Star Trek: Discovery’s Wilson Cruz Feels There’s More To Hugh Culber’s Story, So We Discussed Whether It Could Continue In Starfleet Academy

Star Trek: Discovery’s Wilson Cruz Feels There's More To Hugh Culber’s Story, So We Discussed Whether It Could Continue In Starfleet Academy

As a dedicated Star Trek fan with over three decades of fandom under my belt, I must say that the final season of Discovery was a bittersweet journey for me. On one hand, it was heartening to see characters like Doug Jones’ Captain Saru and Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber get the closure they deserved after years of emotional turmoil. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but feel that there were still untapped potentials in these characters, especially with Culber.


As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but express my excitement about Star Trek: Discovery’s final season. It provided a satisfying conclusion for many characters, as expressed by actors like Doug Jones. Yet, it seems not everyone was completely content, with Wilson Cruz sharing his thoughts that there could have been more growth for Hugh Culber’s storyline. With several Discovery cast members moving on to Starfleet Academy, there’s a possibility that Culber might reappear. But will we see the actor return? Only time will tell!

Actor Cruz recently took time out to chat with TopMob for a special promotion of the upcoming digital launch of “Star Trek: Discovery” Season 5 on August 26th, and its release on Blu-ray and DVD on August 27th. During our conversation, we delved into the complete narrative arc of Culber’s character in the series, a storyline that enthusiasts can revisit with a Paramount+ subscription. In Season 5, it appears that the ship’s doctor has triumphed over his personal struggles and is now ready to progress. Cruz shared his sentiments about the final story arc and its immense potential.

I must admit, I was genuinely thrilled when we finally wrapped up this phase of uncertainty regarding his identity. Wondering what direction he would take next was intriguing, to say the least. At that juncture, he was operating at full capacity. Consequently, I believe we’ll likely witness him delving deeper into counseling roles and finding himself more often on off-world missions. There were numerous chances for such developments. So, by the end of the season, this character had become fully fleshed out, appearing in various scenarios. As an actor, I felt I could tackle any situation he was placed in, and make it feel authentic.

In Hugh Culber, there emerged a renewed vitality following his resurrection that was noticeable and had potential for further development in another season. Unfortunately, since Star Trek: Discovery has been canceled, we missed out on witnessing how this fresh chapter of Culber’s story might have unfolded on the series.

A significant part of that transformation was due to an incident called “Jinaal,” where Culber agreed to serve as a short-term host for a Trill named Jinaal Bix. This Trill had crucial data the Discovery team required. Although the ceremony made the transition temporary, Wilson Cruz disclosed to TopMob that traces of Jinaal linger in Hugh’s physical form.

Regarding the remainder of the season, I haven’t delved into this before, but there persisted a trace of Jinaal within him. He still harbored the wonder, you understand – after all, Jinaal had been imprisoned for 800 years and his joy at being alive once more was something Culber recognized but never fully experienced himself. It seems to me that Jinaal helped him recognize that life can be breathtakingly beautiful, full of excitement and delight, and that he should seize those aspects of it.

envision Culber preserving a hint of his bravery as he embodies Jinaal and carries it with him on future expeditions! It’s frustrating that we didn’t receive another season of Star Trek: Discovery to delve deeper into this, even though I found the series finale satisfactory.

As a dedicated Star Trek fan, I can’t help but express my excitement about a potential upcoming series where Hugh Culber could make an appearance. Interestingly, this series has already brought some Discovery characters into its fold. Intrigued by this possibility, I couldn’t resist asking Wilson Cruz if he would be open to reprising the role of Culber in Starfleet Academy. His response was affirmative, which gives me great anticipation for exploring a fresh aspect of this beloved character!

Absolutely, they have all the necessary information about me – my location, emails, phone numbers, as well as the contact details of my representatives. They are aware of my potential return. Therefore, I won’t say more since they haven’t inquired yet.

As someone who has been a devoted fan of “Star Trek” for decades, I have a strong hunch that when characters from “Star Trek: Discovery” start to attend Starfleet Academy, we’re in for a treat with the array of appearances we’ll see on the show. Wilson Cruz’s character, in my opinion, would make a perfect fit as an instructor, sharing his extensive knowledge in medicine and counseling skills that are essential for any crew member aboard a starship. Having followed his career since his days on “My So-Called Life,” I can attest to his acting abilities and the depth he brings to his characters, making him an ideal choice for such a role.

I Thought Star Trek: Discovery Was Writing Doug Jones Off The Show In Season 5, But He Explained The Reasons Why Saru Wasn’t Around Much

Star Trek: Discovery’s Wilson Cruz Feels There's More To Hugh Culber’s Story, So We Discussed Whether It Could Continue In Starfleet Academy

Jones explained what was up to TopMob.

Starfleet Academy has its unique narrative, and given its existing ensemble cast, it could explore tales of the 32nd century instead of extending the storyline from Star Trek: Discovery. However, this doesn’t rule out possibilities for connections, as shows like The Next Generation managed to incorporate actors from The Original Series, along with numerous guest stars, despite a time difference of a century.

If a role on Starfleet Academy doesn’t materialize, there are always novel and comic book options to further Hugh Culber’s personal narrative. In the world of Star Trek, a character’s story rarely concludes when a show ends, unless they meet a tragic end like Trip Tucker in the finale of Enterprise. Yet, I am optimistic that we will encounter more Trek adventures featuring Culber, regardless of the medium.

“You can stream ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ immediately on Paramount+! I’m intending to re-watch Seasons 3 through 5 before the launch of ‘Starfleet Academy,’ as a means to refresh myself about life in the 32nd century. I hope many fellow fans share my plan, so we can all enjoy it anew together.”

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2024-08-20 03:07