Movies - TV
How Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Bucked Franchise Norms With Dr. Bashir
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
Each “Star Trek” show is about the workplace dynamic on board a space vessel, with characters of different backgrounds and personalities working together to solve crises. While this focus on people may have led to an unconscious reliance on certain archetypes, such as the young and inexperienced crewmember, Dr. Bashir of “Deep Space Nine” would break this mold.
“Star Trek” is filled with youthful, naive characters, but unlike his counterparts in other series, Dr. Bashir grows and matures into an adult as time passes. The young Starfleet doctor joined the efforts to restore the space station, eager to engage in what he insultingly nicknamed “frontier medicine”; however, his cheerful attitude would soon face the harsh realities of violence.
During the series’ seven-season run, Bashir’s idealism was constantly challenged, and even his “frontier medicine” attitude quickly changed after being criticized by Major Kira for viewing her home planet’s strife as mere fodder for his adventure. The former spy Garak would teach him there were no clear-cut answers and that Starfleet idealism didn’t always function during turbulent times.
Bashir also began as an insufferable flirt, who constantly made advances on Jadzia Dax, but this would fizzle out as the series progressed. The doctor regarded the Trill science officer as a good friend until the symbiote was transferred to Ezri, and the two began a romance. Bashir may have started as a greenhorn, but the writers knew youth wasn’t permanent and growth would be required.