‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Needs a Doctor, Illa Dax, Captain Ake Flashback Episode

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As a long-time Trek fan, I was so excited to see another classic character pop up in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy! It really feels like they’re building towards something big with this group of legacy characters. It’s cool how the show, which takes place way in the future – the 32nd century – can bring back certain people from the past. Most of the big Star Trek stories happened in the 24th century, but because it’s Star Trek, there are always sci-fi explanations for why some characters are incredibly old and still kicking! Honestly, these characters deserve an entire episode dedicated to their history together – I’d love to see that!

Robert Picardo’s character, the Doctor, is a standout in this group. He appeared throughout all seven seasons of Star Trek: Voyager and season two of Prodigy. As a hologram, he’s essentially immortal and, by the time of Starfleet Academy, is around 900 years old, having been activated in the 24th century. Holly Hunter’s Captain Nahla Ake, a newcomer to Star Trek, is also centuries old – over 400 years – due to her Lanthanite heritage. In the fifth episode of Starfleet Academy, “Series Acclimation Mil,” these two long-lived characters became a trio. Now, the show is poised to give all three of them a major focus.

Tawny Newsome’s Illa Dax Makes a ‘Starfleet Academy’ Flashback Episode a Must

The appearance of both Captain Ake and the Doctor at Starfleet Academy has sparked a lot of curiosity about their pasts, spanning centuries before the events of the show. We’ve gotten hints – like a possible Klingon romance for Captain Ake – but nothing concrete about either character yet. The introduction of Tawny Newsome as Illa Dax feels like the show is deliberately keeping secrets. Dax is a unique character, originally appearing in Deep Space Nine in the 1990s as a symbiont that lives through different hosts, with Illa being the newest one. Most Star Trek fans will remember Terry Farrell’s portrayal of Jadzia Dax, who was a main character for the first six seasons of DS9. But even before Illa, the show revealed that Dax had lived through other hosts in the past.

We last saw Dax as part of Ezri on Deep Space Nine in Season 7, before her time at Starfleet Academy. But even before that show began in 1993, the Dax symbiont had lived within many Trill hosts. This means Illa is actually the oldest of the older characters we’re seeing at the Academy. Although Illa appears to be a normal age, the symbiont inside her holds the memories and experiences of everyone it’s been joined with. Flashback episodes could reveal countless other hosts that Star Trek hasn’t shown us yet. Given the time gap between Ezri and Illa, it’s likely Dax has lived through many hosts we haven’t met, each with their own unique personality.

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*

It’s hard to know if all the Dax hosts remained in Starfleet throughout that difficult period, but it’s probable that many did. Even though each host is unique, they share certain personality characteristics because of the shared memories within the symbiont. Considering Curzon, Jadzia, and Ezri all served in Starfleet before Illa, it’s safe to say they weren’t alone. The Doctor and Captain Ake also have remarkably long careers, and it seems unlikely they never met. They likely formed strong bonds through their extended lifespans, and I’m eager to see those relationships and the exciting adventures they must have experienced together.

When a ‘Starfleet Academy’ Flashback Episode Like This Could Be Set


Paramount+

When building a story like this in the Star Trek universe, it’s important to think about how old each character is. Dax, being the oldest, has the most potential for stories about their past hosts. The Doctor is next oldest, having come online in the 24th century. But Captain Ake is relatively young at only 400 years old. Her shorter lifespan is the most crucial factor to consider. If Lanthanites develop at a similar pace to humans, Holly Hunter’s character could have even been a Starfleet officer as early as the 28th century.

By the time of Starfleet Academy, the Doctor and Dax would be incredibly old – a fascinating contrast, given she’s their commanding officer. Plus, Star Trek has largely ignored the 28th century, with only fleeting and unclear mentions of that time. A flashback episode featuring these three characters would be a great way to delve into the 28th, 29th, 30th, or even 31st centuries, potentially establishing a shared history for them across those hundreds of years. Even better, a spin-off, movie, or miniseries could really explore this neglected period of Star Trek history.

Why ‘Star Trek’ Might Find It Difficult to Make This Doctor, Dax, & Ake Flashback Episode


Paramount+

It feels entirely possible we could get an episode like this, and I’m hoping the writers deliver. However, I also worry it might not happen because the show generally sticks to a certain pattern. While Starfleet Academy is great at including fun references and heartfelt moments connecting to older Star Trek episodes, the show usually keeps the focus on the academy itself. Writing an episode that doesn’t feature the cadets and instead centers on the older characters just feels like a big departure from the show’s core idea. Even with Captain Ake appearing in flashbacks, it might not be enough to truly feel like a Starfleet Academy episode.

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The announcement of Tawny Newsome playing Illa Dax was a significant moment, especially since she already voices Beckett Mariner in Lower Decks – making this her second role in the Star Trek universe. However, showing Illa Dax in a flashback would require a different actor to temporarily play the Dax host, unless the flashback took place very close to when Dax entered Starfleet Academy. Using a longer timeframe would better showcase the incredibly long lives of the Dax hosts. Despite this potential challenge, given Newsome’s own love of Star Trek, she might appreciate the need to introduce another Dax host in a story set before Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, especially if it also included the Doctor and Captain Ake.

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2026-02-06 23:04