Summary
- Doug Jones and Wilson Cruz share how Star Trek: Discovery offers hope and messages of connection for future generations.
- Their roles as Saru and Dr. Culber made Trek history, creating the Kelpien race and the first gay marriage in the franchise.
- Discovery's message of diplomacy, peaceful outcomes, and unity in diversity serves as a beacon of hope for the world.
Doug Jones and Wilson Cruz discuss the legacy Star Trek: Discovery leaves behind after 5 seasons. As Saru and Dr. Hugh Culber, respectively, Doug Jones and Wilson Cruz were series regulars in Star Trek: Discovery's cast since the show began. Both roles made Star Trek history; Jones got to create the Kelpien race via his performances as Saru while Cruz was part of the first gay marriage in Star Trek with Anthony Rapp's Commander Paul Stamets.
Screen Rant exclusively interviewed Doug Jones and Wilson Cruz about Star Trek: Discovery season 5's home video release, and the boxed set of all five seasons of Star Trek: Discovery. When asked what they feel future generations of audiences who watch Star Trek: Discovery should know about the show, Doug and Wilson spoke of Discovery's legacy of "hope" and that the series was about "connection on every single level." Check out their quotes below:
Doug Jones: I think Discovery will find its place as a show of hope in the midst of the entire franchise. Our show brings a lot of hope. Yes, we face peril, but we get through it with diplomacy. We get through it with a peaceful outcome, mostly. And we have conflicting personalities, conflicting species, finding a way to live in peace together. I think that is a message of hope that we all can live with, and we can all take into our hearts. Where the world's going at the moment, and if the world keeps going that direction, our show will hopefully be more and more of a beacon of how it could be.
Wilson Cruz: [Star Trek: Discovery] was as much about self-discovery as it was discovering the universe. That it was so much about who we are, and how we work is just as exciting to discover as a new planet. Discovering you're capable of more than you even knew you were capable of. The way we challenge ourselves and step up to challenges. How we deal with disappointment. How we relate to others. How we connect, or not. All of that. The show is really about that. It's about connection on every single level, from the individual out to the universe.
There Would Be No Modern Star Trek Without Discovery
Star Trek continues with Discovery spinoffs
Star Trek: Discovery's success launched the highly successful modern age of Star Trek on Paramount+ overseen by Alex Kurtzman. It's safe to say Star Trek wouldn't have had a renaissance of five series, a made-for-streaming movie, and two more announced TV shows on the way if Discovery didn't pave the way. Star Trek: Discovery was a cornerstone of the fledging CBS All-Access streaming service that transitioned into Paramount+. In fact, Star Trek was dead for 12 years as a TV franchise before Discovery reignited the flame.
The animated Star Trek: Lower Decks is also ending with season 5 on Paramount+ while Star Trek: Prodigy awaits a season 3 renewal on Netflix.
Even with Star Trek: Discovery now over after 5 seasons, Star Trek's future on Paramount+ is being defined by Discovery spinoffs.Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which is now the flagship Star Trek on Paramount+ series, is a spinoff of Discovery season 2. Star Trek: Section 31 stars Star Trek: Discovery headliner Michelle Yeoh, and it was supposed to be an ongoing series before it transitioned into the first Star Trek streaming movie. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will soon continue Disco's legacy, continuing the 32nd century era trailblazed by Star Trek: Discovery.
