Welcome to the Weekend Binge. Every Friday, we’ll suggest a binge-able title designed to keep you from getting too stir crazy. Check back throughout the weekend for even more gloriously queer entertainment.
The Boldly Going: Star Trek Discovery
Yes, we admit it: we’re really big nerds here at the Weekend Binge. Not that we’re ashamed–finding LGBTQ themes and characters has always been one of the great strengths of the sci-fi and fantasy genres. This weekend, we celebrate one of the more recent achievements in the genre: the welcoming of LGBTQ characters to the world of Star Trek with Star Trek: Discovery.
It’s hard to believe Trek had been voyaging through space for more than 50 years before it finally got openly queer characters in one of its incarnations. Thankfully, said characters–not to mention the actors playing them–more than make up for the wait. Star Trek: Discovery dives into the Trek universe roughly 10 years before the adventures of Captain Kirk. The Federation has constructed an experimental new ship called Discovery with the ability to jump massive distances across the universe thanks to the work of its gay chief engineer, Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp). Actor Wilson Cruz plays Stamets’ longtime partner, Dr. Hugh Culber, as Discovery ventures out onto her maiden voyage.
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Each season of Discovery follows a new story arc. The first deals with an accidental war triggered by Discovery‘s second officer, Michael Burnham (Soniqua Martin-Green). The second follows Discovery’s investigation into the appearance of a mysterious “angel” and the rise of a rogue AI trying to (what else?) conquer the galaxy. Season 3, now halfway through its run, jumps more than 1,000 years into the future, with Discovery arriving in a time when the Federation–the force of hope and justice in the galaxy–has fallen after a mysterious event known as The Burn.
Besides Rapp & Cruz, Discovery also features a memorable turn by gay comic Tig Notaro as a sarcastic engineer, a rival of Rapp’s Stamets. Season 3 also introduces Blu Del Barrio and Ian Alexander as the first transgender & non-binary characters in Trek history–a welcome addition as well. Start the series from the beginning, or jump in at the start of a new season. Either way, Star Trek: Discovery offers bold adventures where LGBTQ people have never gone before.
Streams on CBS All Access & Amazon.
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WSnyder
While the Star Trek universe has finally had openly gay characters. it’s not ever shied away from inclusion and making social statements. Lt Uhura [African], Lt. Checkov [a Russian during the Cold War], Lt. Sulu [Asian] from the Original Series. Star Trek broke ground with stories that reflected our society at that time. Watch ‘Let this Be Your Last Battlefield’ to see racism broken down to it’s rawest form. ‘A Private Little War’ on Vietnam. And there are more examples in the series that followed.
Good stories can entertain, great stories do that and help us reflect on ourselves and our society.
patricklee5150
I couldn’t have said it better myself! Kudos, fellow Trekie.
UlfRaynor
Wait a minute, didn’t Ryker fall for a non-binary alien on a planet of non-binary identifying people in Next Generation?
succubus
I love the str8 guys. the queers are way too affected
patricklee5150
Wow! Self Hate much?
Chrisk
Yet you still keep coming back to post on a queer site. You must really hate yourself.
Prax07
Wasn’t really into season one, season two was better, season three I’m loving.
MacAdvisor
“The first deals with an accidental war triggered by Discovery‘s second officer.”
Um, no. Go back and look at the first season again. Burnham doesn’t trigger the war, she is prevented from stopping it by her misguided captain. Burnham knew the Klingons would not negotiate, but need to fight first, thus, she tried to fight them over the objections of her commanding officer.
Rock Star
Discovery rocks.
It’s well worth the 5.99 per month. Plus it is a great forum for all things Trek.
From TOS to Discovery, to Picard, it’s all there. Plus over 50 years of CBS prime time stuff.