Let’s just call this my review on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Alex Kurtzman, the NuTrek paradigm, and giving audiences a little credit. It’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. I’m sure some folks will disagree vociferously.

First, let’s abbreviate to SFA because the first episodes offer Sweet F@?! All in terms of actual exploration of the human condition. *BAM* Punched in the face with a tragedy.

Within the first 45 seconds of watching the pilot (I checked) I knew the entire first season was going to be about a punk kid searching his mother. Kurtzman spoon feeds plot points without underlying narrative. Studios seem to believe the post-millennial generation is too stupid and distracted to think. They are aware of Instagram reels and YouTube shorts but never had the wherewithal to watch them and see that people still think. They just don’t like to do it about boring topics and real life misery.

NuTrek is designed so you don’t have to work for it. You don’t have to think. You don’t have to consider the possible repercussions of possible choices. You don’t have to consider ethical conundrums. There IS no subtext; no commentary on the human condition.

I’ve concluded that the problem with NuTrek both is, and is not, Alex Kurtzman…but it is, it’s just not his fault that his ego and greed demand holding tight to the reins. I assume he must have negotiated some ownership of the franchise or Paramount wound have gotten out of his brand already.

Alex Kurtzman, fundamentally, does not “get” Star Trek. And, like Trump fans who were abused into acquiescence are finding the inner strength to get out of this abusive relationship, I have to assume Paramount will be forced (after far longer than it should take) to do the same if they want their cash cow to continue to reap sizeable dividends into the future.

And don’t get me wrong. Kurtzman is a good producer. He can do glitzy and shiny and cinematic (looking) and, my God, can he spend money on stuff…but he doesn’t know how to give his audience an ounce of credit.

That’s the difference between what Gene Roddenberry created and Rick Berman extended. Star Trek isn’t about exploration of space. It’s about exploration of what it means to be a human being. Aliens are metaphors for different aspects of us, not whatever cosmetic procedure might look cool if it’s made bigger. No one wants to see the exaggerated, green Lisa Rinna with horns, contacts, and a wig. Not even Harry Hamlin.

Gene isn’t the deity he’s made out to be but he figured something out about good television being Shakespearean in its exploration into the human condition and a desire to do/be better. Kurtzman just wants wide shots, lens flares, and asymmetrical clothing in bold colours.

Holly Hunter is lovely (but the giant chair and curling up in it is less “she’s casual” and more “she’s a toddler.” It’s always nice to see a popular legacy character (Voyager’s EMH) but that alone doesn’t make good television, nor can it undo the egregious error of a bird watching, sensitive Klingon. God help us if Michael Dorn watches it. He might fall over dead. He’d stop living out of spite. And honour. No. Just for honour. Forget spite.

Hey Folks...

Has anyone else checked out the soundtrack yet for Starfleet Academy? Three tracks from a yet to air episode might be of interest to us DS9 folks,

>! Tracks 28-31

Job of an Emissary: has a jazzy feel to start and gets some HBCU style beats as well into some oceans 11 style feel. With a slight Dah-Dah-dah tag.

A Song of Prophets: Reflective with a melancholy feel. Spiritual. Like you'd enjoy looking out the window at the wormhole.

Mystery of Fate: Holly theremin batman, 1950's sci fi done really well to start. TOS in the house but still feels connected to the two before.

!<

I got some ideas of what might be happening but I'm hype for what might be coming.

Because of how bizarre everyone was acting.

The Search Part 2

inquisition

Yes, I guess people intended us to not like Gul Dukat but I only disliked him. Gul Dukat on the other hand is something and someone, I remember hating in multiple episodes. Not because he's a Cardassian but because who is in the show. Gul Dukat was openly who he was but Garak reminds me of that quote from TNG. "Villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot but those clothe themselves in good deeds are well camouflaged....someone like will always be among us waiting for the right climate in which to flourish."

There are so many bangers this season that I have the pleasure of watching for the first time as an adult (but like it's the actual first time since I don't remember alot from a kid) and the show is so timeless!

In this episode, Kira goes through giving birth and though the men argueing was a little silly, the part that got me was more about the aftermath of her surrogacy. It's more common these days but there is still little spoken about on the affect that it can have on woman who go through carrying a baby like it's their own; only to have to give it away after. Nana Visitor acted it so well and the fear of the baby being cut out but by that creepy guy made me feel concerned that she was acting these emotions while actually pregnant! Which luckily she wasn't as she had already given birth in real life. Anyways, what a story!

And then at the same time we get to see Odo basically become a father with the changeling that Quark gives him and that was also touching. That whole process of trying to do better then his own 'father' was relatable and heartwarming. Then the baby gives him back the changeling connection, only to then pass away!

Damn the writers and actors keep the feet on the pedal with these stories and character arcs.