Let me reiterate for the umpteenth time, I am not a Bashir fan. But in “Doctor Bashir, I Presume?” there are two redeeming factors. One, Robert Picardo makes a appearance as Lewis Zimmerman, the creator and model for the Emergency Medical Holograms. Ricardo is always a joy. He is also stands head and shoulders above anyone on his regular show, VOY. Two, we finally learn why Bashir is such an arrogant jackass.Zimmerman comes to DS9 in order to model the latest version of the EMH after Bashir. As we will later see, the idea is abandoned in order to model the latest EMH after Andy Dick. Apparently, the federation has its own version of ObamaCare which kicked in around the 24th century, so that is about the best quality of medical care around. Scary thought.
Zimmerman wants to know all about Bashir’s past so he can fully program the EMH with Bashir’s personality. But Basir is not very forthcoming, particularly about his childhood. Zimmerman decides to invite basher’s parents to DS9 to interview them. Bashir is not happy to see them and for good reason. They brig the secret with them that Bashir is genetically enhanced.
He was not a good student as a child, but rather than let him fall behind in his studies, his parents secretly sent him to a specialist to have his genetically altered to metal and physical perfection. Such is illegal in the Federation, but his father takes full responsibility and goes to jail forth crime so Bashir can remain in Starfleet.
No explanation is given why children were being genetically engineered in TNG’s “Unnatural Selection,” but one suspects that was part of Gene Roddenberry’s often conflicted view of utopia. If man had become perfect morally in the 24th century, he must have been genetically perfect as well. Very fascist viewpoint and one subsequent Trek writers pretend never existed. Wise move.
Having Bashir be genetically enhanced was never part of the long term plan One suspects tons of continuity errors throughout the series up util this point which are best let unexamined.
Rom and Leeta inexplicably hook up in this episode. Grab your barf bags.
“Doctor Bashir, I Presume?” is not bad for a Bashir-centric installment. At least it does bother to explain why he acts as insufferably as he does. One has to excuse the contradiction on genetica engineering’s status with ’Unnatural Selection,” but since I disliked that episode--mostly because Pulaski did not die in it--I can forgive it. Like I said above, the addition of Picardo makes everything better
Rating: *** (out of 5)
