As a viewer, it’s been just over two months. For the cadets, it’s been 300 days. With time jumps between episodes already mentioned, episode nine ends with the conclusion of the first year at the Academy. Celebrations are being had on campus, friendships solidified and fleeting romances are being revisited. But in the grand scale of the universe, the merlu’ is about to hit the fan.
Writers: Kirsten Beyer & Kenneth Lin
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Looking back at the context of the first eight episodes, it’s been an oddly even season. Which is quite a rarity in the Star Trek Universe. Journeys have been had. Paths have been walked. Lessons have been learned. And even if it’s just been eight episodes to us, it’s been a year for the cadets and with how far each has come, it doesn’t feel as rushed as it could. But at the same time it feels like the series as a whole started with a mission statement about Ake and Caleb then wandered everywhere else before getting to the point.
And now, again in context, it makes sense. And thats been the key to the first season of Academy. There are ebbs and flows with everyone in the ensemble getting their moment, but now we’re back to Caleb, his long lost mother and where we began.
Episode 9 goes back in more than one way. As the cadets finish their year, the Athena is back in the air and on the way to Betazed to help launch the new home of the Federation. There’s also some tensions rising with the Venari Ral, who haven’t been seen since they ran the con at the Miyazaki where they ended up with access to Starfleet’s secret R&D facilities.
On a more grounded level, the cadets are trying to figure out who they are now after everything thats changed over the year. From Jay-Den being open enough to share an old Klingon ritual to bring his closest classmates into his house, to Sam trying to balance who she was and who she is now that seventeen years of existence has reshaped her context on the world. But the one standout is Caleb who’s adapted maybe too well to the Academy’s comfort and feeling a lot of guilt. Jay-Den wants to celebrate their new lives by acknowledging them all as a chosen family. Caleb came to Academy on the condition Ake helps reunite him with his mother. It’s been 300 days and no sign….
Thanks to a little nudge from Sam that there might be an encryption he’s overlooked when trying to communicate on his mothers private frequency, he realises that she’s not only alive and well, but as he’s tried to send messages to her, she’s been sending messages back. And the latest one is a meeting point. Elated, Caleb runs off to ask Auntie Ake for permission to go get her, only to walk in on a meeting where he overhears the Venari Rai are a larger threat than anticipated and once they arrive at Betazed, Academy’s on lockdown.
Still torn between his old and new life, Caleb of course rebels. Though politely. Planning to steal a shuttle and escape, Sam, still trying to find balance between who she was before and after her ‘rebirth’ forces her help on Caleb in her own act of rebellion. And through a series of unfortunate events, Genesis and Darim end up accidental accomplices on the mission for save Mummy Mir from a rogue trading planet being annexed by the baddies where the Federation aren’t exactly welcome…
There’s a lot going on in the final episode to bring the series to a close and build on Nus Braka’s appearances so far. After his scam on the Miyazaki, we learn a bit more about the weapons he swindled from Starfleet and why it’s a big deal. Leaning into the Omega molecule introduced in Voyager, Braka’s weapons are based on the banned technology. Due to it’s insability and destructive nature, an Omega-based weapon can cause irreparable damage to subspace and in turn make warp drive incapable of functioning. And with Starfleet only just starting to get back on it’s feet after the ‘Burn’, Braka’s weapon could undo all their work and put everyone into a deeper isolation than they were before.
It’s kind of nice that Caleb stumbles into the conversation and realises how big the situation is. Sure, he’s single-minded on saving his mother right away, but it shows a nice respect for Ake that he doesn’t pull her into his plan when he knows she’s dealing with some higher stakes that don’t need his recklessness breaking apart. On the flip side, as soon as Ake realises that Caleb’s gone, it’s also nice that there’s no time wasted or running through the breaking orders part of things again. Ake knows she’s going. Vance knows he won’t be able to say no and it’s all just open.
