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:''This article is about the [[Star Trek]] [[fictional character]]. For other uses, see [[Odo (disambiguation)]]'' |
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Odo cheers up the troops of William during the battle of Hastings as shown on the Bayeux TapestryOdo of Bayeux (c. 1036 – February, 1097, Palermo [1]), Norman bishop and English earl, was the half-brother of William the Conqueror, and was for a time second only to the king in wealth and power in England. |
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{{Star Trek character|if=|Title = Odo |
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|bgcolor = #fc0 |
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|Image = Odo.jpg |
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|Caption = Constable Odo |
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|Size = 225px |
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|Species = [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changeling]] |
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|Gender = [[Male]] |
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|Hair color = Brown (Simulated hair) |
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|Eye color = Blue (Simulated eye) |
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|Planet = [[Gamma Quadrant|Changeling Planet]] |
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|Position = Constable |
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|Posting = [[Deep Space Nine]] |
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|Affiliation = [[Bajoran Militia]] |
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|Portrayed = [[Rene Auberjonois (actor)|Rene Auberjonois]] |
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}} |
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He was the son of [[William the Conqueror's]] mother [[Herleva]], and [[Herluin viscount of Conteville]]. [[Count Robert of Mortain]] was his younger brother. There is some uncertainty about his birthdate. Some historians have suggested he was born as early as 1030, so that he would be about 19 instead of 14 when William made him bishop of Bayeux in 1049. |
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'''Odo''' is a [[shapeshifter]] played by [[Rene Auberjonois (actor)|Rene Auberjonois]] on the [[science fiction television]] series ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''. |
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Although he was an ordained Christian cleric, he is best known as a warrior and statesman. He found ships for the invasion of England and was present at the Battle of Hastings. He probably did not actually fight at Hastings, but instead encouraged the troops from the rear. |
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==Overview== |
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{{spoiler}} |
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One of [[The Hundred (Star Trek)|the hundred]] sent out by [[Changeling (Star Trek)|The Founders]] long ago to explore the galaxy, Odo was found adrift in 2356 in the Denorios Belt by [[Bajorans]], who indirectly gave him his name. Since Odo had not yet learned how to adopt a humanoid appearance, he appeared in his natural gelatinous form. The Bajorans, not sure of what Odo actually was, put him in a container and labelled it "unknown sample". The [[Cardassian]] overseers translated this into their own language as "odo'ital", literally "nothing". Even after it became clear that Odo was sentient, the scientists kept calling him by that name, which eventually was styled (as a joke) into a Bajoran name "Odo Ital", then shortened to Odo. |
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In 1067 Odo became earl of Kent, and for some years he was a trusted royal minister. On some occasions when William was absent (back in Normandy), he served as de facto regent of England, and at times he led the royal forces against rebellions (eg the Revolt of the Earls). The precise sphere of his powers is not certain, however. There are also other occasions when he accompanied William back to Normandy. |
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He was studied by Bajoran scientist Dr. [[Mora Pol]], whom Odo disliked due to Mora's questionable (but effective) practice of inducing pain as a motivator in encouraging Odo to assume different shapes before, and even after, it was recognized that Odo is sentient. Odo modelled his humanoid appearance on Dr. Mora, but never had the skill to duplicate humanoid features with precision, making his humanoid appearance an approximation. (Originally, Odo's "unfinished" look was intended to convey that he simply chose not to bother with anything more than the most basic face, since he didn't really care what others thought of his appearance, but this subtext was soon dropped.) |
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During this time Odo acquired vast estates in England, larger in extent than any one except the king's. He had land in 23 counties, primarily in the southeast and in East Anglia. |
