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“ Oh yes. If the world is not ready for a woman writer, imagine what would happen if it learned about a Negro with a typewriter. “Run for the hills! It’s the end of civilization!” ” ~Herbert Rossof (played by Armin Shimerman), Deep Space 9, Far...

Oh yes. If the world is not ready for a woman writer, imagine what would happen if it learned about a Negro with a typewriter. “Run for the hills! It’s the end of civilization!”

~Herbert Rossof (played by Armin Shimerman), Deep Space 9, Far Beyond the Stars

What’s striking about that quote from an episode of television which aired over ten years ago, based in New York in the 1950s, is that things haven’t changed all that much.

Women writers aren’t given nearly as much credit as their male counterparts, and it’s almost unheard of when a person of colour writes either fantasy or sci fi.  At least, that’s what network execs would like people to think.

Star Trek Deep Space 9
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Episode 2.22- The Wire (Dave’s Review)

“When you walk through the garden. You gotta watch your back …” Oh sorry, we’re talking about an entirely different television The Wire, but before I move on to the episode, I think that it’s fair to say DS9 is The Wire of Trek shows. Both series were incredibly human, captured the imaginations of a devoted fan bases, and became more well respected after they wrapped. I imagine there’s more parallels there too.

We’re talking about the episode "The Wire,“ though, which gives us some great insight into the characters of Bashir and Garak, and some more glimpses into Cardassian society.

First off let’s talk about Garak. As I mentioned in my last review, I believe veteran Cardassian soldiers and operatives wear persona masks in their interactions that are usually pleasant and a little bit smug. Garak is definitely this, but he almost always seems amused, too. Because of the revelations in this episode we know part of his amusement was the implant, but it will be interesting to see going forward if that amusement continues to be part of Garak’s persona mask or if it becomes something else.

I enjoyed the revelation that Garak is a very haunted and troubled individual. It’s consistent with the feel of DS9, which is full of characters that have done things that they believed right at the time but haunt them now, like Kira. Come to think of it, I’d like to see more interaction between the two of them. I think Garak would have a lot of respect for Kira.

Kira and Garak of course deal with the ghosts of their pasts in different ways. Kira finds comfort in her faith and the fact that her people are now free. As a Cardassian, Garak can’t find comfort in either of those. He’s been exiled from his people both on a physical level and I think on a sort of spiritual/cultural level.  

Thanks to the lies Garak spins we don’t know exactly how his exile came about, but I think his expression of a need to be forgiven in this episode suggests that Garak came to the startling truth that his people were wrong in oppressing the Bajorans. It’s a hard truth for a patriot like Garak to accept. He loves his people, but realizes they need to become better.

So it’s not a surprise that Garak became addicted to his implant. In this episode Andrew Robinson gave a pretty fantastic portrayal of a haunted, lonely man who turns to drugs as a way of dealing with his emotional pain.

Then of course we have Bashir, who’s a complex character in that he’s both altruistic and egotistical; he takes his Hippocratic Oath very seriously, but I also think on some level if he comes across something that he can’t treat or cure he considers it a personal insult.  I think that drives Bashir to do all he can to solve mysteries that he’s confronted with, whether they be medical or related to a friend. I also think that’s why Bashir can get very cross with Garak at times. His friend is a puzzle he can’t solve and he hates that.

These qualities of the good doctor are very much apparent in The Wire as we watch him go to great lengths to discover what’s truly going on with his friend and solve it. I think it’s Bashir’s refusal to let himself be beaten by the condition that’s afflicting Garak and the mystery surrounding his past that causes him to sit with Garak as he detoxes. I also think it’s what motivates him to seek out Enabran Tain, that and of course him being naive to how dangerous the Obsidian Order actually is.

Hmm…this makes it sound like Julian is kind of a jerk. On some levels I think he might be, at least at this point in DS9, but  like all the characters on the show he’ll grow and change. I think Julian develops a fierce loyalty to his friends over time, and you have seen it to some degree in the episodes preceding this one, but like I said, right now I think he’s driven by his role as a doctor (which is a noble trait) and his ego (the way it can consciously and subconsciously drive him is pretty fascinating). 

Part of the reason that’s fascinating is Alexander Siddig’s portrayal of the character, especially in this episode. Both he and Andrew Robinson hit home runs.

Other thoughts:

  • I believe this episode is the first time Bashir pulls a McCoy with the line, "I’m a doctor not a botanist.”
  • It’s interesting that Garak maintains his pleasant personality even when he’s drunk. Makes you wonder if it’s the implant, his training, or if he really is a pleasant guy underneath the personality mask he wears. It will be interesting to contrast his behavior here with that of drunk Damar in later seasons.
  • I believe this is the first mention of the Obsidian Order, right? What a cool name! And I love that their reputation lives up to that name. No other Star Trek intelligence service has a cooler name. The Tal Shiar and Section 31 sound fearsome, but not as fearsome at the OBSIDIAN ORDER (*said with a Death Metal style growl*)!

Final Verdict: A home run character piece for not one, but two characters! Plus an interesting new element is added to the DS9 mythos, the Obsidian Order. So all in all a highly entertaining and intriguing episode.

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