6 Ups & 5 Downs From Star Trek: Discovery 5.6 — Whistlespeak
4. DOWN — Aren't You A Psychologist, Too?
"Ever since Trill, I've felt more connected, more attuned to something greater than myself, greater than all of us. But if there's no scientific reason for it, then…," says Culber to Stamets after his neural scan has failed to produce the desired results. There's nothing wrong — physiologically — with Culber's brain, which is… good, but there is no explanation for the after-effects of the zhian'tara (the Trill memory displacement ritual) to pinpoint either.
This DOWN does not, of course, in any way apply to the spiritual interpretation itself. Star Trek, particularly Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in which we first saw the zhian'tara performed, made clear that each individual is free to seek out meaning in life as they so desire. However, as it stands, there is a certain lack of logic to declaring "there is no scientific reason…" In other words, isn't psychology a science, too?
If you'd had an alien consciousness take over your brain and body, wouldn't you feel a bit weird for a while after?! Not to engage in pop psychology, but this is literal transference we're talking about, and the human psyche never evolved to share itself with another. The rationale for Culber's feelings is already there, obvious for all to see.
Why spend so long seeking out a justification, when he could have just been left to explore the ramifications as he saw fit? No one seemed to have an existential crisis after Facets either. Following Wilson Cruz's exceptional performance in Jinaal especially, it just feels like Doctor Culber deserves to be given something more substantial to do. Then again, perhaps this is all leading somewhere. Pure speculation, but maybe Jinaal didn't leave Culber's body at all?