Star Trek Starfleet Academy is the latest Star Trek series to grace our screens, and this one in time for the franchise’s 60th Anniversary. Note that I’ll avoid spoilers, but will set the basic premise.
It’s Stardate 853724.6 (although where that fits in exactly, I have absolutely no idea), at Federation Outpost Pikaru. Okay, it’s the 32nd Century, if that helps.
Part-Klingon Nus Braka, played by The Holdovers‘ Paul Giamatti, is in the dock for murdering the pilot of a supply vessel and stealing the rations. As such, Holly Hunter (Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice), as Captain Nahla Ake, is here to kick ass and chew gum, and wants to lock him up for life.
Elsewhere, young Caleb Mir’s mother is in prison, leaving him on his own, but he escapes… and 15 years later, on V’Rilik Penal Colony, Toroth, in the form of Sandro Rosta, we’re about to pick up with his story.
Meanwhile, on Bajor, Holly is 422 years old and she’s since resigned because she disagrees with some of the Federation’s methods, so is now selected to run the titular Starfleet Academy, including Caleb who’s finally been captured. She’s been looking for him ever since, and breaks the news that his mum’s out of prison and has broken out, so in time, they’ll go looking for her.
Firstly, there were no subtitles on the prevews, but while Holly Hunter is 2 months short of 68 – and still looks smoking hot in skintight leather – due to a hearing impairment, she mostly speaks out of the right-hand side of her mouth, and so that takes some getting used to for his dialogue. Then again, there are others in this who mumble.
As Holly gives a speech to the new recruits, we see a list of former Star Trek character names that have gone before – some of whom will stand out more than others – but as various characters are introduced, I’m not keen on some of her crew, in particular Holly’s No.1, part-Klingon cadet master Lura Thok, as it’s the unfunny Gina Yashere. Is she going to start on about broken biscuits, again?
However, Robert Picardo returns as the Doctor, again, although to me, he’ll always be Coach Cutlip from The Wonder Years!
For a main series baddie, their ship is under attack, courtesy of Mr Giamatti, chewing the scenery – well, that which he hasn’t tried to destroy… and elsewhere, there’s also a trip back to San Francisco. I hope they’re not going for humpbacked whales again…
Star Trek Starfleet Academy has a modern look, but still retains the old-school feel, and doesn’t reinvent the wheel, which is a good thing. Plus, it was funny seeing Holly set her Captain’s chair to the exact position, in exactly the same way I can’t do that with my La-z-boy.
However, one slight downside with this, in that there’s some occasional mild swears which seems unnecessary, throwing them in as if it’s a standard Hollywood 12-cert film. Makes it feels less family-friendly.
Before Star Trek Starfleet Academy, I’ve seen a few episodes of most series along the way, although I couldn’t get a handle on Enterprise, as it was weird seeing Sam Beckett pilot the ship, after how good Quantum Leap was, back in the day.
That said, while I’ve watched all the films, I’ve seen some of the original series, Next Generation, one or two of Deep Space Nine and Voyager, some Discovery and Picard… oh, and Frank Sidebottom’s Star Trek Medley. Thankyou!
Additionally, I’m glad it’s presented in 16:9, and not one of those TV series messing about with silly 2.00:1 or 2.39:1 aspect ratios.
Thanks to our friends at Paramount+ for the screener prior to release.
Star Trek Starfleet Academy is on Paramount+ from Thursday January 15th, but is not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but when it is, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 45-75 minutes per episode (10 episodes)
Release date: January 15th 2026
Studio: Paramount+
Format: 1.78:1
Director: Alex Kurtzman
Creator: Gaia Violo
Writers: Gaia Violo, Kirsten Beyer, Eric Anthony Glover, Jane Maggs, Kiley Rossetter, Alex Taub, Noga Landau, Kenneth Lin, Alex Kurtzman, Tawny Newsome
Star Trek creator: Gene Roddenberry
Music: Jeff Russo
Cast:
Captain Nahla Ake: Holly Hunter
Nus Braka: Paul Giamatti
Genesis Lythe: Bella Shepard
SAM: Kerrice Brooks
Darem Reymi: George Hawkins
Jay-Den Kraag: Karim Diane
Caleb Mir: Sandro Rosta
Charles Vance: Oded Fehr
Sylvia Tilly: Mary Wiseman
Jett Reno: Tig Notaro
The Doctor: Robert Picardo
Tarima Sadal: Zoë Steiner
Lura Thok: Gina Yashere
Sullivan: Scott Blachar
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.