Star Trek Deep Space Nine Ruminations S4E10: Our Man Bashir

[@laurapeter3857]

I love this episode because we get to see Eddington as a member of the crew and taking an active part in the entire episode rather than just a reoccurring walk on role. It makes his betrayal all the more a surprise when it happens.

[@timriggins70]

The Orville has proven your arguement about not needing a threat of the week to have a good episode.

[@andrewkyriacou6405]

So fun because Beshir and Garak are fantastic together, and Sisko hamming it up also fantastic. That is all.

[@TheMarcHicks]

I *loved* this episode. Its particularly cool to try & ret-con the way Bashir uses this program to make full use of his......enhancements.....out of view of the public.

[@GreenCauldron08]

Was a big Star Trek fan, never saw a James Bond movie, but I still LOVED this episode! Especially if you're familiar with the tropes, it's amazing fun!

[@radioflyer68911]

Bond isn't a spy, he's an assassin. He tells his enemies his real name. Kind of defeats the purpose of a code name.

[@AlcomIsst]

This is the only episode I know of that seems to break from DS9's wallpaper music problem, only probably because they were emulating the soundtrack from James Bond movies. I can recall the soundtrack they open with as Falcon is flying (bird puns, lol) through the glass, and the soundtrack as Garak and Bashir argue about calling for an exit.

[@bbbbKeJodddd]

The Garak sabotaging the program to test Bashir is pretty much the best option.

[@rpra6435]

This episode of the series is one of my favorites. I often come back to it and I have the same pleasure every time I watch it. Just a wonderful idea to create an extremely funny episode with very funny scenes. A character played by an actress who usually plays Dax - who pokes fun at all the so-called James Bond girls, among all other super scenes. It's just a fantastic episode and I'm saying that despite the fact that it is an episode not from the science fiction series, in fact.

[@jonsouth1545]

It's one of my favourite episodes. I love the comment by Garek that he joined the wrong intelligence service.

[@kblargh]

Yes, i would have very much liked to see more of James Bashir in the future. It was an unashamedly fun episode, and the dynamic with Garak just gave it the character substance it needed to be excellent. Thanks, MGM.

[@breezy1370]

I would be embarrassed if someone randomly walked into my house while i was enjoying the episode fist full of datas

[@paulscott2037]

I wouldn't restructure this episode at all. This is kind of a perfect episode.

[@ELEKTROSKANSEN]

What I don't quite like about your idea for this episode is that it basically sounds like "it was all a dream!" to me.

[@TheMarcHicks]

I thought it was a great use of the "holodeck malfunction" trope. It was hilarious seeing the regular crew hamming it up in the Holodeck.

[@EnvisionerWill]

I honestly had never realized this was the only "Julian Bashir, Super-Spy" episode. I just took it for granted that my memories of this episode either were a collage of several episodes worth of this content, or that there must have been others I hadn't seen. It fits so well with his later recruitment into Section 31 that I just had "Bashir = Spy" in my mind, and thought that was true on the holodeck all the time as well.

[@CRocketSlim]

Unpopular opinion: the Voyager holodeck malfunction episode where the 19th century Irish town holograms gain sentience is actually a fun, great episode, and really points out that holograms in general have the capacity to be actually living beings, if they would be allowed the freedom to explore that.

[@robertcringle4865]

"kiss the girl, get the key. They didn't teach me that in the obsidian order". Maybe the best line of the entire series.

[@ohgoditshimrun1346]

I am amazed that my answer off the top of my head was so similar to yours. Borrowing from the Voyager episode with the Heirarchy spying on the Doctor's daydreams, making it an intelligence gathering exercise, by Garak, to get a better sense of just what Bashir's expectations were of his espionage background. Regarding Bashir's insistence on being a hero, I absolutely believe that Garak has always been a villain. He takes turns as a protagonist more and more often over the course of the series, but never stops being the person whose response to moral questions is "so what". And as to the spoilers box content, I also find it very telling that the mirror universe version of Bashir has a lot of mannerisms in common with a specific character from The Wrath Of Khan. And I shall say no more in a public comment, in honor of the spoilers box.

