Today Canada’s Space channel hosted a Star Trek: Discovery cast panel at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, located conveniently in the same city where the show is produced. On hand were Sonequa Martin-Green (Burnham), Doug Jones (Saru), Anthony Rapp (Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Tilly), Shazad Latif (Voq/Tyler) and Anson Mount (Pike)…and TrekMovie was there too.

While it may seem cliché, one cannot help but notice the camaraderie this group shows and how they really seemed like a family unit, with the new addition of Anson Mount fitting right in. Much of the discussion was along the lines of the two other big Disco cast panels this summer, covered by TrekMovie at San Diego Comic-Con in July and Star Trek Las Vegas in August, but there were a few things worth highlighting from Toronto’s panel.

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Martin-Green teases juicy storyline with Spock in season two

One of the biggest bits of news that emerged over the summer was that the second season of Discovery would include the character of Spock, to be played by Ethan Peck. When a fan asked Sonequa Martin-Green about how she felt about her character being connected to Spock, the actress effused, and teased what was to come:

It’s incredible. I think it is genius to have us be set where we are, 10 years before TOS and to have Burnham be connected to that institution, which is the family of Sarek and Amanda and Spock. I am just so appreciative of it. It is so full. It is wrought with everything. I end up being two-degrees separated from Captain Pike and that is really interesting too, to be able to have that sort of connection to the canon. I really love that. One of the things we are doing on Star Trek: Discovery is being our own thing, but also keeping that connection with the canon and having that connective tissue. So, I really appreciate it, and it is juicy!

As Martin-Green wrapped up talking Spock, Doug Jones and other members of the cast jumped in to tease Ethan Peck’s appearance with the following exchange:

Doug Jones: And wait until you see Ethan Peck as Spock, okay! Martin-Green: Yes! Anson Mount: Hot Spock! Anthony Rapp: Hot Spock-et!

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Anson Mount just getting into the Pike groove

Anson Mount, who described the role as “literally a lifetime dream” as he is a fan of Trek, also talked about how he is trying to make Captain Pike his own:

I am a big thief. I love stealing. I steal from Nicholson all the time. Maybe I have stolen from Shatner in the past? But, for this one, I felt it was important to make a character that is already established not just a replica of a previous performance. Mad respect for Jeffrey Hunter, but I needed to come at it from my own way. It’s hard to establish a character in the second season. It has been a dance between me and the writers figuring it out. I feel I just got into the groove of this character, this last week.

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More Badass Tilly for season 2

Actress Mary Wiseman talked about how she sees her character’s arc flowing from season one into season two:

It is a continuation of her journey. She grew a lot over the first season from being based on the ship and meeting Burnham and kind of having her priorities and values shuffled around. So, that arc will continue and a little more…“Badass Tilly.” That will start to grow and we’ll explore it, which is the part that interests me because that is what makes her complex and three-dimensional.

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Stamets facing life after the Spore Drive

A major part of season one was the Spore Drive, based on the research of Lt. Stamets, which was pulled offline at the end of the season. Rapp talked about how in season two, his character of Stamets now has the time to deal with all the changes, including what his role will be:

There wasn’t really time to process the cataclysmic events of season one, because we had to get through it. So, I am really grateful in season two I get to really deal with the aftermath of the loss of Culber and the question of what is next now if the Spore Drive isn’t going to continue as is, what is there to do? I think that is a really interesting, human experience for people who experience loss, that is what they go through. I am very grateful for the writers for giving time and space to grieve and what growth can come from it and what is possible.

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Jones ponders a life without fear for Saru

Doug Jones discussed how he has enjoyed seeing how Saru can rise above the Kelpien’s fearful nature and pondered where he could go in season two:

What season one taught us about Saru is he can push his threat ganglia back in, to carry on. That is a life lesson for me personally. I have learned so much from Saru. Season two? I would love to see more of that evolution and is there a permanent solution to our fears, or is it something we do have to be haunted by the rest of our lives.

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Family photo

Anthony Rapp shared this “Starfleet family” photo following the panel.

More Fan Expo Canada to come

There was also a Star Trek: Discovery production design panel held Saturday. Look for that report here at TrekMovie.com.

Star Trek: Discovery is available exclusively in the USA on CBS All Access. It airs in Canada on Space and streams on CraveTV. It is available on Netflix everywhere else.

The first season of Star Trek: Discovery will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 13th.

Keep up with all the Star Trek: Discovery news at TrekMovie.

When not acting as our Toronto con reporter, Angie Korporaal is a graphic designer and amateur prop builder. You can follow her as @korps on Twitter and Instagram.