Starfleet Academy Review: A High-School Spinoff with a Transgressive Twist
The Star Trek franchise has expanded its reach, exploring new timelines and settings. The latest addition, Starfleet Academy, takes place in the 32nd century, a future far removed from the original series' 23rd-century setting. This high-school spinoff brings together iconic characters like James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard as alumni of this esteemed space academy.
The story centers around Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), an ex-Starfleet captain with Lanthanite heritage, who becomes the school's chancellor. Her half-breed background is revealed through a poignant flashback, where she was forced to separate her young friend Caleb from his desperate mother due to Starfleet protocol. This event drives Ake's determination to do right by Caleb and give him a chance at a better life.
As the new semester begins, tensions rise among the students as they navigate their place in the space academy. This is where Paul Giamatti shines as Braka, an alien gangster with a penchant for scenery-chewing performances. His character's antics are reminiscent of Johnny Depp's earlier works, adding to the show's irreverent humor.
The feature-length opening episode introduces the USS Athena, a campus-cum-starship that doubles as a teaching tool and breakout space for fresh-faced cadets. The stakes are high when Braka returns, threatening the ship with vengeance. Caleb and his new friends must band together to save the day, making for an entertaining and action-packed space voyage.
While the show draws inspiration from US campus cliches, it manages to find its own footing in this latest iteration of the franchise. Robert Picardo's return as the Doctor is a highlight, bringing his signature wit and charm to the series. The educational setting allows for some meaningful Star Trek history lessons, making this classic Trek.
What sets Starfleet Academy apart is its focus on impulsive and hormonal students. The Grange-Hill-with-phasers vibe of a gang of kids testing their boundaries is surprisingly engaging. As the season progresses, Caleb and his cohorts will face new challenges, but for now, it's enough to enjoy their laser tag battles and camaraderie.
With Holly Hunter at the helm, Starfleet Academy has already established itself as a thrilling addition to the franchise. While not perfect, this high-school spinoff has its own charm, thanks to its irreverent humor, memorable characters, and the return of some beloved Trek alumni.
The Star Trek franchise has expanded its reach, exploring new timelines and settings. The latest addition, Starfleet Academy, takes place in the 32nd century, a future far removed from the original series' 23rd-century setting. This high-school spinoff brings together iconic characters like James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard as alumni of this esteemed space academy.
The story centers around Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), an ex-Starfleet captain with Lanthanite heritage, who becomes the school's chancellor. Her half-breed background is revealed through a poignant flashback, where she was forced to separate her young friend Caleb from his desperate mother due to Starfleet protocol. This event drives Ake's determination to do right by Caleb and give him a chance at a better life.
As the new semester begins, tensions rise among the students as they navigate their place in the space academy. This is where Paul Giamatti shines as Braka, an alien gangster with a penchant for scenery-chewing performances. His character's antics are reminiscent of Johnny Depp's earlier works, adding to the show's irreverent humor.
The feature-length opening episode introduces the USS Athena, a campus-cum-starship that doubles as a teaching tool and breakout space for fresh-faced cadets. The stakes are high when Braka returns, threatening the ship with vengeance. Caleb and his new friends must band together to save the day, making for an entertaining and action-packed space voyage.
While the show draws inspiration from US campus cliches, it manages to find its own footing in this latest iteration of the franchise. Robert Picardo's return as the Doctor is a highlight, bringing his signature wit and charm to the series. The educational setting allows for some meaningful Star Trek history lessons, making this classic Trek.
What sets Starfleet Academy apart is its focus on impulsive and hormonal students. The Grange-Hill-with-phasers vibe of a gang of kids testing their boundaries is surprisingly engaging. As the season progresses, Caleb and his cohorts will face new challenges, but for now, it's enough to enjoy their laser tag battles and camaraderie.
With Holly Hunter at the helm, Starfleet Academy has already established itself as a thrilling addition to the franchise. While not perfect, this high-school spinoff has its own charm, thanks to its irreverent humor, memorable characters, and the return of some beloved Trek alumni.
It's like they took every 'typical' high school cliche and threw it into space. And what's with all these Starfleet alumni showing up as adults? Don't get me wrong, I love James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard, but isn't that a bit too convenient? 
On the other hand, Robert Picardo is back as the Doctor, which is awesome! But overall, it's like they took all the best parts of Star Trek and mashed them together with a bunch of familiar high school tropes. 
it's like a mix of The O.C and Star Trek - what if you took all that angst and rebellion from high school and threw it into space? 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see a show about high school kids navigating space travel and gangster aliens? 
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. I need to see more of that old-school Star Trek charm in this show. Robert Picardo's return as the Doctor is already a highlight, and I'm excited to see what other familiar faces will pop up throughout the season 
. Nahla Ake's backstory and her drive to help Caleb is really compelling, and it's awesome that they're exploring these issues in a way that feels both authentic and Star Trek-y 
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It's the perfect blend of humor and heart, and I'm already hooked 
and robert picardo as the doctor is still my spirit animal 
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It's gonna be exciting to see Caleb and his friends navigate their relationships with each other and the ship's crew 
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and I love that Robert Picardo's back as the Doctor, always a delight 
Giamatti's character Braka sounds hilarious, can't wait to see more of that 
. And Paul Giamatti as Braka is pure comedy gold 
Week 1: 2 million views
paul giamatti as braka is giving me all the energy and his character's antics are literally making me LOL 
the educational setting is so cool and it's like they're finally exploring a side of star trek we never saw before 
. I'm literally already hooked on this show, who else is with me?! 
nathan ake is like this ex-starfleet captain who's all about giving the kids a chance & helping them figure out who they are & it's super inspiring 
But instead of drama and gossip, Starfleet Academy tackles the big issues with space-faring teens. And let's not forget Braka - his antics add a fun layer of humor to the show!