[@johnashley327]

Kira in that night gown.

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

Nana Visitor has said on record that she had so much fun doing this episode and that scene in particular.

[@AdamCollings]

As a fan of both Star Trek and James Bond I enjoyed this episode so much. On one hand it's a shame MGM objected to this parody, but when I think about it, I'm not sure it needed to go any further. Would more Bashir 007 have really added anything that this episode didn't already do? I'm not sure.

[@MidnightSt]

I think they DO need the malfunction/threat of the week, because: Garek is bewildered by the fantasy, but that's only one half of the theme. The other half is Bashir getting bewildered and scared when the fantasy kinda stops being fantasy. In my opinion, you need both of those things to play together to get the awesomeness that episode was =D

[@DIEGhostfish]

And Garrak getting more serious about the dangers when his own life is actually on the line. And Bashir needing to try a new solution at the end when he's outplayed.

[@dirtywashedupsparkle]

The holodeck malfunction cause here is as ridiculous as others, but it was a fun romp with all the corny props and characters. There's some fun with Garak realising the Obsidian Order clearly didn't teach him everything about spying, what with all the lavish touches there. Gee, Bashir gets all the girls here. Hilarious with Kira's Russian accent, and also Sisko's villain character's shock at winning for once. I like how Bashir uses Garak's lines at the end there. And the line about destroying the world to save everyone. And how they mentioned O'Brien's going to flip when he sees the station, with cables everywhere.

[@noneed4me2n7]

Really enjoyed this one. Captured the feel of the 60s bond films perfectly for me.

[@normanbuchwald]

We see this program again on "A Simple Investigation" (Season Five) (which reveals Odo would've not been interested by the way) and the program is referenced by Sloane in "Inquisition" (Season Six). Also, having just watched the documentary last night, I'd say Garak may have had another reason to invade Bashir's program. ;) Oh, and Kira was starting to participate in Holodecks by now by the way (Dax convinced her to be in a King Arthur adventure in "Way of the Warrior" I believe and she has participated since).

[@DIEGhostfish]

I liked Bashir's subversion of the conclusion. Without the threat of the week, we never get his moment of realizing he can turn the game on its head.

[@radioflyer68911]

I thought Worf kinda got into being sheriff of Deadwood.

[@EnvisionerWill]

If the safeties were on, and you were buried over your head in holodeck lava, you definitely wouldn't burn to death because the lava would be fake lava that's only mildly warm to the touch (actually probably having convection heat around it to make it feel dangerous, but not being hot at all in itself). But they might be in danger of suffocation, even if the lava is a hologram and not a replicated thing, because the computer would have to specifically provide oxygen to people who have a hologram-lava forcefield across their nose and mouth.

[@MidnightSt]

I was never embarrased about being into videogames. I was embarrased about my parents taking 5 years of repeated explaining until they started accepting it as a valid and potentially valuable form of media. And about and for people who thought it's embarassing.

[@MsMarlena55]

The fact that Derek is the real spy and knows what's real and then Dr Bashir uses Derek's insight to end the program is kind of the whole point I think in this farce episode.

[@djgamer5546]

If CBS had challenged MGM in court, I'm fairly confident they would have one on the grounds of fair use. Of course the problem is that it's cheaper to just relent than to take it that far.

[@francoislacombe9071]

An interesting tidbit of data I completely missed and was pointed out to me recently. Julian Bashir and James Bond have the same initials.

[@MsMarlena55]

Well I kind of agree with you that Dr Bashir is being himself with all of his super enhanced talents but it was never shown that his personality traits or his maturity had been enhanced he still has to grow up like the rest of us and take it from a kid who was in those classes for people with high IQ you still do stupid things because you're a kid and that's why I appreciate doctor this year so much because he mirrors some of my own personal experience high IQ or high athletic ability does not give you an accomplished character inside does not give you a maturity

[@NapoleChan]

5am and I get the notification. I see it's a DS9 one, who needs sleep anyway.

