I'm so ashamed. I am so sick of these "ethnic achievement" news stories, I was going to write, "No kidding! Tilc has been on the show since day 1!" (Several bad guys have been rather black too.)
Vala: She's the bad-girl type with the long, black hair, right? I HATE that I like her so much. I'm afraid it means I'm really messed up: If she was a guy, I'd simply hate her. And it's not like she's so visually attractive, either.
Vala always gets the best lines, if you haven't noticed. She's the "bad girl" who gets to show off her stuff (boobs, butt and crotch in tight, low-cut, short clothing--a.k.a, cheesecake--with the nonchalance of "Who me? My boobs are hanging out? I DIDN'T notice. Really, I didn't."), continually act out (which is always the MOST fun for an actor or actress) and usually be right, especially when she gets to rescue the stupid "....." men.
She's written exactly the way you see her. She was given exactly the role you see her in. Sleazywood knows how to do that very well.
It is NOT accidental. It's pure packaged agenda.
"Ethnic achievement"? Nice euphemism. :o)