# Talk:Saru (Star Trek: Discovery)

I tracked down an edited volume of academic writings about the Discovery show from Liverpool University as editor, global scope on authorship apparently--it seems pretty neat and huge. I could only find snippets but at a guess there's potentially another solid 8-12+ references worth of nice data to be brought into Saru once I have it and can go through it.  -- Very Polite Person (talk) 18:29, 29 May 2025 (UTC)

https://www.startrek.com/news/warp-five-doug-jones-saru-discovery-life-itself
https://www.startrek.com/news/what-ive-learned-saru
https://www.startrek.com/news/wiseman-jones-talk-discovery-season-2
https://www.proquest.com/openview/8b5cc621d8c92449dc3c0bdf046a889c/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2043477
https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.36019/9781978818309-004/pdf?licenseType=restricted
https://www.academia.edu/download/68209089/Bulleid_Meat_Matters_2021_.pdf
I'll reduce this list and eventually erase this section once I finish the list. Putting it here for storage.  -- Very Polite Person (talk) 20:59, 29 May 2025 (UTC)

... that Doug Jones considered retiring from his creature acting work, until being offered the role of Saru on Star Trek: Discovery as first choice, with no audition?

Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Sjölejonet-class submarine
Comment: Sources/from article quotes for the hook:
Source 1 and archive 1. From article:
Jones said that throughout his long career, Saru was the first role he was ever offered as first choice with no audition.[2] "I have waited, all my life, for the moment to happen, where a big role in a big series was just being offered to me, based on reputation alone, and it was humbling," he said.[2]

Source 2 and archive 2. From article:
A year before the first season of Star Trek: Discovery aired, in November 2016, actor Doug Jones was cast as Saru, an alien known as a Kelpien, a newly created species for the Star Trek universe.[1] Bryan Fuller offered Doug Jones the role of Saru, telling Jones "he was the one the show needed," which made the veteran creature actor feel his career was "back on."[2] Prior to being offered the role of Saru, Jones considered moving away from and winding down his signature prosthetics acting work after decades in the make-up chair.[2]

— Very Polite Person (talk/contribs) 17:32, 9 October 2025 (UTC).

Not a review, but the image violates WP:DYKDIVERT and cannot run.--Launchballer 22:54, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
 @Very Polite Person: Article new enough (GA Oct 9), long enough (14 KB), no copyvio. However, I see one issue with sourcing: CinemaBlend is considered an unreliable source. I also can't find any discussions about some Star Trek-specific sources (such as TrekCore), but it appears that the GA reviewer is familiar enough with Star Trek, so I will trust that these sources are reliable. As for the hook itself, it is interesting and verified in the source. However, as mentioned above, the image is not acceptable. The hook should also avoid the word "iconic". — Vigilant Cosmic Penguin 🐧 (talk | contribs) 23:23, 10 November 2025 (UTC)
@Vigilantcosmicpenguin: CinemaBlend isn’t unreliable. You are referring to a RS noticeboard quip made in 2010. A follow-up in 2015 found no problem. Current version has an editor, is written by an actual credentialed journalist, and features an interview with the subject. The site isn’t listed as unreliable as far as I am aware. Viriditas (talk) 18:30, 17 November 2025 (UTC)
 Makes sense. I had been going off of WP:VG/RS, which lists it as unreliable, but now that you mention its editorial policies, I am convinced it is reliable. This is now good to go; approving the hook as currently written. — Vigilant Cosmic Penguin 🐧 (talk | contribs) 19:37, 17 November 2025 (UTC)
@Viriditas and Vigilantcosmicpenguin:  I'm a bit iffy on whether the sourcing backs the hook here. The source says "It was like, 'Oh, I'm getting a call, and no audition is required?'" [Jones] said. The showrunner at the time was Bryan Fuller, who reportedly offered the role to Jones and said that he was the one the show needed. Part of the issue here is that the source doesn't say the fact in its own voice, it hedges with "reportedly" and quotes Jones. The other thing is that while the source implies that Jones was the first choice fairly strongly, it doesn't actually say it; it's plausible that Fuller had at least put out feelers for someone else, barring another source saying this more strongly. theleekycauldron (talk • she/her) 03:18, 21 November 2025 (UTC)

@Very Polite Person:  I neglected to remove or edit this, but since the Signpost is popularizing the Wikipedia:Signs of AI writing article, it occurs to me that you should rewrite the following two passages, as they both use the "through the lens" phrasing that ChatGPT loves so much:

"His storyline has been interpreted through the lens of globalization, post-colonial identity, gender egalitarianism, and trauma recovery, as he balances Federation duties with personal relationships and the needs of his homeworld."
"She suggested that Saru's story offers a nuanced perspective on colonialism and imperialism through the lens of Starfleet's interactions with local traditions."
Viriditas (talk) 23:28, 20 October 2025 (UTC)

Another useful handy back-of-pocket turn of phrase stolen by the binary datacenter hoodlums.  — Very Polite Person (talk/contribs) 23:54, 20 October 2025 (UTC)
Thanks, but you’ve still got artifacts related to WP:AI-ISM. For example, your use of “reflecting”. I realize you are pissed about this, but when you have a moment, take a look at that essay and compare it to your article. Viriditas (talk) 02:51, 23 October 2025 (UTC)
Also, don’t forget to address the image issue in your DYK. It’s a common problem. Viriditas (talk) 02:55, 23 October 2025 (UTC)