The Dark Side of Dr Bashir: Unveiling His Sinister Secrets in Star Trek

Summary

Doctor Bashir had multiple villainous moments in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, starting with being possessed by Rao Vantika and committing violent acts.

Alexander Siddig initially felt unprepared for the malevolent incarnation of Bashir/Vantika, as he was given insufficient time to adequately ready himself for the role. In a subsequent season, it was unveiled that Bashir had been substituted by a Changeling, who cunningly implicated another character to divert the attention of the crew.

Doctor Julian Bashir, played by Alexander Siddig, portrayed a villainous character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine on multiple occasions. Though unaware of his actions at times, Julian originally started as an arrogant young medic and persistent suitor for Lt. Jadzia Dax. As the series progressed, Julian evolved into a complex and intriguing member of the DS9 ensemble. His love for spy stories, connections to Khan Noonien-Singh's legacy, and friendship with Elim Garak resulted in some of his most captivating Star Trek narratives.

During season 5 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, pivotal revelations about Julian's genetic enhancements and suspicions regarding his involvement with the Dominion transformed his character's trajectory. In the later seasons, viewers witnessed a darker side of Doctor Bashir as he resorted to extreme measures to obtain information from Section 31's Luther Sloan. These intense storylines were likely influenced by Alexander Siddig's previous portrayals of Doctor Bashir's more villainous tendencies.

5 Rao Vantika Takes Over Doctor Bashir's Body

In episode 9 of season 1 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, titled "The Passenger," Doctor Bashir makes an effort to save the lives of Rao Vantika, a Kobliad criminal, portrayed by James Harper. Vantika's lengthy list of horrific crimes is driven by his desire to defy death. As a result, Ty Kajada, a law enforcement officer and Vantika's nemesis played by Caitlin Brown, refuses to believe that the criminal is truly dead. It is later revealed that her suspicions are correct, as Vantika manages to transfer his consciousness into Doctor Bashir's body moments before his death. In his new form, Vantika violently attacks Quark, played by Armin Shimerman, attempts to kill Kajada, and authorizes the deaths of a freighter crew responsible for transporting a valuable shipment of deuridium.

Alexander Siddig, reflecting on his portrayal of the "evil" Doctor Bashir episode, considers it to be one of his biggest failures. In an interview with Star Trek Communicator, Siddig mentions that he was not given sufficient time to prepare for the role of this more villainous version of Bashir/Vantika. The delay in receiving the script was likely caused by the decision to remove Ty Kajada as the new host for Vantika's consciousness. Siddig felt so unprepared for the role of Vantika that he later re-recorded his dialogue to be dubbed over the existing footage, as his original voice was deemed too reminiscent of horror legend Bela Lugosi, according to Rick Berman.

4 Bashir Is Replaced By A Changeling On The USS Defiant

In the season 3 finale of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a Changeling secretly enters the USS Defiant with the intention to provoke a war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi. Taking inspiration from the sci-fi film The Thing, the crew of the Defiant grapple with feelings of mistrust and suspicion as they seek to uncover the infiltrator. The Changeling masquerades as Doctor Bashir in order to manipulate the blood screenings and identify the imposter. To divert attention, the Changeling frames Lt. Commander Michael Eddington, hoping to keep the crew occupied until their plan is executed.

During the development of "The Adversary," it was decided that Eddington's mysterious persona would serve as the perfect red herring. While Alexander Siddig portrays a villainous version of Bashir, the audience is led to question Eddington's true identity as a potential Changeling. Kenneth Marshall's performance as Eddington is so convincing that fans continue to suspect him even after Constable Odo eliminates the real Changeling impostor. This compelling portrayal influenced the writing team to approach their next major Changeling infiltrator storyline by reintroducing Doctor Bashir.

3 Dr. Bashir Was A Changeling In DS9 Season 5

In a major revelation during season 5 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, it was revealed that Bashir had been replaced by a Changeling. This Dominion infiltrator spent a month on DS9, during which time he performed life-saving neuro-surgery on Captain Benjamin Sisko and tried to save a sickly Changeling baby. As a result, it was the Changeling Bashir who assisted in delivering O'Brien's surrogate baby when Major Kira Nerys went into labor. However, there is some debate about the exact timing of events due to changes in uniforms and the apparently impossible 37-day gap between "The Rapture" and "In Purgatory's Shadow".

It's worth noting that Alexander Siddig's portrayal of the villainous role only becomes evident to viewers in the episode "By Inferno's Light" when the truth is revealed. The Changeling Bashir incapacitates the crew of the USS Yukon and attempts to detonate a bomb in the Bajoran sun with the aim of wiping out the Federation armada. Tragically, the evil Changeling Bashir successfully kills the entire crew of the USS Yukon when the Runabout explodes. Fortunately, the USS Defiant manages to prevent the explosion from causing a supernova.

2 Section 31 Accused Bashir Of Being A Dominion Spy

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine introduced Section 31 in the episode "Inquisition", where Bashir is interrogated as a suspected Dominion spy. The clever tactic, devised by Luther Sloan, taps into the viewers' mixed feelings towards Julian due to the shocking revelations of the previous DS9 seasons. Even though it is eventually revealed to be an elaborate holodeck simulation, the viewer is left with a seed of doubt regarding Julian's past incarceration by the Dominion and his hidden genetic enhancements.

The storyline takes an intriguing turn as Bashir's unique abilities attract the attention of Section 31. Julian finds himself torn by a moral conflict when considering joining the organization. While he detests their methods, he is also tempted by the opportunity to truly become a spy. Although he is not a spy for the Dominion, Julian takes unlawful actions by illegally imprisoning Luther Sloan and resorting to torture to extract information about the Morphogenic Virus. His motivation is to protect Odo and uphold the principles of the Federation, but his relentless pursuit to bring down Sloan ultimately leads him to abandon his previously pristine image.

1 Dr. Bashir Would Have Been DS9 Season 8's Villain

In the retrospective documentary "What We Left Behind," Ira Steven Behr gathered the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine writers' room to develop the storyline for a hypothetical season 8 pilot. This season would have showcased Bashir's post-Dominion War struggles as he lost his way. The pilot episode would have elevated Bashir to the position of head of Section 31, a group planning to destroy the Wormhole and eliminate religion from the Star Trek universe. This intriguing concept would have created a conflict between old friends.

Although there have been no significant revivals of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine thus far, there are numerous compelling story ideas from season 8 that could be successful. One of these potential storylines is Bashir's tragic downfall. Alexander Siddig has proven his ability to portray the darker aspects of Julian Bashir in Star Trek, as well as his memorable performances as villains in shows like 24. Considering the various challenges Bashir has faced, such as mind swaps, Changeling impersonators, and false accusations, the opportunity to witness a truly villainous Doctor Bashir is an enticing prospect for the future of Star Trek.