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Odo later worked for the Cardassians during [[Occupation of Bajor]] aboard the orbiting [[Terok Nor]] ore-processing space station and later for the Bajorans/[[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] aboard [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]] (the Federation name for Terok Nor), in both cases as chief of security. During the occupation, [[Gul]] [[Dukat (Star Trek)|Dukat]] had originally enlisted Odo in order to investigate the murder of one of the Bajoran station workers; since Odo was seen as a neutral observer, sympathizing with no one, he was considered a valuable security officer. |
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In 1082 he was suddenly disgraced and imprisoned for having planned a military expedition to Italy. His motivations are not certain. Chroniclers writing a generation later said Odo desired to make himself pope, but the contemporary evidence is ambiguous. Whatever the reason, Odo spent the next 5 years in prison, and his English estates were taken back by the king, as was his office as earl of Kent. Odo was not however deposed as bishop of Bayeux. |
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Odo's early career on Terok Nor hit a snag when he investigated an assassination attempt on Dukat. Three Bajoran workers were initially linked to the attack, and Odo - eager to ensure the rule of law and quickly conclude the investigation - hurriedly convicted them and allowed them to be executed. Soon after, Odo discovered that all three men were innocent and that Odo's lax investigative procedures caused a serious miscarriage of justice, prompting Odo to be much more insistent on actual justice (not necessarily the actual letter of the law). |
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William, on his deathbed in 1087, was reluctantly persuaded by their brother Robert of Mortain to release Odo. After the king's death Odo returned to his earldom and soon organized a rebellion in support of William's son Robert Curthose. The Rebellion of 1088 failed, and William Rufus, to the disgust of his supporters, permitted Odo to leave the kingdom. Afterward, Odo remained in the service of Robert in Normandy. |
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Up until this time, Odo was unaware of his people and his ancestry. A criminal showed him a necklace containing a non-sentient shapeshifter in the episode "[[Vortex (DS9 episode)|Vortex]]." Later, in the episode "[[The Alternate (DS9 episode)|The Alternate]]", Dr. Mora visited Odo at Deep Space Nine and went with him to the Gamma Quadrant to investigate a planet with a similar life-form. It wasn't until later that Odo learned that his people are the leaders of the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]]. |
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He joined the First Crusade, and started in the duke's company for Palestine, but died on the way at Palermo in January or February 1097. |
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In 2372, Odo married [[Lwaxana Troi]] in accordance with Tavnian law as a favor to her, so that her child would not be taken away from her at birth. Although Odo had been annoyed by Troi in the past, he came to appreciate her company. However, he still did not love her in a romantic way, so after her ex-husband witnessed the marriage, Troi went back to Betazed. |
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Little good is recorded of Odo. It was recorded that his vast wealth was gained by extortion and robbery. His ambitions were boundless and his morals lax. However, like many prelates of his age, he was a patron of learning and the arts. He was also a great architect. He founded the Abbaye de Troarn in 1059. He rebuilt the cathedral of his see, and is likely to have commissioned the celebrated Bayeux tapestry. He may also have sponsored an early version of The Song of Roland. More certain is his development of the cathedral school in Bayeux, and his patronage of a number of younger men who later became prominent prelates. |
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Because he had at one point killed another Changeling, the Founders punished him by taking away his shapeshifting abilities and making him into a human being. He retained his physical body for several months. Eventually, an infant shapeshifter who was dying integrated itself into Odo's physical makeup. This integration caused Odo's body to revert back to normal, and he regained all his shapeshifting abilities. |
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Odo remained loyal to the Bajoran and Federation people throughout the Dominion War. At the end of the war, Odo went back to the Great Link. He did this to cure the other Founders of a disease that [[Section 31]] had infected them with, and to teach the Founders how to trust other races again. |
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During his time on the station, Odo was involved in a running battle of wits with the [[Ferengi]] [[Quark (Star Trek)|Quark]]. Odo would spend a great deal of time watching Quark, both in humanoid form, as well as various other shapes. Over the years the two men would gain a grudging respect for each other. (This is a clear homage to the [[1942]] film [[Casablanca (film)|"Casablanca"]], with Odo in [[Claude Rains]]' role of Captain Louis Renault and Quark as [[Bogart]]'s Rick Blaine; this is made explicit when Quark says, "Everybody comes to 'Quark's'", an obvious reference to the play on which the film is based.) |
