Starfleet Academy Has Arrived — And It’s Not “Star Trek 90210”

Captain Joe Dove's Log!

Star date 93000: As I sat in quiet wonder on an otherwise slow day, a spark ignited before me in the form of Starfleet Academy on Paramount Plus. For far too long, fans have been ringing bells and lighting beacons, calling for help in the world of Star Trek. Ever since the show’s announcement, detractors have been shouting “Star Trek 90210,” unwilling to give the series a fair chance.

Today marks a new beginning. The first two episodes have launched, and from my perspective, the show kicks off boldly. The opening sequence felt like stepping into a temporal vortex straight back to Star Trek (2009) — the pacing, the energy, even some of the emotional beats echo that beloved film. That movie marked a shift in Trek’s visual identity: shiny, colorful, digital. This new series taps into that lineage while forging its own path.

Set in the post‑Burn era of the Federation (see Star Trek: Discovery), the show introduces characters shaped by hardship and rebuilding. Our central figure, future cadet Caleb, is forced into a life of crime after being separated from his mother, who falls under the influence of crime lord Nus Braka.

Braka — played by Paul Giamatti — is a Klingon/Tellarite hybrid, one of several mixed‑species characters we meet this season. It sparks a sense of wonder about what the galaxy endured after the Burn. With so many lives lost and so much chaos, unexpected unions would naturally emerge. I hope the series explores the backstories behind these characters and the worlds that shaped them.

Captain Ake, head of the Academy, once failed to save Caleb and promised to help him — a promise she couldn’t keep. Now, much like the soft reboot energy of Trek ‘09, the story brings us into the Academy through Caleb’s eyes, while Ake sees this as her chance at redemption.

There’s a lot to unpack in episode one, but I’m not here to recap every beat. What matters is this: the show is not “Space 90210.” It’s a character‑driven drama, but it doesn’t lean into the tropes that would have turned longtime Trek or sci‑fi fans away. Instead, it feels like a fresh take on a franchise celebrating its 60th year.

With this long‑awaited Starfleet Academy series, we’re getting nods to Trek’s past, hints of its future, and a brand‑new lens on the Federation. There’s going to be so much to discuss as the season unfolds, and I hope you’ll join Jason, Joe, and Jason every Friday at 9 PM on our YouTube channel as we dive into it all.

LLAP!