On Saturday, October 9, the cast of “Star Trek: Discovery” gathered on the Empire Stage on the Javits Center in New York City to debate the upcoming season. Sonequa Martin-Green (Captain Michael Burnham), Mary Wiseman (Ensign Sylvia Tilly), Blu de Barrio (Adira), David Ajala (Cleveland Booker), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), Anthony Rapp (Lieutenant Paul Stamets), and Michelle Paradise (co-showrunner) talked about what it was wish to movie throughout a pandemic, how the crew of the Discovery is adapting to its new captain, and what’s in retailer for season 4.
During that dialogue, Cruz revealed a bit concerning the position Dr. Culber will tackle in season 4 and what impressed his efficiency.
Dr. Culber Takes on the Crew’s Mental Health
The panel’s moderator, Karama Horne, often known as The Blerd Gurl, requested Cruz about how the crew will cope with the continued trauma offered by their jobs within the fourth season, particularly since they already handled a lot trauma within the third season.
Cruz mentioned that Dr. Culber would proceed to tackle the position of ship’s counselor, which he began doing in season three. He added that trauma can generally be a possibility for development.
“I’ll steal a line from the good Dr. Culber,” Wilson mentioned. “We’re going to be okay, however we now have to first admit that we’re not in order that we will get to the answer. We discuss a lot about post-traumatic stress, however we do not discuss sufficient about this idea that exists about post-traumatic development. That these traumatic experiences, particularly traumatic experiences that we expertise collectively, can lead us to a special place, could make us stronger if we’re prepared to face the precise situation.”
Cruz continued, saying that the characters in “Discovery” are nonetheless studying who they’re and the way they slot in with the crew. He mentioned that this trauma they are going by and the way they select to cope with it’ll form them.
Later within the panel, he mentioned that Culber will proceed to assist his crewmates by these traumas by caring for his or her psychological well being in addition to their bodily well being.
Cruz Was Inspired by Healthcare Workers
Cruz went on to say that his portrayal of Culber this season was actually impressed by the healthcare employees which have been engaged on the frontlines in the course of the pandemic. He mentioned that Dr. Culber’s large wrestle this season shall be taking good care of his personal well-being whereas taking good care of the well-being of the crew. To work out authentically deliver that to his efficiency, he regarded to healthcare suppliers in the true world. He mentioned:
Like a lot of our medical officers and therapists and psychologists in our world proper now, they aren’t solely coping with the nervousness that their sufferers are bringing them, however they’re additionally coping with their very own actuality. They’re residing underneath these circumstances as effectively. So, all through this season I actually considered all of our nurses and all of our medical doctors and all of our therapists, who’ve helped us by this extremely unsure second in time. And who’re struggling themselves.
A couple of minutes later, Martin-Green mentioned that she’d additionally been impressed by the important employees in the course of the pandemic. She mentioned that Starfleet is all about honor and responsibility, and there is nothing extra honorable than performing your duties within the face of hazard, to assist those that you do not know. She continued, saying that working in the course of the pandemic made all of them extraordinarily grateful for individuals who saved doing their jobs, at nice danger to themselves. The different actors onstage nodded in settlement.
The fourth season of “Discovery” premieres on November 18, 2021, on Paramount+.
