Why Star Trek needs a good entry point
The most daunting challenge Star Trek has for newbies is its huge history. Sure, it’s fun for Strange New Worlds or Lower Decks to throw in Easter eggs, or play on the history of the franchise, but those lines can go over the heads of folks who only know The Original Series or various parodies.
Trying to navigate the ins and outs of Star Trek lore from the wars with the Klingons, Romulans, Dominion, and Borg can be a nightmare for newcomers. That’s without mentioning Trek retconning its own history to muddle things further for a huge headache.
This is why Starfleet Academy is needed to provide a clean slate for viewers. The show is also helped by how it is set a thousand years after most other Star Trek shows. That’s a nice touch. Viewers will learn about that long gap with references to Kirk, Picard, or Sisko only in historical terms, with the cadets likely having no idea who those guys are.
It also works for the show as the cadets will be learning more of Starfleet's history and thus exposition dumps act as lessons for them and newcomers to the franchise. It’s a smart move by the producers and adds to the appeal of Starfleet Academy.
Star Trek shouldn’t need to hand out CliffsNotes to new viewers but be accessible to all, and, hopefully, Academy pulls it off. Share your thoughts and comments on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premieres Jan. 15, 2026, on Paramount+.