Odo Cuddling A Tribble Is Such A Delightful Image

OKAY OKAY OKAY

So to shapeshift, right, is to become that thing, isn't it? I'm sure that's how the Founder, and later Odo explains it. The changelings aren't just pretending to be that thing, in a way they're being that thing?

Okay so I'm a little unsure now that I'm actually writing this out so the rest of this maybe isn't as much sense as I thought it was....

BUT. If the above is correct it suddenly occurred to me another reason other than 'lack of practice' that Odo could struggle to imitate humanoid faces...

Could it be that he has too much of his own, distinct personality? Becoming a humanoid is to become them, to understand them entirely as a person (which is why Founders are the perfect infiltrators, and also why they hate being solids: their changelinghood is eclipsed by their target's personhood, even if they do of course hang onto their objective and knowledge from being a changeling).

But Odo developed as his completely own person, first. Changelings in the link don't seem to have a sense of "self", they are a communal species, but Odo is utterly himself. And so could it be that he is unable to put aside everything that makes him him in order to become and truly understand another person?

Or, in other words, the changelings who don't see humanoids as being proper 'people' can treat becoming them much the same as becoming a bird - they are understanding a different sort of lesser life form, and the fact that a humanoid has its own thoughts and feelings is non-consequential because they are on such a different order to a changling's.

But the thoughts and feelings of a humanoid are so similar to Odo's that -- in a way, because he understands them more -- he has more of an awareness of their individuality and difference to himself, and therefore cannot imagine them the same way he does a bird. He is distinct, and they are distinct, and shapeshifting isn't about copying, it's about becoming, and Odo could never become someone else because it would mean becoming less than himself.

This is a ramble and I don't know if it makes any sense but it's lit up my brain and I'm definitely feeling like

I keep missing plot points because I'm staring into her eyes

My idea of Amanda Grayson is this double nature because she needs to be in a certain way to enjoy life on Vulcan but she also becomes much more fun as a character if you imagine her as being very human in certain aspects of her life and personality. Having that garden full of gnomes, occasionally calling Sarek “babe” and wearing party hats etc.

What I’m saying is: She made finger guns at Spock all the time while he grew up and he always viewed it as a strange and embarrassing yet seemingly necessary part of human culture. Which caused some initial confusion the first time he visited Earth. 

mortifying

If I was a race of goo people bent on controlling the galaxy I too would clone a race of evil little advisors to strut around gayly and be annoying

Tumblr working its magic as always.

By popular demand: Avery Brooks (Extended Edition)

what strikes me about “Far Beyond the Stars” is how they cast Odo as the one who upholds oppression through complacency. because Odo’s been shown to be very beholden to the status quo - he prides himself on his neutrality, sees himself as only being subject to justice and truth. That was the thrust of “Things Past” - he doesn’t feel guilt over collaborating with the Cardassians, but over the fact that he failed at properly exacting justice under the premises of their rule. He tries to be benevolent from within the system, but doesn’t consider the fact that the system itself might be flawed (though he arguably starts to reconsider this at the beginning of S6). So his AU role here made a lot of sense for him, tbh.        

im high and all i wanna do is draw odo

Odo and Justice (based on early Season 2)

Odo is first introduced as DS9′s Chief of Security, a no-nonsense workaholic who is driven by his commitment to justice and isolated by his status as the only known shapeshifter in existence.

In S2E8 Necessary Evil, we learn that before he served as a detective on DS9 during Cardassian occupation, Bajorans sought him out to solve their small disputes because of his outsider viewpoint. During the early stages of his entrance to society, he was able to rely on this identity for himself. Justice was a way for him to participate in society and find a place where he belongs. It enabled him to gain respect that otherwise could be difficult to come by as a shapeshifter learning to act like a humanoid.

[Image description: A screenshot of Odo saying to Gul Dukat, “I suppose I’m considered a neutral observer.”]

His role as detective and arbiter enables his shapeshifting abilities to be something valuable rather than something that drives him apart from the rest of society. It helps unite the “other” and humanoid parts of him, although it still leaves him on the fringes of society (more on that later).

In S2E12 The Alternate, Odo meets a major challenge to his relationship with justice and, by extension, his identity. When Dr. Mora says that the creature who destroyed the lab and attacked Julian could be him, Odo panics and can’t accept it.

[Image description: A screenshot of Odo saying to Dr. Mora, “I do not commit criminal acts! It is not in my nature!]

If Odo has been unknowingly acting on the wrong side of justice, his entire worldview breaks down. If he is not the fair arbiter he considers himself to be, he loses everything he has built for himself in humanoid society.

This explains why he clings to the concept of justice so desperately. He can understand justice, and he can understand his place in society through justice. He depends on it to guide him, to provide stability and a framework for interaction with others—and a reason for others to need him.

However, this worldview holds him back. To continue being a “neutral observer,” he must continue being an outsider. He can only integrate into society up to a certain point because if he stops being the outcast, he stops being the “neutral observer.”

This may be one of the reasons for his emotional repression and his resistance to accepting appreciation and affection. He relies on maintaining that distance because, from early on, he was not only sensitive about his differences—he needed them. If he admits to himself that he wants something more than his job and justice, wants the acceptance and affection and vulnerability that come with being included in deeper social ties (even when others are happy to give it to him), his outsider status is disrupted. (This also makes his relationship with Kira interesting because he does seem to be willing to have a more emotional connection with her.)

What’s sad about this is that he doesn’t need to keep that distance…

(Basically S2E12 really struck something in me and I needed to get out my thoughts about Odo. Disclaimer that I’m only halfway through Season 2 so there are definitely layers of his character that I haven’t seen yet, but I’m really enjoying his character and am looking forward to more of his development and backstory!)