View source for Julian Bashir

{{Short description|Fictional character in the TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox character
| name        = Julian Bashir
| series      = [[Star Trek]]
| image       = JulianBashir.jpg
| first       = "[[Emissary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Emissary]]" (1993)
| last = "[[Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5|Fissure Quest]]" (2024)
| portrayer   = [[Alexander Siddig]]
| species     = [[Human]]<br />(genetically enhanced)
| affiliation = [[United Federation of Planets]]<br />[[Starfleet]]
| family      = Richard Bashir (father)<br>Amsha Bashir (mother)
| lbl23       = Posting
| data23      = [[Deep Space Nine (space station)|Deep Space Nine]]<br />[[USS Defiant]]
| lbl24       = Position
| data24      = Chief Medical Officer
| lbl31       = [[Star Trek uniforms|Rank]]
| data31      = [[Starfleet ranks and insignia|Lieutenant, Junior Grade]] Season 1-3<br /> [[Starfleet ranks and insignia|Lieutenant]] Season 4-7
}}

'''Julian Subatoi Bashir''', [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] is a fictional character from the television series ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', portrayed by [[Alexander Siddig]].<ref name="LA Times 1996-11-03">{{cite news|last=Ryon|first=Ruth|author-link=Ruth Ryon|date=November 3, 1996|title=Action Star Has No Time to Build|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-03-re-60799-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=March 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name="CBC.ca">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/videos/gst-s3-episode-12-alexander-siddig|title=George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight &#124; GST S3: Episode 12 - Alexander Siddig|publisher=[[CBC.ca]]|access-date=March 23, 2015}}</ref> Bashir is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of [[space station]] [[Deep Space Nine (space station)|Deep Space Nine]] and the [[USS Defiant|USS ''Defiant'']].

==Overview==
In first grade, Julian Bashir showed great difficulty in learning and was of below-average height and weight for his age. Shortly before his seventh birthday, his parents, Richard and Amsha Bashir, had him subjected to [[genetic engineering]].<ref name="Forbes 2011-04-08">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/04/08/the-10-best-singularity-themed-star-trek-episodes/|title=The 10 Best Singularity Themed Star Trek Episodes|last=Knapp|first=Alex|date=April 8, 2011|magazine=[[Forbes]]|access-date=March 23, 2015}}</ref> The procedure made him mentally superior to most humans, and greatly enhanced his physical abilities. However, because human genetic engineering had been declared illegal in the [[United Federation of Planets]] except in cases of correcting serious birth defects, Bashir and his parents kept his procedure a secret throughout most of his adult life. At the age of 15, he learned of what had been done to him and began using the first name Julian, reasoning that the modifications had erased his original self from existence. To save Bashir from losing his Starfleet commission and medical license, Richard agrees to plead guilty to illegal genetic engineering and serve two years in prison (''DS9'' episode: "[[Doctor Bashir, I Presume? (DS9 episode)|Doctor Bashir, I Presume?]]").

Bashir graduated second in his class at [[Starfleet Medical Academy]], having intentionally missed a question on his final exam (''DS9'': "[[Distant Voices (DS9 episode)|Distant Voices]]"). He had his choice of assignments anywhere in the fleet, and so chose ''Deep Space Nine'' for the opportunity to practice "real-life frontier medicine" (''DS9'': "[[Emissary (DS9 episode)|Emissary]]"). He holds the rank of Lieutenant (j.g.) at the time of the series pilot, and Lieutenant from the fourth season premiere until the series finale.

Early on, his overly enthusiastic and self-important nature made some members of the crew, such as [[Miles O'Brien (Star Trek)|Miles O'Brien]] and [[Kira Nerys]], reluctant to spend time with him. However, he eventually becomes friends with O'Brien, [[Jadzia Dax]], and [[Elim Garak]]. Bashir flirts with Jadzia, who rejects his advances and goes on to marry [[Worf]]. After her death, Bashir joins Worf on a dangerous mission to ensure Jadzia's soul a place in [[Sto-Vo-Kor]].

Bashir's closest friend is O'Brien, and they are frequently shown playing games (like darts) or visiting the [[holodeck]] for the recreation of one of several historical battles such as the [[Alamo]] or the [[Battle of Britain]].  He is also close friends with Elim Garak, with whom he often shares lunch in the Replimat.

During pre-[[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]] war tensions, Bashir is kidnapped (sometime before "[[Rapture (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Rapture]]," when new uniforms are introduced) and sent to a Dominion prison camp and replaced with a [[Changeling (Star Trek)|Changeling]] (revealed during "[[In Purgatory's Shadow (DS9 episode)|In Purgatory's Shadow]]"). His replacement attempts to destroy the [[Bajoran]] sun, with the goal of wiping out Bajor, DS9, and a fleet of Federation, [[Klingon]], and [[Romulan]] ships ("[[By Inferno's Light]]"). The DS9 crew foil the plan, and the real Bashir, along with his fellow captives, shortly thereafter free themselves. The experience (and his outing as a genetically engineered person) began a slow personality change over the course of the series into a much more somber, dark character.

Later, Bashir attempts to integrate several other genetically engineered individuals into Federation culture, with mixed success ("[[Statistical Probabilities (DS9 episode)|Statistical Probabilities]]," "[[Chrysalis (DS9 episode)|Chrysalis]]").

