My only real beef with NuTrek set at the same time that Bashir and Garak exist is that they haven't had the balls to make it screen canon. Like, it was there in DS9 to the point the Powers that Be had to tell Alexander Siddig & Andrew Robinson to Knock It Off, and separated the characters as much as they could without pissing off the entire fan base.
The actors saw it, the fans saw it, it is there!! If you can give us Picard and bring back all those people and little nods, you sure as hell can give us 30 seconds of Bashir consulting with Beverly with Cardassia in the background and Garak popping over Bashir's shoulder to ask about her magic-borg-son.
i am obsessed with this moment from what we left behind. ira steven behr is basically like, "yeah so were they buddies? ^w^" and andrew robinson in a completely deadpan, 100% serious tone just says "they fucked." he doesn't hesitate, he doesn't miss a beat. he believes in garashir with his heart and soul and that is just so incredibly awesome
were y'all aware that andrew robinson kept a diary written in character as garak to help him develop his acting. were you aware he turned it into a full length novel and published it. were you aware the entire "diary" is actually a series of letters each formatted as "my dear doctor,"
If you're not an actor or haven't spent a lot of time with actors you guys have no idea the extent to which Andrew Robinson is living the dream.
I've spent my life in theatre - from community theatre to school theatre to professional theatre. I've been an actor, director, playwright, and producer. And there's a special kind of acting nerd that will just not shut the fuck up about their character. (affectionate)
I was once cornered at a cast party for an hour by an actor who had to tell me the complex backstory of her Threepenny Opera ensemble character from a production she was in two years prior.
I once had a scene partner who wanted to play through an improvisation of our characters' entire courtship, engagement and wedding (which ruled).
I've had actors write letters to each other in character, and hide them around the stage.
And yes, I've known actors who wrote fanfiction about their characters having a happy ending after the end of the play.
So the idea of loving your character that much, and then having thousands of strangers who love them just as much... thousands of people who also want your special little guy to be happy (or suffer in fun and interesting ways), people who are not only willing to hear every little detail you've imagined for your character, but are absolutely delighted to hear about every thought that crossed your mind while you were performing??? And THEN to make a living on that??????
not a SINGLE day goes by where i don't think about that post with the photo of andrew's death grip on alex's waist. you know the one
(i have, regrettably, once again, lost the damn post. if anyone has any clue as to its whereabouts i would be much obliged if you could drop the link lol. but at the very least i had the presence of mind to download the photo so here yall go xDD: