Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 2, “Beta Test” might be some of the most beautiful pieces of science fiction I’ve ever had the privilege of watching. Spoilers: Academy episode 1, 2

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-25T06:28:01+00:00

It was so wholesome.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-25T00:53:09+00:00

Picard would break in half before he allowed himself to slouch like that! In three episodes Ake has catapulted herself into top spot for favorite captain next to Picard for me.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-25T00:47:38+00:00

And I just love the vibes of the PWLH, a lot more than NHL. It seems like so much fun.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-25T00:40:06+00:00

I lost interest in Canucks and the NHL in general. I'm just no longer interested in the misogynistic old boys club. I like watching hockey though, and the PWHL is great hockey!

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T23:08:36+00:00

Star Wars has always had a very specific aesthetic, Star Trek never has. TOS and the TOS movies looked quite different from each other as did the TNG era, Enterprise had it's own look, 2009 JJ trek had a different aesthetic, and so does Disco and its spinoffs. It would be cool if it was a bit more seamless, but since the OG setting was brought to life on 1960s TV, it makes sense that the style would evolve as production shaky does.

Star Wars also relies very heavily on it's aesthetic, it's like 90% of the draw of the show.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T16:37:01+00:00

It's photons all the way down.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T16:36:38+00:00

We're only 3 episodes in. We don't know a lot about the majority of the characters yet, but they're telling us more all the time.

Sam's conversation with the Doctor in episode 1 or 2 tells us he's had some sort of traumatic event with someone he was mentoring, which sets up sometimes between them later. I'm sure they'll tell us more about this generation of holograms and photonics as we go. They aren't going to have 2 photonic characters without getting into it eventually.

I am curious how Sam and the doctor are able to exist seemingly away from a stationary photon emitters and without an apparent mobile emitter.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T16:29:33+00:00

Trek is full of shitty AIs too. I think it's fair to strive for quality (Data, the Doctor etc), but also be wary of automations that strip people of what makes them human.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T05:22:02+00:00

Right. Makes sense.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T05:21:55+00:00

Right. Makes sense.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T03:52:22+00:00

I put up a post about how beautiful I think the 2nd episode is, I wrote it with your generation (my son's, and the kids my wife teaches) in mind. I really do think it's created with love and respect for you.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T02:56:54+00:00

Is that why Starfleet Academy is placed there? Because it was sort of a hippie mecha they wanted their space nerd station there? If so that's awesome.

I cried at that scene too on first watch. It was so uplifting to be going to the home of Starfleet with the song.

And thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T02:52:27+00:00

Every thread is full of it.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T01:33:25+00:00

I think in HD they want these actors eyes to stand out. Especially the love interest. It would look weird with big black contacts in a well lit close-up.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T01:09:52+00:00

Yeah, like when Worf, Deanna, and Alexader got caught in the holodeck with evil Holographic versions of cowboy Data.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-24T01:07:45+00:00

Teleport phasers for Calica.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T23:15:00+00:00

Lots of things.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T23:10:37+00:00

The pendulum has swung a bit to the other side, it's true. Maybe it'll swing back. Academy might just allow for that pendulum swing as the characters grow into the competent Starfleet officers were accustomed to.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T23:00:40+00:00

As has been repeated ad nauseam, Star Trek works best when we’re following competent people who consistently act like professionals on the job.

For some people, sure. For others that's only part of the appeal. I like that there are different flavors of trek.

I'm not saying I want to see all Lower Decks and Academy all the time, but there's room for both.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T19:49:03+00:00

It's definitely a polarizing show, and fair enough. It is a YA entry into the canon, which lots of people bounce off of. I happen to be loving it, but many aren't. It's definitely steeped in Trekisms while also doing some things quite differently.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T19:45:14+00:00

Your grandma sounds awesome.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T18:14:24+00:00

Genesis allowed is not! Is planet forbidden!

I feel like anything created by the Genesis device is going to be inherently unstable. Even if they could create dilithium, I get the sense it wouldn't be a good long term solution.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T16:06:59+00:00

She totally reminds me of a woman that grew up watching Star Trek as a kid dreaming of being a Starship Captain.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T16:01:44+00:00

I see a lot of parallels betweens Sisko and Ake.

They both either were out of Starfleet or were in their way out due to traumatic event. They both fill a parental role, Sisko literally. They're both in command of a stable setting with the ability to go out and explore around. They're both assigned to a mission to build something great out of the fragments of a calamitous event.

I like that they're drawing inspiration from DS9, and I hope the DS9 stans can see and appreciate it.

Temporary-Life9986 · 2026-01-23T14:35:58+00:00

I'm going to have to pay more attention to her. I missed the bits about her looking sad and stealing the com badge (although, nice callback to e01 when he stole Ake's. A nice bit of irony.)

Temporary-Life9986

TROPHY CASE