DS9 7.25 What You Leave Behind
So Garak and Odo are tragic bros. Oh the parallels…
At the end of the series, Odo returns to the Great Link to heal his people of their illness and of their brokenness, to temper their aggressive need to conquer and bring order, to teach them the lessons he learned while living among Solids. He leaves Kira behind, but in the time he spent with her he became the person he needed to be in order to help lead his people into peaceful coexistence with the rest of the universe.
Garak returns to Cardassia, heartbroken at the destruction and in bitter despair over the brokenness of his people, whose aggressive thirst to conquer has brought them to ruin. Living as an exile in the Federation has given him a unique perspective on his homeworld and their behavior. He leaves Bashir behind, and we’re left to hope that in the time Garak spent with the good doctor he learned how to be a healer of sorts, one who can help guide his people into an long era of peace.