Chris

The lighting there is very effective in emphasizing their inner turmoil.

crazy_diamond

agreed

Wes&FredFan

Definitely. Kira's resigned to die to save the planet, and Gaia Odo is determined to keep her alive, sacrificing himself. Definitely a sign of how alike these two characters are, and how much they love the other one (even if Kira didn't know it yet).

We see this when Odo's determined to stand with her during the blockade, even if it means his own death. He'd rather die by her side than live for centuries without her, no doubt haunted by his other self's memories from Gaia.

crazy_diamond

True

Wes&FredFan

The moment Odo says it out loud, and allows himself to admit it - he's in love with Kira Nerys.



He knew she didn't feel the same way in that moment, but when she finally did ... he knew it too (thanks to the kiss they shared). He was able to experience the true love of the REAL Kira Nerys.

crazy_diamond

awww, such a relief to Odo in that first pic and then it all comes crashing down

Wes&FredFan

I always wonder if Odo told Kira what the Founder's slip of the tongue was. I'm guessing he told her during the Dominion Occupation, because Kira's actively reminding him of all the FC did - "She lied to you, tricked you, stood in judgment of you...." I suspect Kira does find out what the lie was.

Kira never told him she loved him until she meant it. And Odo knew she wouldn't fake it for his benefit, that's what revealed the facade in "Heart of Stone." It's also why having Lola Chrystal throw herself at him wasn't exactly what he wanted, because Odo knew it was fake ... and it wasn't really Kira. When Kira actually kisses him in "His Way" he knows it's her, that she means it ... and everything's okay.

Chris

Knowing that the other person's feelings are genuine is huge.

crazy_diamond

espc. since they have been harboured for so long

Admiral Kat

This moment was so special! I couldn't believe it at first that he really spoke the words!
And then i was so sad to see it was only a trap

crazy_diamond

such a rotten thing to do

Wes&FredFan

It was that confession that basically triggered the Founders/Dominion war against the Alpha Quadrant. The FC wanted Odo back, to "get him in line."

Notice how Odo suspects the Dominion of kidnapping Kira in "Covenant." It's his first suspect. Kira would be THE target, and Odo knows it. The FC suspected that impersonating Kira would get Odo to confess what he felt toward her (she even said she suspected his decision to stay with the "Solids" was based around Kira). He's panicked when he says, "She could be deep inside Dominion space by now." The FC even gloated about sentencing Kira to death to break Odo's tie to her. It wasn't a far-off assumption for a devastated Odo to think that the Dominion would be willing to kidnap Kira to punish him, or to force him to sacrifice himself (which he would do) to protect her.

From impersonating Kira to setting up a phony arrest for a death sentence, the FC made it obvious to Odo that she blamed Kira for Odo's choice to stay on the station.

crazy_diamond

Cunning plan...

Wes&FredFan

Yeah, it was. But the FC underestimated the bond Odo and Kira had. Especially Odo's love for her. The moment she dismisses Kira's pending execution as a means to get Odo to see the light, he turned away from her.

crazy_diamond

Exactly