Garak snaps at Bashir

[@welovescifi]

What scares me the most is Garak was being this intelligent, witty and cunning, all the while being high out of his MIND. Such a great character DS9 Boxed Set on SALE now! amzn.to/42ECvBc Get some Star Trek Swag! amzn.to/3lxoSTO Request ANY clip from ANY Sci-Fi show on Patreon! www.patreon.com/welovescifi/membership Disclaimer: Links mentioned in this video are affiliate links, I will earn a commission when you make a purchase through them. No extra charges are made to you. Thank you!

[@robjackson5245]

I beg to differ. Garak was being super rational. That type of anger is FAR more dangerous than anything Sisko or even Picard can muster. Anger based on a feeling of superiority and rational thought. The Cardassians were far more advanced as a power than the major 3. Picard was ghetto. Picard's anger was from the heart. Garak, as was Dukat, their anger came from a feeling of rational viciousness.

[@fvriovs5502]

Never in the history of calming down has someone calmed down by being told to calm down.

[@daverage4729]

Very true. Telling an angry person to calm down is essentially sending a message that their anger is not valid and being dismissed...which naturally pisses them off even more.

[@Blueguy72]

I am a Registered Nurse. I always tell my patients to calm down....followed very shortly by a syringe full of VALIUM!

[@blastermasterguy]

LOL. Ayup.

[@jadefalcon001]

Every now and again you find a diamond in the cesspit of youtube comments. Well done.

[@Anna-tc6rz]

@@Blueguy72 proper procedure to calm someone down lol.

[@maybetoby]

I like how Garak still wouldn't admit he released those kids out of kindness. He still chooses to frame it that it was because HE was hungry and cold.

[@theghostinthemirror8158]

Exactly. He imagines his empathy as being so conditional and contingent.

[@RequiemPoete]

I mean, it's not mutually exclusive. It's Ike a cop let's you off a speeding ticket cause it's your birthday AND he doesn't want to bother with paperwork.

[@UncensoredScion]

interesting part in all of it is that you have no idea if he's even telling the truth about any of it, he's the perfect spy and spins lies out constantly to everyone all the time. Personally I think that everything he said was a lie and the truth at the same time, he was hungry and cold but he was guilty and sick of the uselessness, he let the kids go and put them on the transport with the latinum in his pockets and then later ordered it shot down and I think that part was the bit that had him condemned more than any of the other things, he withheld something from us and it was the repercussions of the act, Tain wouldn't have cared if some kids were let go, wouldn't have cared if Garak had wanted comfort, but I think it has to do with who else was on the transport that Garak didn't know of and how he tried to then hide it, Tain would've protected him if he'd gone to him and just said 'yeah I destroyed that transport, felt like doing it.' But that he tried to cover his tracks sloppily and then got caught is what had Tain condemn him, he was meant to be the best creation of Enaban Tain and he failed at the most basic of things, presenting a correct front.

[@D0NU75]

i say it was more powerful when he admits he was feeling hungry and cold. Empathy was more powerful than any threat of martial punishment he could feel down to the fact he gave them what little money he had on him. Garak resents a lot what he became after that but he is the kind of man who wouldn't be able to live with himself after torturing and killing those kids.

[@gregdeandrea1450]

If this even happened at all. Even in this scene he's at least not telling the full truth. I like how everyone in this comments is assuming that THIS time he's telling the truth.

[@KingOfMadCows]

Everyone praises Garak in this scene, and rightly so, but this is also a great character moment for Dr. Bashir. Garak insults Bashir, attacks him, and tells Bashir that he was a spy who murdered dozens of people. But Bashir never loses his cool and is always patient with Garak. It really shows how great of a doctor Bashir is. He genuinely cares for all his patients and wants to help everyone.

[@grahammaddeaux1363]

Yeah Bashir is kind of an underrated character. Re-watching the show again It's neat how people react to him at the beginning and see him as kind of arrogant, presumptuous and womanizing, but come around to him towards the end of the first season after basically seeing that's he's a pretty genuinely good guy that just has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth in his general earnest demeanor. It's most noticeable with O'Brien where he goes from having a rivalry with him to basically forming the biggest bromance in all of Star Trek.

[@yeahbutthendragons152]

Graham Maddeaux Yeah, I absolutely love the character development of Bashir. He starts out immature, and the crew is genuinely annoyed by him on the whole. Over the course of the show you can really see him “grow up”, and I think it’s done really well.

[@Opnn8d1]

They didn't really start giving Bashir serious consideration until after that episode dealing with the cardassian war orphans, and Alexander Sidig delivers that line to Garak on the runabout: "Now you're gonna tell me what's going on in that plain simple mind of yours, Garak or we're gonna sit here until we ROT!" Don't know about anyone else, but that raised my eyebrows and made me sit up and take notice. Before that, the character was a pushover. Comic relief. An annoying goober. After that, Bashir became a real contribution to the plot. He's kind of like Barclay in Voyager. Bashir after coming out as genetically enhanced was like Barclay in The Nth Degree... "Checkmate in nine moves"

[@RequiemPoete]

As a doctor he probably knows that patients suffering severe withdrawal don't always say rational things or lash out. Bashir as Garak's friend probably also realizes Garak hates his situation and as someone emotionally crashing is just attacking the nearest target.

[@jayallen81]

True dat, Brother.

[@Nitsua1201]

The fact that Garak is still lying, even through a mental episode, is by far the most impressive piece in this character showcase.

