Garak vs. Obrien, who is Bashirs best friend?

Garak vs. Obrien, who is Bashirs best friend?


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I saw on the IMDb notes that in "Inter Arma" that they'd cut back on the Bashir/Garak scenes as the studio didn't like the gay overtones. And it did occur to me they'd not had breakfast in quite some time...

Does anyone know if there's any truth to this? I hadn't heard this before.
 
I saw on the IMDb notes that in "Inter Arma" that they'd cut back on the Bashir/Garak scenes as the studio didn't like the gay overtones. And it did occur to me they'd not had breakfast in quite some time...

Does anyone know if there's any truth to this? I hadn't heard this before.

IMDB can be edited by anyone. Just ignore this for now.
 
It is pretty stupid to argue about Garak when it is known he is a notorious liar. All we know are his lies and half - truths and his actionsv(which can be insisnere).
It's far more interesting finding the truths behind his lies and half-truths that it would have been to have them stated plainly :)

No one seems to have mentioned so far that while Garak was attracted to Ziyal, one reason for that attraction was to annoy Dukat. Garak realized that was part of the attraction, and felt bad about using her in that way, and that's one reason he tried to get her to play it cool.
 
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It doesn't have to be sexual companionship.

Honestly, with Garak, it's hard to tell.
And honestly, does it alter their relationship at all? Garak is still untrustworthy, lying and duplicitous, his motivations all his own. Bashir has his own secrets, but he is also far more earnest and eager and his values plain to see than Garak.

I think the dynamic of the relationship is the contrast, rather than any measure of sexual interest.
 
It could be that Garak swung both ways, depending on the situation and the person.

I thought, early in the series, Bashir was glad to make a new friend on the station, and that was Garak. Bashir was intrigued by Garak's mysterious nature and stories. Nothing more than that.

As for Garak, Bashir was manipulatable. And manipulation is what Garak does. If there was any sexual attraction, it was probably in one direction from Garak to Bashir.

With the point of the line being that she is Cardassian in that scene. So we know that his tastes run to the Cardassian. ;)

Garak also describes Rugal as handsome, so do we take that into account or do we discard it for some reason?

In my opinion, simply acknowledging someone's physical beauty does not prove someone's sexuality either way.
After reading the comments in this thread, I think I can now better understand Garak's behavior towards Rugal when they first met.

It is perilous for a middle age man, like Garak, to make those kind of comments to a teenage stranger and then place his hands on that teenager, even if the compliment is meant to be totally innocent.

I am not saying that Garak is a predator, or that Rugal had a right to bite Garak's hand or to act violently in any manner. But Garak calling Rugal handsome makes sense now.
 
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Yes, I expect he swung both ways as needed for the mission. If Tain told him "Here's another mission for you, Elim. You climb the tree outside the wall and drop in at exactly 16:30, seduce the administrative assistant and ask her to unlock the secure filing cabinet. It'll be easy, I happen to know she thinks flings are romantic." I really don't see Garak saying "No, Enabran, I can't do it, I only like dudes."
 
Yes, I agree. But I also think there was some tension between them because Garak was erratic and mysterious, he could be dangerous and a killer, Bashir never could be sure about it.
I think there was definitely gay vibes in the first episode. It was never returned though, imo. Not sure if I agree they were lovers, but that idea won't trouble me, lol. And yes, this was mostly an intellectual connection on Bashirs end. Garak was definitely his first friend even if he was not his best one.

I agree about Bashir especially since one of Starfeets agendas was the reconstruction of Bajor from Circassian oppression during the occupation. So of course there would be some tension.

Bashir and Garak banter. Bashir does not trust Garak.


No one seems to have mentioned so far that while Garak was attracted to Ziyal, one reason for that attraction was to annoy Dukat. Garak realized that was part of the attraction, and felt bad about using her in that way, and that's one reason he tried to get her to play it cool.
Yeah... possibly they were both being used. Does not mean he could not be attracted to his tool.

