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 EPISODE REVIEWS | ||
 | Doctor Bashir, I
Presume? Airdate: Week of
February 24th - 28th, 1997
Written by: Ronald
D. Moore (Teleplay); Jimmy Diggs (Story)
Directed by: David
Livingston
Brief Summary:
When Doctor Bashir is chosen to be the next holographic medical
program, Doctor Lewis Zimmerman probes into his past leading to
the exposure of Bashir's genetic enhancement as a child.
Review
Last week I
predicted that we'd see some excellent acting in this episode,
and so we did. Alexander Siddig gave a very powerful performance,
but I think the person who shined brightest was guest star Robert
Picardo as Dr. Lewis Zimmerman (and the EMH). This is Picardo's
second great performance in as many weeks, the other saving
Voyager's Darkling. Jimmy Diggs has also been busy in
dual-series writing, giving us Voyager's Rise earlier
this week. David Livingston directs some powerful scenes all
including Bashir, and some funny ones including Zimmerman, Rom
and Leeta.
It is fitting that
this episode about Bashir questioning his very person comes
immediately after a two-part show in which Bashir had been
replaced with a changling. In fact, the title of the episode
Doctor Bashir, I Presume? implies perfectly the
implications of the changling replacement and of Bashir's
exploration of his character in this show. Who is Julian Bashir?
Who was Jules Bashir? Are they one in the same? Who is the real
Julian Bashir? These are all questions that were addressed in
this episode mainly by the Doctor himself and are summed up in
the first four words uttered by Lewis Zimmerman, the episode
title itself.
Following in
recent Deep Space Nine motif, Doctor Bashir, I
Presume? combines an excellent secondary story with an
excellent primary one and pulls it off convincingly. The thread
between Rom and Leeta is introduced within the first scene with
Quark as an added bonus. Chase Masterson again challenges the
limits of cutting edge twenty-fourth century fashion with her
alluring Dabo-girl wardrobe (hehe.... kudos to costuming!). I
think the most development in this scene concerns the character
that has the least part in it: Quark. His dialogue to Leeta
towards the end reminds us that there are still certain constants
in society and really reveals how much of a scoundrel Quark
really is. This is dealt with slightly later when he offers Rom a
holo-program, and each time it portrays Quark 'slimier' than
we've ever seen him before.
I think the plot
thread between Leeta and Rom was done very well, perfectly
keeping with Rom's character, and showing us the anticipation in
Leeta each time. This thread is tied into the 'A' story well
enough, even if having nothing to do with Bashir directly. It was
interesting to see such a suave Robert Picardo, something quite
different from his EMH (I wonder why he didn't give the EMH that
quality?). Speaking strictly from a male point of view (not
intending to be offensive here), I can't believe that we [males]
got to see something that perhaps has crossed many of our minds
from time to time- Leeta nude. Anyway, this scene did have a
purpose: convey comic relief, and demonstrate how Leeta isn't
very self-conscious after working in her, ahem (clearing throat)
line of work, for so long. This parallels to the earlier Quark
scene I discussed above because it shows how Leeta is (or might)
be used to such presentation of herself and so isn't concerned
with it, thus giving us a 'slimier' view of her.
Now let's move
onto the bigger picture. Lemme first comment on how perfect the
casting of Julian's father was. If he wasn't British, I don't
know who is! Bashir was very dark and gloomy this time around, in
fact the only time he smiled was when Sisko congratulated him on
the LMH selection. Usually he is a source for comic relief, with
that genetically engineered sense of humor and all. But as the
nature of the story called for a darker Bashir, we got one.
The interviews
were done in a common yet funny manner, but what about Odo?
O'Brien had the best part, praising his best friend but in a very
child-like manner worrying being embarrassed about it possibly
getting back to Julian.
The powerful
scenes begin with the son/parents dinner. This scene really (for
those not already aware of the plot twist) made ya stop and say,
Huh? The next scene was HEAVILY predictable, I mean
c'mon; it was so perfectly set up that there was no way for you
to think it was the actual Bashir that his parents were talking
to. This scene blurts out the plot turn, like handing you a
boulder making you lose your balance. It was here that the entire
thread of why Zimmerman was on the station and the creation of
LMH program were was left behind. Obviously the story wasn't
intended to be about this LMH program, but the writers just left
it behind so that if it weren't for the relationship between
Lewis and Leeta, Zimmermans' presence would've been irrelevant.
