Tawny Newsome is best known to Star Trek fans for voicing Mariner on Lower Decks, reprising the role in live-action for Strange New Worlds and most recently playing a new version of Dax on Starfleet Academy. She’s also one of the talented writers behind the acclaimed SFA episode "Series Acclimation Mil."
Unfortunately, during a panel at this year's Trek Talks, Newsome shared the disappointing news that while she has some input, she wasn't one of the main writers for Academy’s second and final season. Newsome said via TrekMovie.com: "By season 2, I wasn’t in the room anymore. I just was able to contribute on one of the scripts."
Newsome, who also served as a producer on Starfleet Academy season 1, continued by saying:
"Alex Taub and I wrote an episode for season 2, but because I had other obligations, I wasn’t full-time in the room. So there were a lot of things I wanted to do. There was a lot more stuff I wanted to do with SAM. I just thought that character became so fascinating. And gosh, the chance to explore a new species and a new world was really exciting to me, and Kerrice Brooks is just such a special actor.”
This is yet another reason for fans to be upset about Academy’s unexpected cancellation. Newsome proved she knows Star Trek lore as the SAM episode paid a wonderful tribute to Deep Space Nine and the character of Benjamin Sisko. She also clearly loved writing SAM and scratching the surface of what the character could do.
Newsome is still involved with Trek, and she even developed a live-action comedy show set on a resort planet, which was announced in 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con. Hopefully, she gets another chance to write these SFA characters, though, as not having her more fully involved with writing is another reason to be mad about Academy ending.
Are you sad to hear Newsome didn't write more content for season 2? Share your thoughts and comments with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount+.
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