Garak - Andrew Robinson’s portrayal

[f14peter]

I enjoyed the character, and Robinson's depiction ... a great example of the right actor for the role.

My favorite scene was his interaction with Sisko at the end of In the Pale Moonlight

"That is why you came to me, isn't it, captain? Because you knew I could do the things you weren't capable of doing yourself? Well, it worked. And you'll get what you wanted -- a war between the Romulans and the Dominion. If your conscience is bothering you, you should soothe it with the knowledge that you may have just saved the entire Alpha Quadrant. And all it cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet Officer. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a bargain."

 

[publiusr]

he had the best lines of the series.

 

[plynch]

Might be my favorite Trek characte r including regulars.

 

[Delta Vega]

I saw Garak in a Tuxedo the other night, I thought I was hallucinating
But no, the old fucking holodeck again with Secret Agent Bashir

 

[mlbach]

He does look good in a tux.

 

[Delta Vega]

He does look good in a tux.

Nobody looks good in a Tux

 

[mlbach]

You must be very young.

 

[Kilana2]

I'd like to see Garak talking about gardening with Boothby.

 

[mlbach]

Or with Keiko. With Miles glowering in the background...

 

[Delta Vega]

You must be very young.

Unfortunately I'm not young at all, but I'm more tee shirt and old jeans with sannies (sneakers), rather than penguin suit.
Throw in a guitar and my look is complete.

 

[mlbach]

Call me old fashioned, but I love a good looking guy in a well tailored tux—Fred Astaire, Vic, Julian, Garak...

 

[STEPhon IT]

Garak, after Quark was my favourite character and any episode he was in, was in my eyes, better because of it. The way he unsettled Bashir in his first episode made me laugh out loud.

He had the right balance of humour, sliminess, and mystery , portrayed brilliantly by Andrew Robinson. His interactions with Dukat were often hilarious. I’m glad he was able to return, finally, to Cardassia.

I wish he had been elevated to a regular character instead of Jake and had more screen time. Some of Garak’s mannerisms were sublime.

I was pleased to see Garak was the only Cardassian throughout the 4th thru the 7th seasons of DS9 to actually remain in character as a Cardassian: 3 dimensional, unpredictable, cunning and his so called lies are not actually lies but the truth encrypted by lots and lots of clever subtext. In other words he talks like a Cardassian. Just compare that Wily Coyote cartoon of a Cardassian named Dumar and you'll see how much that great race was stripped of it's unique and very dangerous presence. Dukat was already ruined by the episode "The Way of the Warrior" so he lacked any authenticity, but Garak was always a reminder to me who the Cardassians are "opportunistic masterminds." Garak represented Cardassia through the end.

 

[at Quark's]

From Second Skin, season 3:

GHEMOR: ..... One more thing before I leave. Can I give you some fatherly advice, for old times sake?
KIRA: Of course.
GHEMOR: That Garak fellow who helped you, helped us. Don't trust him, Nerys. Ever. He's a dangerous man and he'd betray you and all of your friends in an instant if he thought it would help him.
KIRA: I'll keep my eye on him.

Later on, Garak seems to become quite dependable, though. Is it known when the writers decided to develop him that way, and lessen the 'can't be trusted' aspect of his character? Or could S6, 7 Garak still not be trusted and was it merely that his interests and Starfleet's happened to coincide ?

 

[DonIago]

I rather think Garak was much like Senator Cretak: a patriot.

Garak could be trusted to do what he thought was best for Cardassia. If that meant aligning with the Federation to repel the Dominion, he'd align with the Federation.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Later on, Garak seems to become quite dependable, though. Is it known when the writers decided to develop him that way, and lessen the 'can't be trusted' aspect of his character? Or could S6, 7 Garak still not be trusted and was it merely that his interests and Starfleet's happened to coincide ?

While individual Starfleeters began to trust him (particularly Bashir) by that point, I think it was mostly a case of parallel interests.

I rather think Garak was much like Senator Cretak: a patriot.

Garak could be trusted to do what he thought was best for Cardassia. If that meant aligning with the Federation to repel the Dominion, he'd align with the Federation.

Definately. IIRC there was at least one episode were the conflict of working for Starfleet against Cardassia but (in his view) in Cardassia's interest caused some psychological issues (I believe he was codebreaking?).

 

[at Quark's]

But Ghemor was also a patriot (and an honourable man according to Kira) who did what he believed was good for Cardassia. Yet, he viewed Garak as a dangerous man. Or would the Garak of the past have been different, motivated mainly by self-interest?

 

[DonIago]

The difference is that Ghemor cared for Kira and wouldn't want harm to come to her, while he felt Garak wouldn't show the same concern.

 

[mlbach]

I think Garak was always a patriot, and always acted accordingly. Ghemor knew Garak as a “Son of Tain,” someone who interrogated enemies of the state (of which Ghemor was one). But Garak put that part of his life behind him when Tain forced him to interrogate Odo. But he still jeopardized his own freedom to try to save Tain when the ship was being attacked (contrary to his “I know when it’s time to quit “ speech to Bashir.)
He is a very complicated man, which is one reason he’s so fascinating.

 

[Kor]

Anyone in the Obsidian Order is dangerous.

Kor

 

[Defiler-Of-Redshirts]

I thought Andrew Robinson was a delicious acting treat in every Garak scene he ever played. Especially his tour-de-force in (the most interestingly, morally ambivalent masterpiece) "In The Pale Moonlight." What an episode that was!