These two actors will be sorely missed during the Academy’s sophomore year.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s must-see season 1 finale is officially in the books. However, while much of episode 10’s success owes a debt of gratitude to the main cast, co-showrunner and executive producer Alex Kurtzman sadly confirmed that neither Paul Giamatti nor Tatiana Maslany will appear in season 2. Both were key contributors whose presences elevated every single installment they starred in. Kurtzman said in an interview via Collider:
“Their storylines are not complete. I will say you will not be seeing them in season 2. But we would love nothing more than to bring them back and certainly have plans for that.”
The Golden Globe-winning Giamatti already revealed back in February that he would not return for Starfleet Academy’s sophomore season while appearing on The D-Con Chamber podcast. Giamatti portrayed season 1’s recurring half-Klingon, half-Tellarite villain Nus Braka. Sadly, though, he only appeared in three episodes.
Likewise, Maslany only showed up in three episodes of Starfleet Academy. The actress portrayed Caleb Mir’s (Sandro Rosta) mother, Anisha. And, although she only starred in a trio of installments, her character pushed the story forward all season long, particularly for Caleb: the cadet’s sole purpose for joining Starfleet was so that he could find his missing mother.
I’m glad Nus Braka and Anisha Mir’s “storylines are not complete,” as Kurtzman said, but I am genuinely concerned about season 2 since neither will make appearances. However, I’m most worried about the absence of Giamatti.
Not only does Kurtzman and co-showrunner Noga Landau have to come up with a new villain to challenge our beloved Starfleet cadets in season 2, but they must also replace an actor the caliber of Giamatti in the process. I was hoping Nus Braka would become a recurring threat throughout every season, much like John de Lancie reprised his role as Q in so many Star Trek series.
I hope Kurtzman and Landau receive the greenlight for season 3, but I feel it will be a whole lot more difficult if they don’t bring Giamatti back… and soon. Share your thoughts on the decision not to feature Nus Braka and Anisha Mir in season 2 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!