This week’s Ready Room features an interview with Ian Alexander and Blu del Barrio, who play Gray and Adira on Discovery.
I respect, admire, and genuinely like both of these young actors. I can’t imagine the responsibility and weight they carry, not just as young people in a cast of adults (something I’m familiar with and will get into in a quick second), but also as transgender actors who represent so much for so many people. I don’t know how they feel about that. We talk about it a little bit in the interview, but it must be exhausting to constantly hear, “…as a trans person blah blah blah” when something like “…as a person blah blah blah” is an option. It’s a fine line to walk that I’m still learning how to navigate, and I hope I did it with respect and grace.
Now I want to make this all about me for a moment, because this week and next week, you’re going to hear a little bit from me, personally, about how Discovery and its characters have directly touched my life in deeply meaningful ways.
Here’s what I said in this week’s Ready Room, about Adira and Gray:
This week, we have two special guests joining me right here in the studio: Ian Alexander and Blu del Barrio, who play Gray and Adira on Star Trek: Discovery. And real quick before we get to the interview, I’m going to beg your patient indulgence for a brief, personal, sidebar.
It is no secret that I have tremendous respect and admiration for these two actors. We share a similar experience, as the only very young actors on a Star Trek series. And it’s comforting to me to know that there are a few other people in this world who, in their own way, also know what it’s like to be a kid in Starfleet. It’s a small club, and it’s pretty cool to be part of it. At least, it is for me. I do not presume to speak for anyone else who meets the membership requirements.
But I do want to share how much Adira, specifically, means to me, personally. As an ensign on Discovery, Adira is everything I ever hoped Wesley Crusher could be. Surrounded by extraordinary adults, they are a respected, valued, trusted member of their crew. And they don’t take it for granted. We get to watch them work hard to earn and keep it. Starfleet is better, because they are part of it.
In what I think is my best episode of Next Generation, Final Mission, Picard says, “I envy you, Wesley Crusher. You’re just at the beginning of the adventure.” I didn’t fully understand what that meant, then. But watching Adira and Gray begin their adventure, right now? I do. I get it. And that’s pretty cool, too.
Thank you for your patient indulgence. We now return to The Ready Room, already in progress.
Hosting Ready Room is so cool for me. I get to occupy this space as both a veteran of the Star Trek universe, part of what we’re calling Legacy Star Trek (let me tell you how old that makes me feel), while I am also a huge fan.
It is my goal as the host of the Ready Room to bring my fellow nerds into the room where it happens, by asking questions and relating to experiences that I hope are as interesting to the audience as they are to me. This season on Ready Room, there are a couple of episodes that really landed on me in unexpected and profound ways. I chose to talk about those experiences with my guests, and the part of me that is just drowning in endless, bottomless, relentless anxiety has been screaming at me ever since that I fucked up. The rational part of me is telling that other part of me to take a deep breath and trust my instincts that it’s all okay, maybe it’s even good. But WOW am I anxious about all of it.
Anyway, I appreciate the opportunity to say in public, in front of Star Trek and the world, how much these actors mean to me, and how much Adira, specifically, means to me, personally, as the guy who played Wesley Crusher.
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This world would be a far better planet with more people such as Wil Wheaton, Ian Alexander and Blu del Barrio – all amazing, beautiful and wonderful.
I so, so, so value you as host of Ready Room, for two reasons: 1, as an actor, writer, and especially ST veteran, you ask really interesting questions; 2, as a fan, you demonstrate how to be crazy excited while also being courteous and acting with grace around the stars of the show.
Moreover, part of what I love about Discovery is that there are multiple examples of 1, strong male characters, 2, who argue or 3, care for other people in ways that basically destroys toxic masculinity tropes. And, in this exact same vein, you being a straight cis male fan showing vulnerability and emotional depth as host is… well, tis the season for the phrase “and then my heart grew three sizes”.
Thank you for being such a great role model.
(We’re the same age; I’m also a straight cis male.)
I want to echo the above. I wanted to express appreciation for your “fan perspective,” aspecially, but DL said it perfectly.
