Julian Subatoi Bashir,
MD is a fictional character from the television series ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (abbreviated as ''DS9'') is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired in syndication from ...
'', portrayed by
Alexander Siddig.
Bashir is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of
space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a human crew in orbit for an extended period of time, and is therefore a type of space habitat. It lacks major propulsion or landing systems. An orbital station or an orbital space station ...
Deep Space Nine
''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (abbreviated as ''DS9'') is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller. The fourth series in the '' Star Trek'' media franchise, it originally aired in syndication fr ...
and the
USS ''Defiant''.
Overview
As a child, Julian Bashir fell behind in school, and was evaluated as having learning difficulties. Because of this, his parents, Richard and Amsha Bashir, had him subjected to
genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including ...
.
The procedure made him mentally superior to most humans, and greatly enhanced his physical abilities. However, because human genetic engineering is illegal in the
United Federation of Planets
In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'' the United Federation of Planets (UFP) is the interstellar government with which, as part of its space force Starfleet, most of the characters and starships of the franchise are affiliated. Commonly refe ...
, Bashir and his parents kept his procedure a secret throughout most of his adult life (''DS9'' episode: "
Doctor Bashir, I Presume?").
Bashir graduated second in his class at
Starfleet Medical Academy
In the fictional universe of ''Star Trek'', Starfleet Academy is where recruits to Starfleet's officer corps are trained. It was created in the year 2161, when the United Federation of Planets was founded. The Academy's motto is "''Ex astris, ...
, having intentionally missed a question on his final exam (''DS9'': "
Distant Voices"). He had his choice of assignments anywhere in the fleet, and so chose ''Deep Space Nine'' for the opportunity to practice "real-life frontier medicine" (''DS9'': "
Emissary"). He holds the rank of Lieutenant (j.g.) at the time of the series pilot, and Lieutenant from the fourth season premiere until the series finale.
Early on, his overly enthusiastic and self-important nature made some members of the crew, such as
Miles O'Brien and
Kira Nerys, reluctant to spend time with him. However, he eventually becomes friends with O'Brien,
Jadzia Dax, and
Elim Garak. Bashir flirts with Jadzia, who rejects his advances and goes on to marry
Worf
Worf, son of Mogh is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. He appears in the television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (''TNG'') and seasons four through seven of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (''DS9'') as well as t ...
. After her death, Bashir joins Worf on a dangerous mission to ensure Jadzia's soul a place in
Sto-Vo-Kor.
Bashir's closest friend is O'Brien, and they are frequently shown playing games (like darts) or visiting the
holodeck for the recreation of one of several historical battles such as the
Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna reclaimed the Alamo Mission near San An ...
or the
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...
. He is also close friends with Elim Garak, with whom he often shares lunch in the Replimat.
During pre-
Dominion
The term ''Dominion'' is used to refer to one of several self-governing nations of the British Empire.
"Dominion status" was first accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, South Africa, and the Irish Free State at the 1926 ...
war tensions, Bashir is kidnapped (sometime before "
Rapture
The rapture is an Christian eschatology, eschatological position held by some Christians, particularly those of American evangelicalism, consisting of an Eschatology, end-time event when all Christian believers who are alive, along with resurre ...
," when new uniforms are introduced) and sent to a Dominion prison camp and replaced with a
Changeling (revealed during "
In Purgatory's Shadow"). His replacement attempts to destroy the
Bajoran
The Bajorans (variously pronounced , , ) are a fictional species in the science-fiction '' Star Trek'' franchise. They are a humanoid extraterrestrial species native to the planet Bajor, who have a long-standing enmity with the Cardassians, o ...
sun, with the goal of wiping out Bajor, DS9, and a fleet of Federation,
Klingon
The Klingons ( ; Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''.
Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the original ''Star Trek'' (''TOS'') series, Klingons were swarthy humanoids c ...
, and
Romulan
The Romulans () are an extraterrestrial race in the American science fiction franchise '' Star Trek''. They first appeared in the series '' Star Trek'' (1966–1969). They have appeared in most subsequent ''Star Trek'' releases, including '' The ...
ships ("
By Inferno's Light"). The DS9 crew foil the plan, and the real Bashir, along with his fellow captives, shortly thereafter free themselves. The experience (and his outing as a genetically engineered person) began a slow personality change over the course of the series into a much more somber, dark character.
Later, Bashir attempts to integrate several other genetically engineered individuals into Federation culture, with mixed success ("
Statistical Probabilities," "
Chrysalis
A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in thei ...
").
The covert operations group
Section 31 also becomes interested in him and tries twice, unsuccessfully, to "recruit" him ("
Inquisition
The Inquisition was a group of institutions within the Catholic Church whose aim was to combat heresy, conducting trials of suspected heretics. Studies of the records have found that the overwhelming majority of sentences consisted of penances, ...
," "
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"). Twice he was possessed by evil aliens "The Passenger" and "Dramatis Personae" and twice he was trapped and almost killed in Holodeck games: "Move Along Home" and "Our Man Bashir".
As depicted in the series finale "
What You Leave Behind
"What You Leave Behind" is the series finale of the television show '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 175th and 176th episodes, the 25th and 26th episodes of the seventh season. The episode was written by showrunner Ira Steven Behr and Hans ...
," Bashir remains aboard ''Deep Space Nine,'' and begins a romantic relationship with
Ezri Dax
Ezri Dax () is a fictional character who appears in the seventh and final season of the American science fiction TV series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. Portrayed by Nicole de Boer, she is a counselor aboard the Bajoran space station '' De ...
.
In the
Mirror Universe, the alternate Bashir is a freedom fighter in the Terran Rebellion. It is unknown whether he was ever given the genetic enhancements his counterpart was. Unlike the regular Bashir, who is friendly and personable, alternate Bashir is an angry, unkempt former slave who joins the rebellion against the Klingon/Cardassian Alliance.
Reception
The character of Julian Bashir initially sparked fan criticism.
Alexander Siddig expressed his enthusiasm for the fact that he, with his English accent, unusual screen name at time of casting (Siddig El Fadil), and North African heritage was a main character on a prominent television show despite being not as easily racially identifiable to audiences as many other actors and characters were on TV at the time.
* In 2016, Bashir was ranked as the 25th most important character of
Starfleet
Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduc ...
within the ''Star Trek'' science fiction universe by
Wired magazine
''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San Fr ...
.
* In 2016,
SyFy
Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. La ...
ranked Bashir as the seventh best of the seven main-cast space doctors of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.
* In 2018,
CBR ranked Bashir the 16th best
Starfleet
Starfleet is a fictional organization in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. Within this fictional universe, Starfleet is a uniformed space force maintained by the United Federation of Planets ("the Federation") as the principal means for conduc ...
character of ''Star Trek''.
* In 2018,
''The Wrap'' placed Bashir as 15th out 39 in a ranking of main cast characters of the Star Trek franchise prior to ''
Star Trek: Discovery''.
[ ]
Guest appearances
Alexander Siddig also played his role of Dr. Julian Bashir in the ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' season six episode "
Birthright, Part I", a season concurrent to DS9's first season.
References
External links
Julian Bashirat
StarTrek.com
''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vario ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bashir, Julian
Fictional physicians
Fictional surgeons
Fictional genetically engineered characters
Fictional lieutenants
Fictional medical personnel
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters
Star Trek: The Next Generation characters
Starfleet officers
Fictional Arabs
Starfleet medical personnel
Starfleet lieutenants
Television characters introduced in 1993
Eugenics in fiction
Fictional British people
Crossover characters in television