“If anybody was upset by gay things in the first season, prepare to be pissed off!”
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2 may have been axed, but the controversial streaming series still has 10 episodes slated for release in 2027. Clearly, some “so-called” fans of the beloved science fiction franchise took issue with Trek introducing the saga’s first gay Klingon, cadet Jay-Den Kraag, in season 1. And if “gay things” upset certain viewers during the show’s initial run, “prepare to be pissed off” when sophomore year begins.
Starfleet Academy actor Karim Diane, who portrays Jay-Den Kraag, warned those who didn’t appreciate the show embracing diversity during season 1 by saying in an interview via TrekMovie.com: “If anybody was excited by seeing gay things in the first season, baby [laughs]… if anybody was upset by gay things in the first season, prepare to be pissed off [laughs]!”
I was flabbergasted by the way “so-called” Star Trek fans negatively reacted on social media to not only Jay-Den for being a gay Klingon, but also the romance that occurred between the Starfleet Academy cadet and the War College’s Kyle Djokovic, who is portrayed by Dale Whibley.
Star Trek is almost certainly facing a crossroads given that there are currently no live-action television or streaming series in production. And when asked about the future of the franchise, which continues to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026, Diane answered during the same interview by saying:
“Include people, that’s the only thing that I hope for Star Trek moving forward. Include real people. People look so different. I look so different from you, I am so different from you, and you are different from me. I hope that we both can continue to see ourselves when we watch this TV show.”
Honestly — no offense to Kyle — I’m much more interested to see if the flirtation and possible romance that was teased between Jay-Den and Starfleet Cadet Darem Reymi (George Hawkins) further develops in season 2, which would provide a spicy love triangle to weave through the story and character arcs of Starfleet Academy’s final 10 episodes.
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Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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