[@0why]

I always framed it as him telling the truth in a certain way. Garak was the weak one, the one who was cold, the one who was weak, the one who let those children go free. And Elim, right hand to Tane, second in command of the obsidian order was looking at the situation with disgust and hatred. On that day Elim died in that shuttle accident, and Garak, a kinder, more compassionate cardassian was born, although he still had plenty of hatred inside.

[@trenthawkins]

Oh, but everything he says IS true. *Especially* the lies.

[@itsOasus]

"Lying is a skill like any other. And if you want to maintain a level of excellence, you have to practice constantly."

[@azraelangelofred]

When Garak sheds his "tailor" behavior, he shows the assassin, the spy, the saboteur. His voice changes, his body language, his EYES even seem different. I remember when I first saw Garak, I saw nothing but a tailor. A wussy, a charming, smiling salesman. Then I see this and I see a snarling, vicious, self-loathing Cardassian warrior that could tear a man's arm off and hand it back to him coldly. TRULY a fine actor. Magnificent.

[@sarahkinsey5434]

azraelangelofred Garak is the best written and performed character in the whole franchise! Kudos to Robinson for bringing such a complex character to life from the pages of the script!

[@lL338]

I gotta re-watch this.

[@blastermasterguy]

Yes but despite Enabran Tain being the very living personification of everything wrong with the Cardassian people, Tain couldn't get Garak to throw away his compassion and empathy. Despite the monster Garak can be, he is also capable of so much more.

[@robertlee5124]

In The Pale Moonlight, Another awesome performance by Garak

[@kevinmcfalls945]

Andrew Robinson doesn't mess around.

[@cleargreyskies]

Next to many other things from this scene I love how Bashir says "OKAY, Garak."

[@johnnynorrisjr.39]

Reminds me of signs in bars that say "I'm your bartender, not your mother. When I say you've had enough, you've had enough"

[@xxlCortez]

I can't believe this guy. Even half mad from the pain he makes up stories about why he was exiled.

[@JimmySteller]

Considering that he was born into one of the most advanced spy organizations of the entire Star Trek franchise, I'm not surprised.

[@Martok84]

what was the true story?

[@austinboylan5476]

Martok84 According to Garak all of them were. So who knows.

[@ensignmjs7058]

I could be wrong since I didn't read the whole story, but I think someone mentioned that in Garak's novelized backstory, he fell in love with the daughter of one of Tain's rivals. Tain saw that as a betrayal. Also, because Garak was the son of Tain, Tain saw him as a possible weakness or liability that could be used against him by his rivals. The head of the Obsidian Order didn't like that. Side note: I believe the housekeeper Mila is Garak's mother.

[@ynakoliai5146]

You have the book a stich in time that explains it.

[@johnsierra3537]

As someone who has dealt with drug addiction & withdrawal, I can say that Robinson did a perfect job capturing the stress and rage that comes trying to escape dependency. Unfortunately, it’s very much like this, your mind spins & the anger is so hard to contain, and often ends up getting directed at the people around you.

[@mandi8345]

Emotional neuro storms are something I wish more people understood were a thing. Unfortunately, if the number of times Ive had to wedge myself into a situation, pull the agro, endure the abuse, validate and deflect the loops of logic, waiting for them to burn it all out and hit that endorphin crash is any indication......people dont understand shit about how a brain actually manifests the mind..... People think Im some sort of saint, or have a knack for dealing with someone in (what I call) a mind storm.....Im not and I dont.........The truth is Ive been in a cyclone of unaddressed repeated even belittled traumas inside my head for decades and the monster they think they are is nothing compared to the one that has festered inside me.....Their little tantrums are silly tiny things......Of course, to them,in the moment, it is entirely valid and they deserve to be treated like someone going through a crisis of the mind. Its the only humane thing to do. But as much as we trick ourselves to assume it is, the world is not a happy fun calm place, sometimes it needs to be allowed not to be (in a reasonably safe controlled manner of course. A rage space if you will where one is allowed to let it out, its healthy for the mind in the long run). Besides, "calm down" has never calmed someone down......

[@nicholai40]

Andrew J. Robinson should have gotten an award for this scene.

[@konundrum3678]

He is a great actor.

[@CabbageSandwich]

I mean... This scene is some of the BEST acting in star trek next to Picards stuff, I mean probably even better than picards. This is an AMAZING scene.

[@sayakdaskaizer]

Absolutely...

[@TheRichNewnes]

Perhaps for the whole episode.

[@sarahkinsey5434]

nicholai40 Yes he should have!

[@shoonx3889]

This is pure PTSD and Garek is obviously lashing out. God, this show is incredible. He insults Julian but you can tell he doesn't actually mean it. He's simply lashing out. Easily one of my favorite Star Trek characters of all time.

[@datnoob4394]

I mean, even when he's insulting him, he says "The only thing I enjoy about my life are my lunches with you."

[@alejandrob.4961]

yes, lashing out but telling the truth

[@bernhardwall6876]

The episode where O'Brian comes back to the station after experiencing a simultated 20-year prison sentence is great, too.

[@Some_Idiot_on_the_Internet]

@@alejandrob.4961 What makes you think he was telling the truth though?

[@radscorpion8]

@@Some_Idiot_on_the_Internet Dude why would you pick such a self-humiliating name lol

[@diec1290]

Poor Bashir...you can tell his heart is breaking in this scene.

