okay but like the fact that ds9 EXPLICITLY and textually confronts garak's past and present crimes while only giving us the very beginning of a possible redemption arc is actually so important. we get his full face turn when he starts working with starfleet, and it's solidified when he joins Damar's rebellion, but he has not touched the stars nor is he forgiven, which brings us back to the hero's shoulders and the gentleness that comes not from the absence of violence but despite the abundance of it,,,, *
like the fact that he still is that guy who did horrible things he hasn't fully reckoned with IS ACTUALLY what makes the character so good, it's not like some ew gross little sidenote we try to gloss over and forget, it's the point of his story, the show doesn't shy away from it, it's there, it's explicit, it's in the text, and they even force us to confront the dichotomy of his character in moments like that "elim garak, former cardassian oppressor" bit where they are lampshading the fact that he's a woobified war criminal. i don't remember what my point was but sometimes star trek writing is good actually
* apologies to richard siken but i still have those 2012 brain worms
And he doesn’t change! He is living for revenge after the war. I love that about him.
