Garak had a huge impact on DS9. Well written and portrayed. When you consider that Garak was in only 37 episodes out of 173, it becomes even more impressive.
Amazing how only 20 years ago the writers responsible for Star Trek could make even the peripheral supporting characters some of the most complex and intriguing.
WHHAAAATTTTT? Seriously? I thought he was in half of it. That's a credit to how much of an impact this character and actor had on the entire of Star Trek.
"That's why you came to me, isn't it, Captain? Because you knew I could do those things that you weren't capable of doing? Well, it worked. And you'll get what you want: a war between the Romulans and the Dominion. And if your conscience is bothering you, you should soothe it with the knowledge that you may have just saved the entire Alpha Quadrant. And all it cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet officer. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a bargain."
"Never tell the same lie twice" "Truth is usually an excuse for lack of imagination " "Its all, true, especially the lies" 3 of the best lines in all Star Trek
@Ricardo Santos Coincidence is like luck, they don't exist, there is only the Living Force and the Unifying Force, but where it comes to Master Kennobi even he can make a Jedi believe in luck.
Garak is the dictionary definition of a patriot. He doesn't blindly follow the orders of a misguided government. Instead, he has devoted his life to the betterment of Cardassia even though the universe no longer understands his definition and his own people have exiled him. Yet he never sells his soul or himself and fights for a better Cardassia, even when it means giving up his own life (when he tries to blow up the founders homeworld but Worf stops him). He is prepared to sacrifice himself for his father, a man who considers him a traitor until his last breath and has never recognised him as a son. It's Garak against the universe and in the end, he wins. But victory is bittersweet. He loses what he loves to give another chance to the Cardassians for what they could become. When the female founder says Cardassia is done he is able to look her in the eye, smile, and thank her for her time for Cardassia as he plans to kill her. He never seeks fame or recognition but works in the shadows for his people. When Damar and others are perceived as saviours he isn't jealous but is happy that his people are on the right path to freedom. His morals are of his own and he doesn't let anyone dictate his actions. He is a true patriot, even though he was exiled for opposing a genocidal government he never stopped serving. We could all learn a lesson from this fictional character. Being a patriot does not mean blindly serving a government who are controlled by special interest groups but to judging individual policies. When the leader of the Cardassian dissident movement asks Kira if Garak is on their side she says she doesn't know. It's because he judges each individual situation on how he views it would benefit his countrymen. Even when he decodes their codes and he questions his actions he sticks by what he believes to be the best for Cardassia even though many thousands will die, Cardassia will be better for it. When Damars aide threatens to kill Kira, Garak pulls his weapon on him. The aide responds by saying he wouldn't kill another Cardassian he replies with "how little you know me". Garak isn't afraid to kill a man to save a Bajoran whose skillset can save Cardassia. He is a true servant of Cardassia and perhaps the best-written character on Trek.
"My dear doctor, they're all true." "Even the lies?" "Especially the lies." -Elim Garak and Julian Bashir in the most fitting exchange for the two characters
The fact that characters like Garak, Martok, Tain, Winn, Weyoun, and Dukat only appear in less than 30 episodes each (Martok’s only in, like, 9 and Tain’s barely in 4) and get they all got such amazing development continues to shock me to this day.
According to memory alpha Martok is actually in 24 episodes, (2 of them are the changeling impersonating him, so you could argue he's only technically in 22) Martok and Garak are probably my two favorite characters in the whole series. DS9 was the best that Star Trek has ever been. It's a shame that none of the following series or movies followed it's lead.
I understand the Garak was supposed to be a throw away character for the first season as like an extra. The actor needed money for rent and asked to say on for a month. I honestly think DS9 would be lacking without Elim. How he evolved and was given more backstory is amazing.
Dukat less than 30 episodes?! I've never looked into that character's stats (so to speak) but that's amazing if Dukat - a top bad guy - only appeared 30 times in a 7-year show and feels like he was in at least half the episodes.
Now consider that, while I 100% agree with you, he's probably not in the top 5 of best developed characters on the show. That's what really makes this amazing. This great of a character was, ultimately, for the most part, a side character.
DS9 was full of complex, multi-layered stories. But one of the most mind-bending was when Kira helps start a rebellion on Cardassia, that was deep. She has to work with people who she used to kill, and teach Cardassians to think like terrorists.
@@francescobirsaalessandri3992 That remark was only made stronger by the earlier scene where Damar splashes the kanar on his own reflection. What Kira said hit him hard because he already knew it was true.
His career was practically over after Dirty Harry. Hard to find work when your face provokes the visceral “that’s they psycho from Dirty Harry!” response. Apparently the only way to get away from that role was to put a mask on.
@@M0rmagil I guess that's why IMDb lists 108 acting credits for him between film and television. www.imdb.com/name/nm0732367/ And I'll never forget his uncanny portrayal of Liberace in the TV movie of the same name in 1988. Truly remarkable performance in that one.
He had probably the best line in all trek when Kira said at Ziel's death bed. "She loved you" refering to Garak when he replied "I could never figure out why.... I guess I never will". That moment hit me like a punch to the gut.
Ziyal got a raw deal, but, it did give Dukat a chance to show he wasn't all bad, he really did love her (once he decided not to kill her), and went appropriately mad for a bit, afterwards.
Garak was intended to be a one-off character; Robinson said that he portrayed the character in the episode for the simple fact that he needed money for that month to pay his bills. The producers were impressed with Robinson's performance and decided to develop the character after Robinson agreed to return.
This video not only shows how good an actor Andrew Robinson is, but how good DS9 is. Look at this story arc for a B character. There are some main characters you couldn’t make a 3-5 minute for never mind a 9 minute masterpiece! Well done! Great piece of work!