[@radioflyer68911]

Barging in was a very frequent thing on the Smallville tv series too. No one ever knocked. Possibly it was to move the story along. It's probably why no one is shown going through the motions of paying for their food or drinks. It saves film time.

[@oaa-ff8zj]

Garak + Bashir = TV perfection

[@MsMarlena55]

You have a point about every book as much as I love him and don't mind his acting style I think he is in control and that laugh that one ha sort of proves that he's in control and knows he's exaggerating. Somehow he's able to pull it off because internally he's got such Force in his personality. I say it was similar to or better than William shatner's Kirk where clearly William shatner was exaggerating most of the time but there was something about Bill shatner that made that acceptable at the time. Could he do it today probably not even if he was a young man again

[@williamcody1849]

Within the first two minutes of this video you have convinced me to support your run for president.

[@Tuvok_Shakur]

while no longer getting bashir, we do get "take me out to the holo suite" later on where we get to see worf's competetive drive

[@TheMarcHicks]

Death to the Opposition.

[@athrunzala6919]

One of my faves! I think they carried it on with the Section 31 stuff, replacing playing spy with being one instead. You can tell the other actors loved playing something else for once, that's what helps make it great.

[@KnightRaymund]

I think there needs to be the threat, real or implied. The point is that Garak thinks Bashir is too idealistic. That sacrifices must be made. And Bashir proves him wrong by not trying to win the original scenario, but keep everyone alive long enough. I like the idea of Garak testing him. Yeah Worf wouldn't go for it. Odo could take his place and they could probably convince Kira somehow.

[@HistoricalPerspectiveRBr]

If this was a rights interest issue then the people involved did us a huge favour - because this episode is so much improved by virtue of being the only episode that does this; in fact I consider this to be this best holodeck/transporter accident episode every done.

[@obytay]

the way i always imnagained the holdeck saftys is more like a series of sesors that decects say an object moveing fast enuff to cause the user harm and if its repicated then resycle it and replace with a projection without subsatnce or if it was alwasy holografic then would make it again light that can pass throught the person. which is also why i thought they could go ofline to easly becuase that would take a lot of computing power and feedbacks.

[@E-Brightvoid]

1:53 Spitting pure facts homie

[@kieranholmes8086]

Tbh Lore I actually like your tangents lol it’s interesting hearing you just talk about stuff

[@DIEGhostfish]

I felt more like the forcefields and other energy discharges are just able to hurt the person rather than replicating a real laser or lava that can hurt things.

[@shinsenkitsune8823]

Favorite episode of my favorite show.

[@AdamCollings]

I understand what you're saying about 'threat of the week', but in this case, it doesn't bother me. The times 'threat of the week' annoys me is when they add a completely un-related and un-interesting threat to a character-centric episode like they often did in TNG and Voyager. In this case, it was strongly tied to the main plot, and in my opinion, enhanced that plot. Because of the threat aspect, we get that amusing twist at the end where Bashir saves the day by destroying the world. Yes, the premise is absurd, and holodeck safeties are ridiculous, but I don't think I'd change a thing about this particular episode.

[@Mikanojo]

The path seems practically paved for the creation of doujinshi, the on-going adventures of Bashir the Bond-esque spy. i confess i will be very surprised if no one else seems to have thought of this? It could even be a sub-plot in a DS9 paperback.

