Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Karim Diane Knows His Klingon Character Is Different, But Explains Why It’s Not Uncommon

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Star Trek has always promoted forward-thinking ideas and the idea of progress, but not all fans embrace change. So, when a new poster was released for the upcoming series, Starfleet Academy (scheduled to air in 2026), some fans complained – surprisingly, about a Klingon character smiling. The actor playing the role, Karim Diane, recently explained that a smiling Klingon isn’t as unusual as people might think.

For decades, Klingons in Star Trek have been known for being aggressive, ill-tempered, and often violent. So, when actor Karim Diane played Jay-Den Kraag – a surprisingly cheerful Klingon – some fans were upset. That reaction might grow stronger now that it’s been revealed Kraag wants to become a doctor. In a recent interview with SFX Magazine on TopMob, Diane was asked if his character would break new ground for the Klingon species at Starfleet Academy, and his answer was particularly interesting:

Definitely not. It seems we’re finally seeing a Klingon character who breaks the mold. But as far as I know, Klingon society – like any other – isn’t just about warriors; healers have always been a part of their culture.

He makes a good point. We’ve already seen Klingons capable of calm behavior, like the reformed General Dak’Rah in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Plus, it makes sense that a warrior culture like the Klingons would highly value healers – keeping fighters alive and in shape is essential if they want to continue battling. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have survived for so long, all the way to the 32nd century.

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Healing has long been a tradition in Klingon society, but viewers of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on Paramount+ should be prepared for some differences. The show takes place after “The Burn,” a massive disaster that crippled starship travel for almost a hundred years.

This isolation caused many species to evolve in unique ways, increasing diversity even within groups that were once very similar. For instance, the Federation President, Laira Rillak, had ancestors from human, Bajoran, and Cardassian backgrounds. The new season of Starfleet Academy will also feature Lura Thok, a character with both Jem’Hadar and Klingon heritage.

Okay, so with all the new stuff coming in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, they’re not forgetting the characters we already love! I’m hearing we’ll see faces from Discovery, which is awesome, but even better, they’re bringing people back from Voyager! As a longtime fan, that really excites me.

I’m really looking forward to Robert Picardo reprising his role as the Emergency Medical Hologram, now as a teacher for the new Starfleet cadets. He’s mentioned his character has changed a lot in the last thousand years, which is interesting. Considering he was so central to many of the best episodes of Voyager, I assume he’s happy with the direction they’ve taken things. After all, change is inevitable, and I’m excited to see how Star Trek continues to develop, even with changes to elements like the Klingons.

Paramount+ subscriptions start at $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Get ready for the upcoming release of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy! Paramount+ offers different plans – an Essential plan for $7.99/month and an ad-free Premium plan for $12.99/month. For the best value, consider an annual subscription to enjoy your favorite shows and movies while saving money. See the deal here.

The new series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will start streaming on Paramount+ on January 15th as part of the 2026 TV lineup. I’m really looking forward to seeing Karim Diane’s character, Jay-Den, and all the different alien characters set in the 32nd century.

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2025-12-28 16:08