Good
Let's start this party with the very best reviews Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has garnered at the time of this writing. First, SlashFilm’s headline reads: “This wonderful YA-flavored series punches way above its weight class.” Meanwhile, Collider gives Starfleet Academy a nearly perfect 9 out of 10 stars. A portion of the review from the publication reads as follows:
“Beyond the wide range of incredible performances, Starfleet Academy is also remarkably well-written. The show blends sci-fi action, diplomacy, and high stakes with the humor, romance, and growing pains of a coming-of-age story. Easter eggs to the original series, the 90s era, and underrated shows like Lower Decks and Prodigy are abundant for the avid Trekkie, serving as delightful references for those in the know without weighing the series down with nostalgia.”
Collider specifically singles out Starfleet Academy season 1’s fifth episode. This is great news for Trekkies because it sounds like the streaming series presents back-to-back must-see installments. Paul Giamatti recently went on record praising how well-written episode six is. Now, Collider’s sister website at Valnet, Comic Book Resources (CBR), also gave the Star Trek series a 9 out of 10 score, and the publication’s review gives the fandom real hope: “Format-breaking new series could finally win back disillusioned fans.”
Meanwhile, The Wrap declares: “Overall, Starfleet Academy is entertaining and well-paced while bringing together the compelling threads of what makes this universe so appealing to watch. It is a nostalgic treat for Trekkies while also being something completely new and isn’t afraid of a little silliness along the way, while still managing to retain the core ethos of what makes Trek tick."
Unfortunately, despite debuting with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s not all Tribbles and pleasure planets for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. With that in mind, let’s see what some of the less favorable critiques are saying about the show.