Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Review: Down to Earth, Back to School
“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,” premiering Thursday with back to back episodes on Paramount+,takes on the necessary assignment of going where no “Trek” has gone before,while also recalling all the places it has. Created by Gaia Violo, the new series, which might cynically be regarded as a bid to bring younger viewers to a franchise a decade older than “Star Wars,” goes down to Earth and back to school. But it is indeed always best to park your cynicism at the door when approaching “Star Trek.”
we’re in the 32nd century, post-“Burn” timeline established in “Star Trek: Discovery,” among the cadets at the eponymous San Francisco campus, newly rebuilt after “more than 120 years” to train Starfleet officers. (None of your redshirts here.) Holly Hunter plays Nahla Ake, both captain of the USS Athena and chancellor of the academy, where the starship’s detachable saucer docks, forming the school’s main building and giving the producers two locations for the price of one. (With its curvy lines and greenery, its atrium recalls nothing so much as a high-end shopping mall or hotel.)
(It’s of no importance, except to a pedantic Californian TV critic like myself, but I would point out that the campus is technically in Sausalito, with San Francisco seen across the bay.The Golden Gate Bridge, so often destroyed in science-fiction films, is still standing, as is the iconic Ferry Building, wrecked by a giant octopus in “It Came From Beneath the Sea.”)
He’s interested in medicine.
Joining them in the second episode are a couple of Betazoids – empaths, like Deanna Troi in “The Next Generation” – who have come to Earth as part of a “youth delegation” in one of those “diplomatic” episodes common to “Star Trek,” where alien races meet hoping to ink a new treaty or arrange a marriage. Zoë Steiner plays Tarima Sadal,the daughter of the Betazed president; her delicate beauty guarantees that mutual attraction will spark with Caleb,the series’ hottest dude.(As her brother, Romeo Carere adds a welcome touch of nerdy goofiness.) this is a series featuring college kids, so adjust your behavioral expectations accordingly.
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starfleet Academy is a television series set in the Star Trek universe, focusing on the lives of students attending Starfleet Academy.
As of January 14, 2026, the series premiered on Paramount+ in November 2024, with its first season concluding in December 2024. A second season has been confirmed, but a release date has not yet been announced. deadline reported the renewal on November 21, 2024.
Initial reception was mixed, with some fans expressing concerns about its departure from established star Trek formats. Though, the series has garnered a dedicated following, particularly among younger viewers.
Production and Development
Development of Starfleet Academy began in 2022, with Stephanie Savage and Liz Kruger serving as showrunners. Variety announced the project on September 27, 2022.
The series aims to explore the formative years of future starfleet officers, showcasing their training, relationships, and challenges. It utilizes a blend of practical effects and CGI to create a visually immersive experience. The show is produced by Secret Hideout, the production company behind other Star Trek series like Discovery and Picard.
The series features a diverse cast of young actors, representing a variety of species and backgrounds within the Star Trek universe.
Reception and Critical Response
Critical reception to starfleet Academy has been varied.IGN gave the first season a 6/10, praising the show’s ambition but criticizing its pacing and character development.
Some critics have noted the series’ attempt to appeal to a younger audience, incorporating elements of teen drama alongside the traditional Star Trek themes of exploration and diplomacy. fan reactions have been similarly divided, with some appreciating the fresh perspective and others lamenting the departure from the franchise’s established tone.
As of December 31, 2024, the series held a 68% audience score on Rotten tomatoes, based on over 500 user ratings.
- Paramount+: The streaming service where starfleet Academy is available. Paramount+ Official Website
- Secret Hideout: The production company behind the series. Secret Hideout Official Website
- Stephanie Savage & Liz Kruger: Showrunners of Starfleet Academy.