Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has relied on a few past faces already, such as Robert Picardo, who portrays the EMH Doctor. Still, it was wonderful when episode 8 brought back Discovery's Lt. Sylvia Tilly. Mary Wiseman made the most of her appearance as the quirky professor helping the cadets. Speaking to ScreenRant, co-showrunner Noga Landau explained that while they wanted to bring Tilly back for a while, they needed just the right moment for it. Landau said:
"We are the biggest Mary Wiseman fans in the galaxy, and I think the answer is that we felt that the best way for Tilly to enter the show was gradually. Sometimes you have to hold your breath and wait for the shining jewel to arrive. And we waited eight episodes for her to come and join us, and now she's finally here."
Landau continued by saying:
"It's special. I think [we] felt that if she started at the beginning, and she was just a part of The Doctor and Jett Reno, and all of the other legacy characters, Admiral Vance, that it wouldn't be as special. So being able to bring her in as the late-season ringer was a creative decision to make sure she really gets her platform."
Tilly’s role was perfectly set as the cadets were reeling from various personal problems and the trauma caused during episode 6, "Come, Let's Away," where half were held prisoner by a vicious alien crew and lost a fellow cadet. That included Starfleet Academy's newest member, Tarima Sadal (Zoe Steiner), who had been forced to unleash her full psychic powers to repel the Furies.
Having Tilly pop in earlier just to teach a class or some cameo might have been okay. But having her aid the kids in navigating their trauma, via a reading of the Thornton Wilder play Our Town, was far better. Tilly used her own experiences from her adventures to help the students face their problems head-on, opening them up and thus leading to some major growth.
It was wonderful to see Wiseman back as Tilly, who always brings a vibrant air to her performance. In this case, it was a more experienced and wise Tilly who was believable as an instructor. She also got along great with Chancellor Ake (Holly Hunter), and it’d be nice to bring her back again.
It proves that good things come to those who wait, and Starfleet Academy was smart putting off Tilly’s big return until it met the right storyline.
For more Star Trek content, and to share your comments about Tilly's appearance, visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And new episodes of Starfleet Academy drop every Thursday on Paramount+ through March 12.