[@WobblesandBean]

He also knows Garak is going through SEVERE withdrawal.

[@kayleighbrown459]

Honestly, he just seems kinda annoyed. Like not in a mean way but a knows Garak is saying stuff he doesn't really mean kinda way.

[@borisc6714]

Especially since he knows he is being lie to yet another time by Garak

[@agsystems8220]

I don't know, I'd be quite flattered at being told you I was the highlight of somebody's life, even if it was in the middle of a tirade about how much their life sucked.

[@thomaswhite3059]

@@agsystems8220 I imagine the feelings are complicated because he's also saying he hates that he loves him.

[@K-11609]

I like to think that whenever Garak mentions “Elim” this way he’s actually referring to some kind of split personality of the person he wanted to be the most and the person he really was. One that wanted the approval of his father and Cardassia, and the other who stayed on the station and helped the Federation win the Dominion war.

[@macrussell78]

Can we step back for a moment and realize that every badass and cunning move Garak has done through out DS9 he was technically high off his ass while doing it?

[@skatemetrix]

Only for seasons 1 and 2.

[@xxxdumbwordstupidnumberxxx4844]

@@skatemetrix In the end I think he got a replacement or repair for the implant that was causing these issues, but I'm not sure if that's the case or if he was cured of his dependence.

[@mortman200]

Even when he's having a mental breakdown Garak still gives Bashir the information he needs to get help. Namedropping Tain was definitely intentional so Bashir would follow the thread.

[@Endisupertramp]

The way he says "the air" at 2:03 alone is enough to give you chills. Robinson really put his back into the character, he pulled no punches.

[@alizah8042]

But this is an awesome look into Garak's psyche! Here Garak describes two people, Elim and Garak and their actions on Bajor. But as we learn later, Elim and Garak are actually the same person. Remember that the Cardassian way is extremely metaphorical. Garak is, via metaphor, saying something transending lies and truth to Bashir here, sending him a message that he felt he could entrust to him as his friend: I am assimilating (to some degree) the values that you and the federation value in order to stay alive (Garak), but a part of me is absolutely shocked and horrified (Elim) and I don't know how to reconcile these two halves except by punishing myself. The two halves of him are fighting, and I don't think they ever truly resolve over the course of the series.

[@nicojones9411]

I've been trying to figure out the meaning behind Garak's "lies" ever since I heard them.This honestly makes a helluva lot of sense, especially because Cardassians are so dependent on metaphors. I couldn't believe everything he said was careless fiction to get Bashir off his back.He's trying to tell Julian in the only way he knows how - through stories and personas and hidden veils. It's not easy for him to explain his emotions because it makes him so vulnerable; it really shows the trust Garak has in him.

[@Raptured_Night]

I also suspect that he was giving Julian a very honest account of the "reason" for why he was exiled, if not the exact set of circumstances. At the core of all the stories that Garak told is the fault of "sentiment." One side of him is guilty of sentiment and the other can't reconcile that. In "A Stitch in Time" Garak's struggle with sentiment as a negative Cardassian trait becomes evident I think. So on yet another level he is telling Julian, "I was exiled because I allowed sentiment to overtake my more Cardassian sense and training," and later asks to be forgiven (by Julian) for that bit of truth.

[@docburton8923]

Pretty accurate description, it also lines up pretty well with Garak's breakdown in season 7, when he suddenly suffered claustrophobic attacks he previously controlled for years, due to his direct involvement in the death of countless cardassians in order to free Cardassia from the Dominion. Him breaking and deciphering cardassian codes and providing them to Starfleet Intelligence, ensuring the death of many of his people, tortured him greatly, even though he's fully aware that it needed to be done. Garak did yet another job that Elim despised.

[@geoffwilliams4478]

I think Elim and Garak are two different people in one body. Elim is the darker phsyche whereas GARAK (plain simple) is the other. In a way, Garak betrayed himself (resulting his exile) and Garak learned to pity himself for it, even though he did the right thing in the end

[@blastermasterguy]

In the novels, Garak overcomes his despair at Cardassia's devestation at the end of the Dominion War and becomes a major force in rebuilding his people's planet and remolding their civilization and society to be less Orwellian and more similar to the values Bashir helped instill in him.

[@redkat82]

C'mon Bashir, nobody wants to be told to "Calm Down" ... lol

[@ShishouDzukiZaManako]

gets thrown "I dont want to hurt you" immediately loses his gained advantage lucks out on heart attack

[@ryutenmen]

@@ShishouDzukiZaManako Bashir really knew what he was saying, he didn't say that to fill the moment or from an delirious inflated ego. Bashir has been "subjected to genetic engineering. The procedure made him mentally superior to most humans, and greatly enhanced his physical abilities" - Wikipedia.

[@ShishouDzukiZaManako]

@@ryutenmen cool story but his eugenics-born intelligence can only do so much. case in point: Bashir couldnt tell he was the result of eugenics, hes smart NOT a magic 8ball

[@ulrikcaspersen9145]

Garak is no doubt one of the most complex and mysterious characters in all Star Trek, movies or tv-shows. And to play such a role as believeably as he does, just goes to show how great an actor Andrew Robinson is.

[@sarahkinsey5434]

Ulrik Caspersen its so sad he was typecast at the beginning of his career because of Dirty Harry. He would have gone very far! But then again, we wouldn't have had such a genius playing Garak

[@Johnalbertwesker]

You missed morn.

