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 throughout DS9'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 Officer and the station's liaison to Bajor; but Kira was also one of Star Trek's best female characters because 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 in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's early seasons was 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 in Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 13, "Life Support", after being injured in a shuttle accident.
That should have been the end of Bareil and Kira's relationship, but a less-than-noble Bareil from Star Trek's Mirror Universe successfully wooed Kira in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 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
Shakaar actor Duncan Regehr also played Dr. Beverly Crusher's meme-worthy candle ghost Ronin in Star 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 Had O'Brien's Baby, But Not How You Think
Kira becoming the O'Briens' surrogate was written into Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to explain Nana Visitor's actual pregnancy with fellow DS9 actor 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 emphatically not interested in Gul Dukat, but that didn't stop him from pursuing her anyway. If anything, Dukat was even more interested in Kira because she was so resistant to his advances, and he felt he was entitled to her nonexistent adoration. Fortunately, when Star Trek: Deep Space Nine writers thought it was a great idea for Kira to actually return Dukat's affection, Nana Visitor stopped DS9's Kira and Dukat relationship from actually happening.
Instead, Dukat's affair played out with Nerys' mother, Kira Meru (Leslie Hope), in the aptly-titled Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 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 his half-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 ever on.)
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 of Star 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.
Odo had been unconsciously pining for Kira for years, and finally became aware of the fact he loved her in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 4. Kira didn't find out about Odo's feelings until Deep Space Nine season 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 the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Kira and Odo's love story proved that love really did win in the end.
