How will this new dynamic affect Starfleet Academy?
Adding to this unique dynamic is the fact that Starfleet Academy’s chancellor, Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), is half-Lanthanite, and she is 422 years old, according to Hunter. She thus vividly remembers a time before The Burn and wants to restore that sense of stability.
Likewise, the time-displaced Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) and the holographic Doctor (Robert Picardo) also recall the Federation in its “glory days.” That gives them a perspective to educate not just the cadets but other Starfleet personnel who don’t grasp what the Federation is supposed to be. So, in many ways, the other teachers are learning, along with the Cadets, what Starfleet is about.
It will be fascinating to get a bigger picture on how The Burn changed the galaxy through the eyes and stories of the cadets. While some races may have come through it all right, others are likely far worse off and that conflict lends to great drama.
It’s a great angle for the show as it lets the audience empathize with these cadets and journey with them to a brighter future with the Federation. Exploring a universe with a rebuilding Federation is yet another reason Starfleet Academy is a must-watch show. For more Star Trek content, visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres on Paramount+ Jan. 15.