Sandro Rosta plays Caleb Mir in “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.” (Brooke Palmer/Paramount+)
By Bennett Cohen
College often brings new perspectives as students encounter unfamiliar ideas and people. That experience isn’t limited to campuses like Cape Cod Community College — it also applies at the fictional Starfleet Academy.
The latest installment in the “Star Trek” franchise wrapped up its first season March 12. The series serves as a love letter to earlier stories in the “Star Trek” universe while exploring how young people change as they learn to trust one another.
Set further in the future than previous installments, the show follows a group of cadets navigating life at the academy. Though many are literal aliens, their struggles — identity, belonging and trust — mirror those faced by students entering college or the workforce.
Much of the story unfolds through Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), a human cadet who feels failed by the system. Distrustful of Starfleet, he initially blames the organization for taking away his mother after she committed a crime that caused an officer’s death. He struggles to let others in but gradually warms to both his fellow cadets and the academy’s leadership.
Other students also step into the spotlight. Series Acclimation Mil (Kerrice Brooks) — known as Sam — is a friendly hologram who processes information quickly but struggles with emotions and social cues. Her curiosity and optimism make her an appealing character, and her development adds depth to the season.
Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diané), from a traditional Klingon warrior family, rejects that legacy in favor of a quieter path: medicine.
The academy’s leadership is unconventional as well. Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) once quit Starfleet but has returned to lead the newly re-established school. She encourages students to grow without dictating their choices, pushing them to find their own paths.
A romantic storyline between Caleb and Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner) occasionally leans on familiar tropes. Still, it provides meaningful tension. Tarima’s intense empathy contrasts with Caleb’s rebelliousness, and her strict self-discipline — necessary because of her abilities — fuels conflict that deepens both characters and pushes Caleb to confront his trust issues.
Relationships have long been central to the “Star Trek” franchise, and this series continues that tradition. Even its villain fits into that theme. Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti) spreads distrust and division among the characters, embodying the kind of insidious hostility that can fester in society.
“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” is available to stream on Paramount+.
