Season 5 and Bashir
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IIRC, the writers didn't think of the "Bashir being replaced by a Changeling" development until they started working on "In Purgatory's Shadow". As such, there aren't any "tells" in the episodes prior to that.
Personally, I prefer to think that Bashir was kidnapped very shortly after "The Begotten" (even though it aired only two weeks prior to "IPS" -- it's entirely possible that a longer amount of time passed onscreen). Some people have tried to think of explanations as to how Bashir is a Changeling in "The Begotten", but none have really ever satisfied me (I'm of the opinion that a Changeling would probably have been able to save the infant, or at least would've gotten it off the station to be sent to the other Founders).
But all that is just my opinion, FWIW.
Personally, I prefer to think that Bashir was kidnapped very shortly after "The Begotten" (even though it aired only two weeks prior to "IPS" -- it's entirely possible that a longer amount of time passed onscreen). Some people have tried to think of explanations as to how Bashir is a Changeling in "The Begotten", but none have really ever satisfied me (I'm of the opinion that a Changeling would probably have been able to save the infant, or at least would've gotten it off the station to be sent to the other Founders).
But all that is just my opinion, FWIW.
They were wearing the new "TNG movie" uniform styles in "Rapture," which was two episodes before "The Begotten" and four episodes before "In Purgatory's Shadow."
Since the real Bashir was seen wearing the old style uniform in "In Purgatory's Shadow," he must have been replaced by the Changling at some point before "Rapture."
That means the Bashir Changling was either unable or unwilling to save the infant Changling in "The Begotten." It also means that he was the one who performed the surgery that saved Sisko's life in "Rapture."
Since the real Bashir was seen wearing the old style uniform in "In Purgatory's Shadow," he must have been replaced by the Changling at some point before "Rapture."
That means the Bashir Changling was either unable or unwilling to save the infant Changling in "The Begotten." It also means that he was the one who performed the surgery that saved Sisko's life in "Rapture."
The fact that he then saved Sisko in "Rapture" is kind of a mind frack no?
Um, maybe he just couldn't? The Founders aren't indestructible are they? Maybe the baby Changeling was a gonner, fake Bashir did his best - but like a real doctor, couldn't do it.
I think the fact that its fake-Bashir doing the surgery on Sisko is way more problematic.
I think he certainly would have tried as hard as he could to save it. No Founder is permitted to harm another Founder, and 'harm' should include not saving someone if you are able to.
Well...when I watched "The Begotten", after learning that he was a changeling for some time, I found myself thinking that Julian was acting a little...wierd.
Too much emphasis on some lines...like they had a double meaning.
Too much emphasis on some lines...like they had a double meaning.
I'm sure the Bashir Changling tried everything he could to save the infant. However, if in the end, he simply couldn't save it, then he couldn't save it. Remaining undercover then became the most important thing.
Don't forget that for most of the episode the infant is just fine. Only at the end of the episode does it become sick again. Then, within a short period of time, it absorbs itself into Odo, making him a Changling again. That could have caught the Bashir Changling off guard before he could put any other plans into motion.
As for saving Sisko.... Like USS Bones said, if an investigation was conducted and found "Bashir" to be at fault, the Dominion's plans would have gone up in smoke. The Bashir Changling could simply have decided that the destruction of the Federation and Klingon fleets, as well as Bajor itself, was more important than the elimination of one Starfleet officer, no matter how important he was.