For the ‘kids’ of the show, Caleb and his captive crewmates all get swept up in his own fear. One of the interesting things about the series is that, while it’s always seemed like Caleb’s story and his search for his mother has been on the back burner, what we’ve seen throughout is him settling in and accepting a pretty good life. There’s not really been much of a dive into his life on the run since he was a child, nor has it felt like there’s been much impact in terms of how he presented himself since getting the uniform. But we have seen him really integrate into the more peaceful Federation lifestyle and while he seamlessly fits back into a black market on an alien world, it’s quite fun seeing the cogs ticking in everyone’s brain when they realise this wasn’t just a rescue mission for him, it’s his mental reset back to his old life.
It’s quite a nice story point for Caleb. Despite all his attachments and how easily he’s made connections in the Academy, he has spent all of his life chasing the dream of bringing his family back together, and in the back of his mind knows that he’s had no one to count on other than her in his childhood and is just stuck in a hole not really willing to accept that he’s become part of a community who do turn up when he needs him. From the other cadets going rogue (sure, not entirely willingly) to Ake immediately breaking any rule she can to help him, there’s a whole life he doesn’t realise is waiting for him as he mentally defaults to chasing the dream scenario of saving his mother.
For an episode with a lot going on, it all falling to that moment as well as being the shows first proper cliffhanger all comes with an incredibly fast pace for the show so far, and a lot of great moments from Caleb chewing everyone out only for Sam to hug him as tight as she can, to the Doctor engaging instant dad mode when he finds out what happened.
The only down side is that, while the episode did move along nicely to get to the point, it felt a little squished at the end. Anisha Mir realising her son was Starfleet was a wonderfully tense moment that highlighted more than just mummy issues for Caleb, his knowing she’d feel a certain betrayal and that, despite raging against everyone, he saw his friends as good people was a great way to show how torn between the two worlds he really was. But her realising, the cadets getting captured, and Caleb storming to the rescue all felt a little quick. Especially as Athena managed to sweep in and save the day (which was a really nice visual).
Despite that, the fact that the pace didn’t stop did help set up the final episode nicely, especially when Athena, despite saving the cadets and the Mir’s, the bad guys win. Omega 47 has trapped the Federation in it’s own bubble of isolation, with Athena left outside of it with no help, no back up and Braka’s faction in charge of a lawless land without interference.
Sure, the whole concept is a bit mad, but it really is a great episode for keeping you hooked to see what happens next.
EPISODE DISCUSSION & SPOILERS
Highlights
- Ake's mini-crew of Reno and the Doctor was a wonderful mix. Three generations of Trek leading the charge seamlessly was wonderful to see.
- Jay-Den's bonding ritual with the cadets was performed by Worf during Next Generation episode 'The Bonding'. Nice throwback!
- The closing shot of the Federation contained by Omega mines was a tricky thing to pull off visually, but while it didn't quite look quite right, showed the scale of the Federation.
All Connected...
Nus Braka’s weapon of choice to isolate the Federation is another Voyager throwback. In The Omega Directive, Voyager detects an explosion from a planet experimenting with the Omega Molecule; a powerful yet extremely volatile particle that can cause chaos and destruction to the fabric of subspace and subsequently block warp travel permanently. Without the Federations Omega containment protocols at their disposal, Janeway briefs her crew on the secret Omega Directive and takes Voyager in to ensure the Omega particle is contained and safely disposed of.
About the author
Delta Quarter Promotions & Citations: September 2026
Throughout it’s entire existence SFC has grown, evolved and thrived due to the commitment and passion of our officers and crew. Keen members can make a huge difference within their unit or the fleet as a whole, and we like to ensure members are rewarded and recognised for all they bring to the organisation. Starting this year, we're opening every new period within the fleet celebrating those who have made an impact and engaged in being a positive influence in their unit or in Q2 overall. And while we're getting in a little bit earlier, we'd like to introduce our Delta Quarter awards. While promotion is one of the most visible awards available to members, one of the most vital are our commendations. Commendations are a formal recognition awarded to members of Quadrant 2 who have shown commendable service and […]
What If…. the Whales Were Never Extinct?
