Darem and Jay-Den romance?
Many Star Trek fans have rightly seen the banter between Darem and Jay-Den as flirtation. Sure, Jay-Den is dating Kyle, and Darem briefly had a wife yet both characters seem so natural together. Hawkins talked to Collider about how Jay-Den’s character helps Darem grow. The actor said:
"Jay-Den is so powerful because of his stillness. It’s like he's rooted to the ground, I think, and that's just an admirable thing. I think that's a really admirable thing for Darem to witness, is someone standing still, confidently saying what they love, saying what they want, and saying what they believe. Because that's just such an absence of what Darem has had in his life. He's like an answer. He's an answer to a lot of empty space for Darem."
The penultimate episode of the first season, "300th Night," featured the class joining Jay-Den in a ceremony that bonded them further as family. That promises more development in season 2 as the cadets grow. That will also provide more opportunities for Darem and Jay-Den to be together, whether it's as friends or romantically. The two actors are amazing in their scenes, making it believable these two very different people can be such good friends and, perhaps, more.
In a way, the pair mirror each other. Darem grew up in wealth and privilege, groomed to be a ruler and bucked all that to join the Academy. Jay-Den was an outcast among his family for wanting to be a doctor rather than a warrior, fighting for acceptance and to be taken seriously. Darem has focused on tempering his arrogance, while Jay-Den has learned to be more confident in himself.
The two actors gel so naturally that it’s hard to believe they had never met before the show started. They’re proof of how well the Academy cast gets along together, and their off-screen friendship also helps their performances. Thankfully, we know the show is getting a second season, and it'll be fascinating to see how this bromance and possible romance develops.
It’s yet another reason why Starfleet Academy doesn’t deserve so much hate. Darem and Jay-Den’s friendship is exactly the wonderful character work Trek fans love and among the many reasons to enjoy this show.
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