[@andrewlocke3389]

Guinan, too.

[@alejandrob.4961]

it is not mysterious if you have ambition and want to push for a better job

[@Yuurei21]

You should read the book. It dives deeper into his psyche and it was written by the actor.

[@ReaverLordTonus]

Considering this was where Garak was at his most vulnerable I would say that this version if the story has the most truth to it. I think he did have a moment of weakness and showed mercy and compassion, something very unCardassian. Tain could have just executed him but he says later that he wants Garak to live a long healthy life in exile, implying he wants him to fully understand his mistake. Exiled to a world full of the people he took pity on and threw away his future for, but would never reward him for it, only look upon him with animosity and that's what Tain wants. Why let a man die proudly for his convictions when you can force him to live forever in shame of them.

[@noahpartic7586]

Makes sense. Mercy can feel even more cruel than death.

[@danieldickson8591]

And Tain raised petty spite to the level of epic.

[@RockBottom45]

The character. The acting in this scene. Masterpiece. Garak was the best and I miss this show so much!

[@anthonytd103]

Agreed. I think the acting on ds9 was great.

[@aprylreigns8666]

This is why I loved the Garak/Bashir relationship....Andrew J Robinson and Alexander Sidding are unspoken heroes in the Star Trek Universe....I don't want movies to come out of this relationship BUT...can you imagine the Television mini-series?????

[@volrag]

If they ever made a miniseries about Garak, whether it's what he's doing after the dominion war or during his time in the obsidian order, I'd watch the crap out of it lol.

[@sarahkinsey5434]

@@volrag I'd watch anything with Garak in it!

[@TheWyldehart]

@@sarahkinsey5434 Yes! Absolutely!

[@DeetotheDubs]

I'm way late to this but they got back together for a mini-series online. I think it was a fanfic thing but it was nice seeing them again. I'd help narrow the search more but I don't remember the name. Edit: I found it. Called "Alone Together" on YT

[@DblOSmith]

"...they were filthy and they STANK..." the way he delivers that line gives me chills....

[@Anglomachian]

That's my general reaction when I'm told to calm down.

[@otakurocklee]

I AM relaxed!

[@RequiemPoete]

You confess to interrogating children then letting them go? Seems a bit of an over reaction.

[@hecate235]

lol The irony here is that Garak is belittling Bashir for being naive and not very bright. When the truth was Julian was probably the smartest person on DS9. Maybe that's why he enjoyed sparring with Garak so much.

[@johnnynorrisjr.39]

Or, recursively, Garak may have noticed "little things" here and there, and realized that there was something Julian was keeping secret from him, but couldn't figure out what.

[@derekbuckler9888]

He's such an underrated actor, he makes you laugh, smile, and gets your attention EVERY single time. He's one of the main reasons DS9 was such a great show

[@yusefendure]

And people had the NERVE to say DS9 sucked!! Only now are people waking up to how brilliant this show was. Andrew J. Robinson is an outstanding talent; a master actor!

[@VioIetShift]

Who said DS9 sucks? Most of the Trekkies I know have been saying for years that it's the best Trek series.

[@r0bw00d]

How could anyone tell at the time if DS9 sucked? The damn thing couldn't maintain a regular time slot to save its life. How it lasted seven seasons is beyond me.

[@RequiemPoete]

The people who said it sucked were the diehard fans of Gene Roddenberry's vision of Startrek. He didn't like showing that the Federation had weaknesses or was flawed. He wanted the federation to always be portrayed as a socialist Utopia that was above the stuff introduced in DS9. Section 31, the episode A Pale Moon's Light.

[@jamesrawlins735]

So many great acting performances - Colm Meaney, Nana Visitor, Andrew Robinson, Armin Shimmerman, Louise Fletcher, Marc Alaimo, J.G. Hertzler (the greatest Klingon), Robert O'Reily, and of course Avery Brooks. Btw, Robinson and Shimmerman actually wrote 2 very good ST novels: Shimmerman's 34th Rule (which is about Quark being imprisoned during a diplomatic crisis between Bajor and the Ferengi's (an allegory of the Japanese-American internment during WW2), and Robinson's A Stitch in Time, which details a lot more of Garak's story, including events following DS9

[@jamesrawlins735]

@trojansfan87 Strongly disagree. Don't mistake commercial success with program quality. DS9 was always highly regarded by the critics - TV Guide called it the best written, acted, produced and finest Star Trek series - a lot of other lists of Sci Fi shows has Deep Space Nine high on their lists. So why did it have trouble with ratings? First, the syndicated market became very crowded and competitive in the 1990s. It's also a very morally ambiguous series, something that a large number of viewers didn't quite buy into back then (things have changed since then as The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Mad Men and The Walking Dead have shown). The other thing that hurt DS9 is that Paramount stopped promoting DS9 in favor of Voyager, which was on its own network, and yes, Worf was brought in because of ratings (ironically the same reason Seven of Nine was brought in to Voyager - both introductions improving each show. Of course, everyone likes what they like so if you don't like DS9, that's fine.

[@alansmith6376]

Andrew Robinson is one of the most underrated actors of all time. This scene is brilliant.

[@isismama81]

The Wire is one of the best star trek episodes of any series. Love the way both actors interact with each other throughout. Its brilliant!

[@KGillis]

THIS is what NuTrek is missing. It's not the issues with canon (Trek has always fallen short of full internal consistency). It's not because we dislike minorities in prominent positions (Trek has always been at the edge of progressive issues). It's because nothing in the NuTrek stuff comes close to this level of character interaction and dialogue.

