Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Ranking Every Major Character Worst To Best
26. Torah Ziyal
There were three different incarnations of Toyah Ziyal between seasons four and six. The first, appearing in Indiscretion, was played by Cyia Batten. Later, she would be played by Tracy Middendorf in For The Cause and then finally by Melanie Smith for the remainder of her appearances.
Ziyal was a character who certainly had promise, in that she could have been an excellent foil for Gul Dukat and, initially, things looked to be heading in that direction. His acknowledgement of her led to his temporary fall from grace. However, he would then effectively abandon her to be cared for by Kira on the station.
Ziyal and Garak began a relationship, much to the chagrin of Dukat. Yet even after the fall of Deep Space Nine to the Dominion, Ziyal acts in a somewhat aloof manner, opting to give her father the cold shoulder for a short time, completely oblivious to the situation around her.
Once Kira finally does manage to make her see, she agrees to help spring her friends from prison. This one moment of character growth is cut short by Damar, shooting her in cold blood.
Unfortunately, Ziyal was never truly interesting enough for the audience to feel the weight that the script was putting on her. Dukat's utter breakdown at her death does not feel earned. Arguably, the show would have been better suited if she had stayed with the Breen.