With the news that Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will not return after its second season, some of the show's actors are visibly dismayed, including Gina Yashere, who plays cadet master Lura Thok.
Yashere took to her Instagram (below) account recently to discuss her feelings about the cancellation and to express her gratitude for the experience of stepping into the Star Trek universe. She said:
"What's happening people, this is Gina Yashere, aka Lura Thok. I assume you've heard the news by now that Starfleet Academy is not gonna be coming back for season 3. Obviously gutted, I thought we made an amazing show, the first season was fantastic, and we just finished shooting season 2, and I can say that season 2 is even better!"
Yashere continued by saying:
"We just kept building on that platform we made, and in my humble opinion, I think it was one of the best 1st seasons of Star Trek made. But hey, the haters are gonna come on here and disagree, but I'm not here to fight with you right now. I just wanna say that it was an absolute honor and a privilege and a pleasure working in the Star Trek universe. I loved every second of playing Lura Thok."
Some critics of Starfleet Academy complained about Lura Thok's gender because according to Deep Space Nine, there are no Jem'Hadar women, and this contradicts that series' canon and continuity. Never mind that this is 800 years after DS9 and that species evolve!
For instance, look at how different Klingons are now compared to those in The Original Series. Besides, if you can't trust a series' continuity that had a Rat Pack-coded singing hologram, slapstick Ferengi, and a main character who started out as a station commander and became a cosmic prophet, what continuity can't you trust, right? Don't come for me, I actually love DS9!
It's also clear that Yashere understands today's social climate and how some people are very comfortable using social media to spread hateful messages. I do hope, as she does, that when Star Trek does return, in whatever form, that we're ready to receive it with open minds. Who knows, in another 30 years, maybe we'll figure out how to use social media in a way that doesn't make it seem like an on-fire garbage scow!
Maybe the next Star Trek show should be about the adventures of Lura Thok and Jett Reno! I'd tune in for that! How about you? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die X and Facebook pages.