[@nicholassterling8483]

19:35 Is this not what was done in _Move Along Home_ (an episode I really like, by the way)? Nick :-)

[@ZemplinTemplar]

Fun episode and a fun rumination. Thank you for lifting my spirits on a rainy spring day. :-)

[@BleydTorvall]

So, for your question on how to do this better while keeping a threat, I had an idea. Rather than it being some ridiculous contrivance of a sabotaged shuttle transport accident blah blah blah, have this set up where that same group sets off an attack on the station that catches the senior staff. Would make more sense for them all to be together that way. In this case, the attack would have done damage to their brains, and the doctor would need to find a way to keep their brains active while the damage is repaired. Bashir, being Bashir, would come up with the idea of plugging them into a holosuite program, having them play the roles, essentially as if they are dreaming. To make it work, Bashir needs to keep them engaged, which means playing into the fantasy, and this happens to be the only program loaded up at the time that could support that number of people. Everything else would slot in nicely, Bashir having to play along to make sure they remain engaged. But that would also mean not getting shot and such, not because the safeties were off, but because seeing a gun do nothing would risk breaking the fantasy and disengaging them. Admittedly, this might require some tweaking of Garak's role to keep him from being evil, but the basic premise could remain.

[@earlwatt7677]

The "safeties off" doesn't make the lava "real" per se. It makes their outcomes real to the participants. Real pain for them, not the other parts of the holodeck. If a bullet can do real damage, then the holodeck actually inflicts the physical damage. Not the bullet, per se. Hope that makes sense.

[@zuzoscorner]

uh not really. if it replcated actual lava, well the holodeck would freaking melt

[@brianstraight9308]

I agree with the OP it doesn't specifically make "real lava" because something like that would joust be absurd. I mean, it wasn't also a real laser drill boring into the Earth's mantle. It would just create real consequences to events. But if we want to argue "real" and "why didn't the holodeck melt?" Well, then the rock cavern walls are "real" too and thus aren't just going to instantly all turn to lava/magma. And likely wouldn't even over a course of time or even much transfer that heat to the holodeck components under the rock. (Density, and the thermal properties of rock and the air trapped in it.) But, in the end, it wouldn't be real lava. Just, likely, very hot and thick water.

[@williamozier918]

1) A nonpornographc use of the holodeck that would be a severe invasion of privacy; imagine if when Wesley Crusher was talking to his dead dad someone comes barging in, 'Hey Wes hurry it up wouldja?' 2) The holodeck malfunction is lazy writing and automatically notches an episode down for me. However, look closer, this is NOT a holodeck malfunction episode. In fact the usage of the holodeck in this episode is actually quite clever both IRL and IU. The holodeck didn't malfunction in this episode, Edington and Odo MacGyvered it, and that MacGyvering caused some unforseen life threatening problems. All in all I consider one of the better holodeck episodes. Technically speaking even better than the Moriarity plot because that used a totally hand-waved holodeck malfunction.

[@ifandbut]

:Raises hand: :Raises hand again"...

[@TuntematonX]

Threat of the week: A group of assassins hired by X to kill or abduct Garak fail in their initial attempt and are forced to infiltrate the holodeck program to kill him, because SOMEONE FOR ONCE thought of installing hardware safeties on the holodeck to ensure that Garak and Bashir are not killed by the assassin's messing with the program. Thus, Garak invades Bashir's privacy to save his skin and keep everything hushed afterwards... and probably fails. Or maybe the reverse happens and the holoprogram attempts to actively murder Bashir and Garak comes to "deal with an inconvenient pest problem". Though Garak messing with Bashir sounds marvelous.

[@frazerrhughess]

Dude! That DS9 documentary is finally getting a theatre release very soon! Direct to streaming soon after? Fingers crossed. Ira the purple goat directed and the whole cast is in it and they get the writers room guys together to talk abbouthow a season 8 could play out just for fun. Can’t wait

[@permeus2nd]

2:52 this is probaly in my top 10 episodes of star trek as a whole or it would be if i could actually be bothered to sit down and make a list :D but as i cant it just has to sit in that big fluffy cloud that is my favourite. i am also in complete agreement with the burning down of said houses, because there the same people that are messing up us getting that star trek show set after the dominion war and voyager getting back and also why the new Picard show has to look so different to TNG but also look as much the same as they can get away with so they can still sell toys. 19:08 Q mainly because more john de lancie is always a good thing but ied have had Q just sitting on the station looking board when he sees Bashir walk past heading to the holodeck and a smirk spreads across his face as he has already decided he doesn't really like Bashir, so just as he is thinking of how to mess with him Garak walks in and Q is like oh this could be fun fake spy vs real spy and let's spice it up a bit by making all the characters look like people he knows, so even random henchman no5 is bob who is one of the junior medics.

