Over the course ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s seven seasons, Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) had several different love interests (and at least one completely unreciprocated suitor). On the whole,Star Trek: Deep Space Ninehandled love stories better than its contemporaryStar Trekshows, because it wasn’t limited to a single confined vessel. Instead, being set on a space station meantStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s recurring guest stars could develop relationships withDS9’s main characters. Fewer main characters in Starfleet also meantDS9wasn’t limited to interoffice romances.
That was certainly the case with Major Kira, whose romantic interests couldn’t be more different from one another. While we may think nothing of it today, the fact that Kira had multiple lovers throughoutDS9’s run was refreshing for a 1990s show that wasn’t exclusively focused on romance. Of course,Kira Nerys was a woman who was powerful as Deep Space Nine’s First Officerand the station’s liaison to Bajor; but Kira was also one ofStar Trek’s best female charactersbecause of her strong stances within both her faith and her politics, supportive friendships, and an active love life.
5Vedek Bareil Antos (Philip Anglim)
Bareil Helped Ground Kira In Her Faith
Kira’s romantic relationship with Vedek Bareil Antos inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s early seasonswas seemingly guided by the Prophets themselves.Bareil was a gentle, grounding contrast to Kira’s fiery personality, making the pair a solid match for each other.Bareil’s unorthodox interpretations of Bajoran scripture helped Kira to see her own faith differently, and also made him a top contender to become Bajor’s next Kai after the death of Kai Opaka (Camille Saviola). Bareil met his own unfortunate end inDeep Space Nineseason 3, episode 13, “Life Support”, after being injured in a shuttle accident.
Mirror Bareil was working for the Mirror Universe’s Intendent Kira, proving that even a twisted version of this pairing still worked.
That should have been the end of Bareil and Kira’s relationship, but a less-than-noble Bareil fromStar Trek’s Mirror Universesuccessfully wooed Kira inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 6, episode 8, “Resurrection”.Kira wanted desperately to believe that this Bareil could somehow replace the man she had loved,and overlooked the possibility that he could be trying to scam her (he was). More to the point, Mirror Bareil was working for the Mirror Universe’s Intendent Kira, proving that even a twisted version of this pairing still worked.
4Shakaar Edon (Duncan Regehr)
Oh Yeah … Kira Did Date Her Old Resistance Leader
Kira Nerys and Shakaar Edon had a long history together before they ever became romantically involved, because Shakaar was the leader of the Bajoran Resistance cell that Kira joined during theCardassian Occupation of Bajor. Because Kira was Deep Space Nine’s liaison to Bajor, Kira and Shakaar reconnected after Shakaar became the First Minister of Bajor near the end ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3.Kira admitted she had never really thought about Shakaar that way before, but gave Shakaar a chanceafter his advances inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 4, episode 13, “Crossfire”.
Shakaar actor Duncan Regehr also played Dr. Beverly Crusher’s meme-worthy candle ghost Ronin inStar Trek: The Next Generation, season 7, episode 14, “Sub Rosa”.
Kira’s relationship with Shakaar was largely forgettable, since we rarely saw them interacting with each other on-screen. If anything,Shakaar’s narrative role was less as a benefit for Major Kira, and more as a foil for Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois), because Odo really began to realize his own feelings for Nerys after Kira became romantically linked with Shakaar. Even Kira and Shakaar’s breakup happened off-screen. While this wasn’t a memorable match for Kira, Shakaar was inoffensive, and they remained friends.
3Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney)
Kira Nerys became an unlikely love interest forMiles O’Brien (Colm Meaney)after Keiko O’Brien’s (Rosalind Chao) fetus was transferred to Major Kira to save the unborn child’s life inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 4, episode 25, “Body Parts”. The O’Briens asked Kira to move in with them during her pregnancy, andan awkward mutual attraction grew between Nerys and Miles while she carried his son.Both tried to deny it, and went to some lengths to avoid each other when they thought it got weird, but nothing physical, beyond foot or back rubs, ever happened between them.