@@Thalanox although I like portions of B5 it was fairly predictable future sci-fi with mediocre acting. DS9 was decent sci-fi, with a few twists in an already fleshed out "universe" with better than average acting most of the time.
Odo: "Commander, he _doesn't_ know why the Romulans would try to kill him." Sisko: "What makes you so sure?" Odo: "Because if he _did_ know, he'd already be spinning out an elaborate web of lies to cover up the truth." Garak: "The truth is usually just an excuse for lack of imagination!" God damn this show is such a gem.
The character Garak is by far one of my favorite of all Star Trek characters. Some would say Cpt. Picard or Cpt. Kirk... but Garak was such a multifaceted, manifold character and the writers never ceased to develop the character throughout the series. But it was Andrew Robinson who really brought the character to life. His ability to subtle prononciate words and thus changing the overall context of a whole senctence, the smirks here and there or just the way he used his eyes / eye muscles (despite all the makeup he wore) wthout saying a single word. That kind of acting skill combined with the character writing made the Garak so likeable.
Wholeheartedly agree here. The writers and Andrew Robinson nuanced Garak in such a special way, that I think is comparable to non other. But he alone did something more: he wrote "A Stitch in Time". Which is one of the absolute best books in Star Trek library of all times and so much underlines Elim Garak we already know, so much completes him, that is a must-read for anyone who is Garak's fan and more, who really enjoys Star Trek. The sadness, the strength, the passion, the depth with which this book is written is unprecedented in series of such books and is really something to admire.
DS9 was amazing for it's secondary characters. Weyoun comes to mind as well, again helped by an amazing performance by the actor. Garack really was one of the best though.
Callum Mckay Definitely agree with Weyoun too! Great character. Anytime I watch DS9. I genuinely believe he wanted peace. Gul Dukat too was also an amazing character. DS9 was just perfect in my opinion, every single character and the storyline beats all other Treks for me. But if Quark isn’t anyone’s favourite then you must have something wrong with you!! Lol
Very nice. But I think you missed some of his best lines. Bashir: "Which parts were true?", Garak: "My dear doctor, it was all true!" Bashir: "Even the lies?" Garak: "Especially the lies!" .... Doctor: "Ever heard the tale of the boy who cried Wolf? It warns against lying, for when you really need help, no-one will" (paraphrasing here) Garak: "Are you sure that's the moral of the story?" Doctor: "What else could it be?" Garak: "That you never tell the same lie twice!" /smirk
When anyone mentions DS9, Garak comes to mind. Well-written and masterfully portrayed by Andrew Robinson (the Scorpio killer in 1971's Dirty Harry), Garak was a living contradiction. A simple tailor who had a complicated and clandestine past, one didn't know whether to trust him or not, but one knew he was capable of doing the dirty work needed to keep one's conscience clear enough to want to live a little longer. The man was lethal, quiet, insidious, charming, all at the same time.
@@Vladimir_The_Impaler Ah! At the time of my comment there were only two dislikes, seems like Senator Vreenak got in on it, too. (To be fair, the music _is_ a little overpowering at times, but I still gave it a like because Garak.)
@@venus_envy Truth is in the eye of the beholder, I don't tell the truth cause I don't believe their is such a thing, that's why I enjoy the simplicity of cutting cloth. --- Elim Garak
My favourite character in all of Star Trek portrayed brilliantly by a great actor. Also the saviour of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant. Without him, the Dominion would have won I'm sure.
@@Shaden0040 Haha! Barclay is also one of my favorite ST characters. Can you imagine that meeting, with Barclay stuttering and not knowing what to do with his hands, and Garak smirking calmly at him all the while. Would be funny for sure.
@@TheRichNewnes - No, Garak comes face to face with Section 31's Sloan, and saves his life ... because like the lawyer said about the shark, "It's Professional Courtesy."
And he wasn't meant to be a major character in the beginning! Just an interesting person for Dr Bashir to talk to, and they loved him so much they gave him more and more of a part until he ended up being one of the best, most interesting people on DS9.
Garak is a man who's lost everything. Yet he struggles on, either out of sheer defiance or hope of returning home. A man who's done despicable things in the name of his people, but is capable of extraordinary compassion. A man who wears a mask in every conversation, hiding the true depth of his feelings behind it. Garak is more human than he'd like to admit. Than any of us would like to admit
What seems like Garek's untrustworthiness, moral ambiguity, shadowed motives, and ever-constant, but always varying & seamlessly morphing, manipulations... Well, that's why I trust him. A man so, ahem, *gifted* can, with complete certainty, be unquestionably trusted with anything, and everything...up to, and including my life: if Garek wanted me to feel what his treachery would be, he'd have already done it..and I'd have never seen it coming. That is proof that Garek can be trusted without needing to hesitate to wonder.
Now that's some editing! Kudos for capturing the spirit of the darkness and despair he carries with him. The ending pulled at my heartstrings, Julian truly sees him for what he is/what he's done and still accepts him. If ds9 was made today they would have been 100% canon.
Story goes for years that they were actually planned and written to be a couple (Julian and Garak), first ST gay couple and that both actors actually signed the contract stating the nature of their on screen relationship. Then a certain important producer that I could, but won't name, chickened out and pulled two other ones with him, so the characters were changed to what's basically "best friends". Trouble is, Julian already had a "best friend", which would be O'Brian. So the holes were made in the story and problems with some pre-written scripts ensued. A lot of rewriting and adjusting later, we got Julian and Garak as we know. However... If one would comb through certain words, sentences, scenes or gestures, one could see the remnants of the original relationship. Also, Julian is supposedly a notorious breaker of female hearts at the beginning of the show (or tries very hard to be), but if that was stripped, what's left is a cliché gay character. And so on... that's how that story goes.
