Garak/Bashir

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Pairing
Pairing: Garak/Bashir
Alternative name(s): G/B, Garashir
Gender category: M/M, Slash
Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Canonical?:
Prevalence: large subfandom
Archives:
Other:
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Garak/Bashir is the main slash pairing in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fandom.

As with any ensemble, favorite characters and pairings were varied, but the subfandom for slash with Julian Bashir (played by Alexander Siddig) and Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson) was quite large, and remains active.

Bashir was first presented as an eager and naive young Federation doctor assigned as the chief medical officer of the station. The mysterious Garak, the Cardassian tailor on the station who may be a spy, introduces himself to Bashir in the first episode as "plain and simple Garak," though he is obviously anything but. Their relationship throughout the series changes, but seems the main touchpoint for Garak until the finale.

Quashed by TPTB

The onscreen relationship between the two characters was most intense during the first two seasons of the show, but cooled off considerably afterwards. Andrew Robinson stated in an interview that he played Garak as neither gay nor straight, but "inclusive". Of Garak's sexuality, he elaborated: "I loved the man's absolute fearlessness about presenting himself to an attractive human being. The fact that the attractive human being is a man (Bashir) doesn't make any difference to him". Robinson said this portrayal was later toned down due to a lack of writer support.[1]

It is rumored that TPTB ordered the actors Alexander Siddig and Andrew Robinson to stop engaging in ribald speculation about their characters' true feelings for each other at fan conventions.[2]

One fan in late 1998 blamed slash fans for the step away from the two characters' on-screen interactions:

I totally agree with you that this is a place for all of us to air our views on DS9 and Sid, whatever they may be. You did make one point that I feel obliged to respond to: "Why, I ask myself, is it okay to portray a subtly lesbian theme between Dax and her former wife, but it is not okay for Garak and Julian to engage in exchanges which only hint at sexual flirting?" You then went on to say how we no longer even see the 2 characters partaking of lunch together. Have you considered the possibility that maybe Garak and Bashir are no longer put together because of so many fans' bizarre wish to see more into this relationship than simple friendship. It is my guess that TPTB no longer write scenes for Garak and Bashir because they do not wish to see these characters go down that road, and quite frankly, neither do I!

[...]

I think you may have a point when you say that the reason the writers no longer write these innocent and highly enjoyable scenes is because of slash fan fic. Which is a real shame as all we, the non slash fans, ever wanted was what we originally had. Two friends enjoying each other's company, nothing more. I can't say I agree with your comments regarding the hint of sexual teasing though as I personally don't see it as such. Even Sid said at a convention that in the beginning it was toyed with that Garak was this camp Cardassian coming on to the young doctor but that Julian didn't realize. He was too busy chasing Jadzia. Sid also said that the writers didn't pursue that story line of camp Garak because, and I quote, "There was simply nowhere for it to go." So I rest my case. [3]

Fan Comments

2011

Blossom Morphine wrote:

What made me and thousands of others think that these two belong together? For all purposes, they couldn't be more unalike. One upholds the enlightened and open principles of the Federation and has dedicated his life to healing. The other moves in a world of political intrigue, assassinations, and had made a reputation for literally breaking people into submission by merely looking at them. However, upon meeting, there is an instant attraction. ... They are mentor and apprentice, foes and friends, and many suspected more. In every encounter, there is a touch that lasts too long, a glance that holds more than friendliness, and deeper meanings in what they say. [4]

Regann considered Bashir's secretiveness about his genetically enhanced nature makes the couple ideally suited:

Garak and Bashir share something that, I think, makes them compatible for each other, something that gives them a unique basis for understanding one another and, ultimately, plays a huge role in why I think they are right for each other. / Garak and Bashir are kindred spirits from the beginning because they are both men who have built their lives -- and their selves -- on a core of deception. [5]

2015

grammarsaveslives commented:

I read a lot of Trek slash and mostly it was hot as hell. Sidenote: Kirk/Spock or Spock/McCoy never did it for me, but the DS9 stories were great. Ton of those with Julian Bashir and Garak. Maybe I’m remembering incorrectly, but I don’t recall a lot of angst. Tons of banging, though. [6]

out-there-on-the-maroon commented:

Oh dear, I’m only just getting into DS9, my first Star Trek ever, and it’s exactly as old as I am. I’m sorry if my posts about the show make you feel even more like I’m a kid on your lawn. I’m SO EXCITED to start reading the Julian/Garak fics, but I’m waiting because I need to watch the show because I’m trying to avoid like, major spoilers as best I can. [7]

2020s Fandom Revival

DS9 as a whole seems to be enjoying a resurgence of participation in the fandom. This is possibly due to the whole series being available on Netflix instant, granting easy access to people who might have missed it the first time around. Since it remains the most popular ship in the fandom, Garak/Bashir has been having its own revival as well. Tumblr has been instrumental in this. People posting pics, GIFS and meta have drawn others' interest and with the canon freely available whole new waves of people are discovering the pairing and collectively gnashing their teeth at the period homophobia that prevented a romantic relationship between the characters from being fully explored in the show.

