this post was submitted on 23 May 2026
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Am I just romance blind, or did anyone else not notice anything romantic between those two? People online always talk about how there is so much romantic subtext/chemistry between the two that the producers had to put a stop to, but I just don't see it.
"What I added to that in that first episode was a sexual ambiguity about Garak. In that very first scene when he meets Dr. Bashir it’s clear as a bell— and this was my choice—that he was sexually attracted to this good-looking young Starfleet doctor. And although they didn’t follow that up with an explicitly gay character, that ambiguity about Garak remained."
Andrew Robinson, that actor who played Garak, intentionally added that subtext.
I absolutely believe that was the actors's intent, but I still just do not see it. Other people definitely do, but I think I am just too oblivious to that sort of thing.
It’s one of those fan interpretation things. You can view their interactions through a lot of modern shipping tropes. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JdlXt2EWnkM
When it first aired I think it was less about implied romance, and more just Garak occasionally having the energy of a queer-coded Disney villain.
Bisexual Bashir is also an easier fan reading than most shows around that time. The last season literally had a scene where Bashir accused Miles of liking him more than his wife.
Rewatch the opening scene from season 1's "Past Prologue" where Garak first sits with Bashir. There's flirty subtext throughout.
There is some video that recuts that exchange a bit and adds some provocative music at specific moments, and I think that effectively changes the vibe to fit the romantic narrative. But the actual original scene just comes off to me as a kid scared of a potential bad guy.
He always seemed more nervous by the fact he (accurately) believes Garak is a spy, which fascinates him, but also was shocked that said spy was trying to get information from him which boosted his ego and played to his interests. Like a kid having their own hero approach them and not the other way around.
Sadly it's not that there was "so much" it was that it was "so gay." Berman cracked down hard on that, so there's only hints left.