@@MaylarArt That would be surprising, as DS9 is hugely relying on (genius level) of Backstory righting. The O'Brian - Julian relationship was written in when it became apparent Siddig and Meaney had chemistry together. The first season(s) Julian was written to be a complete jack-ass, and Garak was not at all a regular character in the first arcs: (S1 1 appearance). The only thing I could dig up is that Robinson first played Garak an character without a clear sexual preference, but that was not used in further stories / character use.
@@stonenz111 I have to agree regarding the editing. Elim Garak is my favourite ST character of all time and that really did him justice. You're obviously a big fan of his too, you put some serious effort into that. A very good job.
I never felt so sad for a non-central character like I did for Garak. He watched his father die as a prisoner of the Jem'Hadar. He watched his mother get shot and killed. He lost Ziyal. And when he was finally back on Cardassian soil, all he found there was ashes and ruin and his people in tatters. What a heart-wrenching tale!
For those who might not know, Andrew Robinson played the role of serial killer "Scorpio" in the 1971 film "Dirty Harry" starring Clint Eastwood. He went by Andy Robinson then. What incredible acting...truly a brilliant performance. Him portraying Garak was icing on the cake for me.
“I don’t think Constable Odo has a mother.” “I didn’t know you spoke Klingon.” “Oh, you'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations.”
When I was watching the series on Netflix for the first time, every once in awhile I'd say to my brother (whom I was watching it with) "We haven't seen Garak in a long time! :("
Bashir and Garak's relationship is one of my all time favorites. Their witty back and forth lunches, ending with thoughtful and introspective discussion genuinely felt like a conversation that would occur between a genius doctor and former Cardassian 'leader'.
"The truth is usually just an excuse, for a lack of imagination." -Garak Best character I've ever come across in any tv, show, book, whatever. Absolute best.
I'm not sure of other roles garaks actor may have preformed. But in this role he will live forever. There is no one aside from Q whom I care for more than garak. Andrew is amazing, and still need recognization 20 years later. Magnificent video that showcases our favorite tailor.
Before DS9, he was probably best known as Charles "Scorpio" Davis from the original "Dirty Harry" movie. He was also a Fulbright Scholar at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the director of the Master of Fine Arts acting program at the University of Southern California.
"So that you'll forgive me. Why else? I need to know that someone forgives me." That line almost had me bawling the first time I saw it and then again when I watch this.
Garak is my favorite character in all of Star Trek. The fact that he was in on 37 episodes shows not only something about the writers of the show but the actor himself. He was played so well. One of the best supporting characters in all of television
One of my top three favourite star trek characters. In fact the only time I ever read one of those novels was the one about Garak's origin. I was amazed when I noticed that the author was Andrew Robinson himself. It was a great little read. He really went all in on that character.
Gem of a video. Beautiful. Two morons giving it thumbs down must be Gul Dukat's mates. Andrew Robinson is a great actor (sadly not enough recognized) and amazingly manages to give us nuances of Garak, who is a complicated character to say the least. He juggled all Garak's sides absolutely brilliantly and gave a breath of life to a character that could have been so plastic, if not treated with care. And he did something more, he wrote "A Stitch in Time", one of the best books in the Star Trek library of all times, giving us more of Garak and in a perfect way, his past, his present and his future, sadness, depth, anger, passion... in an amazing way, he prolonged the life of the character and framed him perfectly in a timeless manner.
Thanks for this comment, it prompted me to look up the book (I didn't know it existed before seeing your comment) and then buy it, actually finished reading it about 8 mins ago. It was incredible
And he's keeping him alive to this day on Alexander Siddig's Sid City Social Club channel. He has been reprising Garak for short plays and they're fabulous. He loves the fans and they have been reaching out and keeping us entertained during the pandemic.
Is it just me or did Paul Dooley have the absolute best voice in the world as Enabran Tain? I know he's done a LOT of voice work over the years but I always think of him as Tain. I know this was a tribute to Garak and the genius of Andrew J. Robinson's portrayal. And indeed he was amazing. But when I hear Tain's voice it just has such a great quality to it.
Garak is my absolute favorite Star Trek character (Along with Spock both will always hold 1st place in my heart) I've loved him from the first episode I saw him and it's only grown over the years/with every Episode. This vid is a beautiful and poignant tribute to such a complex Character.
Data was a wonderful character too. He wanted to be human. Spock was half-human and wanted to be all Vulcan. Garak was so complex. I don't think anyone can figure him out completely.
Why i love Garak? The darkness of his soul surpassed that of the Space itself, yet despite all his pain, suffering and torment, despite his sadness, and everything that he lost, everyone, there was hope in his heart. And love. A most beautiful video. Your patience and your understanding of the character is truly amazing. A man with immense capabilities of violence and death, yet he kept his dark, evil side at bay. The strength of his will to achieve that.. Without any doubt, my favorite DS9 character.
Making a video about Garak and leaving in my eyes the most emotional speech of him out of the picture shows what a great character he is. Nearly every scene he brings to the series is gold.
Garak was by far the most intriguing character in all of Trekdom. With the endless lies and contradictions in character, you never could quite put your finger on who he was. Brilliantly written and acted to the nth degree, my favorite Trek character.
It was always telling that Babylon 5 and DS9 were actually meant to be one show that was realized as two. Both feature the best and most complex characters in scifi. Garak was fascinating to the very end and he stubbornly refused to be categorized either as good or bad.
Andrew Robinson my have started out acting as the "Scorpio Killer" opposite Clint Eastwood and for years was type cast for most of his career in those roles. But to be honest, playing Garrack in DS9, may very well be his greatest role...the depth of the writing and character development is one if not the best portrayals in all of the Star Trek...he will always be known as "plain and simple Garrack" A great video well done! Thanks!
