Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Darem Reymi: Sulu’s 32nd Century Replacement?

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1’s Finale – “Rubincon”

The first season finale of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy included a nod to J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek film and introduced the next generation of starship helmsmen, similar to the iconic Mr. Sulu (played by George Takei). The episode, directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Alex Kurtzman, Kirsten Beyer, Noga Landau, and Gaia Violo, concluded the season with a thrilling, uplifting, and heroic finish.

After Captain Nahla Ake and Anisha Mir were kidnapped by Nus Braka, Commander Jett Reno took charge of the USS Athena’s main body. With the ship’s holographic doctor malfunctioning, Reno had to guide Starfleet Academy cadets, disable Braka’s dangerous Omega-47 minefield, and save the Chancellor.

Despite heavy damage and being outnumbered and outmatched by the Venari Ral, the USS Athena’s main section managed to survive. Kerrice Brooks figured out how to stabilize Omega-47 using a message from the ship’s computer, while Sandro Rosta convinced Zoë Steiner to use her psychic abilities to locate Captain Ake. Once they found him, George Hawkins stepped up to take charge.

Starfleet Academy’s Called Back To Chris Pine’s Star Trek 2009 Movie

In the season 1 finale of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Darem Reymi skillfully piloted the USS Athena’s saucer section in a way that cleverly mirrored a scene from J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009). Just like when Mr. Sulu (John Cho) flew the USS Enterprise into Saturn’s rings to hide from Nero (Eric Bana), Darem flew the Athena into a gas cloud to avoid detection by the Venari Ral.

The USS Athena’s disc-shaped section flew above the colorful gas of the nebula, echoing the iconic scene of the Starship Enterprise passing through Saturn’s rings. This moment set the stage for a confrontation with Nero’s enormous Romulan mining ship, the Narada, from the 24th century. It was a clear reference to the first Star Trek film starring Chris Pine, and was featured in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

In the sixth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Genesis Lythe’s (Bella Shepard) eyes were described with a detail that fans of the original Star Trek films will appreciate. They were said to have the “precision of a hengra,” referencing the spider-like creatures that pursued Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) on the icy planet Delta Vega.

Given that Alex Kurtzman, the executive producer of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, also co-wrote the 2009 Star Trek movie with Roberto Orci, it’s not surprising to see nods to that film in the new Star Trek series on Paramount+.

Darem Reymi Could Be Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s Replacement For Sulu

Commander Jett Reno, with her unique perspective, may have recognized Darem Reymi’s potential in Starfleet when she predicted, “He’ll make a good pilot one day.” Reymi proved his composure during the rescue of Captain Ake, a mission that succeeded thanks to his skillful handling of the USS Athena’s saucer section.

Darem Reymi entered Starfleet Academy wanting to earn his parents’ approval, despite their emotional distance. He initially presented himself as a confident leader, but in the third episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a Calica game against the War College revealed he wasn’t as skilled as he thought.

As a huge cinema fan, I’ve been really captivated by the characters in this series. I have to admit, I immediately recognized that Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard) just has that natural leadership quality that Darem seems to struggle with. And seeing Reymi develop in episode 7 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – choosing Starfleet over his birthright to rule Khionia – was a powerful moment. But honestly, it’s Darem’s journey that’s been the most surprising. When we first met him, I wouldn’t have imagined I’d end up really liking him, but his growth as a person has been genuinely fascinating and endearing.

Darem demonstrated exceptional piloting skills aboard the USS Athena, potentially setting him on a path to a fulfilling Starfleet career as a starship helmsman – a role reminiscent of the iconic Mr. Sulu. If Darem succeeds, he’ll join the ranks of legendary helmsmen like Sulu, Lt. Erica Ortegas from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Lt. Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager.

Darem still has a chance to become a Captain, even if he works as a helmsman. This is similar to how Sulu eventually commanded the USS Excelsior after serving as a skilled pilot on the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner).

Darem Reymi’s future at Starfleet Academy is full of possibilities. Even if he doesn’t become a ship’s pilot after graduation, his impressive flying skills and ability to stay calm in difficult situations will be valuable assets no matter where Starfleet sends him as an officer.

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2026-03-15 12:39