If this clip is any indication, outer space will soon be all aswirl in officious, bureaucratic hall monitors.
Star Trek: Discovery, the new interstellar CBS All Access show, released a teaser clip that demonstrates just how uppity and vaguely unpleasant the galaxy can be.
Related: After George Takei Protests, Zachary Quinto Defends Making Sulu Gay In New “Star Trek”
Actor Anthony Rapp is prominently featured, playing some sort of intergalactic, inherently punchable higher-up who clearly enjoys shearing through steely corridors with a great sense of purpose, occasionally turning around to look at an underling askance, be overly difficult, and possibly even ferocious.
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Rapp, speaking to Entertainment Weekly, recently revealed what an honor it is to play a gay man whizzing through some distant solar system in an extremely big spacecraft:
“I’m really excited and happy when a gay character is a part of a story — especially when a gay character is created in a complex and human and non-stereotypical, interesting way, and that has certainly been the case with Stamets. And you get to see his relationship. There was a little glimpse [of a relationship with] Sulu in Beyond, and it was a nice nod. But in this case, we actually get to see me with my partner in conversation, in our living quarters, you get to see our relationship over time, treated as any other relationship would be treated.”
And here’s how that goes:
Ummmm Yeah
Well that didn’t make me want to pay for it.
Paco
I wonder if the word “sassy” would even be used to describe his arrogance if the character was straight.
He is playing an arrogant, know-it-all scientist that is angry that Starfleet has taken over his research project to use for war.
MacAdvisor
Sassy means, “lively, bold, and full of spirit; cheeky.” Stamets doesn’t seem lively or cheeky, but stiff necked, persnickety, and a complete arse.
nmharleyrider
and the sum of all those parts made for a lousy TV show
JamJewel
If there are no eyeballs watching, can a tv show really exist?
Wasn’t there something called “The Good Fight” once? Wonder what became of it!
whirlaround
Anthony Rapp essentially said he’s excited to play a gay character that’s “complex and human and non-stereotypical.” I’m concerned that this article attempts to place simplistic, stereotypically gay overtones on him. The character Paul Stamets, played by Anthony Rapp, is named after a still-living scientist. This character is a bright scientist with the arrogance that sometimes with with that. Arrogance like that has little to do with being “sassy.” In my experience, it instead comes with being used to understanding how things work while others tend not to. If he were straight, I think you’d just think he’s an arrogant jerk, along the lines of the scientist Dr. Zimmerman or his creation, the holographic doctor (from Star Trek: Voyager, for those unfamiliar). Since he’s gay we have to call him “sassy.” This is a maddening self-reflection.
As an aside, I’m a scientist at a well-known space agency. I’m gay. I grew up on Star Trek. It inspired me to accept myself as a gay man and helped bring me to science. I appreciate the inclusion of a gay scientist on the show. That said, instead of “sassy,” I immediately thought they played up the “arrogant scientist” too much. He’s not quite likable yet because of it, but I suspect we will soon see a more human side of him.
mujerado
It’s too bad CBS has chosen to make this an online-only paid subscription to view this program. That limits its audience, which would seem to be the last thing they’d want to do. I won’t be seeing it unless/until it becomes available on regular TV or DVD.
JK 1984
Thankfully in most of the world (excluding USA and Canada) it is available on Netflix within 24 hours of US broadcast.
So far it feels less Star Trek, more like something else. Enjoyable so far though.
alllowercase
I agree! I intend to sign up for the free week, watch them all over a long weekend and then promptly cancel my free subscription. I refuse to pay for a streaming service with such limited content, especially when we already pay for cable/sattelite, and they are already making money off of the commercials.
It’s called GREED, CBS.
Kieran
If you think that crew is disagreeable now, wait until you tell them you voted for Trump.
truckeralex
More like the Hell’s Kitchen assh@le!
Charlie in Charge
For a mycologist, he’s a real fun guy.
get it?
JK 1984
I didn’t see much sassiness from him, more just the angry/arrogant scientist trope.
Just because he is gay, doesn’t make him sassy automatically.
whirlaround
Agreed.
DCguy
The Orville has already dealt with a single gender species and a transgender issue. Not sure “Sassiness” is going to be that shocking.
silveroracle
Agreed!
Can’t see this clip because of that STUPID WAYWIRE APP!
joeboyle49
YOU KNOW YOU CAN BE GAY AND BE IN THE CLOSET AT FIRST AND DO STRAIGHT MARRIAGE ND HAVE KIDS THEN COME OUT LATER AND BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN! THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF GAY MEN WHO HAVE DONE THAT I WAS ONE OF THEM!