Fondly remembered as the lightest, more comedic entries in Star Trek's film offerings, The Voyage Home is the story of an alien probe coming to Earth to talk to it's whale pen pal, a little bit miffed that they've not had a letter in a while. In the 21st century, those pen pals – Humpback Whales – had been hunted to extinction. Meanwhile, Kirk and his disgraced crew were on the way home to stand trial and through some time warp shenanigans, take a stolen Bird of Prey back to the 20th century, kidnap some whales, and take them to the 23rd century to save the day. The charges against Kirk were a fairly big deal. Previously Kirk had stolen a soon to be retired Enterprise, went against orders and along with support from his long standing command crew barged […]
[Retro Review] The Doomsday Machine
Responding to a distress call from the USS Constellation, the Enterprise race to the rescue but they arrive too late to save the day. Coming under fire from an alien entity, the Constellation has been heavily damaged and with only one survivor within it's charred shell; Commodore Matt Decker... Still in shock from the attack, Decker isn't able to say if it was an alien ship, or a creature that tore his ship apart. It doesn't take long to track the aliens flight path. It's not from around these parts, entering the Galaxy and on course towards populated areas that would undoubtedly be next in it's devastating path. Beaming on board with an away team, Kirk aims to try and get whats left of the ship back up and running while getting Decker to safety. But during the transit, the […]
Under Pressure: ‘Orders Of Magnitude’, Strange New Worlds S4E08
Boarding as a hero and legend, Admiral Joe Reeger arrives, take command and leaves Pike stranded as he leads the remaining Enterprise crew on an urgent mission. With a visiting (again!) James Kirk picked out as first officer, Reegers mission and motivations come into question and puts Kirk's leadership to task... Writers: Alan B McElroy Director: Sharon Lewis One thing about season four that's been a highlight through some uneven episodes is how it's guiding it's characters form our first contact with them in this series, and how we originally met them sixty years earlier. While it's been more obvious with Spock's pivot towards being closer to his logical side, we've had Chapel make the choice to become a permanent part of the Enterprise and Scotty's move towards being the 'miracle worker'. Even Pike seems to be on the […]
Days of Our Unreal Lives: ‘Like Chronitons Through The Hourglass’, Strange New Worlds S4E07
Waking up in sickbay with a comical bandage on his head following a shuttle accident, Pike quickly notices things are a bit off. The lights are too bright. The medical staff are behaving oddly with dramatic pauses aplenty. And he's fairly certain space madness isn't a genuine diagnosis. As the hour continues with devious secret siblings, dramatic feats of medicine and family drama aplenty, Pike is drawn further into the strangest of all worlds; the soap opera. Writers: Dana Horgan and Bill WolkoffDirector: Anna Dozoka Soap opera's are mental. And for a theme it's even more mental than it seems. But considering soap opera's are basically just overly dramatic premises with long lost relatives you'd never before heard of, absolutely insane scenario's that make Maggie Simpson shooting Mr Burns seem normal and plot twists so insane you genuinely have to […]
Star Trek Day 2026: Celebrating 60 Years of the Final Frontier!
