12 Most Epic Character Introductions In TV History
9. Intendant Kira - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Evil versions of our heroes are always fun to watch and sci-fi and fantasy has been doing it for years. Star Trek introduced us to the mirror universe in the 60s. Doctor Who brought us the evil Brigadier in 70s' Inferno, and Fringe had great fun with the alternate hero villain concept in recent years. Star Trek's mirror universe has to be the most fun of all and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine mined this potential many times during its run.
Bearded Spock might have been the most iconic, but Deep Space Nine had the most epic reveal of them all with the appearance of the deliciously evil Intendant Kira in the second season episode 'Crossover'. Doctor Bashir and Major Kira are flung into the mirror universe only to find that the actions of Kirk and Spock have led to evil Terran Empire being overthrown by the trinity of evil that is the Klingon-Cardassian-Bajoran Alliance.
Suddenly humans are the enslaved species and Bashir bears the brunt of the new situation. Kira however faces something that was ultimately more skin-crawling for her and electric for us the audience. In her first scene (and indeed every appearance since), Intendant Kira slinks in, dressed head to toe in black leather, filled with sexual energy and a thirst for power.
The way she gazes at her mirror self; it's part intrigue, part delight. She sees our Kira as her plaything (if not something more). Nana Vistor is clearly having a ball playing this version of Kira and it's easy to see why her evil doppelgänger was back for every subsequent mirror universe story. She's the ultimate expression of someone with no inhibitions who will kill who she wants to gain power. And that makes her one of the most dangerous characters in the show.