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Production

Cinematography remained a strength of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy in episode 3, particularly the darkly lit, orangish-yellow Calica training sequence, which included SAM’s (Brooks) hilarious realization from the sneak-peek clip that the cadets were NOT playing a simple game of laser tag.
The combination of post-production phaser fire and camera lens flares gave “Vitus Reflux” a true Star Trek (2009) feel as if J.J. Abrams himself, not Doug Aarniokoski (Discovery, Picard ), were directing the third episode of Starfleet Academy. And the combination of visual effects and Starfleet Academy’s massive and wonderfully constructed practical sets continued to create a sense of wonderment crucial to the sequel series’ success.