The *Garak/Bashir tag on AO3 (AO3 being a relatively recent thing compared to the start of the DS9 fandom) is the best bet for finding new fics and the tag is quite active, with new content posted every day or every other day.

In 2023, the relationship won 3rd place in the third MLM Ship Bracket Tournament out of 32 entrants.

Some Examples of Fanart

Fanfiction

Garak/Bashir fanfiction takes many forms -- from drabbles to novels, from fluff to darkfic often involving Garak's history as a torturer, and from flirting not much more direct than canon to explicit erotica which explores Cardassian sexuality.

Well-known classic G/B writers include Ainzfern, Arcady, BGM (aka bgmanic), JA Chapman (aka JA Ingram), Karen Colohan (aka Yavanna), crowdog66 (aka prairiecrow), dilly (aka babel), Terri Drummonds, Elizabeth Helena, Karmen Ghia, The Hoyden, Invicta, Lady Drace, Olivia Monteith (aka Spacechick), Mosca, mrs260, Plaid Adder, Prelocandkanar, Kathryn Ramage, Regann and many others.

New wave authors include misereremolly, bmouse tinsnip, Vyc, Queriana(Prevailing), black_tea and many others found on the AO3 tag for the pairing.

Example Fanfiction

Fanfiction Recommendations

Podfic

Alone Together

On July 6, 2020 the Sid City Social Club YouTube channel posted the first episode of a podfic-style Zoom reading for the Garak/Bashir fanfiction "Alone Together" written by Matthew Campbell. This is the official YouTube channel for Alexander Siddig, who played Julien Bashir. Andrew Robinson, who played Elim Garak, joins him in each episode. Other notable DS9 actors make appearances throughout the series: Cirrok Lofton (Jake Sisko), Armin Shimerman (Quark), and Nana Visitor (Kira Nerys).


All four episodes of the first season have been saved to the Internet Archive, linked below.

Fanzines

Archives

Personal sites

Most of these have gone to the wall over the years, but some remain up, including:

Now offline:

  • Dekara Central (fan art by BGM)

Communities

On Tumblr

The #garak, #garak x bashir, #garakbashir and somewhat dubious portmanteau #garashir tags are all fairly active.

On livejournal

  • doctor-tailor -- for Any and all fanworks which deal with, focus on, even reference the relationship (canon, fanon, platonic, romantic, whatever your cup of tea may be) between Garak and Bashir.[10]
  • cardassian-lust -- Cardassian-centric LJ comm with substantial Garak/Bashir presence

On Yahoo Groups

  • Garak/Bashir -- an adult list for discussion of Garak/Bashir fiction, on-screen interaction and the characters of Garak and Bashir.[11]

Meta/Further Reading

References

  1. ^ Robinson, Andrew. Interview with Liz Sourbut. "Tailor Made." Amazon.co.uk. No date. (Accessed 12 February 2009.)
  2. ^ mentioned in Vulcan Love Slave: Fan fiction on the Internet allows viewers to project their darkest fantasies onto their favorite shows (1998), perhaps other places?
  3. ^ from the December 1998 issue of Multi-Species Medicine
  4. ^ Ship Manifesto: Especially the Lies: Garak/Bashir(accessed 7 October 2011)
  5. ^ Liars Make the Best Lovers (Garak/Bashir, DS9) (accessed 7 October 2011)
  6. ^ Tumblr post by grammarsaveslives, Archived version, January 25, 2015
  7. ^ Tumblr post by out-there-on-the-maroon, January 26, 2015
  8. ^ "Arcady". 2007-06-19. Archived from the original on 2013-10-18.
  9. ^ "Tales of A. Kite". 2013-06-20. Archived from the original on 2013-06-20.
  10. ^ doctor-tailor Community Profile (accessed 7 October 2011)
  11. ^ Yahoo Groups: Garak/Bashir (accessed 7 October 2011)
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