I return to this video constantly. Thank you for making it. Since my first viewing of the DS9 series I was drawn to Garak. IMO the best "guest star" on any Star Trek
Wish you had the scene where he's torturing Odo and ends up breaking down himself, that's a great Garak moment, but then there are a ton of them it's hard to fit into a 9 minute video
Garak is my favourite Star Trek charakter. Unlike many of star treks characters he seems so deep to me. Im a Star Wars fan to the deepest core of my heart. But having such a complex and wellwritten character like garak in star trek... is beautiful. Theres two reasons for me to watch ds9 over and over again. Garak and the Defiant.
DS9 was the first Star Trek I watched about 2 years ago and I immediately fell in love with it but garek stood out and is now one of my most favourite characters in entertainment
Garak is my most beloved person in all of Star Trek. If meeting him was any kind of possible, I'd jump at it and keep my mind alert for the complex meaning behind his words. He would be a true privilege to know.
3 ปีที่แล้ว +1
after 60 years in the sci-fi faniverse, Garak is still my most unforgettable character yet.
Garak is without a doubt one of the best Star Trek characters of all time!
Dukat and Garak are without doubt the finest character arks in the entire series.
“One of”
Dumar, weyoun, sisko, and picard are also good.
Let's not forget about Quark. Edit: and Martok!
Garak is one of the best of any work of fiction.
Garak had a huge impact on DS9. Well written and portrayed.
When you consider that Garak was in only 37 episodes out of 173, it becomes even more impressive.
Oh my God was it really only 37? I am serious when I say I cannot imagine DS9 without Garak.
No way 37???? He was the best thing in DS9
Amazing how only 20 years ago the writers responsible for Star Trek could make even the peripheral supporting characters some of the most complex and intriguing.
WHHAAAATTTTT? Seriously? I thought he was in half of it. That's a credit to how much of an impact this character and actor had on the entire of Star Trek.
Yes, the Garak episodes have always been my favourite :D
"That's why you came to me, isn't it, Captain? Because you knew I could do those things that you weren't capable of doing? Well, it worked. And you'll get what you want: a war between the Romulans and the Dominion. And if your conscience is bothering you, you should soothe it with the knowledge that you may have just saved the entire Alpha Quadrant. And all it cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet officer. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a bargain."
@Just Jeff You can always trust a Ferengi to mind rule of acquisition 240, but don't be shocked when there's hidden costs.
and He said he "Would do anything to get the Romulans into the war"
@Just Jeff Why did I just read that in my head with Quarks voice? haha..
You know what's worse Garak was right.
@@timesthree5757 he wasn't wrong often...
And if he was, he was lying about what he thought
Odo: "You'd shoot a man in the back?"
Garak: "It's the safest way, of course."
Classic Garak
Rimmer : I can happily him if he was on the job.
Love it
Fair point
Tinker... Tailor... Solider... Spy...
I have always thought this myself
You took my comment. :p
It took me so long to realize he fits those titles better than anyone ever could
His character is literally based off of that novel, give it a read sometime :)
yeah haha what i just wrote before reading this good one.
"Never tell the same lie twice"
"Truth is usually an excuse for lack of imagination "
"Its all, true, especially the lies"
3 of the best lines in all Star Trek
Blackblooded also some of the least ‘Trek like’ quotes.
also "I never tell the truth...because I dont believe there is such a thing" :)
"I (read it in a book,) (overheard it while hemming trousers) etc."
@Ricardo Santos Coincidence is like luck, they don't exist, there is only the Living Force and the Unifying Force, but where it comes to Master Kennobi even he can make a Jedi believe in luck.
These quotes definitively describes the life and times of the current demagogue sorry excuse for
president these past 4 years...
Garak is the dictionary definition of a patriot. He doesn't blindly follow the orders of a misguided government. Instead, he has devoted his life to the betterment of Cardassia even though the universe no longer understands his definition and his own people have exiled him. Yet he never sells his soul or himself and fights for a better Cardassia, even when it means giving up his own life (when he tries to blow up the founders homeworld but Worf stops him). He is prepared to sacrifice himself for his father, a man who considers him a traitor until his last breath and has never recognised him as a son. It's Garak against the universe and in the end, he wins. But victory is bittersweet. He loses what he loves to give another chance to the Cardassians for what they could become. When the female founder says Cardassia is done he is able to look her in the eye, smile, and thank her for her time for Cardassia as he plans to kill her. He never seeks fame or recognition but works in the shadows for his people. When Damar and others are perceived as saviours he isn't jealous but is happy that his people are on the right path to freedom. His morals are of his own and he doesn't let anyone dictate his actions. He is a true patriot, even though he was exiled for opposing a genocidal government he never stopped serving. We could all learn a lesson from this fictional character. Being a patriot does not mean blindly serving a government who are controlled by special interest groups but to judging individual policies. When the leader of the Cardassian dissident movement asks Kira if Garak is on their side she says she doesn't know. It's because he judges each individual situation on how he views it would benefit his countrymen. Even when he decodes their codes and he questions his actions he sticks by what he believes to be the best for Cardassia even though many thousands will die, Cardassia will be better for it. When Damars aide threatens to kill Kira, Garak pulls his weapon on him. The aide responds by saying he wouldn't kill another Cardassian he replies with "how little you know me". Garak isn't afraid to kill a man to save a Bajoran whose skillset can save Cardassia. He is a true servant of Cardassia and perhaps the best-written character on Trek.
I read your whole comment, and agree with every word. Well written, and captures Garak very clearly 👍
Right on !! 👍🏼💪🏻🙏🏻
Awesome take, very illuminating
Great treatise on Garak, glad there's still people out there who know how to recognize quality storytelling
Its quotes like this that make me binge watch the series again.