[@WobblesandBean]

^ THIS. They think space battles and action is all we care about. It's awful.

[@chrishoughton2500]

Well said

[@Cobbido]

The characters are quite unlikable as well. DS9 however had a vast array of likable characters. Even the antagonists had a certain charm.

[@0x777]

Because the characters in the old Trek had something the characters in the new one must not have: Flaws.

[@therasheck]

Babylon 5 and DS9 took seasons to build up to widespread conflict. And DS9 took more than a season to solve it as well. I will admit as to nor yet seeing any new trek but will when it come out from the Paramount pay wall or I finally force myself to get a VPN and watch it on Netflix.

[@AlphaOmegaJMAC]

Undoubtedly one of the best, darkest scenes of DS9. Garek really is one of the best characters in the ST universe.

[@ArisenMind]

This was such a powerful and moving scene...ugh....they don't make sci fi shows like this anymore...

[@WobblesandBean]

Especially not Star Trek shows.

[@GlennTheSadMarinersFan]

Just imagine Garak at his worst. I guess you can see part of it in a pale moon light.

[@wkmac2]

Andrew Robinson never got the credit for the actor he was/is. Loved his Garak character and what he did and made with it.

[@NotQuiteFirst]

Any video I watch of Garak there are people complimenting his acting.

[@bsotech]

knowing later that Bashir was an augment, you can see subtly where he was about a third of a second from kicking Garak's ass.

[@DraculaCronqvist]

+Jack Martinez Wrong. Bashir was only mentally augmented, never physically. That's explicitly stated multiple times. Bashir is no stronger than an ordinary human - just a lot smarter than one.

[@Lupinthe3rd.]

+DraculaCronqvist his dexterity and hand eye coordination is enhanced

[@DraculaCronqvist]

+KingDT2007 That would still not amount to being able to beat Garak, who's an extremely capable fighter.

[@DrownedInExile]

It would have been great if Garak tried to attack, but Julian easily evaded him. Garak comments "You're not what you seem Doctor. I take it back, I'm impressed."

[@RequiemPoete]

@@DrownedInExile But then we would have been denied the hillarity of Garak's inarticulate BLAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH! when he attacked Bashir.

[@Decrepit_biker]

Garrak was one of the best characters in Trek lore! So complex and obviously psychologicaly damaged. I often think he lied so well because he believed them all, hence his line " especially the lies"

[@OsamaBinLooney]

"oh i DID enjoy it, and that was the worst part" great line XD

[@StarTrekkie8472]

Robinsons acting in this scene was top notch!

[@JimmySteller]

I'm still slightly taken aback at his snarl at 3:35 .

[@erlucas5768]

I would say both actors were

[@AstroTrain100]

Garek was an awesome character, the entire show had great characters, Garek, Sisko, Worf, Odo, Quark and my personal favorite Dukat...the list goes on and on. I'm still pissed that they didn't make the new show set after the Dominion war and Voyager. Think of all the great character they could have brought back. Fucking Cryin shame:(

[@ussglowcloud6988]

AstroTrain100 They were actually planning on it. But the project was aborted in favour if the JJ Abrams movies

[@sarahkinsey5434]

AstroTrain100 I still want a DS9 movie. Or even better a 'where are they now' movie or TV special or something to see where the characters are now, decades later. I'd like to have has many characters as possible from TNG, DS9 and Voyager to be in it. Maybe I'll get that wish in the new Picard if they don't mess it up.

[@Jokie155]

CBS and Paramount splitting up has left the franchise rights in limbo, it's as simple as that.

[@Bacxaber]

Armin (Quark) has said numerous times he's not physically able to play the role anymore (don't understand why, he seems fine and Quark wasn't doing stunts very often).

[@thatHARVguy]

Star Trek Online reunited most of the cast for a story arc/expansion in their game.

[@wkmac2]

Andrew Robinson changed a TV show into dramatic theater at its finest. What a fantastic actor who could easily be any one of the many faces of Garak that needed to be projected.

[@Jordie_42]

Is it insulting to trekkies to say that Garek is the best character in all of star trek?

[@Optimusprime240]

No... because we all feel the same way XD

[@patrickschulz2193]

Andrew J. Robinson lived and breathed the character.

[@Elthenar]

Don't know if he is the best, it's hard to pick a best. He's certainly up there though. Robinson played him perfectly he the writers gave him great material. Spock is probably the best, but Garak, Data and Odo are in the conversation.

[@deicidemaul]

No it's not, he is the best!

[@cj-rf5nn]

and bashir is the worst

[@Slowmotionthworp]

This was an absolutely amazing episode,and Andy killed it as Garak. The writers of that character never disappointed me :)

[@bobpage6597]

Another lie - he wasn't exiled because of the children. "Let this be another lesson to you Doctor, perhaps the most valuable one I can ever teach you: Sentiment is the greatest weakness of all." - Garak was exiled for love. Love of a woman who wasn't his, and was already spoken for. It was a "selfish indulgence" which cost Garak everything. The novel written by Andrew Robinson (A Stitch In Time) explains much of Garak's story, and given it was written by the man who played him - its fitting for it to be canon.

[@suitov]

Even in this state Garak can't say what he means. He lashes out in pain and deliberately hurts Bashir, trying to get him to leave so he won't see Garak 'weak'. He also wants Bashir to stay, doesn't want to be alone, but he won't admit that even to himself. Despair disease is a heck of a drug.

