The New Star Trek Show Will Finally Stop Copying Too Bad About Discovery
By Chris Snellgrove | Published
Starfleet Academy recently ended its first season with “Rubincon,” an episode (spoilers, space cadets!) that wrapped up Caleb’s long-running story arc. He is finally reunited with his mother, and his mother has even made peace with Chancellor Ake, who imprisoned him. This makes for a crowd-pleasing season capper that might (might) prove popular enough to win over the show’s biggest haters.
It’s a solid episode, but as the credits rolled, I found myself letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Based on how this first season ended, it looks like Starfleet Academy eventually you will stop copying the worst thing about it Adoptionwhich was undoubtedly dragging the new NuTrek show down from the start. Now that Caleb is no longer the focus, this new Star Trek game can stop focusing on the main character and focus on the rest of the crew.
The Michael Burnham Show
When Star Trek: Discovery first came out, it boldly went where no other Star Trek show had gone by focusing on a single main character. Michael Burnham was the undisputed protagonist, and this controversial NuTrek show followed his fall and subsequent rise: he went from a brilliant Starfleet officer to a disgraced salesman to a decorated captain, all in the span of five seasons. While he ultimately proved to be a compelling character (admittedly as hot as a warp core), the constant focus on Burnham meant we didn’t even learn the names of most of the bridge crew until Season 2.
Both Picard again Strange New Worlds proved to be a difficult course to prepare, with these show stories relying heavily on the ensemble’s minor characters. It was the same as well Lower Decksthe now-defunct animated love letter to the Star Trek franchise. Well, maybe because it’s a spinoff of Adoption, Starfleet AcademyThe first season matched the formula of the old show, albeit with a slight tweak.
The Latest Star Trek Protagonist
Caleb is, without a doubt, the main character of Starfleet Academy: The entire season focuses on his search for his mother in prison, and he has a shared history with both Captain Ake and Nus Braka, the protagonist of the game. Caleb’s relationship with the villain keeps him in line with the plot, as does the fact that the ship’s captain acts as his surrogate mother. Fortunately, Starfleet Academy he doesn’t focus on Caleb nearly as much Adoption focuses on Burnham, so there’s ample room to give the other cadets their share of screen time.
Well, that’s probably enough: one of the strangest things about it Starfleet Academy Season 1 is that Genesis is the only cadet who doesn’t get his own episode that focuses on his growth. SAM, Darem, Tarima, and Jay-Den all get their own episodes, but the best the game can do for Genesis is to let him sing in the abandoned school with Caleb. That episode (“Zo’Kheine”) focuses on Durem and his people while Caleb stays home and tries to write a letter to a recovering Tamira.
Here Comes (And Here He Goes) Genesis
Genesis gets into a few shenanigans, but for him, this episode mostly sets up a non-command arc. The Season 1 finale “Rubincon” pays lip service to this arc by having Genesis briefly take command. But considering that all he does in the captain’s chair is to pee, it’s fair to say that this matter does not return anything.
Fortunately for Genesis and the other sadets, “Rubincon” also wraps up Caleb’s big story by having him reunite with his mother. He even makes peace with the Federation, which means Caleb can have his cake and eat it too. He can remain enrolled at Starfleet Academy with his mother’s blessing and not be forced to choose between his natural family and his adopted family.
Trauma Boy, No More
That is my hope Starfleet Academy it is done by focusing on one character. Once again, Caleb is a very interesting character, and the show’s writers did an excellent job of thinking about him the way the Discovery writers were obsessed with Michael. Still, the show already has more main characters than any show in Star Trek history, so making Caleb the main character meant a lot less focus on casting the team.
Now, with any luck, Star Trek has outgrown the need for a main character like the Federation has outgrown the need for money. Well, luckily for me, the franchise will copy Bridgerton formula and focus on a new main character each season. If that happens, maybe the writers can scratch their fascination with Caleb by making him the equivalent of a 32nd-century Lady Whistledown, who knows tea (Earl Grey, hot) about everyone.
