Section 31 is one of the most mysterious and long-lasting ideas that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine added to Star Trek canon. This network of spies and secret agents does the United Federation of Planets’ dirty work, pruning away any threats to the perfect paradise of Earth. The upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie promises to fill in details about the early history of Section 31, between Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, but audiences first encountered Section 31 on Deep Space Nine from the perspective of Doctor Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig).
The second episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine established Doctor Bashir loves mysteries and spying. He trades barbs and innuendos with Elim Garak (Andrew J. Robinson), plays a James-Bond-esque spy on the holosuite, and is even initially accused of being a Dominion spy during Section 31’s first appearance. Doctor Bashir was poised to be a secret agent, and, if he had been given the chance, could have been the ultimate Section 31 spy.
Doctor Bashir Would’ve Been The Perfect Section 31 Operative On Star Trek: DS9
Bashir Was The Perfect Combination of Abilities, Affinities, & Alliances
Doctor Bashir had all the skills and talents to become a great operative if he had joined Section 31. As a child, Bashir’s parents had him genetically augmented, leaving him with super-human intelligence and reflexes. In DS9, we see how these talents make Bashir one of the best doctors in the Federation, and an integral part of the crew of the space station. It is easy to imagine how those same talents would have served Section 31.
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On top of his abilities, Doctor Bashir also shows time and time again that he is interested in espionage. For instance, he has a regular lunch with Garak for the sheer pleasure of playing mind games. When either Garak or Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) needs to communicate covertly, they know Bashir can be a go-between. Even during his off-hours, Bashir loves to play at spying, including playing a holonovel as a 20th-century international spy based on James Bond.
Bashir also shows empathy to sick Jem’Hadar and earns the trust of his captors in more than one episode.
Finally, even outside of Section 31, Doctor Bashir forms easy and natural alliances. He is fast friends with not only Garak, but also Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) and both Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) and Lt. Ezri Dax (Nicole de Boer). Bashir also shows empathy to sick Jem’Hadar and earns the trust of his captors in more than one episode. This natural charisma would have allowed Bashir to infiltrate complex situations easily as a spy for Section 31.
Star Trek: DS9’s Writers Would’ve Made Bashir Section 31 In Season 8
As Seen In The “What We Left Behind” Documentary
Despite all the reasons he would have been an effective secret agent, Doctor Bashir never accepted the offer to join the ranks of Section 31. While he expresses fascination with the agency, Bashir ultimately rejects Section 31 and their methods because he doesn’t believe in Section 31 cause. Nevertheless, if DS9 had gotten season 8, the writers would have had Bashir join Section 31.
It seems that the writers of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine were just as aware as audiences that, given the chance, Doctor Bashir would have been an unstoppable agent for Section 31.
In the documentary What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the show’s writers discussed a vision for the pilot episode for an eighth season, set 20 years after the events of DS9. In this hypothetical eighth season, Doctor Bashir would have taken on the role of antagonist as the head of Section 31. It seems that the writers of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine were just as aware as audiences that, given the chance, Doctor Bashir would have been an unstoppable agent for Section 31.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
- Release Date
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January 3, 1993
- Seasons
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7
- Writers
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Rick Berman
, Michael Piller - Showrunner
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Michael Piller
, Ira Steven Behr