I'm glad he didn't just disappear and they carried him through to
the end.
Probably the most
powerful scene in the show was between O'Brien and Bashir, mainly
explaining to the audience why and how he was genetically
altered. For once, one of our perfect, 'top of his class'
characters is revealed as a fraud, in those senses. I'm glad to
see that there is someone who isn't perfect by nature, and in
fact Bashir was the opposite of his adult self by nature. Maybe
this is why he intentionally missed that medical exam question
back at the Academy, because he felt it would be unfair to
deprive someone who didn't have a genetic advantage from the
honor of being top of their class. Anybody want to comment on
that idea? Anyway, Miles comforts Julian by pointing out that his
true personality cannot and was not genetically engineered, but
is natural in him.
The final
'powerful' scene is a confrontation between Julian and his
parents. Bashir obviously resents his parents' actions, and
wittingly points out the pun between his fathers' architectural
career and that he [Julian] is his real project. The dramas'
purpose here is really to explain that Jules Bashir no longer
existed and that Julian found that fact important.
Now comes the
resolution. Right as I was about to be irritated by the first
'quickie Voyager-esque' ending on DS9 in a while, I got a fan's
wish list: acknowledgment of the Eugenics Wars, and of Kahn Singh
(everyone's favorite villain) as an added bonus. Frankly based on
Admiral Bennet's explination, I think two years in prison for
Richard Bashir is rather light. I think the mentioning of the
wars and Kahn fir perfectly into the story to show us why
Starfleet might consider altered people like Bashir a threat, not
just a gimmick. But, in the interests of feeding discussions in
the new Fan Interaction Comm Link, since Doctor Bashir, I
Presume? took place sometime in 2300, Bennett's 'two
hundred years ago' puts the Eugenics Wars in the 2100s, the
twenty first century not the twentieth. I guess they had to clean
up the mess they made in Voyager's Future's End, eh?
The show ends with
Rom and Leeta finally professing their mutual love and Bashir
forgiving his father. How nice. But wait- we get a fantastic
scene with O'Brien and Bashir. This was actually unexpected for
me until Miles asked if he was really winning. After that I knew
Julian would hit three bulls-eyes in a row, but somehow it didn't
disparage the scene. This scene showed the friendship between the
two very well, and left the door open for possible 'super-human
Bashir' episodes down the road.
Now some minor
observations:
- The early scene
where O'Brien comments on compromising to make sure Molly doesn't
feel neglected is an interesting contrast to the reality that
Bashir's father was unwilling to compromise with his sons'
childhood problem.
- I liked Quarks
scenes in this episode, really showing off his scuzzy nature.
- How did the
Bashirs get to DS9 so quickly from Earth anyway?
- I thought the
scene with the two holograms was very funny, but not as funny as
when the Bashir hologram told Julian he didn't want to be as
boring as he [Julian] looked.
- I am very
pleased with the presence of a Federation task force doing
maneuvers in the space shots or being docked at DS9. This reminds
us of the events of Purgatory and Inferno besides making the space shots so much
more visually pleasing. By the way, how many Excelsior class
ships are there, and how many more Galaxy class ships are there?
- The presence of
Klingons also carries out the events of the two prior episodes.
What about some Romulans?
Writing:
Clever, dramatic, challenging, reminiscent, and brilliant. One of
DS9's best ever, even if it didn't bring tears to my eyes like
The Visitor last season. (Really, it did. BTW, I
could use it on tape if someone would mail it to me).
Directing:
Great drama with Bashir (my favorite character BTW), and great
use of Robert Picardo's sarcastic humor.
Acting:
Alexander Siddig's most dreary performance, yet excellent. Robert
Picardo almost steals the show (like he does in Voyager), but
Chase Masterson cannot be denied.
Overall
Verdict: A compelling story that dares to step out on a limb,
flawing a main character.
Rating: 8
out of 10.
...he needs
a woman with a body and brains.
I have
brains.
Sure ya do
honey, that's why I hired you. Now, eat up, and then take those
brains back over to the dabo wheel where the customers can get a
good long look at them.
-Quark to Leeta on
her vocation
Next Week: ...Nor the
Battle to the Strong
was great the first time, see it again!
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