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He entered a romantic relationship with [[Kira Nerys]] with the help of [[Vic Fontaine]]. They remained involved until Odo left to rejoin the Great Link. |
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He is often referred to as [[Constable]] Odo, as he is a member of the Bajoran Constabulary and the Chief Constable aboard DS9. |
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Odo's predecessor as security chief was Thrax, a [[Cardassian]] officer. In the [[Deep Space Nine relaunch]] novels, Odo is succeeded as security chief by [[Ro Laren]], who has been pardoned for her past association with the [[Maquis (Star Trek)|Maquis]] and thus regained her [[Starfleet]] commission. |
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==External links== |
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* {{memoryalpha}} |
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* [http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/DS9/character/1112442.html StarTrek.com: Odo] |
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{{Star Trek regulars}} |
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[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrials]] |
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[[Category:Fictional shapeshifters]] |
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[[Category:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters]] |
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[[Category:Time travelers in Star Trek]] |
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[[fr:Odo]] |
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[[sl:Odo]] |
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[[sv:Odo]] |
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Revision as of 17:43, 11 April 2006
Odo cheers up the troops of William during the battle of Hastings as shown on the Bayeux TapestryOdo of Bayeux (c. 1036 – February, 1097, Palermo [1]), Norman bishop and English earl, was the half-brother of William the Conqueror, and was for a time second only to the king in wealth and power in England.
He was the son of William the Conqueror's mother Herleva, and Herluin viscount of Conteville. Count Robert of Mortain was his younger brother. There is some uncertainty about his birthdate. Some historians have suggested he was born as early as 1030, so that he would be about 19 instead of 14 when William made him bishop of Bayeux in 1049.
Although he was an ordained Christian cleric, he is best known as a warrior and statesman. He found ships for the invasion of England and was present at the Battle of Hastings. He probably did not actually fight at Hastings, but instead encouraged the troops from the rear.
In 1067 Odo became earl of Kent, and for some years he was a trusted royal minister. On some occasions when William was absent (back in Normandy), he served as de facto regent of England, and at times he led the royal forces against rebellions (eg the Revolt of the Earls). The precise sphere of his powers is not certain, however. There are also other occasions when he accompanied William back to Normandy.
During this time Odo acquired vast estates in England, larger in extent than any one except the king's. He had land in 23 counties, primarily in the southeast and in East Anglia.
In 1082 he was suddenly disgraced and imprisoned for having planned a military expedition to Italy. His motivations are not certain. Chroniclers writing a generation later said Odo desired to make himself pope, but the contemporary evidence is ambiguous. Whatever the reason, Odo spent the next 5 years in prison, and his English estates were taken back by the king, as was his office as earl of Kent. Odo was not however deposed as bishop of Bayeux.
William, on his deathbed in 1087, was reluctantly persuaded by their brother Robert of Mortain to release Odo. After the king's death Odo returned to his earldom and soon organized a rebellion in support of William's son Robert Curthose. The Rebellion of 1088 failed, and William Rufus, to the disgust of his supporters, permitted Odo to leave the kingdom. Afterward, Odo remained in the service of Robert in Normandy.
He joined the First Crusade, and started in the duke's company for Palestine, but died on the way at Palermo in January or February 1097.
Little good is recorded of Odo. It was recorded that his vast wealth was gained by extortion and robbery. His ambitions were boundless and his morals lax. However, like many prelates of his age, he was a patron of learning and the arts. He was also a great architect. He founded the Abbaye de Troarn in 1059. He rebuilt the cathedral of his see, and is likely to have commissioned the celebrated Bayeux tapestry. He may also have sponsored an early version of The Song of Roland. More certain is his development of the cathedral school in Bayeux, and his patronage of a number of younger men who later became prominent prelates.