Rob Reviews Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Does the New Class Pass the Test?

This Thursday, I decided to check out the premiere of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Right off the bat, I have to say: I have mixed feelings about this new series, which serves as a direct follow-up to Star Trek: Discovery.

The Road to the 32nd Century

As many fans know, Discovery was a bit of a rollercoaster. After jumping to the 31st century to escape existing canon, that show introduced us to “The Burn”—a galaxy-wide disaster that made warp travel impossible. Thanks to the Discovery crew, the Burn was cured, Earth rejoined the Federation, and the decision was made to reopen Starfleet Academy.

The premiere, “Kids These Days,” introduces us to Caleb Mir, a sullen street kid who is essentially blackmailed into joining the Academy by the new Chancellor, Nahla Ake (played by the incredible Holly Hunter). Ake was the officer who sentenced Caleb’s mother to prison years ago, and she uses the search for his missing mother as leverage to get him to enroll.

The Faculty & The Scene-Stealers

While the show focuses on a new class of cadets, it’s the faculty that really anchors the premiere. Robert Picardo reprises his role as The Doctor from Voyager, and Tig Notaro returns as Jett Reno. Seeing them as series regulars provides a much-needed bridge to the Trek we know and love.

But for me, Paul Giamatti stole the show as the villainous Nus Braka. He plays a “likable villain” with such magnetic charisma that he commands every scene. He brings a gravitas that balances out the “younger” energy of the students.

Concerns: The “Discovery” Pitfall?

One area of concern for me is whether Starfleet Academy will fall into the same pitfall as Discovery. In that series, we hardly knew the names of the bridge crew even after five seasons. I worry that might happen here with the crew of the USS Athena. For example, WWE superstar Becky Lynch (credited as Rebecca Quin) plays Lieutenant Ya on the bridge. I hope the showrunners give these supporting characters room to breathe rather than letting them fade into the background.

Episode 2: “Beta Test” – Rebuilding the Connection

Where the premiere was about the chaos of recruitment, the second episode, “Beta Test,” is a much more grounded affair. Interestingly, the USS Athena remains a stationary backdrop here—as the ship’s structure actually forms the main building of the Academy campus.

The story re-introduces the Betazoids, a race we haven’t spent significant time with since The Next Generation. We learn that following “The Burn,” the Betazoids became isolationists, shielding their world behind a massive “psychic wall.”

The heart of the episode is a peace talk where Holly Hunter delivers the standout line of the series so far: “Children are our ambassadors to now.” It’s a powerful sentiment that reframes the entire show. These cadets aren’t just students; they are the literal bridge to a future the older generation is too traumatized to build.

A Franchise at a Crossroads

Even though we’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of the franchise, Star Trek feels like it’s at a crossroads. Between the sale of Paramount to Skydance and the conclusion of Strange New Worlds, the future is murky. Personally, I get the feeling that Starfleet Academy might be the final entry of the Alex Kurtzman era.

The idea of an Academy series has been kicked around for decades. While I’ve always thought the storytelling potential was limited, this 32nd-century backdrop creates some interesting possibilities. It’s a good jumping-on point for new fans because the premise—Starfleet rebuilding and getting back to its mission of exploration—is baked into the story.

The Rob Reviews Final Verdict

• Episode 1: “Kids These Days” – Grade: A

• Episode 2: “Beta Test” – Grade: B

The Verdict: Recommended

As a long-time Trek fan, I’m definitely staying for the full semester. Starfleet Academy is off to a very promising start! It balances nostalgia with a fresh, youthful energy we haven’t seen in live-action before.

Final Thought: If the show can keep the momentum of the premiere while continuing the thoughtful diplomacy of the second episode, we might be looking at a new gold standard for the 32nd-century era.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is currently streaming on Paramount+

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