The latest Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, launched its first two episodes on Paramount+ on January 15, 2026, introducing a new class of cadets in the 32nd century. Set after the catastrophic event known as The Burn, the show follows Captain Nahla Ake as she leads the relaunched academy amid personal and interstellar challenges. Early reviews praise its blend of action, humor, and franchise lore for both longtime fans and newcomers.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy marks the franchise's 60th anniversary in 2026, debuting as a YA-centered series created by Gaia Violo and executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau. The show is set in the 32nd century, where the United Federation of Planets rebuilds following The Burn, a galaxy-wide disaster that decimated Starfleet. Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), initially hesitant to retire from her free-spirited ways, takes charge of the newly reopened academy aboard the USS Athena space station and its San Francisco campus.
The premiere episode introduces Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), a 21-year-old fugitive whose mother, Alicia (Tatiana Maslany), was imprisoned after seeking aid from space pirate Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti) 15 years earlier. After escaping Federation foster care, Caleb agrees to enroll to work off his sentence and search for his mother, who fled prison a year ago. His classmates include Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diané), a pacifist Klingon aspiring to medicine; Sam (Kerrice Brooks), the first holographic student; Darem Reymi (George Hawkins), a competitive Khionian cadet; Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard), an admiral's daughter determined to forge her own path; and Zarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner), a Betazoid from a prominent family. Cadet master Lura Thok (Gina Yashere) enforces discipline, while returning characters like The Doctor (Robert Picardo from Star Trek: Voyager) and Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro from Star Trek: Discovery) add familiarity. Stephen Colbert voices the academy's digital dean.
The episode escalates when Nus Braka attacks the Athena, using Caleb's intercepted message to his mother to track them. Demanding the ship's warp drive, Braka's vessel ensnares the station in a power-draining web. In a tense sequence, Darem ventures into space for a scan, Kraag aids the injured Lura, and Caleb disables the web, leading to Braka's ship's destruction—though he escapes. Nahla confronts Caleb about the risk but praises his leadership, reducing his sentence to 100 hours of labor while requiring him to stay. She shares her own loss of a son during The Burn, hinting at a surrogate bond.
Critics have lauded the series for its joyous tone and fresh take. Variety calls it a 'delightful entry point' with strong casting and relatable themes of youth in a fractured world. The Wrap praises its entertainment value and Star Trek ethos, while Collider deems it the 'best modern Star Trek series.' George Takei, original Sulu, wished the cast 'live long and prosper' on Instagram. The 10-episode season continues weekly Thursdays through March 12, rated TV-PG.
