Could we see a new romance on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy? One of its stars hopes so! Episode 7 of Starfleet Academy partly focused on Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard) as she and Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) spent a lot of time together at the deserted Academy. Speaking to ScreenRant, Shepard touched on the obvious chemistry between Genesis and Caleb, but the actress emphasized that her character might not be up for romance.
"Actually, I don't think Genesis is necessarily seeking a romantic partner," Shepard said. "But, I mean, it's human nature to yearn for connection with other people. And I think she sees a lot of what she wishes she had in Caleb, in a way. He's so free and open, and I think she admires that about him. So I think she's just drawn to the things that she admires about Caleb."
Shepard added:
"I think it's very important for her to hold onto the connections that she cares about."
The fact that Caleb is in a relationship with Tarima Sadal (Zoe Steiner) presents an obvious roadblock to any romance between the pair. Yet it may be better in the long run, as Genesis is focused on her future more.
We’ve seen glimpses into Genesis’ past as she’s the daughter of an admiral, who grew up on ships and bases all her life. This is a cadet pressured into always being the best, to the point that she wanted to erase records revealing that everything she does is out of fear.
While she’s opened up with her fellow classmates, Genesis is still focused on her studies and becoming a top Starfleet cadet, and her past may be a factor. Shepard said in the same interview:
"I think whether that's platonic or romantic, connection, in general, is very important to her, because she grew up on a starship, moving around, and maybe not having the most stable friends because of having to move so often. Now that she's finally in a place where she can stay in one spot with the same people, I think it's very important for her to hold onto the connections that she cares about."
The character has become a fan favorite, thanks to Shepard's performance, and by smoothing out her rough personality to bond with her classmates. She’s stepped up as a leader and the fact that Chancellor Ake and other teachers recognize her potential speaks volumes. In other words, Genesis doesn’t have to be weighted down into some romance storyline just yet, as she’s still learning to trust others.
There’s a chance that changes down the line, and it would be interesting to see Genesis opening up her heart and dealing with romance over her career path. For now, fans can just enjoy watching her continue her journey in Starfleet Academy.
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