[@Pandaemoni]

No, this was a great episode. The actors got to try out different characters and did it well, especially Avery Brooks. Garak's character development was always welcome and his willingness to kill everyone to save himself was great, and his bafflement at the fantasy of the jet-setting celebrity secret agent was fun. Holodeck malfunction episodes are often stupid (for the reasons that Futurama pointed out...that the safeties (assuming they make sense in the first place) seem to be switched off with every glitch and you'd think they'd default to the system shutting down. Some of the episode makes more sense after the reveal of Bashir as an augmented human, since the baccarat and the knowledge of geology and gemstones seemed odd. If Garak had messed with the program, that might create a strain on his friendship with Bashir...if I convince you that all your best friends are going to die, then "Ha ha! No I was kidding" might not gladden your heart. One way you could do it is have someone from Julian's past (with whom Julian was competitive) send him the program challenging Julian to beat it without any loss of life...and that jerk preprogrammed the "emergency" into it. The "B" plot with a holographic Eddington and Odo can explained to Bashir and Garak over coms, who would be unaware that it wasn't real and think the stakes are life and death, but the blame goes to this old schoolmate/friend of Bashir whose holographic image can appear at the end to explain the joke and congratulate Bashir on winning. The program might or might not have the safeties off as I think that varies by program (at least Worf's programs seem to often lack safeties).

[@bodieofci5418]

One ofy fave DS9 episodes :)

[@jf7296]

I would have loved if this episode was just Bashir and Garak just going through the Holo novel. Garak is hehaving like a 'real' spy and pointing out of none sense about the logic of a ' Bond' spy movie. Why Bashir is acting like bond and trying to explain the logic to Garak. That would have been a far better episode in mine opinion.

[@phemyda94]

I love Garak and Bashir's dynamic and I grew up on Bond movies. I got SUCH a kick out of this episode. (Side note: how suave is Michael Dorn in this ep?)

[@nicholassterling8483]

7:15 You have to PAY to use a holosuite. Therefore, entering someone else's program breaches a financial contract as well as someone's privacy. Nick :-)

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

My jaw dropped at your take on Bashir's reason for this program being his status as a covert augment...Like, of course, how could I *not* *see* that ?!? I feel a bit of a dunce now...

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

Wow, I didn't know all the things about MGM regarding this episode and the Moriarty TNG episodes. How does this not qualify as Fair Use? Especially Moriarty. I mean Conan Doyle's works are in the public domain for Pete's sake!

[@brianstraight9308]

The thing with Moriarty stuff was that at the time not all elements of Sherlock Holmes were in the PD. But, here, DS9 didn't touch any specific elements other than just the general look and tone but this was clearly in Fair Use. They didn't touch any specific, copyrighted, elements.

[@frazerrhughess]

I like the fact that it’s a holo malfunction bc that means the crew can’t break character ever in the program so we get to seeenthem act in ways far out of their character and that’s great. Without the malfunction what would keep falcon for, dropping back into O’Brien now and then

[@Core1138]

Holodeck is a trap by the Obsidian Order to get Garak to tell secret information to a holographic Bashir during there Holodeck adventure. Those secrets are dangerous and can pose a threat to the station..... ?

[@fredrikcarlstedt393]

The name is Bashir, Julian Bashir.

[@TroyeMB]

Lore, your safeties must have been off -- the sled didn't show...

