Spoilers Dr. Hugh Culber Despite Yourself Spoilers!

[GeekUSACarl]

I dunno, I mean I see where you all are coming from but let's think about what culber did know,

He was in a klingon prison,
His height and organs had been altered
It was very possible he'd been brainwashed.

Now I ain't sayin culber shoulda known ash woulda killed him, but to pull a ned stark and go to ash first just wasn't that bright.

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

I dunno, I mean I see where you all are coming from but let's think about what culber did know,

He was in a klingon prison,
His height and organs had been altered
It was very possible he'd been brainwashed.

Now I ain't sayin culber shoulda known ash woulda killed him, but to pull a ned stark and go to ash first just wasn't that bright.

I agree that if he took some extra time to consider everything, it might have eventually dawned on him that Tyler was dangerous.

But he's a doctor, not a tactician.

 

[CaptainMurdock]

You know what Culber's mistake was? He wasn't born an Irishman.

 

[Tuskin38]

I'm definitely disappointed that they killed Culber, and the fact that it plays into the gay characters getting killed trope is unfortunate. I want to give the producers and writers the benefit of the doubt here, and believe that they didn't mean anything by killing off a gay character, it still does look kinda bad.
I'm really hoping they're going to be bringing him back.

They've already confirmed on After Trek that he is coming back.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

I agree that if he took some extra time to consider everything, it might have eventually dawned on him that Tyler was dangerous.

But he's a doctor, not a tactician.

True dat. You'd figure there would be a security policy on board about potential brainwashed crewmates

 

[Feron]

True dat. You'd figure there would be a security policy on board about potential brainwashed crewmates

All of their standard tests for brainwashing had already come up negative. His final session with Tyler began with him asking Tyler additional medical questions, meaning that he had not yet made a firm diagnosis when he started the consultation with him. He was acting like a doctor typically does, openly discussing what he is finding with the patient as he investigates.

Plus, even knowing what we know, Tyler killing the Dr. simply because Culber voices some suspicion is highly irrational. The murder took place in a room where the only other person was locked behind a force field. If they successfully escape the ISS mission, he would be immediately arrested in all likelihood. How would doing this help Tyler in any longterm plan?

 

[GeekUSACarl]

All of their standard tests for brainwashing had already come up negative. His final session with Tyler began with him asking Tyler additional medical questions,

He asked some additional questions but he had found evidence of significant altering of tylers body and had a theory that his personality was tamperwd with.

Just sounds like a "call the boss" issue.

 

[Feron]

He asked some additional questions but he had found evidence of significant altering of tylers body and had a theory that his personality was tamperwd with.

Just sounds like a "call the boss" issue.

But the evidence we see is that he did not fully formulate his theory about personality tampering until the session had already begun.

People are creatures of habit. The habit of a doctor is to openly discuss issues with their patients, not think about things in terms of security personnel.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

But the evidence we see is that he did not fully formulate his theory about personality tampering until the session had already begun.

People are creatures of habit. The habit of a doctor is to openly discuss issues with their patients, not think about things in terms of security personnel.

I just rewatched the scene, he tells tyler that his bones were opened up, his height, radius and spinal chord was changed.

Tyler says " what are you getting at "

Then he goes into "this is just a theory" about his noggin. He had that theory before tyler entered the room.

The only follow up questions he asked were about physical procedures.

 

[Feron]

I just rewatched the scene, he tells tyler that his bones were opened up, his height, radius and spinal chord was changed.

Tyler says " what are you getting at "

Then he goes into "this is just a theory" about his noggin. He had that theory before tyler entered the room.

The only follow up questions he asked were about physical procedures.

But he still had no evidence that Tyler posed a danger to him.

This is someone that Lorca (stupidly, IMHO) had made security chief. Tyler had not done anything aggressive towards a crewmate. Plus, he had actually come to the doctor asking for help. That would tend to take someone off guard.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

But he still had no evidence that Tyler posed a danger to him.

This is someone that Lorca (stupidly, IMHO) had made security chief. Tyler had not done anything aggressive towards a crewmate. Plus, he had actually come to the doctor asking for help. That would tend to take someone off guard.

I wouldn't think the dr shoulda thought he'd be killed just sayin I find it weird there isn't a procedure about informing the captain asap when you stumble onto something like that.