"My dear doctor, they're all true."
"Even the lies?"
"Especially the lies."
-Elim Garak and Julian Bashir in the most fitting exchange for the two characters
The exchange at the bar between Garak and Quark (Way of The Warrior) is also amazing.
@@CCISolitude , it's insidious.
Lying, like any other skill, must be practiced to be maintained.
@@leepreston9637 Never tell the same lie twice.
And that's the thing, we will never know exactly what happened with Garak to land in an exile, but we can see hints of it in the lies he tells.
The fact that characters like Garak, Martok, Tain, Winn, Weyoun, and Dukat only appear in less than 30 episodes each (Martok’s only in, like, 9 and Tain’s barely in 4) and get they all got such amazing development continues to shock me to this day.
You forgot Damar!
According to memory alpha Martok is actually in 24 episodes, (2 of them are the changeling impersonating him, so you could argue he's only technically in 22) Martok and Garak are probably my two favorite characters in the whole series. DS9 was the best that Star Trek has ever been. It's a shame that none of the following series or movies followed it's lead.
Martok is definitely in more than 9 episodes. If im wrong holy shit thats a WAY better character then I thought
I understand the Garak was supposed to be a throw away character for the first season as like an extra. The actor needed money for rent and asked to say on for a month. I honestly think DS9 would be lacking without Elim. How he evolved and was given more backstory is amazing.
Dukat less than 30 episodes?! I've never looked into that character's stats (so to speak) but that's amazing if Dukat - a top bad guy - only appeared 30 times in a 7-year show and feels like he was in at least half the episodes.
Garak was one of the strongest characters ever in all Trek. The actor was superb
Also awesome edit, thank you
Check out the book he wrote himself (Andrew Robinson) "A stitch in time".
Now consider that, while I 100% agree with you, he's probably not in the top 5 of best developed characters on the show. That's what really makes this amazing. This great of a character was, ultimately, for the most part, a side character.
And Naomi Wildman.
Him and Quark were just absolutely delightful, 100% of the time onscreen.
DS9 was full of complex, multi-layered stories. But one of the most mind-bending was when Kira helps start a rebellion on Cardassia, that was deep. She has to work with people who she used to kill, and teach Cardassians to think like terrorists.
"Yes Damar, what kind of people give those orders?"
Kira was also so sassy, I loved her.
@@francescobirsaalessandri3992
that was a very important moment for damar.
@@francescobirsaalessandri3992 That remark was only made stronger by the earlier scene where Damar splashes the kanar on his own reflection. What Kira said hit him hard because he already knew it was true.
To think like freedom fighters with nothing to lose. The designation of "terrorist" is very fluid.
This is when star trek was written with passion, skill, intelligence.
I miss those old days.
For me Garak can be understood by his summary of 'Boy who cried wolf' parable: «Never tell the same lie twice».
When I first heard Garak's morale of that story I knew he was a really special character.
Good... Good...
And don’t forget his first reaction when he hears about the shepard boy....”Clever lad!!” 😂
VolodyA! V Anarhist but if you tell to many lies no one will think any are true
Andrew Robinson was incredible. My greatest admiration for deep space nine was great characters down to the third tier.
He actually wrote a book about Garak. A Stitch In Time. It's pretty good, from what I remember. It's kind of like Garak's autobiography.
His career was practically over after Dirty Harry. Hard to find work when your face provokes the visceral “that’s they psycho from Dirty Harry!” response.
Apparently the only way to get away from that role was to put a mask on.
@@M0rmagil I guess that's why IMDb lists 108 acting credits for him between film and television. www.imdb.com/name/nm0732367/ And I'll never forget his uncanny portrayal of Liberace in the TV movie of the same name in 1988. Truly remarkable performance in that one.
@@M0rmagil Unfortunately, almost the same happened to another AMAZING actor, Robert Knepper... As T-Bag (Prison Break).
Lets be real, the 2nd & 3rd tier had the best actors and best characters.
He had probably the best line in all trek when Kira said at Ziel's death bed. "She loved you" refering to Garak when he replied "I could never figure out why.... I guess I never will". That moment hit me like a punch to the gut.
Ziyal got a raw deal, but, it did give Dukat a chance to show he wasn't all bad, he really did love her (once he decided not to kill her), and went appropriately mad for a bit, afterwards.
Garak was intended to be a one-off character; Robinson said that he portrayed the character in the episode for the simple fact that he needed money for that month to pay his bills. The producers were impressed with Robinson's performance and decided to develop the character after Robinson agreed to return.
And we and the show benefited from it.
I still find it hard to believe he was only in 30 episodes. he had such an impact on the show.
This video not only shows how good an actor Andrew Robinson is, but how good DS9 is. Look at this story arc for a B character. There are some main characters you couldn’t make a 3-5 minute for never mind a 9 minute masterpiece!
Well done! Great piece of work!
I am rewatching the show again. I would say DS9 is one best show in TV history. It's "The Wire" of sci-fi.
I strongly encourage you both to watch Babylon 5. It was shopped around to the studio before DS9 was even developed. I think you'd enjoy it.
Who you calling a B character?
aethertech Garak....
@@Thalanox although I like portions of B5 it was fairly predictable future sci-fi with mediocre acting. DS9 was decent sci-fi, with a few twists in an already fleshed out "universe" with better than average acting most of the time.
"I need to know that someone forgives me."
Only one of the loneliest people alive could say such a thing. It's a great line.
Odo: "Commander, he _doesn't_ know why the Romulans would try to kill him."
Sisko: "What makes you so sure?"
Odo: "Because if he _did_ know, he'd already be spinning out an elaborate web of lies to cover up the truth."
Garak: "The truth is usually just an excuse for lack of imagination!"
God damn this show is such a gem.
