Star Trek: Discovery
Summary
Anthony Rapp take on Commander Paul Stamets onStar Trek : Discovery , the engineer and astromycologist responsible for the development of the USS Discovery ’s unique spore drive . Rapp navigates Stamets ' complex fictional character arc dexterously , playing Stamets as prickly and egotistical , with single - tending devotion to his piece of work , and also incredibly intelligent , passionately enthusiastic about science , with a cryptic love for his family that emerges over time . Among thecrew of the USS Discovery , Stamets is uniquely dependent to operate the spore drive , which allows for immediate travel along the fungal pathways of the galactic mycelial internet , thanks to illegally integrated tardigrade DNA that lets Stamets navigate the mycelial internet .
Star Trek : Discovery ’s Paul Stamets was named for the real - sprightliness mycologist and author Paul Stamets , whose enquiry explores the utilization of fungi in unconventional way . The real - life Stamets advocate the decriminalization of psilocin ( " witching mushroom cloud " ) and its use as a medical treatment , and defend the possibility of fungi as a natural way to detoxify contaminated land and water . Notably , the veridical Stamets ' theories about the structure and ability of real mycelial internet to communicate over space inspired the galactic mycelial electronic internet used by the spore thrust inStar Trek : Discovery .
Star Trek : Discovery ’s controversial spore ride is a technological jump forward that solve many problems Starfleet has with warp thrust .
Anthony Rapp Plays Paul Stamets On Star Trek: Discovery
As a Broadway star, Rapp originated the role of Mark Cohen in Rent.
Anthony Rapp play Paul Stamets onStar Trek : Discoverywith pernicious , realistic growth . Stamets was introduce as an scratchy engineering science lieutenant in charge of the spore drive and on a regular basis worked with Cadet Sylvia Tilly ( Mary Wiseman ) and Specialist Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin - Green ) , soStamets was one of the more developed characters inDiscoveryseason 1 . Stamets was promoted to Lieutenant Commander beforeDiscoveryseason 2 , in which Paul meet verbal spar partner Commander Jett Reno ( Tig Notaro ) . InStar Trek : Discoveryseason 4 , Commander Stamets tried puzzle out through his social difficulties by touch base with Cleveland Booker ( David Ajala ) through fellow feeling for Book ’s grief , and their partake in power to operate on the spore effort .
Besides his role as Commander Paul Stamets onDiscovery , Anthony Rapp is best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Jonathan Larson musicalRent , which he perform on Broadway , London ’s West End , internal circuit in 1997 and 2009 , and the 2005 flick adaptation . Rapp ’s theater career is extensive , with highlights including the 1999 revival ofYou’re a Good Man , Charlie Brown ; Idina Menzel’sIf / Thenfrom 2014 to 2016 ; and Rapp ’s one - homo show , Without You , base on his memoir . highlighting ofAnthony Rapp ’s filmographyareA Beautiful Mind , Adventures in Babysitting , Dazed and Confused , and TV show node appearance , including the musical installment ofPsych .
Stamets & Dr. Hugh Culber Are Star Trek’s First LGBTQ+ Marriage
Stamets and Culber, with Adira and Gray Tal, become Discovery’s LGBTQ+ family.
No account of Commander Paul Stamets would be complete without highlighting Paul ’s relationship with his husband , Dr. Hugh Culber ( Wilson Cruz ) , and the fact thatStamets and Culber areStar Trek ’s first LGBTQ+ marital couple . Their relationship was presented with a well-situated domesticity , until Culber was mindlessly mutilate by Lt . Ash Tyler ( Shazad Latif ) inDiscoveryseason 1 . Fortunately , Hugh was resurrected inDiscoveryseason 2 , through a combining of Paul ’s sorrow , connexion to the mycelial mesh , and scientific breakthroughs . Culber ’s resurgence presented its own set of challenge for Paul and Hugh ’s spousal relationship , but they agreed to stay onboard for the USS Discovery ’s startle to the thirty-second 100 .
Star Trek ’s LGBTQ+ representationexpanded further when Commander Stamets was the first someone that adolescent Ensign Adira Tal ( Blu del Barrio ) came out to as nonbinary . InStar Trek : Discoveryseason 4 , Stamets and Dr. Culber became a chosen family for Adira and their transgender boyfriend , Grey Tal ( Ian Alexander ) without a second thought , proving that Paul had come a long way from the offish Lt . Stamets ofDiscoveryseason 1 , who had been dwell in a desperate survival mode . In a beautiful example ofStar Trek : Discovery ’s nucleus themes , Anthony Rapp ’s Commander Paul Stamets learns to expand through connection , not just to the mycelial connection , but most significantly , to other people .
Star Trek : Discoveryseason 5 premiere April 4 , 2024 on Paramount+ .
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