‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ brings the franchise down to Earth and back to school

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The new series “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” begins streaming Thursday on Paramount+ with two episodes. Created by Gaia Violo, the show aims to both explore new territory and revisit familiar themes within the Star Trek universe. While some might see it as an attempt to attract a younger audience to a long-running franchise, it’s best to approach the show with an open mind, as Star Trek often rewards optimism.

The story takes place in the 33rd century, following the events of “Star Trek: Discovery.” We’re at Starfleet Academy in San Francisco, which has been completely rebuilt after over a century to train the next generation of officers. Don’t expect to see any disposable crew members! Holly Hunter stars as Nahla Ake, who leads both the USS Athena starship and serves as the academy’s chancellor. The ship’s saucer section actually connects to the academy, forming the main building – a clever way for the show to have two distinct sets. The academy’s interior, with its flowing designs and plants, feels more like a luxury shopping center or hotel than a military school.

It probably doesn’t matter to most people, but as someone who pays close attention to detail (and happens to be a TV critic from California), I should mention that the university isn’t actually in San Francisco – it’s in Sausalito, with views of the city across the bay. Speaking of San Francisco landmarks, the Golden Gate Bridge has survived countless fictional disasters, and the Ferry Building is still standing despite being attacked by a giant octopus in an old movie.

Ake is a 422-year-old woman who is half-human and half-Lanthanite (similar to Carol Kane’s character in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”). The story begins 15 years before the main events, showing young Caleb Mir being separated from his mother and the arrest of Nus Braka, a delightfully villainous space pirate played by Paul Giamatti. Ake feels responsible for this incident and has left Starfleet to teach kindergarten, but Admiral Vance (returning from “Discovery”) persuades her to rejoin, framing it as an opportunity to help fix a Federation that desperately needs improvement. Captain Hunter is a unique leader – relaxed and efficient. She’s comfortable and casual, often lounging in her chair, stretching out, and even going barefoot. A bit of a traditionalist, she enjoys playing records on a Victrola and wears glasses when she reads.

Sandro Rosta plays Caleb, who’s now grown up after spending years evading authorities and serving time in prison. Ake, who has thought about Caleb daily for fifteen years, finds him and frees him from jail, bringing him to the academy with the hope of reuniting him with his mother. Caleb, like many characters in the story, needs to learn to trust others. He’s portrayed as a brooding and self-assured man – think James Dean with the physique of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – and is likely to cause trouble with those in charge, especially his wealthy and competitive roommate, Darem Reymi (played by George Hawkins). Darem is a Khionian – a species distinct from the Koinonians seen in other science fiction – and uses a human appearance to blend in and create a visual contrast with Caleb.

Television

Though Sandro Rosta is a newcomer and Holly Hunter is a seasoned actor, both are joining the “Star Trek” world with the new series, “Starfleet Academy.”

Among the new cadets, a close-knit group is starting to form. Genesis Lythe, played by Bella Shepard, is a Dar-Sha – the daughter of an admiral who’s grown up entirely in space – and she has a playful, teasing personality. Kerrice Brooks plays Sam, a cheerful member of the Kasqian – a holographic race with a complicated backstory – and she’s on a mission to help her creators understand what it means to be organic. Despite being only a few months old, Sam is programmed to act like a teenager. (The role was apparently adjusted to better suit Brooks, who has a particularly vibrant personality compared to the other young actors.) Jay-Den Kraag, played by Karim Diané, is a surprisingly peaceful Klingon who enjoys birdwatching. (“My mother taught me to appreciate beauty,” he says.) He’s also interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

The second episode introduces two Betazoids – individuals with empathic abilities, similar to Deanna Troi from “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” They’re visiting Earth with a youth group as part of a typical “Star Trek” diplomatic mission, where the goal is usually to forge an alliance or arrange a marriage. Zoë Steiner plays Tarima Sadal, the daughter of the Betazed president, and her character is immediately drawn to Caleb, who’s considered the most attractive character in the series. Her brother, played by Romeo Carere, provides some lighthearted comedic relief. Keep in mind this show centers around college students, so expect behavior fitting that age group.

The new show, “Starfleet Academy,” feels a lot like a typical college drama – think getting to know characters as they navigate new experiences. Whether you’ll enjoy it probably depends on if you like shows about college life, even if this one is set in the future and includes space adventures. The first episode, appropriately titled “Kids These Days,” features all the usual college antics: pranks, games, and rivalries with students from a neighboring military school (where all the Vulcans seem to be). They talk about dating and relationships, with one character humorously pointing out the differences in Klingon courtship rituals – involving “complex and violent mating rituals” instead of playful flirting. Eventually, the stakes get higher when the students leave campus and face genuinely dangerous situations, a far cry from the mundane task of caring for a fragile, self-replicating substance – a futuristic take on the classic egg-care assignment.

Our young heroes are incredibly gifted, like Caleb, who’s a natural when it comes to starship systems. But school isn’t just about talent; it’s about learning to work together, be patient, and develop discipline – the qualities that define maturity. As Jet Reno, a returning engineer and physics teacher, puts it, “Being clever isn’t enough; you need wisdom, too.”

I actually enjoyed spending time with the adult characters more – and maybe that’s just because of my own preferences, but they definitely had the better jokes. Humor is, as always, a key part of what makes “Star Trek” special. Besides Jet, the instructors include Lura Thok (Gina Yashere), a vibrant character who’s part Klingon and part Jem’Hadar, and Robert Picardo, returning from “Star Trek: Voyager” as the holographic Doctor (it’s still a bit strange how that works!). He’s really trying to get the new students interested in joining his opera club.

And let’s not forget Stephen Colbert, a devoted Star Trek fan, who’s having a blast voicing the Digital Dean of Students. He delivers announcements – like reminding students to eat because hunger is the worst enemy – and occasionally throws in jokes I’m too embarrassed to repeat.

Will everyone enjoy the new show, ‘Starfleet Academy’? Probably not – ‘Star Trek’ fans are known to have strong opinions, and this series is a departure from what some already dislike. However, I’m optimistic and eager to see where the show goes, always hoping for the best. Having watched six of the ten episodes, I can confidently say I’m enjoying it.

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2026-01-14 22:31