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Starfleet Academy's 'The Life of the Stars' is way better than its low rating (and this is why)

SFA's love letter to The Doctor and Voyager is a must-see episode.
Robert Picardo as The Doctor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, episode 4, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 3035. Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer/Paramount+.
Robert Picardo as The Doctor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, episode 4, season 1, streaming on Paramount+, 3035. Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer/Paramount+.
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3. Tarima Sadal joins Starfleet Academy

The Life of the Stars
Zoë Steiner as Tarima in season 1, episode 8, of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy streaming on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Michael Gibson/Paramount+

Starfleet Academy feels like the place where Tarima Sadal belonged all along. Her joining the War College at the beginning of the series felt out of place for the character. Everyone knew it, with her even explaining that she wanted to do something different.

Sadal’s treatment related to her new neuro inhibitor, which forced her to transfer to the Academy to be in a safer situation that would not result in another incident. This forces her to start over with making friends, something that she is visibly unhappy about.

The truth is, the Starfleet Academy cadets seem to be better equipped to help Tarima through her own levels of grief. They connect with her on a deeper level, particularly Caleb Mir. While Tarima clearly does not want to admit it at first, she seems to feel more at home at the Academy.

Tarima’s transfer also gave us a better opportunity to watch her relationship with Caleb unfold. While they were already developing a strong connection while she was at the War College, her arrival at the Academy only serves to create a stronger connection between the two.

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