Kira becoming the O’Briens' surrogate was written intoStar Trek: Deep Space Nineto explain Nana Visitor’s actual pregnancy with fellowDS9actor Alexander Siddig.
Keiko, to her credit, was already used to having to share Miles with Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig), so when Keiko noticed what was going on between her husband and Major Kira, she wasn’t bothered by it at all. If anything,Keiko encouraged Miles and Nerys to spend more time together.After Kira gave birth, the almost-affair was never really mentioned again, but Kira and O’Brien became closer friends because of it, and Miles and Keiko considered Nerys an unofficial family member. In fact, the O’Briens named their son Kirayoshi, in honor of Major Kira being their surrogate.
2Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo)
Dukat Wanted Kira, But Kira Would Never, Ever.
Kira was emphaticallynotinterested in Gul Dukat, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing her anyway. If anything,Dukat was even more interested in Kirabecauseshe was so resistant to his advances, and he felt he was entitled to her nonexistent adoration. Fortunately, whenStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewriters thought it was a great idea for Kira to actually return Dukat’s affection,Nana Visitor stoppedDS9’s Kira and Dukat relationshipfrom actually happening.
Kira’s Complete Star Trek: DS9 Timeline Explained
Major Kira Nerys' history took her from fighting Cardassians in the Bajoran Resistance to a career on DS9 with love & heroism during the Dominion War.
Instead,Dukat’s affair played out with Nerys' mother, Kira Meru (Leslie Hope), in the aptly-titledStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 6, episode 17, “Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night”. Kira used the Bajoran Orb of Time to discover Dukat wasn’t lying about his relationship with Meru; she had been made his personal comfort woman, in exchange for her family’s survival. It didn’t do anything to change Kira’s opinion of Dukat—but it did make Nerys see her mother as a collaborator.
Dukat also tried to weasel his way into Kira’s good graces through hishalf-Bajoran daughter, Tora Ziyal(Tracy Middendorf, Melanie Smith). Kira convinced Dukat to let Ziyal live, and brought Ziyal to Deep Space Nine, since Ziyal wouldn’t be accepted on either Bajor or Cardassia. While Ziyal’s friendship with Kira was important to both women,Ziyal hoped that Nerys would at least try to get along with Dukat.Kira put on a good show for Ziyal, but after Ziyal’s death, all bets were off. (Not that they were everon.)
1Odo (Rene Auberjonois)
Kira And Odo Were Star Trek: DS9’s Unlikeliest Successful Couple
Major Kira’s opinion of Constable Odo changed over the course of their long history together, and they eventually became one ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s best romances.Kira and Odo first met on DS9 during the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor, when Kira considered Odo a Cardassian collaborator. Once Starfleet moved in to oversee Bajor’s admittance to the Federation, it was easier to see that Odo’s alliance was strictly to law and order, but this was still a conflict that Kira and Odo would have to overcome.
DS9’s Kira And Odo Is Unlike Any Other Star Trek Love Story
Odo and Kira was DS9’s longest running will-they-wont-they romance, but a huge lie from their pasts made theirs a Star Trek love story like no other.
Odo had been unconsciously pining for Kira for years, and finally became aware of the fact he loved her inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 4. Kira didn’t find out about Odo’s feelings untilDeep Space Nineseason 5, episode 22, “Children of Time”, when a future version of Odo confessed he’d always loved Nerys. Most notably,Odo’s feelings for Kira kept Odo from joining the Great Link and becoming one of the Founders, which would help the Federation Alliance win the Dominion War at theend ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Kira and Odo’s love story proved that love really did win in the end.
Kira and Odo finally got together inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 6, when Odo asked Vic Fontaine (James Darren) for help in wooing Kira. Knowing Odo wasn’t likely to actually confess, Vic sneakily invited the real Kira to stand in for what Odo thought was a hologram, in a lighter example ofDS9’s season 6 theme of ends justifying the means. While I never suspected Kira and Odo to get together, Kira and Odo’s love story is the best of Kira’sStar Trek: Deep Space Nineromances, because it proved that love really did win in the end.
