Damar went from a broken drunk to the inspiration for his people. No doubt he'll be a sainted martyr of Cardassian legend credited for defeating the Doimnion after this.
That moment when Damar dies, there’s that moment of doubt, the thought that this will all come apart... Garak doesn’t know what to do. Damar was the standard bearer. Then Kira makes it clear they don’t stop, and Garak realises what’ll happen if they don’t go forward, picks up the fallen flag and runs with it. Love it.
Man Damar's character arc from warmongering bloodthirsty soldier of an oppressive empire to war-weary revolutionary fighting for his people against an oppressive empire may be the best character arc in a Star Trek show.
"No dictator, no invader, can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that need, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand." -Citizen G'Kar of the Narn, Babylon 5
DS9 had such underrated writers. They took Damar, a nothing character that could’ve been easily forgotten and turned him into a hero and someone we were sad to see go. In a way his arch is mirrored by all Cardassia
Damar murdered a girl for being a "traitor", only to eventually become a traitor hero himself. What a turnaround... his sins did catch up to him in the form of his ultimate fate, but he was also a Cardassian through and through and Cardassia will remember that.
The Cardassians were one of "the bad guys" for most of TNG and DS9, the enemy you wanted to see fail. Then along comes this scene and damn. For Cardassia indeed.
It's terrifying how committed the Female Changeling is to fight until the bitter end. She knows she's dying, her race is dying, and she's perfectly fine with dragging everyone else down with her. That is where Section 31 made the mistake when they infected them. They made the Founders desperate, and all the more dangerous because of it.
The respect Kira showed Damar in the end was amazing. She easily could have just said keep going. She instead tells them his orders were clear we don't stop. She gives him a true heroes end and humbles herself by allowing him to be the hero of cardassia. It shows how much she evolved from the 1st season. Damar having earned that respect shows how he underwent a similar evolution. IMO one of his best lines was when the rebellion formed. He told russot
