Starfleet Academy's place in the 'limitless story engine'
In that context, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is less risky and more the next test case for Alex Kurtzman’s rainbow philosophy. Set in the 32nd century, it follows cadets rebuilding and rediscovering Starfleet’s ideals after a period of crisis, mirroring the uncertainties facing younger viewers today. The series can center on friendship, mentorship, and found family within the Academy while still touching on broader Federation politics when necessary.
Because the show is designed as an entry point, it fits neatly into Kurtzman’s description of every series being a “gateway drug in some way.” New fans might start with Academy and then bounce back to Discovery for context, or forward to whatever new project emerges from the “exciting things in the works.” That feedback loop is what Kurtzman is banking on when he calls Trek a “limitless story engine”: as long as each new show adds a new color to the spectrum, the universe can keep expanding.
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