8. 'Rubincon'
The season finale was meant to be an epic affair, wrapping up the hunt for Anisha Mir, defusing Nus Braka’s threat and closing out the first year for the cadets. For the most part, it succeeds there with some top action sequences amid the usual Trek technobabble trickery.
The “trial” between Ake and Braka is both a fabulous showcase for Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti to bounce off each other and an exploration of the Federation's ethics and responsibilities. The subplot about The Doctor seems a bit wasted and the ending a tad rushed. However, it is a twist that Braka is taken down not by combat but rather by being exposed for an unneeded vendetta and broken.
The final scenes sell how close the cadets have come and set up a second (and sadly final) year. Oddly, it seems to lack the power and flair of a typical Trek finale, going too epic when a smaller-scale event could have served the story better. A tale of the cadets bonding on a trip would have fit the show more than a "save the Federation" adventure.
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