‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Illa Dax Explained: Deep Space Nine Connection, Species, & More

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, titled “Series Acclimation Mil.” The latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has excited fans of Deep Space Nine by focusing on the classic series. The episode is packed with heartfelt nods to the past and surprise appearances as Kerrice Brooks’ character, SAM, investigates the centuries-old disappearance of Captain Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks, who is not related to the character). In a shocking twist near the end of the episode, a beloved character from Deep Space Nine returns – but is played by a different actor. Fortunately, this recasting is fully explained and fits within the established Star Trek timeline.

Starfleet Academy, the setting for the new Paramount+ show, needs to both attract new fans and honor Star Trek’s 60th anniversary this year. This creates a tricky situation: the show must acknowledge its long history without confusing those who are new to the series. The recent episode, “Series Acclimation Mil,” leans heavily into the show’s past. Viewers who haven’t seen Deep Space Nine will likely miss the significance of key moments, such as the return of the Dax symbiont in a brand new host.

Tawny Newsome’s Illa Dax Explained: Who She Is & ‘Deep Space Nine’ Connection

Tawny Newsome is becoming a bigger part of the modern Star Trek universe. She’s well-known as the voice of Beckett Mariner on Lower Decks, and she also works as a producer and writer on Starfleet Academy. Now, she’s taken on a second role in Star Trek, debuting in the episode “Series Acclimation Mil.” Her character, Illa Dax, was initially presented as someone new to Starfleet Academy, but is eventually revealed to have a surprising connection to established Star Trek lore.

The show doesn’t spend much time explaining who Illa Dax is because she’s a complicated character. Giving her full backstory would have taken too long for the brief scene she has with SAM. Here’s the key: Dax isn’t a person, but a centuries-old creature – a worm-like symbiont – living inside Illa. It’s incredibly old, even when we first meet it in the 24th century on Deep Space Nine, and even more ancient by the time of Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century.

Every Confirmed Dax Host in Star Trek Canon
Host Played By
Lela Nana Visitor*
Tobin Colm Meaney*
Emony Chase Masterson
Audrid Armin Shimerman*
Torias Alexander Siddig*
Joran Jeff Magnus McBride & Leigh J. McCloskey
Curzon Frank Owen Smith (Originally)
Jadzia Terry Farrell
Ezri Nicole de Boer
HOSTS MISSING
Illa Tawny Newsome
Only in Deep Space Nine‘s “Facets,” when the personalities of Dax’s former hosts took over the members of the crew*

Dax is a unique being that carries the memories of everyone it has ever joined with, even though each person, or ‘host,’ has their own personality. Dax first appeared in the pilot episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as part of Jadzia, played by Terry Farrell, but Commander Sisko already knew Dax from a previous host. Sisko had known Dax when it was joined with Curzon, another Trill like Jadzia. Curzon was a man and was actually the seventh host for the Dax symbiont. Because of this history, Sisko would jokingly call Jadzia “Old Man,” even though it didn’t really fit her. Jadzia understood the joke, knowing Sisko was referring to the previous host’s memories within her.

As a long-time fan, one thing that always intrigued me about the Dax symbiont is how many hosts it’s had over the centuries! Since we last saw Ezri Dax on Deep Space Nine, there’s a huge gap in the timeline, so it’s tough to put an exact number on it. Illa is just the newest in a long line of people to carry Dax, but it’s amazing she still has access to memories of interactions with Captain Sisko from centuries ago. What’s also interesting is that while most hosts are Trill, Illa has some Cardassian heritage. That makes sense when you consider what we learned in Starfleet Academy – apparently, interspecies relationships are super common in the 32nd century! But honestly, being chosen to join with a symbiont is a huge deal. There are way more Trill people than symbionts available, so most Trill never get the opportunity in their lifetime.

Illa Dax Isn’t the First Time ‘Star Trek’s Modern Era Has Brought Back Trill Symbionts


Paramount+

The Trill first appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation during an episode called “The Host,” where Commander Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, temporarily bonded with a symbiont named Odan. However, Deep Space Nine significantly developed the Trill’s history and culture, making it the best series to learn about them. While recent Star Trek shows have occasionally referenced Deep Space Nine, it hasn’t been explored as much as other series, perhaps because its finale is so beloved that many fans hesitate to revisit it.

In the 2024 episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, viewers saw a version of the Dax symbiont from an alternate universe. In this reality, Dax was still bonded with Curzon and hadn’t yet joined with Jadzia.

The use of the Trill in storytelling often feels like a respectful reference to Deep Space Nine. This was especially true with Star Trek: Discovery‘s approach to the Trill, which felt like a subtle homage to the original series. Similar to how Riker and Illa were unexpected hosts, Discovery took a comparable risk. Blu del Barrio’s character, Adira, became Adira Tal when they permanently bonded with the Tal symbiont after its previous Trill host died. While this changed established rules about the symbionts, it also made the species even more fascinating. Therefore, the idea of Illa Dax having Cardassian heritage in Starfleet Academy isn’t entirely new territory for Star Trek.

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2026-02-06 18:38