[@joluoto]

And why is the safeties going off even a thing?

[@13579lazlo]

This is NOT an holodeck malfunction episode.

[@ifandbut]

You forgot the spoilers in post.

[@dylanlewis5113]

If MGM was gone, would we get more Stargate stuff?

[@brianstraight9308]

Here's the thing I don't get. What did MGM say? I mean with the Moriarty stuff it was a specific thing using actual copyrighted names and materials. It was something they could point at and say, "Ours!" But with this. It wasn't specific. I mean, yeah, it was obvious what they were playing it, but they weren't using actual copyrighted names and characters just the the themes. I mean, do they completely own the spy genre with flamboyant music and villains? They weren't using any copyrighted names and stuff they were safely in the boundaries of parody in a "Fair Use" lane. Me thinks MGM just lunged at Paramount a bit and they just jumped and ran for the corner like a frightened puppy. Which, to be fair, probably was the "safe" choice because it's easier to just scede your rights than to fight and protect them.

[@bad-people6510]

I don't think he's enhanced to the same degree as someone like Khan. He seems like a much more limited type of augment where he certainly has enhanced intellect and hand-eye coordination, but he doesn't appear to have enhanced strength.

[@joluoto]

Why do they use the holodeck when it always malfunction. I don't understand. It's obviously not reliable tech and too dangerous to use.

[@normanbuchwald]

The only exception I can think of where it didn't malfunction is Bride of Chaotica .

[@ChocolatierRob]

The way I've always seen it the difference between holodeck safeties on or off is simply the difference between an insubstantial hologram and a force field. No need to replicate actual matter if you can create a hard light forcefield to mimic the relevant effects. Of course if we are talking bullets then with safeties on there is not even any need to create soft light illusions of something so small and fast, you just need to replicate the effects of a hit on whatever holographic surface an actual bullet would have hit. Not really any different to having a small squib in a wall to detonate as if the wall were being shot as is used in cinema today (except located in real time). On Bashir I still cant reconcile the two portrayals of him as the same person. As far as I'm concerned the genetically engineered Bashir exists in a separate timeline to the Bashir that was initially introduced. I've never liked clumsy retcons like that.

[@DIEGhostfish]

They could have won this case for parody easily.

[@nicholassterling8483]

I disagree with Lorerunner on this one. This episode, including the threat-of-the-week, is excellent exactly it is. No changes should be made. Nick :-)

[@MsMarlena55]

I do agree with you about O'Brien and Kira and how silly the rolls are that both of them are playing especially O'Brien but he supposedly is not aware of this and the computer has chosen the role he has not chosen the role was strange though is that the role is kind of near the same role that he plays in the mirror universe there's kind of a lack of imagination there on the writer's parts and Kira is just a fantasy girl and I guess she's okay with going along with that I mean Nana visitor is okay with going along with that because this is period Peace the period being the 1960s where it was acceptable to have names for women like p**** galore

[@MidnightSt]

"Why is violating holodeck privacy such a thing?" this is just a justification headcannon, i dislike it too, but: 1. both have the function that the user can lock them, so... there might kinda be the assumption that if the user didn't lock it, it's fine to barge in 2. it's not real so it's not embarassing, nobody cares what you're doing in there, as Riker explicitly said in the Barkley episode. 3. It's evolved, enlightened 24th century people. Barging in on a sexual act (with a nonexisting person) is nothing shocking, because sexuality isn't that kind of taboo anymore that you basically most of the time pretend that it doesn't exist and so it would be shocking for both sides if you barge in on it.

[@ReZerO100]

so, you wanted to change the episode so that it was 'just a game"

[@1234kalmar]

Wow I'm F-ing dyslexic, I read "**One** man Bashir" 3 times in the thumbnail.

[@subraxas]

Shit happens. :-)

[@3tobin]

Holodeck episodes have a poor reputation overall. But if you really take the time and look at them one by one, I think the majority are actually good or at least fun episodes. Sure, there are a few stinkers, but that's not a holodeck specific problem.