The covert operations group [[Section 31 (Star Trek)|Section 31]] also becomes interested in him and tries twice, unsuccessfully, to "recruit" him ("[[Inquisition (DS9 episode)|Inquisition]]," "[[Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges (DS9 episode)|Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges]]"). Twice he was possessed by evil aliens "The Passenger" and "Dramatis Personae" and twice he was trapped and almost killed in Holodeck games: "Move Along Home" and "Our Man Bashir".

As depicted in the series finale "[[What You Leave Behind]]," Bashir remains aboard ''Deep Space Nine,'' and begins a romantic relationship with [[Ezri Dax]].

In the [[Mirror Universe]], the alternative Bashir is a freedom fighter in the Terran Rebellion. It is unknown whether he was ever given the genetic enhancements his counterpart was. Unlike the regular Bashir, who is friendly and personable, alternative Bashir is an angry, unkempt former slave who joins the rebellion against the Klingon/Cardassian Alliance.

In ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]'' [[Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5|season 5]], an alternate reality version of Bashir serves aboard the Section 31 ''Defiant''-class ship ''Anaximander'' from the prime universe. Unlike the prime Bashir, this Bashir is an emergency medical hologram -- similar to [[The Doctor (Star Trek)|the Doctor]] -- who is based on Bashir. Like the Doctor, he possesses a mobile emitter. An "interdimensional castaway," Bashir fell in love with and married an [[Elim Garak]] from a different alternate universe that he met on the ''Anaximander''. This version of Bashir has a brief cameo appearance in the series finale "The New Next Generation," standing on the ''Anaximander's'' bridge with Garak when the ship returns to the prime universe.

==Reception==
{{Expand section|date=March 2015}}
The character of Julian Bashir initially sparked fan criticism.<ref name="Philly.com 1993-12-27">{{cite news|last=Spelling|first=Ian|date=27 December 1993|title=Bashir's A Pain, But Actor Loves Him|url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-12-27/news/25942689_1_jerk-british-television-production-siddig-el-fadil|newspaper=[[Philadelphia Media Network|Philly.com]]|access-date=March 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402161900/http://articles.philly.com/1993-12-27/news/25942689_1_jerk-british-television-production-siddig-el-fadil|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> [[Alexander Siddig]] expressed his enthusiasm for the fact that he, with his English accent, unusual screen name at time of casting (Siddig El Fadil), and North African heritage was a main character on a prominent television show despite being not as easily racially identifiable to audiences as many other actors and characters were on TV at the time.<ref>Alexander Siddig. Interview dated 2002. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008KA58 'Crew Dossier: Julian Bashir' featurette], ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Season Six'' DVD.</ref>
* In 2016, Bashir was ranked as the 25th most important character of [[Starfleet]] within the ''Star Trek'' science fiction universe by [[Wired magazine]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/|title=Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|date=2016-09-05|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-03-20|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>
* In 2016, [[Syfy|SyFy]] ranked Bashir as the fifth best of the seven main-cast space doctors of the ''Star Trek'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/every-major-star-trek-doctor-ranked|title=Every major Star Trek doctor, ranked|last=Roth|first=Dany|date=2016-06-29|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en|access-date=2019-07-04|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704150923/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/every-major-star-trek-doctor-ranked|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In 2018, [[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] ranked Bashir the 16th best [[Starfleet]] character of ''Star Trek''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-starfleet-members-ranked/|title=Star Trek: The 25 Best Members Of Starfleet, Ranked|date=2018-10-27|website=CBR|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-20}}</ref>
* In 2018, [[TheWrap|''The Wrap'']] placed Bashir as 15th out 39 in a ranking of main cast characters of the Star Trek franchise prior to ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/all-39-star-trek-main-characters-ranked-from-spock-to-wesley-photos/|title=All 39 'Star Trek' Main Characters Ranked|date=2018-03-21|website=TheWrap|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-22}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/902941676 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/902940716 cite #43 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref>

==Guest appearances==
Alexander Siddig also played his role of Dr. Julian Bashir in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' season six episode "[[Birthright (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Birthright, Part I]]", a season concurrent to DS9's first season.

In 2024, he also reprised his role of Dr. Julian Bashir in Season 5 of Star Trek: Lower Decks in a cameo.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Memory Alpha}}
{{Memory Alpha|Julian Bashir (mirror)}}
{{Memory Alpha|Julius Eaton}}
* [https://www.startrek.com/database_article/bashir-julian Julian Bashir] at [[StarTrek.com]]

{{Star Trek: Deep Space Nine}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bashir, Julian}}
[[Category:Fictional physicians]]
[[Category:Fictional surgeons]]
[[Category:Fictional genetically engineered characters]]
[[Category:Fictional lieutenants]]
[[Category:Fictional health professionals]]
[[Category:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters]]
[[Category:Star Trek: The Next Generation characters]]
[[Category:Starfleet officers]]
[[Category:Fictional Arabs]]
[[Category:Starfleet medical personnel]]
[[Category:Starfleet lieutenants]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1993]]
[[Category:Fiction about eugenics]]
[[Category:Fictional British people]]
[[Category:Fictional_characters_from_the_24th_century]]
[[Category:LGBTQ Star Trek characters]]