Keep fighting the fear and sharing yourself! You have a lot to offer and it’s genuine. My hope is that being your genuine self will never backfire. Negative past experiences can make it very scary, so I can relate to that feeling, but I still think it’s worth the risk!
Wish these were showing up in the AppleTV app….
They are all available on YouTube on the official Paramount+ channel.
I’ve only watched the first episode for this season, but I’ve never seen you act without what I consider a high degree of respect to the guests. Even when you speak to your personal experiences, you’ve brought it back to something relating to experiences of the current cast/crew. I’m confident enough about this that I’m not worried about it at all. I’m looking forward to watching the entire season. Thanks for your part in Star Trek. Past and Present.
Good for you Wil. I have those parts of my own mind that argue with me, so I feel your pain. You are seen. You are heard. You deserve to be happy.
One thing that I find a constant in the world of Star Trek is the evolution of the franchise. Each series is built within the time it was made (which explains a lot when it comes to special effects and story lines) but over the years all of that has evolved to change the perception not only of the viewer but of the characters within the franchise.
I am of the TOS generation but I love watching each of the new series and inhaling all the of growth, joy, excitement, and adventure along with the characters. True, some I like more than others, but still. 🙂 Discovery has become the Trek I would never have thought possible but am thoroughly enjoying. It brings not only the legacy but the possibility, and the promise of what Roddenberry envisioned.
Wil, I particularly love you on the Ready Room. You bring so much to the table both as a fan and as a cast member.
You said what’s needed saying. And it’s good that you have.
Steady on to whatever degree possible, Wil, and thanks again for still being part of all this. You are still welcome and still needed.
❤️♥️❤️♥️
It is okay. It is good. Anyone who says it isn’t… is tragically broken.
Sending love.
I am so in love with Discovery, and yes, with these two actors.
I love Discovery, Gray and Adira and their character development, and YOU writing and talking about all of it! Star Trek Veteran…. I want to be one please! As for your inner screamer about all of your mistakes – remember, that is not YOUR voice – that’s your internalized version of your past asshats (or as I call mine, my stepmonsters) – I’m glad you are writing and talking about all of it. And I have been known to scream back – which surprisingly helped….. You are awesome my friend – please keep writing, talking, exploring, growing and taking us along. Seeing your posts in my email make me feel like a little kid at Christmas. And I really like that feeling so please don’t stop. (Ok maybe I need to get out a little more… ) but seriously… keep it up.
I love the show too. It took the pandemic make me pay attention but after watching I don’t miss any episodes now. Wil I’m so glad to see the new you it’s very intoxicating to see this.
Ready Room is one of my favorite things to watch & there are times when I have to tell the super duper excited part of my brain that we are going to watch the show first so we don’t spoil anything and then promise right after that we will watch that week’s Ready Room.
I love watching these characters and how loved and respected they are by the crew – that they are valued and their contributions matter. I grew up with ST: TNG, and back then it was watching Wesley be treated as being competent and respected by his crewmates – it showed me how I needed expect the adults around me to do better.
One thing Discovery has shown is how much the producers and writers have learned since Next Generation. They now know that to do with a Wesley-like character (super-bright, great at engineering, limited social skills) … put that character into Engineering, give them a strong mentor and support from a lead character who respects and understands the character, and have them work with the rest of the team to solve the problems. I really wish the TNG producers had figured that out back back in Wesley’s day…
Yeah Adira is great. Theres so many good characters on the show. I have a few grumbles about DISCO, but none of them are about the excellent characters and the representation they give. Star trek wants to drag us into the future, kicking and screaming if necessary, and I am all about that.
I do however want to see Wesley Crusher turn up on one of the nu-treks at some point. Theres options. Picard would be the logical choice (If not for the satisfaction of hear a by-now captain Crusher turn the phrase that must not be mentioned back on Picard) though Liuetenant Crusher making an appearance on Lower Decks would be hella fun. Not sure theres a a way to pull it off on Discovery though, maybe some sort of Traveller magic?