Starfleet Academy makes Star Trek history (but does it truly deserve the honor?)

Is Starfleet Academy really Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes?

Early Release Images — L-R: Paul Giamatti as Nus Braka and Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake in season 1 , episode 1 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer/Paramount+

Now, in Starfleet Academy 's case, it actually debuted at a perfect 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes before sliding all the way down to 81 percent. However, as more professional critiques rolled in, the Star Trek show’s numbers began to climb again. So, now, Gaia Violo, Alex Kurtzman, and Noga Landau can proudly say that their series is the only one ever to be Certified Fresh overall within the sci-fi franchise. Or can they?

Stay with me because this is where the numbers, pardon me, get stupid. Now, according to Rotten Tomatoes, Starfleet Academy season 1 is currently Certified Fresh at 85 percent. However, the overall series — uh, there's only one season, Rotten Tomatoes — also registers at 85 percent, but it is NOT Certified Fresh. As Chevy Chase once said, "It was my understanding there would be no math."

I thought something might have been lost in translation, but the Rotten Tomatoes page dedicated to Starfleet Academy overall and the other page designated for season 1 both show that 41 reviews have been submitted by the critics. So, how can the new Star Trek series be Certified Fresh on one RT page and not the other?

Either there's a Tribble gorged on Quadrotriticale sitting there in the numbers which I simply can't see, or, Rotten Tomatoes, "You got some 'splainin' to do!"

Personally, even if this is a historical moment for the franchise, and as much as I love Starfleet Academy, my own ranking of the Star Trek shows throughout history would featureThe Original Series at No. 1, The Next Generation at No. 2, plus Prodigy and Enterprise tied at No. 3. How about you? Where does Starfleet Academy fall on your own list of favorite Treks? Or did the new series make your cut at all?

Do you agree that Rotten Tomatoes needs to update their single and overall pages to match up correctly? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount Plus.

Live long and prosper, Trekkies!