Basic Shapes join the Alamaraine cult
Maxsimodem, if you can see, you’ll come with me!
The true thrill is in finding out WHO exactly is guilty of WHAT.
i fully agreed with him when he said that.
And I don’t think we will ever truly know
Now I kind of want to read a Cardassian mystery.
The character Garak is by far one of my favorite of all Star Trek characters.
Some would say Cpt. Picard or Cpt. Kirk... but Garak was such a multifaceted, manifold character and the writers never ceased to develop the character throughout the series.
But it was Andrew Robinson who really brought the character to life.
His ability to subtle prononciate words and thus changing the overall context of a whole senctence, the smirks here and there or just the way he used his eyes / eye muscles (despite all the makeup he wore) wthout saying a single word. That kind of acting skill combined with the character writing made the Garak so likeable.
Wholeheartedly agree here. The writers and Andrew Robinson nuanced Garak in such a special way, that I think is comparable to non other. But he alone did something more: he wrote "A Stitch in Time". Which is one of the absolute best books in Star Trek library of all times and so much underlines Elim Garak we already know, so much completes him, that is a must-read for anyone who is Garak's fan and more, who really enjoys Star Trek. The sadness, the strength, the passion, the depth with which this book is written is unprecedented in series of such books and is really something to admire.
DS9 was amazing for it's secondary characters. Weyoun comes to mind as well, again helped by an amazing performance by the actor. Garack really was one of the best though.
Callum Mckay Definitely agree with Weyoun too! Great character. Anytime I watch DS9. I genuinely believe he wanted peace. Gul Dukat too was also an amazing character. DS9 was just perfect in my opinion, every single character and the storyline beats all other Treks for me. But if Quark isn’t anyone’s favourite then you must have something wrong with you!! Lol
my favorite is data....
but garak is also an excellent choice.
100%
Very nice. But I think you missed some of his best lines.
Bashir: "Which parts were true?",
Garak: "My dear doctor, it was all true!"
Bashir: "Even the lies?"
Garak: "Especially the lies!"
....
Doctor: "Ever heard the tale of the boy who cried Wolf? It warns against lying, for when you really need help, no-one will" (paraphrasing here)
Garak: "Are you sure that's the moral of the story?"
Doctor: "What else could it be?"
Garak: "That you never tell the same lie twice!" /smirk
When anyone mentions DS9, Garak comes to mind. Well-written and masterfully portrayed by Andrew Robinson (the Scorpio killer in 1971's Dirty Harry), Garak was a living contradiction. A simple tailor who had a complicated and clandestine past, one didn't know whether to trust him or not, but one knew he was capable of doing the dirty work needed to keep one's conscience clear enough to want to live a little longer. The man was lethal, quiet, insidious, charming, all at the same time.
Odo for me
Garak, the darkest hero of all time.
Garek, the plainest, simplest tailor on DS9.
Strongest character on DS9, Andrew Robinson brought a darkness and sympathy to life.
Gul Dukat didn't like this tribute to his nemesis
Legate Damar also disliked the video, apparently.
@@venus_envy And Weyoun
@@Vladimir_The_Impaler Ah! At the time of my comment there were only two dislikes, seems like Senator Vreenak got in on it, too.
(To be fair, the music _is_ a little overpowering at times, but I still gave it a like because Garak.)
Good... Good...
@@venus_envy Truth is in the eye of the beholder, I don't tell the truth cause I don't believe their is such a thing, that's why I enjoy the simplicity of cutting cloth. --- Elim Garak
"The truth is usually just an excuse for a lack of imagination"
.....Damn.
"You've never been right about anything!" Got me wheezing. The wit on that guy.
My favourite character in all of Star Trek portrayed brilliantly by a great actor.
Also the saviour of the Alpha and Beta Quadrant. Without him, the Dominion would have won I'm sure.
Agreed! Starting with what he did in “In the Pale Moonlight” 👍
My only regret about Garak is he never met Reginald Barclay.
@@Shaden0040 Haha! Barclay is also one of my favorite ST characters. Can you imagine that meeting, with Barclay stuttering and not knowing what to do with his hands, and Garak smirking calmly at him all the while. Would be funny for sure.
@@Shaden0040 That would have been great !
@@TheRichNewnes - No, Garak comes face to face with Section 31's Sloan, and saves his life ... because like the lawyer said about the shark, "It's Professional Courtesy."
And he wasn't meant to be a major character in the beginning! Just an interesting person for Dr Bashir to talk to, and they loved him so much they gave him more and more of a part until he ended up being one of the best, most interesting people on DS9.
Garak is a man who's lost everything. Yet he struggles on, either out of sheer defiance or hope of returning home. A man who's done despicable things in the name of his people, but is capable of extraordinary compassion. A man who wears a mask in every conversation, hiding the true depth of his feelings behind it.
Garak is more human than he'd like to admit. Than any of us would like to admit
What seems like Garek's untrustworthiness, moral ambiguity, shadowed motives, and ever-constant, but always varying & seamlessly morphing, manipulations...
Well, that's why I trust him. A man so, ahem, *gifted* can, with complete certainty, be unquestionably trusted with anything, and everything...up to, and including my life: if Garek wanted me to feel what his treachery would be, he'd have already done it..and I'd have never seen it coming. That is proof that Garek can be trusted without needing to hesitate to wonder.
"I need to know that someone forgives me".
So human.
The road to redemption mentioned to Worf on why he wants to join Starfleet was true. As he lied. And because of this it's true. Especially the lies.
Agreed, this video and whoever made this this has an eye for life most people never see
Now that's some editing! Kudos for capturing the spirit of the darkness and despair he carries with him. The ending pulled at my heartstrings, Julian truly sees him for what he is/what he's done and still accepts him. If ds9 was made today they would have been 100% canon.
