her faith.Ro’s cynicism and doubt about Starfleet’s effectiveness probably would have melted away beforeDS9’s ending, especially if Deep Space Nine’s mix of Starfleet officers and alien characters welcomed Ro with open arms. Ultimately, there’s no way to know just how differentStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewould have been with Ro Laren instead of Kira Nerys.
