Sixty years later, Star Trek’s newest series fails to inspire a new generation of heroes

Photo: Brooke Palmer/Paramount Plus

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy attempted to breathe new life into the Star Trek legacy for its diamond anniversary, pivoting the focus toward a fresh generation of aspiring cadets. After an initial pilot that struggled with dense world-building, creators Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau found a successful rhythm, utilizing academic trials—ranging from interstellar rhetoric to cosmic enigmas—to anchor character growth. However, as the debut season reached its climax, the narrative cohesion began to fray, echoing the lack of focus often seen in graduating seniors.

Episode 6, titled “Come, Let’s Away,” signaled a jarring shift in atmosphere, prioritizing the Machiavellian plots of the antagonist Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti). By elevating this existential threat to the Federation, the series sacrificed its intimate character studies, leaving several pivotal arcs feeling truncated. With the freshman season now behind us, we are evaluating the progress of the six primary students—with the hope that their sophomore year offers a more balanced curriculum.

[Editor’s Note: This analysis contains significant plot revelations for Starfleet Academy season 1.]

Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta)

As the narrative’s emotional anchor, Caleb received the lion’s share of development this season. His history is inextricably linked to the villainous Nus Braka through his mother, Anisha (Tatiana Maslany), who was incarcerated for her involvement in a fatal Starfleet incident. This setup allowed the show to lean into the classic Star Trek courtroom trope, using Anisha’s testimony to challenge the moral superiority of the Federation.

Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), the original judge in Anisha’s case, has evolved into a mentor figure for Caleb, facilitating his entry into the Academy despite his past transgressions. Caleb’s transition from a cynical outsider to a high-achieving cadet is poignant, if somewhat telegraphed. While his growth is undeniable, he often avoids the fallout from his more reckless impulses thanks to his incredibly patient peers. With his family mystery largely addressed, the door is open for other characters to step into the limelight next year.

Grade: B

Series Acclimation Mil aka SAM (Kerrice Brooks)

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SAM stands out as a holographic envoy for the Kasquians, serving as a litmus test for the Federation’s integrity. Initially, her ebullient personality provided a necessary contrast to her more brooding classmates. Her journey centered on autonomy and establishing a mentor-protege bond with The Doctor (Robert Picardo). However, in episode 8, “The Life of the Stars,” the show took a sharp turn, forcing a choice that essentially rebooted her character to mirror the iconic TNG episode “The Inner Light.”

This “personality transplant” proved detrimental. SAM returned as a cynical teenager, stripped of the vibrant aesthetics and infectious wonder that made her unique. The shift felt less like earned growth and more like a loss of identity, leaving her feeling like just another disgruntled student rather than a fascinating synthetic being.

Grade: C

Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diané)

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Jay-Den, the Klingon medical prodigy, was the star of the season’s standout episode, “Vox in Excelso.” His nuanced exploration of cultural autonomy and his refusal to be a simple Federation mouthpiece provided a rich, intellectual layer to the show. He also found himself at the center of a sophisticated romantic conflict, forced to navigate the complexities of grief and attraction.

Unfortunately, after such a strong introduction, the character was sidelined. Absented by a minor ailment during a critical mission and left behind at the Academy, Jay-Den’s momentum stalled completely. His love triangle remains unresolved, and the promising depth established early on feels largely neglected by the season’s end.

Grade: D

Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard)

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Genesis remains a fairly standard “legacy” character—an overachiever burdened by her father’s Admiral status. While her tendency to manipulate her own records to hide her self-doubt offered a glimmer of complexity, the narrative failed to hold her accountable. Despite a disciplinary setback, she was back in a position of authority within a few episodes, rendering her struggle for validation somewhat toothless.

Grade: D

Darem Reymi (George Hawkins)

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Darem’s character journey mirrors that of Genesis but with even less impact. His primary conflict—an arranged marriage versus a life in Starfleet—lacked stakes due to the absence of his supposedly overbearing parents. This missed opportunity for a true confrontation with his noble Khionian heritage left his rebellion feeling hollow. Hopefully, a predicted shift toward flight training next season will give him more personality.

Grade: F

Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner)

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Tarima was initially defined by her desire for the rigorous environment of the War College. However, the show used a psychic trauma arc as an excuse to transfer her to the main Academy, a move that felt forced and illogical. By the finale, her Betazoid abilities were used as a convenient tracking tool, reducing her to a narrative device rather than a fully realized individual.

Grade: F

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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is currently available for streaming on Paramount Plus.

 

Source: Polygon