Read this Star Trek: Starfleet Academy review to see if the episode “Kids These Days” is worth watching.
About Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
- Season 1, Episode 1: “Kids These Days”
- Directed by Alex Kurtzman
- Written by Gaia Violo
- Synopsis: Caleb Mir, a brilliant street kid, is offered admission to the new Starfleet Academy closs.
- Airdate: January 15, 2026
- Starring: Dorothy A. Atabong, Kerrice Brooks, Stephen Colbert, Karim Diane, Oded Fehr, Paul Giamatti, George Hawkins, Holly Hunter, Tatiana Maslany, Solen Morales, Tig Notaro, Robert Picardo, Rebecca Quin, Katie Ready-Walters, Sandro Rosta, Bella Shepard, Zoë Steiner, Mary Wiseman, and Gina Yashere
If you want to avoid Star Trek: Starfleet Academy spoilers, skip to the overall section at the end.
Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Episode 1 “Kids These Days”
Recap Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026): S1E01 – “Kids These Days”
The new space show kicks off with the over-300-year-old Half-Lanthanite, Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), giving a brief yet enigmatic introduction. Instantly, we transition to the charred remnants of Federation Outpost Pikaru post-Burn. Here, young Caleb Mir (Solen Morales) and his mother, Anisha Mir (Tatiana Maslany), dream of reaching Earth. Only their plans are hijacked by the cunning pirate Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti), who lures them into stealing food from the Federation. Tragedy strikes when a fatal incident claims an officer’s life during the heist.
Bruka lands in prison, Caleb’s mother is sent to a rehabilitation colony, and her son becomes a ward of the Federation. Her haunting last words, “Don’t trust them,” linger as Ake announces their sentences. Bruka mocks the ruling, intensifying Caleb’s feelings of betrayal. Though Ake tries to connect with the boy compassionately, grief drives him to steal her badge and flee into a storm, leaving his robot bear behind—a heartbreaking moment that sets the tone for his character arc.
Childhood Trauma Shapes Caleb Mir’s Future
Fast forward years later: Caleb, now a brilliant but troubled young man, struggles under the shadow of a traumatic childhood. On a prison transport, he attempts a daring escape to track down his mother via a quick Google search. He’s swiftly recaptured and brought to Ake, who has quit Starfleet in protest over separating mothers and children. Now Chancellor of Starfleet Academy, she offers him a deal: find your mother, but first, enroll at the Academy.
Caleb, skeptical and uninterested in Starfleet’s rigid structure, begrudgingly joins the USS Athena (NCC-392023) as a cadet. Naturally, he refuses to cut his hair, only to be forced into a haircut and a new uniform. Yes, ethics may be questionable, but the show moves on without skipping a beat. Here, viewers meet some notable personalities: the strict Cadet Master Lura Thok (Gina Yashere) and the ever-iconic Doctor from Voyager, reprised by the amazing Robert Picardo.
Cadet Drama, Klingon Friendships, and Holographic Hijinks
Caleb quickly befriends the gruff yet kind-hearted Klingon Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diane). Their social circle expands to include the awkwardly enthusiastic SAM (Kerrice Brooks), the first holographic cadet, who strikes up a friendship with Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard). Tensions flare when Caleb and Jay-Den clash with the arrogant Khionian Darem Reymi (George Hawkins). Thankfully, the EMH steps in during Caleb’s futile attempt to contact his mother.
Meanwhile, Ake delivers an inspirational speech about the future of Starfleet, setting up the cadets’ journey back to Earth. But of course, peace is short-lived. The Venari Ral pirates attack the Athena, using programmable matter to disable the ship. Chaos ensues: cadets rally to assist an injured Thok, Caleb accidentally tips off the pirates while trying to call his mom, and Ake heroically distracts the invaders.
In a standout sequence, Darem reveals his true form, capable of surviving deep space. Risking everything, he performs a daring spacewalk to gather critical data. With the EMH’s help, the crew saves Thok and repairs the ship. One line steals the spotlight: bleeding out on the medical table, Thok declares, “Cadet Kraag, I am dead. I go into battle to reclaim my life.” Classic Starfleet melodrama—intense, inspiring, and slightly melodramatic.
Caleb Faces Pirates, Victory, and Moral Gray Areas
Ake tricks the pirates, prompting a showdown between Caleb and Bruka. Caleb triumphs in hand-to-hand combat (“Never pick a fight with a Klingarite”) and cleverly reprograms the alien matter to destroy the pirate ship, delivering a satisfying, climactic victory. Naturally, Bruka escapes, leaving us wondering: how far can that little escape pod really go? Suspense fully intact.
As the Athena glides toward Earth, the show slows for gorgeous visuals. Even the jaded Caleb admires it. The ship drops through clouds to the San Francisco campus, accompanied by the iconic tune “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)”—a cheeky musical nod. Ake informs him that, despite his communication hack causing the pirate attack, he can redeem himself with a second chance to demonstrate “command potential.”
Finding his mother remains Caleb’s ultimate goal, so he chooses to stay. Ake and Caleb begin an uneasy proxy relationship, filled with regret, ambition, and the haunting consequences of The Burn. In perhaps the most meta moment, Ake offers viewers the ultimate advice for the new series: “Don’t screw it up.”
Overall: Watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026): S1E01 – “Kids These Days”
Watch the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode “Kids These Days” because it’s a strong debut episode set in a well-developed universe. It features compelling character drama and exciting action sequences. The story includes nostalgic elements that will appeal to long-time Star Trek fans, enhanced by impressive visual storytelling. The sets, costumes, and special effects are some of the best. There are some weird decisions, like having robots floating everywhere and giving a spaceship wings.
However, some moments of ethics and logic stand out, and the fast-paced nature may overwhelm new viewers. For example, there’s an unintentionally bizarre scene where one holographic character explains the culture of hologramic beings (photonics) to another photonic. While the protagonist’s internal conflict is well-explored, secondary characters could benefit from more development. Overall, it effectively sets up the season and piques curiosity about future plot developments.
I’m giving this episode 4 out of 5 stars
All episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy are available to stream on Paramount+. New episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy drop every Thursday.
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