[@EnvisionerWill]

I personally feel differently from Lore about the fantasy vs. reality element; if I don't really want to live something out, I probably won't enjoy it in a fantasy context either. There might be exceptions, but I can't think of them. While I might not enjoy facing the danger involved in living out, say, Final Fantasy V, I would enjoy the overall experience of living in this world of magic and Chocobos and such. Games like Fallout or Hitman or Killzone don't appeal to me, because they are just not inherently interesting subject material; they are set in worlds that are just as gritty and unpleasant as real life, and so I don't want anything to do with them.

[@paulsimonon7944]

Acid Trash at its best

[@Jokie155]

Almost as much overacting from Avery Brooks as Far Beyond the Stars. Probably could've chewed the planet into shrinking if the lasers didn't do the job. But I suppose it's fine here because he's supposed to be a caricature of a supervillain. No I will not excuse hijacking the show for an irrelevant plot just to push a specific message. It's not quite as bad as 'Assignment Earth' for hijacking things in that Gene was doing it solely to be a jackass and escape TOS, but it's still the same vein. To credit Voyager on the holodeck privacy issue, there was the episode where B'Elanna began self harming via unsafe programs, and when the subject came up between Janeway, Chakotay and Paris on how to go about confronting her about it, all of them were extremely uncomfortable about even looking through the records of her programs. And when Chakotay did confront her about it it wasn't while in the middle of a program anyway.

[@ZemplinTemplar]

Aauuu ! ;-))

[@MsMarlena55]

I think you're too intellectual to have fun or you're being too intellectual to have fun guess what none of this stuff is real and you're trying to explain it as if it is just enjoy it sure the this stuff is weird but besides the two main characters Dr Bashir an and Garrick there's all the other characters not playing their usual roles which is delightful

[@danielyeshe]

Shouldn't this episode have been considered a parody and therefore MGM shouldn't have been able to do anything? And even if that is not the case what were they thinking? It is not like a Trek subplot is going to take people away from watching the Bond films.

[@rmsgrey]

Getting a legal determination would require both sides to spend considerable time, money and effort in court proceedings - and in the meantime, Paramount still wouldn't be allowed to make any more episodes of this type. As I understand it, it's pretty standard practice to settle out of court if there's enough of a case there to make it to trial rather than being tossed out during the preliminary hearings. Then too, there is a requirement to defend trademarks (though not copyrights) in order to prevent their being ruled abandoned - if Our Man Bashir were a violation of MGM trademarks in the Bond series, then failure to act against Paramount would have established a precedent to be used in future cases of people drawing on Bond in their own works - it would be very hard for MGM to argue both that they were ignorant of it, and that they'd done their due diligence to defend their trademark. One of the problems with intellectual property law is that, at least under the current US legal system, it doesn't really matter what the details of the law are - for the actual law to matter, both sides would have to be willing and able to take the matter to court rather than being willing to settle - which effectively means they have to be in a position to invest heavily in proving their case - and confident that they would win. Nuisance lawsuits - suits not intended to be won, but to be annoying enough that the target will pay a carefully calculated amount just to make them go away - are an unfortunate reality.

[@zuzoscorner]

always bugged me about the whole "anti-genetic manipulation "thing. yeah i know the genetics wars or what not. But that is like us not ever doing air flight ever again because 9-11 happened.yeah a big war happened over it..get over it.

[@rexremedy1733]

Funny. That’s the one I always skip.

[@radioflyer68911]

SNL type parodies of Star Trek are insulting to real fans. The word Trekkie was originally meant as demeaning. Galaxy quest stereotypes Trek fandom.

[@mistygoodeday5455]

Absolutely hated that episode.

[@robertcringle4865]

"kiss the girl, get the key. They didn't teach me that in the obsidian order". Maybe the best line of the entire series.