Why was Stamets chosen to be gay?

Discussion in 'Star Trek: Discovery' started by Takeru, Nov 12, 2017.

  1. OpenMaw

    OpenMaw Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    When do these things stop being an "issue" is what I want to know. Is it only okay for the straight white male to be the spy, or the one who dies? It's pretty obvious the writers aren't being malicious, nor are they trying to put these characters into some kind of a trope category. Stamets homosexuality is presented fairly straight forward and up front. With not a shred of apprehension, exactly as it should be.

    I love Stamets, he's basically my favorite character on the show. Do I think he'll die? It's possible, but my hope, especially when factoring in that scene of him laughing after the first spore jump, and having that sense of enlightenment, will be that he will, as King Daniel put it, ascend. He'll have an epiphany, be able to travel anywhere in the universe, and stop anyone else from spore-jumping because it causes the network a great deal of harm.
     
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  2. Kemaiku

    Kemaiku Admiral Admiral

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    Due to, as I already mentioned, the disproportinate amount of LGBTQ characters that die, despite them being one of the smallest shown groups in media accounting for 10% of deaths. They would have to survive much more often to even make it even.

    But I guess most people are more comfortable when they die and not stick around.
     
  3. Crazy Eddie

    Crazy Eddie Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I assumed it was because the actor who plays him obviously is and the producers just figured they might as well let him run with it to get a more genuine and convincing performance.
     
  4. The Memetic Susurrus

    The Memetic Susurrus Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    That thought had occurred to me, too. After all, if I don't completely miss the boat, we're seeing something interesting in the lead-up to the Mirror Universe duology: a conscious mixing of characteristics between the Prime and Mirror counterparts. Stamets is "seeing" glimpses of other timelines and, unless I'm misinterpreting, they are leaving imprints on him. So, Hippy Stamets may be an imprint from elsewhere (perhaps the Mirror universe, perhaps another timeline). Clearly we're meant to believe that Stamets is in mortal peril, based on last week’s episode and the preview for tonight’s. And, since we’ve seen him developed as a character and as he’s risen in the estimation of some fans (myself, included), it would make a certain degree of sense to see his “final” personality—post-Mirror episodes—somewhere close to that of the Hippy Stamets vice Grumpy Stamets.

    So, I, too, wouldn’t be surprised to see “a” Stamets die. I would also not be surprised to see that Stamets be the Grumpy one…
     
  5. GeekUSACarl

    GeekUSACarl The Last Starfighter Fleet Captain

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    i dunno, jesus wasnt a very fun guy so...
     
  6. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    The stand up on the mount was a killer set.
     
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  7. ITDUDE

    ITDUDE Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Kill them all except Tilly (and maybe Burnham). Promote Tilly to Captain, Burnham back to 1st officer (as was promised from the get go), after she saves the galaxy. Also save Saru and demote him to Science officer (he is not commanding officer material). Kill the rest. :devil::klingon:
     
  8. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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  9. Shawnster

    Shawnster Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I like the idea that he ascends and becomes The Traveler from TNG.
     
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  10. Infern0

    Infern0 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I'm not sure if this is trolling or what but I see nothing to suggest that sramets wouldnt be in season 2 even if they drop the spore drive.

    I'm seeing hysteria for no reason.
     
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  11. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Hey, he didn't have to turn the water into wine, y'know?
     
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  12. indranee

    indranee Vice Admiral Admiral

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    He's not gonna die, people. He's going the Gary Mitchell route ;)
     
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  13. Takeru

    Takeru Space Police Commodore

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    They need a reason to drop the spore drive, if Stamets is ultimately fine then why drop it? If the effects on him are reversible and ultimately not that bad the spore drive should at least be an option for emergencies even if it is is not used regularly.

    Maybe he won't die but if you see hysteria for no reason I question if you have even warched Discovery. Are you actually telling me Stamets is fine?
     
  14. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    There do seem to be side effects, perhaps permanent ones. And there is that pesky genetic modification needed to make it work with a human.
     
  15. Crazy Eddie

    Crazy Eddie Vice Admiral Admiral

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  16. MrPointy

    MrPointy Captain Captain

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    Stamets is gonna be the proto-Gary Mitchell.
     
  17. galad2003

    galad2003 Commander Red Shirt

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    When there is a more diverse cast then it is more likely they will die off/be a spy or whatever else. We only have one straight white male in the main cast. If we had everything bad happen to him and everyone else get a free pass lest they be "portrayed negatively" then we would have people complain everything happens to the straight white guy and the rest of the cast can't do anything.

    Logically, Stamets needs to die or leave the show when the spore drive fails. If he lives or the effects can be reversed then the spore drive isn't bad enough to rule out use of such a super weapon. However, he is one of, if not the most, popular characters (my second favorite behind Lorca). So I think he will stick around.
     
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  18. Psion

    Psion Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Um ... isn't Stamets' partner gay, too? Or am I confused about the way homosexual relationships work? And the last thing we need is the writers sparing a character because he or she should be a member of a protected class. Watching Dr. Culber handle Stamets slipping away and then coping with that loss could be some of the best moments in the history of Trek, depending on the writing and acting. We watched Sisko grieve for the loss of Jennifer without much context for their relationship -- Dr. Culber's arc could easily trump that.
     
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  19. The Mighty Monkey of Mim

    The Mighty Monkey of Mim Commodore Commodore

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    He wasn't. He was just born that way.

    How can this thread have gone on this long without anyone cracking off that one? OP walked right into it...
     
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  20. XCV330

    XCV330 Premium Member

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    I don't see Stamets dying. They telegraphed that WAY too obviouisly
     
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