Becca’s Take on Episode 2: “Past Prologue”
In case, dear reader, you did not realize that I am gay, I apologize for my tendency to see gay characters everywhere. I use this as a preface to explain what follows in my analysis of Garak and Julian.1 First, I love to see how uncomfortable he is (especially since he made Dax similarly uncomfortable in the opening scene of last episode). I like to think this is the foundation for my unjustified opinion that Garak is hitting on Julian this entire episode.
To start with, scene one: they are sitting at a table, with a flower, and it certainly looks like they are on a date. Then once Julian says he has heard of Garak, Garak’s face lights up and his eyes twinkle like there’s no one else in the world for him but his handsome Dr. Bashir.2 Then his beloved (Julian) buys him tea. This is clearly a date. Then, as if there was a need for more subtext to verify my theory, Garak calls “an open mind the essence of intellect.”3 He offers him pleasurable company at his suit shop (where I’m sure Garak would be delighted to fit him for a new suit)4 and then after a few seconds of intense eye contact squeezes Julian’s shoulders and looks suggestively at the camera before making his exit.5
We move from the first meeting to Julian frantically explaining that he has had a meeting with a spy, which the rest of the crew has tons of fun with. Dax’s emphasis on, “What do you think he might want from you, Julian?” (said with a bit of a smirk) makes me think she has exactly the same idea as I do. The friendly conversation is not a spy tactic, Julian! He just wants to get to know you better, and take you to tea next time!
As a side note, I love the fact that the crew does not at all take this seriously. Assuming for a moment that Garak might actually be a spy, this kind of relationship (romantic, friendship, or enemy) could be dangerous, and they are treating Julian like he is kind of disposable. This is what really made me feel for him, even if he is a little bit of a space cadet sometimes. It feels like the rest of the crew doesn’t take him seriously at all. They ignore his intel, and leave him to his own devices. In later scenes we see him being a good doctor, he’s good at his job, and deserves some respect for that.
Back to Garak, we next meet our unlikely lovebirds people-watching on the promenade, a popular lovers activity. Julian joins him to “enhance his evening” and drive forward the plot (wherein we get a couple of Klingons). Now, Garak has no good reason to help Julian, but he does. He points out the Klingons, and starts in motion a series of events that leads to this duo getting much more screen time together. Why would he willingly help Julian, a member of the Federation, for nothing in return?6 He expresses concern for his new young friend shortly thereafter, and encourages him to come get a suit, which brings me to Julian once again becoming Doctor Stupid and failing to pick up what Garak is putting down, if you know what I mean. Eventually, he gets it and at 2055 (or rather 2057) he goes for his “suit fitting.”
Garak picked a lovely color for Julian, and set him up with the perfect hiding spot to get all the details. That was so brave of Garak, he went out on a limb for not just Julian but the Federation and the new Bajoran Government, which feels uncharacteristic of the Cardassians we have seen before. Garak is the one who saves the day, unveiling the plan and sending Julian to alert everyone. We don’t see any more of him this episode, much to my chagrin, but I look forward to finding more evidence of “Jurak”7 in the future!
Signing off – Becca H.
1Note: This episode sort of redeemed Doctor Stupid, and so now I will call him Julian. I did still call him Doctor Stupid a few times in my notes (but only when he really deserved it. Like when he couldn’t figure out the code.)
2Okay, maybe I am being a little dramatic, however he does get significantly more animated.
3In this case, an open mind about sleeping with Garak (or I *guess* him being a spy).
4More to come on that later…
5It’s at 2 minutes and 18 seconds for those of you following along at home.
6 Could it be, Garak has a crush, perhaps?
7The obvious Julian + Garak couple name. Alternates are: Garian, Juliak, Garlian, Julax and Dr. and Simply Garak.
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Ponderings from the Promenade: A Journey through Star Trek Deep Space Nine 
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