I always felt the eat his rod taunt toward Bashir was... interesting.

Forever really.
Why?
 
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I think there was definitely gay vibes in the first episode. It was never returned though, imo. Not sure if I agree they were lovers, but that idea won't trouble me, lol. And yes, this was mostly an intellectual connection on Bashirs end. Garak was definitely his first friend even if he was not his best one.

I agree about Bashir especially since one of Starfeets agendas was the reconstruction of Bajor from Circassian oppression during the occupation. So of course there would be some tension.

Bashir and Garak banter. Bashir does not trust Garak.



Yeah... possibly they were both being used. Does not mean he could not be attracted to his tool.

I always felt the eat his rod taunt toward Bashir was... interesting.


Why?
I never saw any "gay vibes" or anyrthing like that when I first watched that episode in 1997 and it took years before I read those insinuations about Garak.

There was definitely more attraction between garak and Ziyal and I don't think it had anything to do with her being Dukat's daughter.
 
I never saw any "gay vibes" or anyrthing like that when I first watched that episode in 1997 and it took years before I read those insinuations about Garak.

There was definitely more attraction between garak and Ziyal and I don't think it had anything to do with her being Dukat's daughter.
*Sigh* I already know how you feel. Garak being attracted to Bashir does not take away any attraction to Ziyal if there is one. What would be the problem for you if he liked both genders?
 
I admit, first I didn't like Bashir so much but when his character developed and I got to know him better it changed to the positive.
 
*Sigh* I already know how you feel. Garak being attracted to Bashir does not take away any attraction to Ziyal if there is one. What would be the problem for you if he liked both genders?
No problem for me actually.

The only problem I see is that it was never stated in neither the series, nor the excellent Garak biography A Stitch In Time that he was bisexual or anything like that.

Which is what I try to point out.

I can see that it's common among many fans to add certain attributes to certain characters which aren't confirmed in any episode, biography or other book, even if I never relly have understood why.

OK, I've toyed with the trend myself by making Kes (and the whole Voyager crew) Iron Maiden fans, not to mention Garak as well plus Odo a Jerry Lee Lewis fan who occasionally entertains people at Vic's holographic bar and Quark's bar by playing Jerry Lee Lewis songs. :)

Why? because I like those characters, I like many styles of rock music and I think that it's too little rock music in Star Trek.

Not to mention my twisted sense of humor as well.

But I don't state those small changes to the characters as facts or "canon" in any way.


Imagine Garak singing "Run To The Hills" by looking at the picture and listen to the song!


Or this advertise on the Promenade!
 
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I admit, first I didn't like Bashir so much but when his character developed and I got to know him better it changed to the positive.
Yeah, I always thought he was cute but annoying, mostly because of Jadzia because she was my instant favorite. A bit pushy, but I could not really hate him because he was very young and smitten. I think his youthful zeal can be interpreted as arrogance at times or even turn into it. His friends brought out his humanity. And we learned more and more what a dedicated friend and Doctor he was.

One of my favorite episodes is where Julian wanted to cure the Jem'hidar of their addiction and was determined until O'Brien kayoed his machine. I thought it was a bit cold of O'Brien, but this really showed Julians moxy and perhaps the first time that the Chief showed how much he really cared about Julian. Or was growing to care about him and O'Briens reluctant friendship was no longer so reluctant, and he could not be in denial. Things after that were pretty smooth between them. No more friction.

Also, I wouldn't mind it if more people talked about Obrien's friendship since that won the vote. Sad that Elim did not even get one even, even though I voted for the chief.
 
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nor the excellent Garak biography A Stitch In Time that he was bisexual or anything like that.
As I said before, the novel makes it clear that Garak is attracted to at least two males in the story.
 
As I said before, the novel makes it clear that Garak is attracted to at least two males in the story.
Slightly attracted, yes. But nothing more.

"Attracted" could meen many things. Maybe he just liked them as friends and the people they were.

Most of the book focus on Garak's attraction to Palandine which did put him into a lot of trouble.
 
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