After 25 Years, Star Trek Confirms Beloved DS9 Couple as Canon

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5, Episode 9, “Fissure Quest”

Star Trek: Lower Decks Canonizes a Beloved Couple 25 Years After DS9

In a long-awaited twist, Star Trek: Lower Decks officially recognizes a fan-favorite pairing from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in its Season 5, Episode 9 titled “Fissure Quest.”The episode features Captain William Boimler, voiced by Jack Quaid, who is the transporter duplicate of Lieutenant Brad Boimler. This alternate version was previously thought to be dead and is now affiliated with Starfleet’s clandestine Section 31.

The crew of the USS Anaximander includes various alternate realities of iconic Star Trek characters, such as T’Pol from Star Trek: Enterprise and an earlier incarnation of Curzon Dax, voiced by Fred Tatasciore. Additionally, a holographic representation of Dr. Julian Bashir (voiced by Alexander Siddig), along with an alternate Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson), plays a significant role in the narrative.

The Marriage of Bashir and Garak

This episode marks a significant step in depicting Dr. Julian Bashir and Elim Garak as a romantic couple, a development 25 years in the making since the conclusion of Deep Space Nine. Through Captain Boimler’s voice-over introduction, viewers learn that Garak and a holographic version of Bashir are now married. The witty repartee between this version of the couple reflects the same dynamic that fans appreciated in the original series, reaffirming the chemistry that sparked speculation about their potential romance all those years ago.

However, it’s essential to note that neither character is directly from the Prime Universe as fans remember them; they are instead alternate versions navigating their relationship despite their different backgrounds. By leveraging the expansive Star Trek multiverse, Lower Decks creatively showcases how Garak and Bashir’s romance could evolve without altering the canon established in Deep Space Nine.

Exploring the Missed Opportunity of DS9

For those familiar with Deep Space Nine, it’s evident that the series laid the groundwork for Bashir and Garak’s relationship but never fully realized it. Producer Rick Berman notably prevented the show from explicitly confirming Garak’s queerness, fearing backlash from 1990s audiences. Instead, Garak found himself in a seemingly forced heterosexual relationship with Tora Ziyal, Gul Dukat’s half-Bajoran daughter, which many fans found unconvincing.

The Context of Queerness in Star Trek

Star Trek’s history with LGBTQ+ representation was fraught; the first same-sex kiss in the franchise occurred during the Deep Space Nine “Rejoined,”but it was criticized at the time for its limited portrayal of gay relationships. The mixed reception to Jadzia Dax and Lenara Kahn’s romance exemplified the challenges of bringing such narratives to mainstream television in the ’90s.

Despite these constraints, Robinson’s portrayal of Garak involved subtle hints of attraction toward Bashir from the very beginning of Deep Space Nine. Their interactions—a blend of playful banter and collaborative detective work—provided ample material for speculation among fans. With contemporary views on LGBTQ+ representation evolving, Star Trek: Lower Decks finally allows Bashir and Garak to enjoy the romantic acknowledgment they have long deserved.

This episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks serves not only as an entertaining narrative but also as a significant recognition of fan desires from years past, reinforcing the notion that love knows no boundaries—across both universes and timelines.