Star Trek: Discovery Review - 6 Ups And 5 Downs From Season 1
3. A Rare Positive Depiction Of A Gay Relationship
Star Trek, like much of entertainment, has made efforts in the past to include homosexuality as though fulfilling some forced modern quota. In doing so, it’s often fallen into the trap of patronising “it’s okay to be gay!” treatments, or forcibly including a scene like Kelvin-verse Sulu holding hands with his male partner just for the sake of it.
These moments ultimately come off as trying too hard, in desperation to be seen as tolerant and enlightened. Homosexual relationships don’t need, however, to be given any more or less attention than straight relationships. They simply need to be treated as what they are: romances between two individuals.
The relationship between Stamets and Dr Culber was presented as loving and genuine, and that it happened to be a gay relationship was by no means its defining quality. It was neither portrayed with stereotypes nor placed on a pedestal of attention, it simply presented two partners in a committed relationship.
That’s why when Culber was killed by Voq-as-Tyler in heartbreaking fashion, we felt a palpable sense of loss. Rather than another Star Trek redshirt, Culber’s death had a devastating effect due to the strength with which his relationship with Stamets was handled.