Thank you. A truly tragic character played to perfection by Robinson.
Story goes for years that they were actually planned and written to be a couple (Julian and Garak), first ST gay couple and that both actors actually signed the contract stating the nature of their on screen relationship. Then a certain important producer that I could, but won't name, chickened out and pulled two other ones with him, so the characters were changed to what's basically "best friends". Trouble is, Julian already had a "best friend", which would be O'Brian. So the holes were made in the story and problems with some pre-written scripts ensued. A lot of rewriting and adjusting later, we got Julian and Garak as we know. However... If one would comb through certain words, sentences, scenes or gestures, one could see the remnants of the original relationship. Also, Julian is supposedly a notorious breaker of female hearts at the beginning of the show (or tries very hard to be), but if that was stripped, what's left is a cliché gay character. And so on... that's how that story goes.
@@MaylarArt That would be surprising, as DS9 is hugely relying on (genius level) of Backstory righting. The O'Brian - Julian relationship was written in when it became apparent Siddig and Meaney had chemistry together. The first season(s) Julian was written to be a complete jack-ass, and Garak was not at all a regular character in the first arcs: (S1 1 appearance). The only thing I could dig up is that Robinson first played Garak an character without a clear sexual preference, but that was not used in further stories / character use.
@@stonenz111 I have to agree regarding the editing. Elim Garak is my favourite ST character of all time and that really did him justice. You're obviously a big fan of his too, you put some serious effort into that. A very good job.
They ARE 100% cannon.
I never felt so sad for a non-central character like I did for Garak. He watched his father die as a prisoner of the Jem'Hadar. He watched his mother get shot and killed. He lost Ziyal. And when he was finally back on Cardassian soil, all he found there was ashes and ruin and his people in tatters. What a heart-wrenching tale!
For those who might not know, Andrew Robinson played the role of serial killer "Scorpio" in the 1971 film "Dirty Harry" starring Clint Eastwood. He went by Andy Robinson then. What incredible acting...truly a brilliant performance. Him portraying Garak was icing on the cake for me.
OK awesome. Never knew that. Thanks.
Garak is possibly the best character of any star trek series.
“I don’t think Constable Odo has a mother.”
“I didn’t know you spoke Klingon.”
“Oh, you'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations.”
That was a perfect tribute! Well done!
Hard to believe Garak was only in 37 episodes of the whole series since his impact was so big and lasting.
When I was watching the series on Netflix for the first time, every once in awhile I'd say to my brother (whom I was watching it with) "We haven't seen Garak in a long time! :("
Garak by far is one of the best Star Trek characters ever created in the history of Star Trek. And Andrew Robinson played him to the hilt.
Andrew Robinson.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
Bashir and Garak's relationship is one of my all time favorites. Their witty back and forth lunches, ending with thoughtful and introspective discussion genuinely felt like a conversation that would occur between a genius doctor and former Cardassian 'leader'.
"The truth is usually just an excuse, for a lack of imagination."
-Garak
Best character I've ever come across in any tv, show, book, whatever. Absolute best.
I'm not sure of other roles garaks actor may have preformed. But in this role he will live forever. There is no one aside from Q whom I care for more than garak. Andrew is amazing, and still need recognization 20 years later. Magnificent video that showcases our favorite tailor.
Before DS9, he was probably best known as Charles "Scorpio" Davis from the original "Dirty Harry" movie. He was also a Fulbright Scholar at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the director of the Master of Fine Arts acting program at the University of Southern California.
Saw him as Liberace in a TV movie... was great, but never been able to find it again :(
"So that you'll forgive me. Why else? I need to know that someone forgives me."
That line almost had me bawling the first time I saw it and then again when I watch this.
No other lines tell you how utterly, crushingly alone the man is.
Garak is my favorite character in all of Star Trek. The fact that he was in on 37 episodes shows not only something about the writers of the show but the actor himself. He was played so well. One of the best supporting characters in all of television
Garak & G'Kar - easily my two favourite alien characters across the breadth of Sci-Fi.
I'm actually a Good Tailor...
That's the sad part
One of my top three favourite star trek characters. In fact the only time I ever read one of those novels was the one about Garak's origin. I was amazed when I noticed that the author was Andrew Robinson himself. It was a great little read. He really went all in on that character.
I like to think that he developed most if that book during the filming of the show ti understand the character he portrayed
"A Stitch in Time"
Same. I just bought the Kindle version of _A Stitch in Time_ and it will undoubtedly be the only Star Trek novel I read.
When your show is so strong that even the side characters have enough depth carry their own show............
It's only showing 20k views. I'm pretty sure I've watched this more times than that. A truly incredible video.
I think Garak is my favorite character in all of the Star Trek Universe.
Gem of a video. Beautiful. Two morons giving it thumbs down must be Gul Dukat's mates.
Andrew Robinson is a great actor (sadly not enough recognized) and amazingly manages to give us nuances of Garak, who is a complicated character to say the least. He juggled all Garak's sides absolutely brilliantly and gave a breath of life to a character that could have been so plastic, if not treated with care. And he did something more, he wrote "A Stitch in Time", one of the best books in the Star Trek library of all times, giving us more of Garak and in a perfect way, his past, his present and his future, sadness, depth, anger, passion... in an amazing way, he prolonged the life of the character and framed him perfectly in a timeless manner.
Thanks for this comment, it prompted me to look up the book (I didn't know it existed before seeing your comment) and then buy it, actually finished reading it about 8 mins ago. It was incredible
Thanks for the tip. Considering buying it.
I didn't know about the book, thanks for bringing it up!
And he's keeping him alive to this day on Alexander Siddig's Sid City Social Club channel. He has been reprising Garak for short plays and they're fabulous. He loves the fans and they have been reaching out and keeping us entertained during the pandemic.
