Karim Diané, who plays Jay-Den Kraag on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and executive producer Noga Landau recently discussed a key difference between their character and Worf (played by Michael Dorn). Jay-Den is Star Trek‘s first main Klingon character since Dorn’s iconic portrayal of Worf across Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Picard.
The fourth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy explored the difficult past of Jay-Den Kraag. As a young Klingon left by his parents, he chose to attend Starfleet Academy with the goal of becoming a doctor, breaking from the traditional path of a Klingon warrior. Though outwardly shy and secretly unsure of himself, Jay-Den has found support and friendship among his fellow cadets, including Caleb Mir (played by Sandro Rosta) and Darem Reymi (George Hawkins).
Karim Diané, speaking with ScreenRant about the fourth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, shared that Jay-Den’s journey to find friendship and acceptance at the Academy resonated with his own experiences as a young actor. Noga Landau expressed hope that viewers will appreciate the show’s portrayal of healthy masculinity and genuine male bonds. Their full comments are included below.
One of the best parts of this episode is seeing Jay-Den’s friendships with Caleb and Darem grow. They were there for him when he needed it, and although he was hesitant at first, he eventually let them in. It’s interesting because Jay-Den has something Worf from Star Trek never really had: close male friendships. Worf had romantic relationships, but he didn’t have those strong ‘bro’ connections. It makes you wonder how Jay-Den feels about finally having that kind of support system.
Karim Diané believes friendship is incredibly important, especially for people like Jay-Den who don’t have family nearby. Without parents, siblings, or anyone who shares similar experiences as a student, building a strong community is essential for support and belonging.
Moving to New York City was incredibly isolating at first. I didn’t know anyone and felt completely lost, unsure of who I was. But finding my artistic community – dancers, aerialists, fire performers, and all my wonderfully eccentric friends, including my drag queen friends – helped me discover my true self. They showed me how to express myself, offering advice on everything from clothes to makeup, and made me feel comfortable being both myself and an artist. Now, I see Jay-Den going through a similar journey, finding his own voice and identity through his connections with Caleb and Darem.
I think it’s really important that our show offers positive examples of masculinity. So many men need to see healthy, supportive relationships between men, and that wasn’t something you saw much of on TV, especially in the 90s. Someone told me after our show premiered that it showcases great masculinity and men supporting each other, and that means a lot. I hope it reminds men watching that true male friendship exists and that Starfleet Academy, in our show, really encourages that kind of connection.
In the fourth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Caleb Mir and Darem Reymi beautifully demonstrate a supportive male friendship with Jay-Den Kraag. Caleb initially helped Jay-Den build confidence for public speaking, and even after they disagreed, Darem stepped in to teach Jay-Den calming Khionian breathing techniques to help with his anxiety. This moment highlights the show’s positive portrayal of male bonds.
Unlike some other Starfleet officers, Worf didn’t form a close friendship with any male colleagues throughout his time on Star Trek. While the crews of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine generally liked him, Worf tended to keep a distance from his male coworkers. He was better known for his romantic relationships, notably with Counselor Deanna Troi and his marriage to Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax.
Worf rarely showed closeness with male colleagues, but he did enjoy sharing memories with Chief Miles O’Brien about their time on the USS Enterprise-D. Throughout his impressive 283 appearances on Star Trek, however, Worf remained closest to General Martok, valuing Martok’s friendship and guidance over any other male Starfleet officer.
I have to say, comparing Jay-Den Kraag to Captain Worf is… well, it’s not really a fair fight. Worf is a legend, and Jay-Den is still very much at the beginning of his journey as both a Klingon warrior and a Starfleet officer. But honestly? Jay-Den has something Worf never really did: a solid group of friends at Starfleet Academy who genuinely have his back. It’s awesome to see him building those connections in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
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2026-01-31 12:59