Patrick Stewart became a global star when he played the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The spinoff show seemed to surpass its predecessor, the original series in terms of reach and even lasted seven seasons. However, Stewart’s show might have fallen behind in one aspect compared to its successors.
Actor Blu del Barrio’s character, Adira Tal in Star Trek Discovery, became the first non-binary character in the franchise. The show also portrayed the franchise’s first relationship between a non-binary character and a trans character. Del Barrio mentioned that Discovery was the most diverse version of Star Trek yet.
What Did Blu del Barrio’s Inclusion In Star Trek Discovery Mean For The Franchise?
Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek franchise has always been about a hopeful and inclusive view of the future. Standing apart from most dystopian visions for the future, Roddenberry instead focused on a professional and more optimal version of humanity, who were more inclusive and diverse in their workplaces.
While the original series featured many cultural milestones, including TV’s first majorly broadcast interracial kiss between Uhura and Captain James T. Kirk, Patrick Stewart’s The Next Generation seemed to have fewer such milestone events. However, subsequent shows in the franchise did more in terms of diversity and inclusion.
Star Trek: Discovery did not just have Captain Michael Burnham, the first Black woman Captain in the franchise, but also had actor Blu del Barrio play the series’ first non-binary character, Adira Tal. Tal also had a romance in the series with a trans character named Gray. In an interview (via With Ashley and Co), del Barrio said,
I’ve always been a really big champion of having as much diversity on screen as we do in our world. Going into this era of trek, where we have the most diverse show that we’ve ever had… I was extremely excited. Also nervous to be part of that representation. Very nervous. But ultimately, it was it was a really huge honor.
Del Barrio, who reportedly also came out to their family a few weeks before the scene where Adira Tal comes out to Paul Stamets, mentioned that such sequences being on TV make a lot of difference for the younger generation who are struggling with their gender identities.
Patrick Stewart Appreciated The Growing LGBTQIA+ Representation In Star Trek
Though Patrick Stewart’s Star Trek: The Next Generation consisted of a more diverse cast and crew for the USS Enterprise, the series received some criticism for its lack of LGBTQIA+ characters. The concept was rarely addressed in the series and only one episode i.e. The Outcast seemed to have explored the theme. However, things changed.
In Star Trek: Picard, Stewart acknowledged the importance of having a character like Jeri Tyan’s Seven of Nine, who implied to be flexible in her sexuality. He said to Forbes,
I will encourage it as much as I possibly can because it is in what is a very troubled world. Currently, there are elements and this being one of them, where you see we are at long last beginning to grow up and become real adults who have an open view of the world and of life.
Discovery also prided itself on introducing the first openly gay characters within the Star Trek TV shows with Paul Stemets and Hugh Culber, whose actors are also reportedly openly gay. The franchise has since featured many characters and actors who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Star Trek: Discovery is currently available to stream on Paramount+.
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