Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 5, Episode 16
Original Air Date: February 24, 1997
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| via Memory Alpha |
Robert Picardo guest stars as both Dr. Lewis Zimmerman and the Emergency Medical Hologram he created in his own likeness. The scientist is designing a new and improved medical hologram and wishes to use the handsome and talented Dr. Bashir as the model. To do the job, Zimmerman requires intimate knowledge of Julian's psyche, including a deep probe of his past. To this end, Zimmerman invites our doctor's parents to the station for interviews, against Julian's explicit wishes. In an accidental slip up, Mom and Dad reveal a dark secret: Julian was illegally genetically enhanced as a young child.
Meanwhile, Zimmerman takes a shine to Leeta, forcing Rom out of his shyness to confess his love for her. Fortunately, she loves him, too, and DS9's happiest and healthiest romance is finally realized.
I have mixed feelings about the Genetically Enhanced Julian storyline. In the writers' ongoing need to make the character more interesting, I think they went a bit too far with this one. He's superhuman? That doesn't make him more likable. Contrast his with Rom's arc. We root like hell for Quark's little brother. At this point, Rom is one of the strongest recurring characters and for DS9, that's saying quite a lot. The writers didn't change Rom. They simply put him in circumstances where he'd best be able to shine. With Bashir, they try too hard. And so does Julian. In my defense, the development came as a late surprise for actor Alexander Siddig and he wasn't too happy about it initially either.
But postgaming the episode with our child brought new perspective for me...
They feel the augmentation plotline has parallels with nonconsensual genital surgeries performed on intersex children. Julian didn't have a choice in undergoing the procedure. In fact, he didn't even fully understand what had been done to him until later. The same is true for infants born with non-conforming genitals. In both cases, the parents have made what is essentially a cosmetic choice motivated by the long-term well-being of the child.
I think it's hard to fault the parents in either case. We all want what's best for our kids and will go to great lengths to ensure their well-being. But where is the limit? For the Trek universe, there's a legal limit regarding genetic enhancement. Regarding intersex children, parents have all the power, though the medical establishment certainly has influence in the matter.
It's an interesting question - the sort of question Trek should be encouraging all of us to ponder.
One fun note: Fadwa El Guindi (Amsha Bashir) was not a professional actor at all. At the time, she was an anthropology professor at UCLA. A casting agent discovered her at a community theater performance and El Guindi auditioned for Trek on a whim. The episode is her only on-screen acting credit.
Acting Notes
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| via Wikipedia |
Chase Masterson (Leeta) was born Christianne Carafano in Colorado Springs, February 26, 1963. She graduated from the University of Texas with a BFA. She made 17 appearances as Leeta on DS9 plus a voice appearance on Lower Decks. The television resume also includes guest appearances on General Hospital, Sliders and ER. Her film Yesterday Was a Lie earned her a Best Feature Film Producer award at the LA Femme Film Festival in 2008.
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