Rob reviews: Star Trek Starfleet Academy, episode 3 “Vitus Reflux”

For the sake of posterity, it’s important to note that I didn’t review this episode when it premiered. At the time, I was caught up in the two-part premiere, and frankly, “Vitus Reflux” felt like the young series’ weakest link. However, after the excellence of the four episodes that followed, I felt compelled to go back.

Rewatching this through the lens of hindsight is a revelation. What I originally dismissed as a cliché filler episode—the “one where they play laser tag”—is actually a masterclass in foundational character development.

The “Nu Trek” Advantage

It is a Star Trek tradition to be incredibly nuanced, often burying character backstory in every line of dialogue. In the era of 24-30 episode seasons (TNG, DS9, Voyager), we had plenty of room for “bad” Trek—think Spock’s Brain or Threshold. In our modern 10-episode streaming world, every minute has to count. Surprisingly, “Vitus Reflux” makes those minutes count more than I initially gave it credit for.

Academy vs. War College: The Prank War

The episode leans heavily into the rivalry between the newly reopened Academy and the more established War College. We see this through the eyes of Darem, whose “last to bed, first to rise” work ethic is challenged by Genesis. This sets up the “I must be Captain” rivalry that fuels the season.

A few standout observations from the rewatch:

• Lura as Sergeant Hartman: Watching Lura (a graduate of the War College herself) channel her inner Full Metal Jacket as an Academy instructor goes a long way in explaining that both schools are parts of the same Starfleet mission.

• The “Coed” Trope: STSA gives us the classic sci-fi “coed locker room” scene. We learn Darem is bisexual (or at least very adventurous with his parents’ matchmaking attempts) right before the War College strikes the first blow: transporting cadets in compromising positions to random spots on campus.

• A Thinly Veiled Metaphor: Chancellor Ake reminds Lura that these cadets grew up in the era of “The Burn.” It’s hard not to see this as a metaphor for the real-world “COVID-era” kids navigating a world that just restarted.

Calica: More Than Just Laser Tag

The episode centers on Calica—a mix of laser tag, capture the flag, and chess. While Caleb reveals a deep flaw (he’s a “Mary Sue” who is uncomfortable with team sports), Darem reveals a different one: he has the desire to lead but lacks the strategy.

In a moment of frustration, Darem challenges the War College to an unauthorized late-night match in the atrium. When his “dirty” tactics fail, the team finally defers to Genesis, proving that leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room—it’s about having the best plan.

The “Audrey” Plant and the Long Game

The B-story involving the Vitus Reflux—an empathetic plant that looks a bit like Little Shop of Horrors’ Audrey—is where the episode finds its heart. Ake uses the plant as a lesson in patience and psychological warfare.

By allowing the cadets to “retaliate” by overgrowing the plants in the War College dorms, Ake teaches a lesson that defines her character: “The War College teaches its cadets to fight battles. I’m teaching you to end wars.”

Final Grade: The “Least Best” No More

The episode is bookended by Darem’s unanswered letters to his parents. We see him realizing that Starfleet is his chosen path, not a preordained destiny—a theme that pays off massively in the episode “Ko’Zeine.”

All in all, I like this episode much better the second time around. I was shocked to see how much groundwork was being laid while I was busy rolling my eyes at “laser tag.” I’m officially upgrading this from “worst” to “least best.” In fact, it might have just leapfrogged “Beta Test” in my personal rankings.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10 Varsity Jackets.

In honor of reaching 900 consecutive days of blogging today, I’m pulling a double shift! If you missed my earlier post reflecting on the “flow state” of writing and reaching this milestone, you can check that out here:

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