[@datnoob4394]

You say that but I think he's saying exactly what he means, it's basically saying that on the station, the only thing he enjoys is lunch with the doctor.

[@detectivesnickers6176]

The moment you remember Garak cried once

[@Jess.Anderson]

"Things are so bad that all i have to look forward to is hanging out with YOU".... Its said in an insulting way to hide the fact that the sentiment, that he enjoys his lunch with Julian is actually probably genuinely hearfelt... Its the Cardassian way to not being explicit about emotional attachments. He would never just say "I adore having lunches with you, and I appreciate you being here with me now" That's just how Cardassians are. Julian Bashir does not know enough about Cardassians at this point to figure that out though. Garak's turned a compliment into an insult... To hide the fact thats it is actually something he truly does care about his time spent with Julian. Cardassians overcomplicate things imo. If you like someone, instead of telling them, you argue with them. 🤷 Much later in the series, when Garak insults him, Julian smiles flirtily and quips back at him. (IE: "If im a vulcan how do you explain my boyish smile") I like to think Julian gets it by that point. That he's figured out by then that that its how Garak expresses that he's fond of him. Its sad theses two never dated in the series. All the actors and writers admited that that has been where they wanted to go with the characters but that they were shot down by upper management because it would have been too scandalous for the 90's. But Julian and Garak obviously had chemistry, cared deeply for each other, risked their lives for one another, and did things like give each other Delavian Chocolates as presents when they missed each other. I like to think they got together post-canon and are living happily on Cardassia arguing about books and raising some Cardassian war orphans. 🙂

[@tprime2702]

But they were never sexually attracted to each other. Julian clearly demonstrated on many occasions that he entertained the advances of the opposite sex. As did Garak. Why does everything have to have homosexuality or transgenderism acceptance shoved into it. If the writers wanted their characters expressed that way, they would have written them that way. FFS, Dax had a homosexual relationship with her ex wife from a past life. Odo had a homosexual relationship with Lars if you consider linking as a form of sex. Isn't that good enough? Believe it or not, heterosexual men quip and task at each other, as an expression of brotherly affection. I do that with my own siblings, that doesn't mean I want to sleep with them.

[@Jess.Anderson]

@@tprime2702 *The actors who played Bashir and Garak have admitted multiple times that they played the relationship as having homosexual attraction towards each other.* So, I'm not interpreting this in a way not intended. Although the actors and the writers all intended to pursue Garak and Bashir as a couple, it was stopped in its track but someone higher up at the tv network.The writers were told to stop giving the two scenes together, and Garak was told to "tone down" his performance. There are multiple interviews confirming all this. During the show, *Garak never displayed an attraction the opposite sex.* Ziyal was purposefully introduced because the writers were instructed to make it less gay, and so, Bashir was given a platonic friendship with Miles (Miles had previously hated Bashir) and Ziyal was written as a friend for Garak. It is obvious that Ziyal had a crush on him, *But Garak never showed attraction to Ziyal.* Not suprising really since she was only a teenager and Garak was middle age, and her fathers age. He says he is touched by her kindness and that she is pleasant company. Nothing more. Later on, Garak did not seem bothered by the fact that Damar had killed Ziyal and the two worked together just fine. Knowing what we know of Garak's character, had someone actually shot and killed his lover/someone Garak had passion for... well, I'm certain that person would have met a mysteriously ill fated end. Bashir on the other hand, dated many female characters. But this doesnt mean hes exclusively attracted to females, since *bisexuality is very much a thing.* The characters did show attraction to male characters, if you take into account that they were flirting with each other, mostly in Cardassian, throughout most of the series. You said you argue with other men and it means nothing, but you are not Cardassian. *We know Cardassians flirt primarily through arguing* since we had an entire episode dedicated to that plot point, (Miles and Gilora Rejal) and that throughout the seires *Garak meets Bashir consistently for lunch several times a week specifically to argue about things* and debate with him on subjects like literature. And often Garak antagonizes Basir for no reason other then to ...flirt with Bashir. Like when he tells Bashir off for the way he eats Idanian pudding even though Bashir did nothing to prompt Garak's sniping. They also flirt human style on occasion. *The episode where they give each other Delavian chocolates, a favorite they apparently have in common, is grossly romantic...* I highly reccomend watching "Destiny" followed immediately by "Improbable Cause". Garak and Bashir were also intimately close. Bashir knew Garak's secrets, and *Garak wanted Bashir in the room when his father died and passed along more important secrets.* Knowing how secretive Garak is and how important this kind of thing is to Garak, this means Bashir is probably now the closest person to him in the whole universe. The relationship never moved beyond flirtation and emotional intimacy, during the series run. But that doesn't mean it didnt have potential to develop post series. And I see no reason not to want it to, *because it is what the creators intended.* 😁

[@Pixiesnix]

@@Jess.Anderson Can I give this comment a standing ovation?

[@DJLite4011]

@@tprime2702 get dunked on

[@RequiemPoete]

@@tprime2702 Accept thats how the parts were played. There was even talk of making them bi, by the writers but it got nixxed by the producers.

[@Ken-lv8ej]

Easily one of the top 3 Trek Actors ever.

[@firefly2k7uk]

Andrew Robinson really really nailed this part. Garak is one of the best and most complex characters in Star Trek and Andrew really sold the part with his performance. On a wider note I found some of exchanges and stories about the Bajorian occupation to be some of the most emotional of all of Trek.

