20 Star Trek Women You Should Know

Nicole de Boer as Ezri Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Image via Paramount/CBS)

14. Ezri Dax (Deep Space Nine)

So, if Jadzia Dax is the cool girl we all want to be, Ezri Dax is the anxious nerd many of us actually are. Tough reality check, sure, but let’s be honest with ourselves.

That’s not to say there isn’t a lot to love about Ezri, however. It’s just that she is a markedly different character from her predecessor.

If the name doesn’t give it away, then you should know that Ezri takes on the Dax symbiont after Jadzia’s untimely death. Played by Nicole de Boer, this version of Dax is far less confident than Jadzia. Don’t blame it entirely on Ezri’s personality, however. She was caught up in the wake of Jadzia’s sudden death and, as one of the only eligible Trill in the vicinity, was obliged to jump in and become the new host. Now, she has to live up to all of the accumulated lifetimes and relationships of previous hosts without much preparation at all. I’d be nervous, too.

Fans were so-so on the introduction of a new character. She was variously referred to as “ill-conceived” and as a “replacement Dax”. However, I’d argue that she is a worthy character in her own right. Over the course of the final season, she gains more confidence and becomes an integral part of the Deep Space Nine crew. It’s great to have female characters that are strong from the outset, but it’s just as meaningful to show some that need to grow into themselves over time.