Discover the Forgotten Sidekick Star Trek Fans Never Knew About in DS9's Odo Saga

Summary

Constable Odo had a rough start with Starfleet officers, but ultimately earned their respect and formed partnerships.

Lt. George Primmin initially disagreed with Odo regarding security arrangements, but eventually came to appreciate and respect his methods of ensuring safety.

Lt. Commander Michael Eddington proved to be a notable companion for Odo, particularly after his betrayal of Starfleet in favor of the Maquis.

Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was often seen as an outsider. In the early days of DS9, he was a gruff and solitary lawman similar to John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. Odo preferred to keep his distance from his Starfleet colleagues due to the ongoing hierarchy negotiations on the Bajoran space station, resulting in frequent clashes with Starfleet security forces, especially during the Dominion War.

Despite his solitary nature, Odo had a more gentle side, making him a loyal friend and trusted colleague. Initially, former security officer Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) clashed with Odo upon his arrival on Deep Space Nine. However, Worf later recognized Odo as a "man of honor," a significant compliment coming from a Klingon. Odo and Worf had a tumultuous partnership as the Klingon adjusted to life outside the security division. Odo's clashes with Starfleet officers were not limited to Worf, as another character in DS9 season 1, now largely forgotten, also questioned Odo's approach to station security.

Odo's Forgotten Star Trek: DS9's Sidekick Explained

Lt. George Primmin (James Lashly) is sent by Starfleet to oversee security arrangements for a deuridium shipment in season 1, episode 9 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine titled "The Passenger". Primmin clashes with Odo when he decides to inform Quark (Armin Shimerman) about the shipment. Sisko cautions Primmin about overruling Odo's authority, reminding him that Starfleet is a guest of the Bajoran Provisional Government on DS9. Primmin eventually develops respect for Odo's security tactics, and their mismatched partnership adds an enjoyable element to the episode. However, Primmin's time on the show is short-lived, as he disappears after the next episode, "Move Along Home". Primmin was initially created as a temporary replacement for Chief O'Brien during Colm Meaney's absence for a movie. Writer and DS9 story editor Robert Hewitt Wolfe expressed a desire to bring the character back, but there were no plans to do so.

Odo Got A More Memorable Starfleet Sidekick In DS9 Season 3

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, a new security officer was sent to the station by Starfleet to deal with the Dominion threat. Interestingly, Odo had a similar reaction to Lt. Commander Michael Eddington as he did to Primmin. Believing his position to be in jeopardy, Odo promptly resigned to Commander Sisko, but was assured that he still held authority over station security. Eddington and Odo would occasionally collaborate, notably when they stored the DS9 crew in a James Bond-themed holosuite program after a transporter malfunction.

Although Quark was Odo's closest friend, both Eddington and Primmin proved to be capable partners for the Constable throughout Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. However, it was Eddington who left a lasting impression when he betrayed Starfleet for the Maquis in DS9 season 5. This betrayal had a greater impact on Captain Sisko, who relentlessly pursued the Maquis traitor in his quest for justice. This compelling storyline elevated Eddington from a mere sidekick to a captivating Star Trek character in his own right.