Ever since the premiere of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, critics and fans alike have shared wide and varying opinions about the show. Some believe it doesn't fit the franchise's label, while others see it as an innovative way to view the future through the eyes of those who are just beginning their Starfleet career.
Robert Picardo, who reprised his role as The Doctor from Voyager and Prodigy, has no qualms about what Starfleet Academy is, a possible future for the franchise, or how much weight online criticism carries. Picardo said in an interview with ScreenRant:
"And then for the next show — I mean, Starfleet Academy is an idea that has been talked about forever, and they just had to figure out how to do it. And the critical response to the show has been amazing, with almost 95 percent positive reviews. Nowadays, of course, everyone's a critic. So on social media, there's a lively discussion about what Star Trek should be."
Lively is a polite way of describing some of the discourse that's out there lately, especially when it comes to Starfleet Academy.
I discovered Star Trek through my parents and began watching The Original Series in 1986. I remember having my own opinions about Star Trek: The Next Generation when it premiered, and although there was no internet back then, there was still an active fandom that put out newsletters, fan magazines, and organized meetups.
Many fans didn't care for The Next Generation because early on, it borrowed ideas from TOS until it could find its own footing. It eventually ran for seven seasons and became a beloved Star Trek series that spawned several movies and the highly-lauded Picard. Starfleet Academy should have that same chance, despite the way internet discourse has changed fandom.
Do you agree with Robert Picardo's assessment? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the matter via the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount+.