[@franzhaas3712]

Wow, did he ever get an Emmy? What a performance.

[@BravosReviews]

One of the very best performances in all of trek.

[@PurposelessRabbitholes]

2:03 One of, if not the single best, line deliveries in all of Star Trek. That strained laugh gives me CHILLS every single time.

[@danieldickson8591]

It's unsettling to see Garak, always the most self-possessed person in the room, acting outright deranged.

[@johnh2118]

Me when someone eats my last nutter butter.

[@Ephisus]

I hate this place, and I hate you.

[@hound9313]

What a scene between these two characters. Tremendous work by both actors, and writing by the crew.

[@Mogget01]

This happened between I and my best friend. I’ve done nothing but read books and try to educate myself every day, my best friend is basically illiterate but a wizard as a craftsman and a repairman. I fell on booze hard, and one day while I was drunk, I snapped on him like this. I was so ashamed of myself I swore off drinking; I am so pathetic... thank god he was a good friend and forgave me, i cherish his friendship so much, and I do everything in my power to make him realize I hate myself for doing this to him. This is a great story.

[@psychedelllica]

Andrew Robinson's acting here is so good. I cannot get enough of this scene. The inflection,,, the absolute venom dripping from his voice,,, Its genuinely so impressive, well done Andy

[@ir2841]

Garak is the most handsome junkie I’ve ever seen.

[@LeifWarner]

Why would Bashir reply, "I'm sorry you feel that way."? Garak just told him their lunches together was the only thing he had to look forward to. I would be moved.

[@JimmySteller]

It’s the way Garak says it. His tone of voice is dripping with contempt and disgust.

[@RequiemPoete]

But frames it as "My life has become so pathetic, that your company has become my highlight."

[@Jess.Anderson]

@@RequiemPoete"Things are so bad that all i have to look forward to is hanging out with YOU".... Its said in an insulting way to hide the fact that the sentiment, that he enjoys his lunch with Julian is actually probably genuinely hearfelt... Its the Cardassian way to not being explicit about emotional attachments. He would never just say "I adore having lunches with you, and I appreciate you being here with me now" That's just how Cardassians are. Julian Bashir does not know enough about Cardassians at this point to figure that out though. Garak's turned a compliment into an insult... To hide the fact thats it is actually something he truly does care about his time spent with Julian. Cardassians overcomplicate things imo. If you like someone, instead of telling them, you argue with them. 🤷 Much later in the series, when Garak insults him, Julian smiles flirtily and quips back at him. (IE: "If im a vulcan how do you explain my boyish smile") I like to think Julian gets it by that point. That he's figured out by then that that its how Garak expresses that he's fond of him. Its sad theses two never dated in the series. All the actors and writers admited that that has been where they wanted to go with the characters but that they were shot down by upper management because it would have been too scandalous for the 90's. But Julian and Garak obviously had chemistry, cared deeply for each other, risked their lives for one another, and did things like give each other Delavian Chocolates as presents when they missed each other. I like to think they got together post-canon and are living happily on Cardassia arguing about books and raising some Cardassian war orphans. 🙂

[@FurikoMaru]

Bashir's self-loathing vs Garak's self-loathing, fight!

[@RequiemPoete]

@@Jess.Anderson Except in this scene Garak is going through withdrawal, he's not just behaving in the flirty insulting way a Cardassiean might. His brain has no endorphins, he's crashing from a two year long drug trip. He's experiencing all that backlogged self loathing, anger and resentment and is genuinely lashing out. I'm not saying you're wrong normally, but in this specific scene, Garak is projecting all of that negativity onto Bashir as a target. In this moment he genuinely hates Bashir, because he went from being one of the three most powerful men on Cardasseia to enjoying company of an arrogant federation choir boy.

[@robertvangroll4602]

Bashir: I don't want to hurt you Me: Dude Garak can actually keep up with Worf in a fight for a bit..

[@RaK0]

I know what you are trying to say. Shame that Worf got his ass handed to him in almost every episode of Next Generation. :D

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

@@RaK0 There is a video that explains(at least from a writing perspective) how him getting his ass kicked was actual proof that he was a bad ass. Something like using him as the measuring stick for how strong the hostile force is.

[@therasheck]

This is where DS9 sealed itself in my heart as an excellent show.

[@MsPistrix]

Fun Fact: Cardassians use hostility as an expression of romantic desire. Just saying...

[@Jess.Anderson]

I ship it.

[@nicojones9411]

www.pinterest.com/pin/447686019185811451/

[@KaoruSan241]

The tension here is intense AF

[@GooglyEyedJoe]

So technically during the Cardassian-Federation War, they were really just trying to mate with the Federation?

[@veronika4870]

:-D

[@robbiepaterson4535]

The self-hatred in Garek for actually following more moral impulses is amazing for his character.

[@florianschneider3982]

he lies none of this happened

[@nickbooze9766]

I hate when my dads fight.

[@ScorpioSW]

One of the best actors and performances in Star Trek history

[@Exterwinator]

he almost went super saiyan

[@laurenjcoates]

They play off each other so well

[@jimmydaniel458]

Did you really post this yesterday, because... Let's just say that the universe is a strange place and leave it there.

[@laurenjcoates]

Jimmy Daniel wdym?

