Star Trek Characters That Must Return (2026)
8. Hugh Culber And Paul Stamets
This entry is a fairly simple one: are these guys dead? If not, can we get a bit of confirmation on that, please and thank you? Again, we reference the infamous Wall Of Heroes aboard the USS Athena, wherein the names Hugh Culber and Paul Stamets are written in glowing lights.
They are the only members of Discovery's crew who were still alive by the events of Life, Itself, to have their names on the list. While Lt. Commander Ariam is also up there, she was killed in the line of duty back in the 23rd Century. No one else from Discovery's crew is up there, so what merits their inclusion?
Culber, technically, earned his spot when his neck was broken by Lt. Ash Tyler (also on the list, though we're not entirely sure which version of him). Paul Stamets may have earned his spot once Discovery was declared lost during the battle with Control, though this seems like a stretch. Why him, and no one else? Did Detmer just annoy the department of records? Was Bryce missing on yearbook photo day?
It seems as though a recent demise may qualify them for the list, which seems a tad odd. Reno is reassigned to Starfleet Academy, while Tilly pops up as an instructor. The USS Discovery can pop up just after the nick of time to help save the Athena, so where are its crew?
Quite frankly, we need an answer here. Should Stamets and Culber appear in the second season, then perhaps that will shed more light on how one achieves a spot on the wall. Without their appearance, we are left scratching our heads, wondering if Star Trek really did just bury its gays off-screen.