Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

I know some Trekkies aren’t sure about the newest STAR TREK series STARFLEET ACADEMY, and yes, it is a definite tonal and thematic shift from, say, DISCOVERY (which people also complained about, sigh...), but maybe if you want classic Trek watch classic Trek (or watch STRANGE NEW WORLDS! It’s awesome and has that classic feel.) I for one am enjoying seeing young Starfleet officers navigating their little d1ckhead era. I’m not usually keen on stories about academies for elite youngsters, but this is tempered by nostalgia and a pleasingly rebellious main character.

Another thing I’m enjoying about the show is how multi-species it is. It feels like the first iteration of Star Trek where the members of Starfleet actually reflect the range of worlds that are in the Federation. Many of them are of mixed heritage, and I love how this often gives the characters added strength (no tragic mulatto equivalents here.)

The first few episodes are about rebuilding community, which feels like a relevant theme for our times, and I’ve enjoyed the many Easter eggs from past series peppered throughout. This show features some potentially fascinating characters, including Sam, the focus of this weeks episde (Episode 5: "Series Acclimation Mil" - of which her name is an acronym.) As a huge DS9 fan, this episode gave me all the feels, especially at the end, when there is a fairly big reveal, followed by a voiceover from Sisko and then the DS9 theme music. (I may or may not have shed a tear.) I really like Sam - she's wide-eyed and awkward and enthusiastic, things I see a lot of in myself.

Some fun quotes:

“I require significantly less cheerfulness in my final moments” -Gina Yashere’s great part-Klingon, part-Jem’Hadar character

“I would love to have one shower without having to hear about Darem’s multiple polycule underwater hook-ups.”

“We did this because we could. And we will keep doing it because it is fun.” - says a straight-faced Vulcan from a rival college, following a prank. More Vulcan youths pls!

AND THE DOCTOR THE DOCTOR IS BACK (I LOVE HIM) WITH THE IMMORTAL LINE - “Tricorder… MEDICAL tricorder!”