[@JamesCard-u1s]

God.. Andrew Robinson is such a fucking amazing actor. Imagine delivering this performance under a pound of makeup, being told you have to act as if you’re an alien. Gives me chills.

[@crazymage9636]

Everytime Garek speaks I am watching Shakespeare.

[@shaun_rambaran]

This episode is even better on second viewing, knowing who "Elim" was.

[@balamx2802]

This serves as a reminder of what a good actor Andrew Robinson is. Nobody plays "crazed" like him.

[@deadlyd5865]

This is the moment Garak became Heisenberg.

[@desotowrong]

Andrew Robinson was amazing, he really was the best part of this show. His performances as Garak are the best acting Star Trek has ever had.

[@cath1589]

Wow, what a meltdown! I'd forgotten about it. Painful to see Garak fighting his good side with so much bitterness, wonderful acting!

[@Zoomer30]

"Computer, Excedrin."

[@downunderrob]

At 02:15, that laugh. Shades of Scorpio from Dirty Harry?

[@BSE1320]

Well done. Thought I was the only one who remembered.

[@gnomespace]

And at 2:20, oh dear...

[@matthewblack7206]

Andrew Robinson - one of the greatest actors in Star Trek history.

[@Nine-Signs]

Once again DS9 showing it truly had the best writers and actors of any ST show to date.

[@PebkioNomare]

Even when he's suffering... Garak can't help but tell lies about why he's suffering.

[@FailSonOfAnarchy]

It rocks that for all of season one and most of season two, Garak was high off his ass.

[@mygaffer]

Garak was one of my favorite characters.

[@QuarkGamingLLC]

I used to think the reason star trek was filmed the way it was is because its old and they had older tech, but watching this made me reealize thats this is a style of filming. One that many shows lack, one that made star trek special

[@regalecusglesne3022]

"what a waste, these past two years have been" i can relate to that

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

Stuff like this is what lends evidence to the “DS9 is best” argument

[@jamesha175]

"stop it garak i don't want to hurt you!" - there is the reality right there; bashir has been genetically engineered to be stronger & smarter than normal humans and knows that he is capable of subduing garak.

[@All2Meme]

Do you think Bashir was given the full Khan treatment when he was genetically enhanced? If he was, it shows an extra depth to Bashir and shows what Khan could have been in a different reality.

[@katheli89]

@@All2Meme no just his reflexes and coordination were enhanced, he wasn't any stronger than any other human. They said that a bunch of times. He wouldn't have beaten any experienced, skilled fighters in a fight.

[@WobblesandBean]

@@katheli89 Not just that, he may not be physically stronger, but his reflexes and body mass were. So he can easily deflect and redirect any punches thrown his way.

[@katheli89]

@@WobblesandBean he didn't seem very good at combat, even after the reveal. So it doesn't seem like they intended him to be a secretly great fighter. Good at shooting, but hand-to-hand he never could have taken Garak or Worf or Sisko.

[@fieldagent59isintheforest32]

"And here's to you, Mr Robinson" ...what an actor.....

[@moonknight87]

On my worst days I feel like honest garak

[@TomUK737]

I love the end of this episode when Tain tell Bashir, Elim is Garak's first name. Andrew Robinson is a fucking legend!

[@spicenug]

Garak and Bashir played of each so well not just in this scene but throughout the series.

[@LouseGrouse]

I'm on this ep of DS9 right now (i haven't seen the rest of the series so no spoils pls) and it seems to be a part of Cardassian psychology that trauma or stress through events that are regretted are dealt with through the Cardassian becoming psychologically detached from themselves, forming an identity that is separate or altering their personality to take on a different role (like we saw in "Duet."). Kinda cool but I may be totally wrong considering how little I've watched so far.

[@MrHatoi]

I really appreciate the fact that there were some things the writers of this show just left entirely unanswered the whole way through. Why was Garak actually exiled? It would have been an easy opportunity to use that for foreshadowing or make a whole story arc around it later in the series, but the writers realized that it wasn't a question that needed to be answered and I like it better that way :)

[@RequiemPoete]

I wouldn't be surprised if each of the three stories had some of the truthful elements in it.

[@SuperODST1]

This is a very well-written hurt/comfort fanfiction...

[@energicko]

That evil laughter at 2:19 makes me think Elim Garak wouldn't have minded at all to have had the good meal right in front of those starving children. Nevermind about the hot bath!

[@cakelies]

I'm honestly surprised they didn't use it as a tactic to break the children further.

[@spaceflight1019]

These folks put a ton of soul into their acting. Gul Dukat was a likeable soul until his daughter was killed and then he just lost it. Garak got a heart attack for his rage.

[@Paul-A01]

So the med team are going to find Bashir and Garak sweaty and collapsed on the floor together...

[@larsdols3157]

Yes, but unlike some people, they wouldn't draw any hasty conclusions from it.

[@TheWyldehart]

I just want to watch...

[@Korgano]

I like the detail that the room was cold, something that would’ve bothered a Cardassian more than a Bajoran.

[@leisureenjoyer1986]

"there was a time when I was a power" - that time was in this scene, Andrew, hats off!

[@zippityzop]

Even as unhinged he can lie. Amazing!

[@veritaspk]

Of all Garak's great scenes, this one is the best in my opinion. When he talks about these children 🤯🤯🤯

[@rodrodman1200]

tv like this in 2018? unfortunately no

[@tprime2702]

Ikr.

[@jimiseverus]

This scene gives me goose bumps , it's awesome