The latest Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, premieres on Paramount+ with a focus on young cadets rebuilding after a catastrophic event. Starring Holly Hunter as the academy's chancellor and Paul Giamatti as a vengeful villain, the show aims for a fresh start but echoes recent Trek shortcomings. A TVLine review praises its youthful cast while critiquing its predictable tone.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, set in the 32nd century following the destructive event known as The Burn, follows Starfleet's effort to reopen its training academy. Holly Hunter stars as Chancellor Nahla Ake, who oversees the first class of cadets, including the sullen loner Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), separated from his mother at a young age. The plot introduces threats from Paul Giamatti's space pirate Nus Braka, who harbors a grudge against Ake.
The series, co-showrun by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, features a young ensemble including Karim Diané as the shy Klingon Kraag and Kerrice Brooks as the cheerful hologram SAM. It incorporates YA-friendly romantic elements, including sex scenes, and a post-The Burn melancholy that resonates in a post-COVID context. Guest appearances include Robert Picardo reprising his role as The Doctor from Star Trek: Voyager, and Gina Yashere as stern cadet master Lura.
TVLine's review, after screening the first six episodes ahead of the January 15, 2026, premiere, credits the show for forging its own path with fresh-faced recruits. However, it criticizes the familiar mix of corny jokes, breathless reverence for Starfleet, and heavy lens flare, reminiscent of Star Trek: Discovery's later seasons. Hunter's eccentric portrayal of Ake brings tenderness in personal scenes but feels mismatched for command roles, while Giamatti's villainy shines but is underutilized, appearing mainly in the premiere and episode six.
The review suggests the series might thrive more without big-name stars overshadowing the cadets, drawing parallels to early careers of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Compared to innovative Star Wars series like The Mandalorian and Andor, Starfleet Academy is seen as a noble but flawed experiment needing refinement. In a CBS News interview, Hunter discussed her role and Star Trek legacy, marking her entry into the franchise.
