Garak - Andrew Robinson’s portrayal
- Thread starter Elephant999
- Start date
On the one hand, the writers avoided identifying Garak as anything other than a heterosexual character. However, that is not the whole issue. Andrew Robinson clearly performed the character, FROM THE BEGINNING, in a way that more than suggested queer coding. Moreover, the writers did, at times, suggest that Bashir was not totally averse to having a relationship with a man.
As much as I don't think of Garak as a LGBT character, clearly queer literary theory is appropriate to understanding the character. Garak even references "Miss Otis," a song associated with hidden feelings and urges.
As much as I don't think of Garak as a LGBT character, clearly queer literary theory is appropriate to understanding the character. Garak even references "Miss Otis," a song associated with hidden feelings and urges.
Others have addressed that Andrew Robinson started out playing the character with an attraction to Bashir, way, but, as Behr said, the show wasn't brave in that regard..
I was tempted to remove the Spoiler tags because the book is 20 years. Anyway, regardless, that's a retcon that Robinson wrote long after the fact and well after his initial take on playing Garak, and after he'd been apparently told to tone down the flirting with Bashir.
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As to this topic in general, I balk at the narrow definitions being tossed around. Sexuality is a spectrum, not a set of absolutes. I know people who largely identify as straight who've had the occasional same-sex attractions and vice versa. If two men are having a sexual relationship it's a "gay" relationship, not a straight one, no matter how they behave outside that relationship. How anyone self identifies is another matter.
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How I heard it...
Someone with a little power saw Garak grinding on Bashir, pulled Andrew to one side and said "Stop it."
So there's canon of Garak Grinding on Bahir, unless the footage was cut and replaced.
My take.
Bashir was too naive and Bambi like to tap.
Almost brain damaged from Garaks perspective.
The purpose of the lunches was to make Bashir fuckable by sharpening his guile and fluffing his immorality.
Here's the problem with all that.
Bashir was faking at being naive.
He was a genetically engineered super genius all along, who could probably have run rings around Garak's turpitude if he rolled up his sleeves.
So?
Bashir was pretending not to notice the Tailor was checking him out?
Bashir is a proven root-rat screwing his way from one side of the station and back again.
It's not homophobia.
Maybe ageism?
I think Garak is 3 times older than Bashir, if he once seduced Gul Dukat's mother.
I say 80 year old balls are disgusting.
But....
What if Caraddsian scrotums have three spinal columns like their necks?
Cardassian old man sack does not dust the floor or get wrapped around their calves like human old man sack does?
Forever young scrotes.
That is very unfair.
Someone with a little power saw Garak grinding on Bashir, pulled Andrew to one side and said "Stop it."
So there's canon of Garak Grinding on Bahir, unless the footage was cut and replaced.
My take.
Bashir was too naive and Bambi like to tap.
Almost brain damaged from Garaks perspective.
The purpose of the lunches was to make Bashir fuckable by sharpening his guile and fluffing his immorality.
Here's the problem with all that.
Bashir was faking at being naive.
He was a genetically engineered super genius all along, who could probably have run rings around Garak's turpitude if he rolled up his sleeves.
So?
Bashir was pretending not to notice the Tailor was checking him out?
Bashir is a proven root-rat screwing his way from one side of the station and back again.
It's not homophobia.
Maybe ageism?
I think Garak is 3 times older than Bashir, if he once seduced Gul Dukat's mother.
I say 80 year old balls are disgusting.
But....
What if Caraddsian scrotums have three spinal columns like their necks?
Cardassian old man sack does not dust the floor or get wrapped around their calves like human old man sack does?
Forever young scrotes.
That is very unfair.
I'd believe them if the narrative was mention during the series run and it wasn't so coming from Ira 20 something years after is retroactive. As for the notion of the idea of Garak being LGBT I will ignore because nothing in the character demonstrates those feelings on the DS9 series. Mr. Robinson can now perform this revelation anytime he wishes on his youtube post DS9 readings with Mr. Fadil, and I will gladly applaud it and accept that as fan-fiction.
Yes, I saw Ira Behr's writing credits a lot on the series and he should've been brave enough to write a story making Garak so. Too bad he didn't realize "Melrose Place", "Law and Order" and "NYPD Blue" had gay characters he could've followed suit and be inspired.
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Star trek is a children's show and, it mostly aired during the hours when such things were forbotten by the fcc.
As I see it there Garak was testing Bashir out in their first lunch together to see if anything more intimate could come of it. But Garak quickly realized Bashir was only interested in women and didn't try that again. But he was still good company, and Garak still wanted someone to chat with. Who else was there? The Bajorans on the station certainly wouldn't socialize with him (until Ziyal showed up). At the beginning of the show there were only a few Starfleet people, and many of them couldn't hold a conversation if their life depended on it. Most people were too busy for a 2-hour lunch. What's left, Ferengi waiters? So Garak continued to lunch with Bashir.
What if Garak knew that Bashir was genetically enhanced before they met?
Dick Bashir is a fuck up.
The awkward false history Dick painted to hide his child's incideous criminal surgeries had to look very suspicious to someone who knows how to identify a bent history.
Garak may not have already known that Julian was a Superman, but he knew that the good doctors hearth and homestead were built on a pack of crude poorly thought out lies that anyone with a background in intelligence could see through.
Garak wanted Julian to admit that he was a bigger liar than he was.
Dick Bashir is a fuck up.
The awkward false history Dick painted to hide his child's incideous criminal surgeries had to look very suspicious to someone who knows how to identify a bent history.
Garak may not have already known that Julian was a Superman, but he knew that the good doctors hearth and homestead were built on a pack of crude poorly thought out lies that anyone with a background in intelligence could see through.
Garak wanted Julian to admit that he was a bigger liar than he was.
I'm only referring to what is written in the book, nothing else. Plus the fact that Garak was attracted to Tora Ziyal, Dukat's daughter.
As for the spoiler, I played safe there because even if the book is old, someone might buy it and read it and I didn't want to spoil it for those who haven't read it.
The book was long and about nothing adventurous.
The Line from the show by Gul Dukat "What he did to my father" plus the book quote, shaming an important lady. Mr Robinson had an affair with Dukat's Mum, and Dukat's daughter.
The Line from the show by Gul Dukat "What he did to my father" plus the book quote, shaming an important lady. Mr Robinson had an affair with Dukat's Mum, and Dukat's daughter.
I found it interesting.
Garak is an interesting character and it was great to read about his background.
Coo-coo-ca-choo.
John was The Walrus, not Garak.
Even if John later claimed that "Paul was The Walrus".
John was The Walrus, not Garak.
Even if John later claimed that "Paul was The Walrus".
Wrong Song.
I made a "The Graduate" joke and need praise.
Jesus Christ.
Ah, I missed that.
Maybe it should be "Coo-coo-ca-choo Mr. Robinson"?
But neither Garak nor Mr. Robinson had an affair with Dukat's Mum and when it comes to Mr. Robinson, it's highly doubtful that he had an affair with Dukat's daughter as well.
Besides that, "I'm The Walus" was more fun!
Other way aroundJohn was The Walrus, not Garak.
Even if John later claimed that "Paul was The Walrus".
Andrew's Book said that he embarrassed a dignified lady, and the show said that he embarrassed Dukat's father. Two birds with one stone. Actually two birds with one penis. Deduction more than canon, it's at least possible.
Tora Ziyal and Garak were a very public item.
Although Dukat almost had Kira a few times, after spending years with her mother Mother Meru. Retroactively all that stagging about trying to lay Kira was a misunderstanding from the audience. What we saw wasn't a horny old man, but a proud father.
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