Rob reviews Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, episode 4 “Vox in Excelso”

I wasn’t sure if I was going to review every episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy following the two-part premiere, but after watching “Vox in Excelso,” I felt compelled to return.

“Vox in Excelso” is, hands-down, the best of the four episodes we’ve seen so far. It brings back one of the most beloved alien races in the franchise: the Klingons. For years, I’ve argued that Klingons are the most developed species in Trek—at times, it feels like we know more about them than we do about humans. Yet, following Discovery’s jump into the 32nd century, they vanished. I’ve been asking fellow fans for years: “Where are the Klingons?” This week, we finally got our answer.

We already knew that the Academy’s in-house Klingon, Jay-Den, was an anomaly. He’s a science officer, a pacifist, and a medic. Even in a franchise built on “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations,” a Klingon doctor feels like a stretch. But after 60 years of the “warrior” trope, it’s high time they did something different.

Jay-Den, Starfleet Academy’s resident Klingon

In this episode, we learn that Qo’noS, the Klingon homeworld, was destroyed during “The Burn.” The Klingons are now a refugee race, scattered and stubbornly refusing help. As Jay-Den notes, “Klingons want to be Klingons.” This hits home through his backstory: his parents’ inability to accept his path, and the tragedy of his brother—the one person who saw him for who he truly was. This is the Audacity of Potential in action—the bravery required to choose a path that others don’t understand.

The story unfolds around a debate lesson at the Academy. While Caleb comes across a bit like a “Mary Sue” (apparently learning high-level debate and research while in prison), it was great to see the bonding between Jay-Den, Caleb, and the half-Klingon/half-Jem’Hadar Cadet Master Maat. Developing these relationships is critical for a young series.

“Vox in Excelso” gives us starship action while telling the kind of philosophical, character-driven story that has sustained this franchise for decades. To the “Nu-Trek” skeptics: you owe it to yourselves to watch this. It might change your mind about Starfleet Academy altogether. In fact, I’d argue this is the “Trekkiest” episode of the 32nd-century era.

This review might be light on plot details, but I can tell you exactly how it made me feel. Starfleet Academy is about young people figuring out who they are in a galaxy that is trying to figure out who it is again. If that isn’t the ultimate journey of exploration, I don’t know what is.

Highest possible recommendation.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is currently streaming on Paramount+

Thanks for nerding out with me on this week’s episode! It’s funny—Starfleet is all about data and precision, but as I wrote earlier this morning, sometimes it’s better to just experience the “flavor” of the moment without a scorecard. You can check out that reflection on My Baseball Kryptonite here.

For a long time, I’ve been sharing my thoughts here on the page—navigating the ‘art of moving slowly’ and the ‘audacity of potential.’ This Wednesday, the conversation evolves. I’m officially launching the first episode of the podcast, and I’d love for you to join me in this new space.

Watch this space on Wednesday for the first episode link!

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