Darem & Jay-Den's evolving relationship
George Hawkins is referring to the crux of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 7, which involved Darem willingly facing the prospect of an arranged marriage to serve his people, while giving up what he really wants: to continue his education at Starfleet Academy. Darem truly loves his bride-to-be Kaira (Jaelynn Thora Brooks), but it’s Jay-Den who reminds his friend to be true to himself. Hawkins also said during the same interview:
“The relationship between Jay-Den and Darem is really interesting because Jay-Den plays a mirror to Darem. Jay-Den is a really sobering person and character in Darem’s story because he calls him out. He's the first person at the Academy to actually tell him the truth about who he is, that he is sort of a coward, really, and he has a mask.”
Hawkins continued:
“Jay-Den sees behind that mask, and it's a really beautiful thing to witness in this episode, especially. Kaira is probably the only person in his Khionian upbringing who has the same effect on Darem. I think both of those people are very sobering. And I think that's who Jay-Den plays.”
I love the way Darem and Jay-Den’s uneasy relationship in the series premiere, “Kids These Days,” has naturally evolved over the course of season 1. The biggest tease prior to episode 7, which indicated that there might be romantic flames crackling between the Khionian and Klingon cadet, happened in episode 4, “Vox in Excelso.”
Unable to find his center, while preparing to debate the future of the Klingon people, Jay-Den found an unlikely ally in the form of the person who tried to bully him in episode 1: Darem. During the emotional scene, Darem touched Jay-Den and helped the nervous Klingon by enabling him to find calm through breathing exercises. The two cadets briefly came close to kissing, but the moment slipped away.
At the end of the latest episode, Darem is clearly uncomfortable when Jay-Den and his love interest from the War College, Kyle (Dale Whibley), reunite after the All-Worlds Day break. So, for now, romance will have to wait for Darem and Jay-Den.
However, I also loved how the episode addressed yet another love triangle, which seems to come and go between Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard), and Tarima Sadal (Zoe Steiner). While it seems that Caleb and Tarima are destined to be a couple, there are clearly romantic feelings going unexplored between Caleb and Genesis.
I thoroughly enjoy the romantic entanglements which haven’t been explored in such depth through other Star Trek series. I believe this is one of the strengths of Starfleet Academy and what sets it apart from other Treks. How do you feel about Darem and Jay-Den’s growing relationship?
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Live long and prosper, Trekkies!