 

[saddestmoon]

I know he's a secondary character, but aside from being Stamets' boyfriend and a doctor, can anyone name a single thing about Culber?

He’s a big fan of Opera, if I’m remembering rightly, back when he first met Stamets.

 

[Feron]

I wouldn't think the dr shoulda thought he'd be killed just sayin I find it weird there isn't a procedure about informing the captain asap when you stumble onto something like that.

A) This had never happened before, therefore no specific policy drafted.

B) I know that at least for myself I like to have plenty of information before going to the boss, which is what Culber was trying to do. We already know that Lorca tends to demand quick and immediate answers to questions.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

A) This had never happened before, therefore no specific policy drafted.

B) I know that at least for myself I like to have plenty of information before going to the boss, which is what Culber was trying to do. We already know that Lorca tends to demand quick and immediate answers to questions.

I'm having a hard time believing that the federation has a test for this sorta thing, a test to find if you've been brainwashed, bit doesn't have a policy that requires you to notify your captain if you find someone may have been.

I mean we've already entered into a nerdpicking moment of trying to apply practical real world ideas to a sci fi fantasy show, but it just doesn't strike me as something the federation would overlook

 

[Aerotrek]

I’m surprised there is so much love for Culber. I felt he was the worst character in discovery. He didn’t bring much to the table except his relationship (which I whole heartedly thought was long overdue in Trek) but I wish he’d been a stronger character; he seemed weaker and more tepid than season one “I feel” Deanna Troi. I was glad to see him go and feel annoyed that he may be brought back in a contrived way

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

I’m surprised there is so much love for Culber. I felt he was the worst character in discovery. He didn’t bring much to the table except his relationship (which I whole heartedly thought was long overdue in Trek) but I wish he’d been a stronger character; he seemed weaker and more tepid than season one “I feel” Deanna Troi. I was glad to see him go and feel annoyed that he may be brought back in a contrived way

He is just a secondary character, and not even in the opening credits. So as a secondary character he normally would not be as fleshed-out as the other (main) characters would be

However, that doesn't mean we should not "have any love for" that character. Look at Chief O'Brien in TNG. O'Brien (at least in TNG) was mostly just a secondary character whom we knew very little about (Heck, we didn't even know what his first name was until his 34th episode, which was in TNG's 4th season), but that did not stop him from being well-liked by the fans.

Similarly, TOS had Kevin Riley (whom I would have liked to see more of) and Mr. Kyle -- both of whom we knew little about, but were still liked by fans.

 

[GeekUSACarl]

He is just a secondary character, and not even in the opening credits. So as a secondary character he normally would not be as fleshed-out as the other (main) characters would be

However, that doesn't mean we should not "have any love for" that character. Look at Chief O'Brien in TNG. O'Brien (at least in TNG) was mostly just a secondary character whom we knew very little about (Heck, we didn't even know what his first name was until his 34th episode, which was in TNG's 4th season), but that did not stop him from being well-liked by the fans.

Similarly, TOS had Kevin Riley (whom I would have liked to see more of) and Mr. Kyle -- both of whom we knew little about, but were still liked by fans.

I liken Culber a lot to Icheb,

their importance is how their character is to the two main characters, and important to that characters development. Icheb to Seven, and Culber to Stamets.

I for one, tend to get attached to those secondary characters in the same way the main characters do. That's where I tend to find "love" for them. It would hurt Seven to lose Icheb, and I would feel that. Same with Culber and Stamets. I think that's a monument to the actor's ability.

Kinda speaks as well to that "no small parts" concept. Those secondary characters have to be well written and well portrayed for that to work.

 

[bigglesworth]

I was actually surprised that Discovery has so many doctors on board, considering she only has a crew of 200-something. As I recall, Kirk's Enterprise had 430 crew and just McCoy and they were meant to be exploring the unknown, weeks, if not months, away from any Starbase. Same is true for Picard's Enterprise (over 1,000 Starfleet and civilian personnel) and just Crusher (or Pulaski in S2).

I think most smaller ships in the USN don't even have doctors on board (several corpsman, but no actual doctor).

Maybe Starfleet figured they needed multiple doctors on board because of Discovery's spore drive?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Is there any actual evidence that McCoy was the only doctor on the Enterprise in TOS?

 

[GeekUSACarl]

Is there any actual evidence that McCoy was the only doctor on the Enterprise in TOS?

...... its McCoy.... you need no other doctor