I know it’s been touched upon before that Dukat is “the ideal Cardassian” in regards to appearance since the species design was originally conceived with Mark Alaimo in mind. I mean…



That’s a lot of neck.

But it’s interesting to note that Dukat is the farthest thing from the ideal Cardassian in most other respects.

Cardassians are known for their family values. “Nothing is more important than family.”

With that in mind, you’d think

he’d be better about using

a goddamn condom!

More important however is that Cardassians are supposed to put the State first. But Dukat has proven he places his own ego over what’s best for Cardassia.

Dukat wanted power and made a deal with the devil to do it.

No no no… the OTHER deal with the devil!

THERE she is!

It should be noted that Dukat made the alliance with the Dominion secretly. The Cardassian Union is hardly known for its democratic values. But this occurred between 2372 and 2373 when Cardassia was actually being ruled by the Detapa Counsel. Dukat made an alliance with the founders with the condition that he would be promoted from military adviser to the ruler of Cardassia.





Now this line of thought brings me to my favorite asshole.

Strange as it may be, I’d argue that Garak is an extremely moral character when measured by Cardassian standards.

Garak makes his choices in context of only two factors: survival and Cardassia.

Garak aided the escape of Natima Lang and Tekeny Ghemor. In “Profit and Loss” Garak sites his love of Cardassia as his motivation and further eludes to the idea that “treason, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.” Garak has gone against the wishes of Cardassia’s governing body in order to do right by the Cardassian people.

We almost never see Garak experience crushing guilt. He is extremely comfortable with murder.

Sometimes he even seems to… rather enjoy it.

So what weighs heavy on the heart of a ruthless assasin?

Betraying Cardassia puts such a tole on Garak’s conscience that he suffers a psychological breakdown.

Garak and Dukat serve as foils and highlight the difference between the appearance of what a Cardassian is and what Cardassian core ideals really are.