Sixty years ago the world was introduced to a sci fi series that planted a seed of adventure, imagination and inspiration that would blossom into a juggernaut of media. After launching with the Man Trap on September 8th in the United States, the series would later grow into a pop culture icon spawning 9 Live Action Series, 3 Animated Series, 13 Feature Films & more including Streaming Events, Shorts and a huge amount of offshoot media across games, comics and books. With generations of fans discovering new era's and new adventures for decades, today we celebrate not only that first flight of the USS Enterprise and it's original crew, but an entire franchise that continued to grow, evolve, building a world of adventure, inspiration and hope for a better future! As we celebrate Star Trek at 60, we'd love to hear how […]
Related
Starfleet Academy to end with with Season 2
Announced first by Variety, it's been announced that Starfleet Academy will end with Season 2. Having just launches in January with the first season finale receiving positive reactions, and it's second season now in post-production following the completion of filming, the announcement comes at an unsurprising time with Paramount undergoing new ownership under Skydance and more business shenanigans with further consolidation in the works with plans to absorb Warner Brothers into the mix. Set in the 32nd century and using Discovery's season 3 'Burn' storyline as a reset point, Starfleet Academy was focused on new original characters who had signed up to be the new stewards of Starfleet's future to rebuild the strength and vision of the Federation. Opening strong, Academy improved throughout it's first season and used it's setting to help strengthen the hopeful vision of the future and […]
Life, Death and Eternity; ‘The Life Of The Stars’, Starfleet Academy S1E8
It's been a while since the Miyazaki incident. Time has passed but even with a bit of a break through the last episode, no one has really moved on. The students are rejecting therapy to confront their trauma over the event and now, Tarima - the person who saved them by melting peoples brains – is back on campus, now in Starfleet to take her away from the War College path to focus on something a little more chilled out than potentially how to melt peoples brains more efficiently. Writers: Gaia Violo & Jane Maggs Director: Andi Armaganian It's been a while since the Miyazaki incident. Time has passed but even with a bit of a break through the last episode, no one has really moved on. The students are rejecting therapy to confront their trauma over the event […]
My Big Fat Khonian Wedding; ‘Ko’Zeine’, Starfleet Academy S1E7
After the tension and drama on board the Miyazaki, it's time to cool things down with some fun. Or at least try to! Following the incident and trauma from the assignment, it's time for the jolly boys outing. Or spring holidays, whatever you want to call it. All Worlds day is what we're calling it here, even if most of the episode is based in a less strange, more familiar world. Writers: Alex Taub & Eric Anthony Glover Director: Larry Teng To set the stage, and be blunt, shit went down. The Miyakzaki exercise resulted in the death of both an instruction and a student. It's been a month since then and nothings really changed, It's been business as usual. Or as business as usual as it gets from the perspective of a lovestruck twenty-something who's not sure what […]
Furie Road; ‘Come, Lets Away’, Starfleet Academy S1E6
After a personal story for SAM, we finally get some action in Come Lets Away as the cadets from both the Academy and the War College have to work together for a training mission on board a derelict starship. Of course, disaster strikes as there are deadly enemies just waiting for their moment to strike the vulnerable, unseasoned team... Writers: Kenneth Lin & Kiley Rosseter Director: Larry Teng In a huge shift of tone from last weeks joyful exploration of Sam's life and struggles, Academy gets a little darker with this one thanks to the USS Miyazaki giving that old haunted house vibe that carries over well into scifi. The Miyazaki was a failed experiment, a test-bed for an experimental warp drive that would bypass the supply shortages of the Burn, but much like every attempt to replace traditional […]
Wined, Dined and Deep Space Nined; ‘Series Acclimation Mil’, Starfleet Academy S1E5
As a cadet sets out to solve an ancient Starfleet mystery, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and learns the value of forging her own path. Meanwhile, Nahla agrees to help a fellow chancellor with an elaborate alien ritual. Writers: Kirstin Beyer & Tawney Newsome Director: Larry Teng Starting off from the perspective of the academy's resident photonic student SAM giving a presentation on her daily life, all in the style of an early 2000's 'chick flick', you know Lower Decks' alumni Tawney Newsome is all over this script. With overlapping infographics, fourth wall monologues and unrelenting cheer, we get SAM's introduction to herself in more detail. Programmed to be an average 17 year old, she's been sent by her Photonic-based people not just to join the mission of Academy, but to be their Emmisary. Her peoples distrust […]
“There is no greater enemy than one’s own fears”; ‘Vox In Exelso’, Starfleet Academy S1E4
When an existential crisis threatens to wipe out a beloved but infamous Star Trek species, a cadet is forced to confront his past and strained relationship with his family. As he pursues an unexpected method of coping, Nahla races against time to save this species from extinction.... Writers: Gaia Violo & Eric Anthony Glover Director: Doug Aarniokoski Ever since Discovery took the jump to the future, there were questions that were left unanswered. A few hundred yeas of changing cultures and political landscapes combined with the galaxy-devastating effect of the Burn gave us a familiar surrounding that had undergone massive change. We found out what happened to the Federation. We found out the Orions took advantage of the power vacuum. We even got to meet an isolationist Earth and see the reunification of Vulcan and Romulus. But for a […]
