The latest Star Trek series on Paramount+ is set after a major event called the Burn. It follows a new group of Starfleet Academy students as they learn to explore the galaxy and follow the Prime Directive. The show boasts a talented cast, including Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, and Star Trek alum Robert Picardo.
Since its release a few weeks ago, Starfleet Academy has sparked a lot of debate among Star Trek fans, with many leaving negative reviews. The main criticism is that the show doesn’t capture the feeling of Star Trek. Aside from unfair complaints about the show’s content, a key reason for this different feel is that the characters are mostly young adults. Robert Picardo recently discussed this change in an interview.
Starfleet Academy Is a Divisive Entry into the Star Trek Franchise
The Burn was a catastrophic event that nearly destroyed Starfleet and threw the universe into chaos, forcing every species to fend for itself. Now, years later, the Federation is working to rebuild, and that includes restarting its exploratory program. It’s time to train a new generation of explorers to venture into the unknown.
Holly Hunter plays Admiral Ake, who is chosen to lead the academy because of her innovative ideas and her experience – she’s one of the few remaining captains who recall the Federation’s peak. The latest installment also introduces two new alien species: a unique type of photonic being and a previously unseen Klingon culture.
The students are casual, self-centered, and use current slang, sometimes using harsh language like “ahole” and “douchebag.” They engage in playful, secretive competitions – for instance, they might have a grudge match of Calica when the Starfleet Academy and War College are involved in a prank war. While “Vitus Reflux” wasn’t a particularly well-written story, with a predictable plot, it definitely gets one point across: Starfleet Academy
James T. Kirk’s success as a captain wasn’t due to following rules or showing respect for authority. He was a great leader because he was innovative, thought outside the box, and deeply cared for his crew. He often bent or broke the rules, famously disregarding the Prime Directive on its very first introduction. A particularly controversial example was when he provided weapons to a less developed civilization, enabling them to wage war.
As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I always feel like people judge Kirk a little too harshly. He was, at his core, a bit of a wild card, a cowboy even, and honestly, that’s not so different from how some of the more established figures like Chancellor Ake or even the cadets at Starfleet Academy carry themselves. Actually, the newer Star Trek movies really highlight this. We see him at the Academy, pulling stunts, bending the rules, and even cheating on his final exam! But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the greatest captains Starfleet ever saw, did it?
Robert Picardo Addressed the Most Controversial Change
What really stood out was how the children talked. The third episode showcased this the most. Although recent language and sentence structure were present in other episodes, “Vitus Reflux” focused so much on the kids and their playful fighting that it often distracted from the story.
The newest episode of Starfleet Academy features The Doctor leading a debate class. Robert Picardo recently told Collider that the cadets’ dialogue feels very modern and uses current slang, creating a blend of classic and new Star Trek styles. While this is understandable, given shows like Firefly and Farscape, the writers could have developed unique futuristic slang instead of relying on 21st-century terms.
Picardo pointed out that dialogue in the earlier series was different – more formal and ‘mid-galactic’ in style. He believes that in diplomatic situations, it’s important to be able to clearly and thoughtfully articulate arguments using complete, well-structured sentences, rather than relying on filler words and rambling. He felt that the Doctor, as a character, held others to a high standard of communication.
In the opening of “Vox in Excelso,” The Doctor intentionally uses slang, then states he’s earned the freedom to speak however he chooses, suggesting others might earn that right someday – but not today. While the episode largely focuses on the events following the Burn and Jay-Den’s family history, The Doctor’s comment about language resonated with the students, who subsequently avoided using curse words during class.
This suggests that as the series progresses, these cadet characters will gradually begin to speak and act more like the experienced Starfleet officers viewers are familiar with. It’s key to remember they’re still trainees, essentially the future Picards and Janeways. If the writers can successfully show this change in their language and mannerisms, it would be a really smart way to demonstrate the characters’ growth and learning throughout their time at Starfleet Academy.
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2026-02-02 05:06