“It’s such a shocking ending, you do not want it to [end] – no, no!”
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy wrapped filming on season 2 at the end of February, but creator Gaia Violo and co-showrunner Noga Landau aren’t approaching sophomore year of the streaming series as the show’s swan song. In fact, Violo teased a “shocking ending” to close the cadets' sophomore year, which would indicate a need for season 3 to complete the story, and the season 1 finale hasn’t even dropped yet! Violo said in an interview via TrekMovie.com:
“It’s such a shocking ending, you do not want it to [end] – no, no!”
Landau made it clear that she, Violo, and co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman “absolutely” did not conceive or write the season 2 finale in a way that would wrap up the streaming show, if it shouldn't get greenlit for season 3. Landau said during the same sit-down:
“We have so much story to tell. If anything – yeah, it is not the end.”
When asked if she has heard anything about Starfleet Academy season 3 possibly getting the go-ahead for its junior year, Landau added, “Nothing yet, but we’re just – we’re so happy with season 2, and we can’t wait for everybody to see it.”
I hope Starfleet Academy can boldly go on and thrive in a third season, but the show has struggled to score the kind of ratings which would warrant the series being renewed. For instance, the new Star Trek saga failed to crack the Neilsen ratings’ Top 10, as of yet, and it continues to come and go on the Paramount+ charts worldwide.
Starfleet Academy is performing better in the United States, but it doesn’t hold its ground for long on the Paramount+ Top 10. However, Violo, Landau, and Kurtzman’s show has consistently performed well overall on Amazon channels, often ranking either No. 1 or No. 2. It should be noted, though, that after the eighth episode, “The Life of the Stars,” which is one of the best installments of season 1, the show plummeted to No. 7 for the first time before rebounding to the top spot today (March 2).
I’m pulling for the series, but the overall ratings aren’t going to give Kurtzman and company much leverage when it comes time to talk about greenlighting season 3. Share your comments on the matter with us via the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And season 1 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount+.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!