Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 7 Recap and Analysis

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Be warned, this review contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 7 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, titled “Ko’Zeine.” The episode shifts focus from action to character development, bringing the cadets back to Starfleet Academy (and the Khionian Sunset Moon) to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy on the USS Miyazaki. Written by Alex Taub and Eric Anthony Glover, and directed by Andi Armaganian, the episode centers on how the cadets cope with recent events and reveals more about their individual journeys.

Darem Reymi, also known as George Hawkins, was taken back to his homeland, Khionia, where he was expected to marry Kaira (Jaelynn Thora Brooks) and become her co-ruler. While Darem went along with the tradition, his close friend, Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diané), knows Darem’s true desire is to attend Starfleet Academy.

While Starfleet Academy is empty for the All Worlds Day celebration and spring break, Genesis Lythe is busy convincing Caleb Mir to help her sneak onto the USS Athena. She needs access to the ship’s systems to change her Starfleet application. Of course, they’re eventually discovered by Commander Jett Reno.

The seventh episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy feels like a welcome return to the classic, lighter episodes that longtime Star Trek fans remember from the shows produced by Rick Berman. By teaming up Darem, Jay-Den, Caleb, and Genesis in a simple, enjoyable story, the episode strengthened their relationships and revealed the insecurities and worries of these future Starfleet officers.

Darem Doesn’t Marry Kaira And Rule Khionia, Thanks To Jay-Den

After hearing Jay-Den’s description of Darem, Kaira decided to lift the restrictions she’d placed on him, allowing him to rejoin Starfleet Academy. Jay-Den shared stories of his time as a cadet with Darem, recalling adventures like Darem walking on the hull of the USS Athena and instigating a playful rivalry with the War College. Kaira was surprised, as this didn’t match the Darem she knew.

Okay, so Kaira finally gets it – Jay-Den was spot on about Darem. He’s the type who always puts others first, and it turns out being bound to Kaira, essentially serving as her co-ruler, has been his destiny since childhood. But here’s the thing: Darem’s changed since joining Starfleet. He’s grown into his own person, and Kaira realizes that forcing him into this role, even if it’s what he was ‘meant’ to do, just wouldn’t be right. It’s a surprisingly mature decision on her part, recognizing his agency and not wanting to sacrifice his happiness for the good of Khionia.

Darem, a Khionian aristocrat, has romantic feelings for Jay-Den, a Klingon healer, but Jay-Den doesn’t feel the same way. He’s currently in a relationship with Kyle (Dale Whibley) from the War College and feels he needs to support Kyle, who is grieving the loss of B’Avi (Alexander Eiling), as seen in episode 6 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

It’s interesting that Darem’s parents were at his wedding to Kaira, but they didn’t have any scenes together. According to George Hawkins in an interview with ScreenRant, the script didn’t include any interactions between Darem and his parents, which represents how emotionally distant the Reymis family is from their son.

Genesis Isn’t Expelled From Starfleet Academy But She Won’t Be On Captain’s Track

Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) cut her vacation short and rushed back to Starfleet Academy after Genesis and Caleb broke into the USS Athena’s bridge. Genesis admitted she’d broken in to access her Starfleet application recommendation letters, which she’d changed because they all said she led “out of fear.”

Genesis was terrified someone would find out she’d manipulated her recommendation letters, which would ruin Captain Ake’s plan to recommend Lythe for the Captain’s track. However, Genesis’s wrongdoing was revealed anyway. Nahla didn’t kick her out of school, but instead put both Genesis and Caleb on academic probation and required them to complete 200 hours of community service.

Okay, so this character Caleb already had it rough – he was stuck doing 90 hours of pretty awful work because he messed up and put the USS Athena at risk during the first episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. And honestly, it’s not even clear if he finished that punishment when Captain Ake piled on another 200 hours! Basically, poor Caleb is spending almost his entire first year at the Academy doing manual labor whenever he’s not in class. It’s a tough break!

Genesis’s recent mistake is unusual for her, as she’s generally been an outstanding Starfleet Academy cadet. She was always capable, intelligent, and calm under pressure. It’s hard to understand why she thought she could break into the bridge without getting caught, but maybe her instructors were right – perhaps she needs to learn to be more courageous.

Genesis admitted to Caleb that her real reason for wanting to become a Captain is to step out from under the shadow of her well-known father, a high-ranking officer. She insisted to Caleb, after being caught in a lie, that she wasn’t completely dishonest. Hopefully, the upcoming episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will reveal how truthful Genesis was when she opened up to him.

Caleb Finally Contacts Tarima

It’s been a month since the terrible events on the USS Miyazaki, and Caleb still hasn’t reached out to Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner), who is recovering from a coma on Betazed. To defeat the Furies and save Caleb and their friends, Tarima had removed a device that limited her psychic abilities, pushing them to their limit. Caleb has been struggling to write a message to her, constantly starting and deleting drafts, though he has been getting updates on her condition from her brother, Ocam (Romeo Carere).

Caleb was struggling to process difficult emotions after Tarima psychically glimpsed his childhood trauma – being separated from his mother, Anisha Mir. He understood this wasn’t a random occurrence and, secretly, he’d wanted Tarima to see his true self. However, he hasn’t been able to express these feelings in a message to Betazed.

Genesis pointed out that Caleb needed to reach out to Tarima, and Mir finally sent his confession. Caleb and Genesis also felt a mutual attraction. While Caleb still has stronger feelings for Tarima, the sensitive Betazoid might realize what’s happening between him and Genesis when she goes back to Starfleet Academy.

SAM’s Glitching Is Repaired

Kerrice Brooks, playing Series Acclimation Mil (SAM), doesn’t have much screen time in the sixth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, but problems from the previous episode appear to have been fixed. After being shot by the Furies, the holographic cadet was damaged and started malfunctioning. During her spring break, SAM went to a holographic repair facility, jokingly referred to as a “spa,” in Denver, Colorado.

SAM successfully returned to Starfleet Academy, appearing completely recovered. Meanwhile, the Kasq Emissary was her usual lively self when she discovered Genesis. This return happened during a touching final scene in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6, set to Fink’s “We Watch the Stars (Berlin Session),” as the cadets observed a meteor shower.

Considering how seriously damaged SAM appeared at the end of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6, the quick and easy fix we saw felt a little too convenient. It’s likely the Series Acclimation Mil will be important in the next episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, so pay attention to it.

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2026-02-19 14:10