I don't usually save things to my favorites, but when I do, it's an awesome little masterpiece like this.
Garek was amazing. He and Dukat really fleshed out this show, adding some depth to the story
Is it just me or did Paul Dooley have the absolute best voice in the world as Enabran Tain? I know he's done a LOT of voice work over the years but I always think of him as Tain. I know this was a tribute to Garak and the genius of Andrew J. Robinson's portrayal. And indeed he was amazing. But when I hear Tain's voice it just has such a great quality to it.
Garak is my absolute favorite Star Trek character (Along with Spock both will always hold 1st place in my heart) I've loved him from the first episode I saw him and it's only grown over the years/with every Episode. This vid is a beautiful and poignant tribute to such a complex Character.
Data was a wonderful character too. He wanted to be human. Spock was half-human and wanted to be all Vulcan. Garak was so complex. I don't think anyone can figure him out completely.
Why i love Garak? The darkness of his soul surpassed that of the Space itself, yet despite all his pain, suffering and torment, despite his sadness, and everything that he lost, everyone, there was hope in his heart. And love.
A most beautiful video. Your patience and your understanding of the character is truly amazing.
A man with immense capabilities of violence and death, yet he kept his dark, evil side at bay. The strength of his will to achieve that.. Without any doubt, my favorite DS9 character.
Next to the Sisko, my favorite DS9 character. I would love to see him again.
Brilliantly written character, brilliantly brought to life by Andrew Robinson. "In the pale moonlight" my favorite star trek episode.
One of my favorite things about Garak is his friendship with Bashir and how they helped each other grow.
Gotta say this is one of the best tribute videos ever, not just star trek, not just DS9, all of them.
I agree. It was beautiful
Beautiful.
Very atmospheric.
Sums up Garak perfectly. Would have liked a few more of his mots-juste though.
Making a video about Garak and leaving in my eyes the most emotional speech of him out of the picture shows what a great character he is.
Nearly every scene he brings to the series is gold.
Garak was by far the most intriguing character in all of Trekdom. With the endless lies and contradictions in character, you never could quite put your finger on who he was. Brilliantly written and acted to the nth degree, my favorite Trek character.
Exiled for having a conscience.
Priah among those he saved.
It was always telling that Babylon 5 and DS9 were actually meant to be one show that was realized as two. Both feature the best and most complex characters in scifi. Garak was fascinating to the very end and he stubbornly refused to be categorized either as good or bad.
Brilliant editing, a hell of a character
Andrew Robinson my have started out acting as the "Scorpio Killer" opposite Clint Eastwood and for years was type cast for most of his career in those roles. But to be honest, playing Garrack in DS9, may very well be his greatest role...the depth of the writing and character development is one if not the best portrayals in all of the Star Trek...he will always be known as "plain and simple Garrack" A great video well done! Thanks!
I just want to give him a hug and take him for a vacation. His nerves could really use some relaxation.
Ive watched this video 5 times already and its still great!
I can't count my viewings anymore. Its one of the best garak tribute videos. Well done
My goodness, that was a fast nine minutes.
"The truth is usually an excuse for lack of imagination"
Love it lol
Elim Garak is a monster. And I'm proud to call him my friend.
This video deserves much, much more than this
Then share it on social media.
@@Shaden0040 you think i even have a social media account, sure ill tell people of it
Garak was easily the best Star Trek character, wonderful video, thank you for making this!
All of the actors speak with such PERFECT dialect and accent. This is almost like listening to modern Shakespeare.
possibly the most nuanced character in all of sci fi history
I return to this video constantly. Thank you for making it. Since my first viewing of the DS9 series I was drawn to Garak. IMO the best "guest star" on any Star Trek
one of the best star trek episodes ever, is "in the pale moon light."
Far out in the empty reaches of network television, occasionally can be found a character of reasonable substance.
When you roll up a character with a 20 in Charisma.
My 12th time watching this! A true masterpiece
"...And it's from the heart, I assure you."
Wish you had the scene where he's torturing Odo and ends up breaking down himself, that's a great Garak moment, but then there are a ton of them it's hard to fit into a 9 minute video
It's in there, just not the whole scene.
garak was under appreciated and such a huge character on this series, i never noticed until now how much i liked him. Thanks for this video.
The absolute best character in all of the Trek series. If they did a spin off that followed his life before DS9 I would support it
God this hit me right in the feels. Such a fantastic Character. Thank you for making this.
Garak is my favourite Star Trek charakter.
Unlike many of star treks characters he seems so deep to me.
Im a Star Wars fan to the deepest core of my heart.
But having such a complex and wellwritten character like garak in star trek... is beautiful.
Theres two reasons for me to watch ds9 over and over again.
Garak and the Defiant.
What a performance by Andrew Robinson as Garak!!!!!!!!!!!111
"Has it ever occured to you that I might be getting *exactly* what I deserve?"
With a single character Andrew Robinson put up one of the great characters, alongside Combs' Shran and Weyoun.
DS9 was the first Star Trek I watched about 2 years ago and I immediately fell in love with it but garek stood out and is now one of my most favourite characters in entertainment
This is Star Trek.
Oh man, that was pure gold thank you, very very well made
Garak was always my favorite character in DS9. And with such a brilliant actor to boot!
Garak is my most beloved person in all of Star Trek. If meeting him was any kind of possible, I'd jump at it and keep my mind alert for the complex meaning behind his words. He would be a true privilege to know.
after 60 years in the sci-fi faniverse, Garak is still my most unforgettable character yet.
Hands down my favourite character out of all the Trek franchises. Well edited and moving. I tip my hat to you.
Garak: I need to know that someone forgives me...