Read this Star Trek: Starfleet Academy review to see if the episode “Vitus Reflux” is worth watching.
The friction between the Academy and the War College finally reaches a boiling point, moving from the gym floor to the tactical battlefield of Calica. While the “Warholes” try to assert dominance through intimidation and basketball-to-the-head diplomacy, the Academy cadets find themselves struggling to form a cohesive unit under the weight of Darem’s ego and Caleb’s icy isolation. However, under the guise of “menial labor” and strict discipline, the elusive Chancellor Ake begins laying the groundwork for a different kind of victory. It’s an episode defined by holographic “Air Bud” loopholes, high-stakes “Danny Ocean” maneuvers, and a very loud, very annoying fungus that proves the pen (or the spore) is mightier than the phaser.
About Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
- Season 1, Episode 3: “Vitus Reflux”
- Directed by Doug Aarniokoski
- Written by Alex Taub & Kiley Rossetter
- Synopsis: Cadets compete to join an elite team while battling escalating pranks from a rival school.
- Airdate: January 22, 2026
- Starring: Holly Hunter, Sandro Rosta, Karim Diane, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, Bella Shepard, Zoë Steiner, Gina Yashere, Stephen Colbert, Tig Notaro, Raoul Bhaneja, Romeo Carere, Alexander Eling, Dale Whibley, Cecilia Lee, and Scott Gemmell
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 3 “Vitus Reflux” “
Recap Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026): S1E03 – “Vitus Reflux”
The third episode of Starfleet Academy opens with Darem Reymi (George Hawkins) dictating a painfully earnest letter to his parents. The daily grind at the Academy has officially become a battle of wills. Determined to prove himself, Darem launches into a so-called “champion’s routine” featuring raw alien eggs and pre-dawn workouts. Think Rocky, but with more tentacles and fewer health regulations. Unfortunately for Darem, he quickly realizes Genesis is already miles ahead—powered by ambition, discipline, and a generous helping of unresolved parental trauma.
Naturally, the tension spills out of the gym and onto the court. There, the War College cadets—affectionately (and accurately) dubbed the “Warholes”—face off against the Academy cadets to determine who truly runs the campus. The War College escalates things by pelting Caleb with a basketball, nearly igniting a full-blown riot before Cadet Master Lura Thok (Gina Yashere) shuts it down. Still, the rivalry hits a boiling point—and leaves everyone a bit chilly—when a shower-time prank teleports cadets across campus in various states of undress. Starfleet regulations were absolutely violated.
While Thok frets over discipline and decorum, Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) takes a more philosophical approach. These cadets survived The Burn, she argues, so maybe a little chaos is healthy. To punctuate her point, Ake introduces a “harmless” botanical specimen: the Vitus Reflux (yes, that’s the episode title), a fungus that echoes speech in a shrill, chipmunk-like voice. It’s adorable. It’s unsettling. And it’s obviously going to cause problems later.
Calica Tryouts, Viral Failures, and an Illegal Midnight Game
Next, the Academy cadets face brutal tryouts for Calica, an elite—and surprisingly violent—tactical sport that makes space dodgeball look polite. Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard) forces a reluctant Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) onto the field (he’s “allergic to organized sports”), but the trial by phaser fire goes spectacularly wrong. Darem secures the team captaincy by weaponizing Genesis’s personal life against her, while Ocam Sadal (Romeo Carere) draws the short straw and suffers in a humiliating mascot suit. Meanwhile, Caleb attempts a heartfelt conversation with the Betazoid Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner), only to be shut down with a frosty, “We’re strangers.” Ouch.
Things get worse when footage of the Academy’s failures goes viral, thanks to some well-timed “jerktree” interference from Commander Chancellor Kelrec (Raoul Bhaneja). Humiliated and furious, the cadets challenge the War College to an illicit midnight rematch. Despite SAM’s (Kerrice Brooks) grim 2.7% win probability, the team finally finds its footing. The mascots cleverly reference the Mugato from The Original Series, while the Lapling nods to The Next Generation. It’s a fun way for the show to bridge eras while quietly reminding fans that Star Trek has always loved weird creatures.
When Darem’s hyper-aggressive strategy collapses, Genesis steps up and takes command. She deploys SAM’s hologram abilities and tactical smoke screens to turn the tide and secure the win. Chances are SAM binged Air Bud beforehand, because the “ain’t no rule says a dog can’t play basketball” energy is unmistakable.
Vitus Reflux Strikes Back: Prank Wars and a Starfleet Lesson
The celebration doesn’t last long. Thok and Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) shut everything down, prompting a stern lecture from Ake about empathy, leadership, and consequences. However, the punishment turns out to be something else entirely—a blueprint. Once Genesis realizes Ake is nudging them toward an all-out prank war, she goes full Danny Ocean. The cadets assemble for a high-stakes mission, complete with roles, timing, and questionable ethical choices. A newly vulnerable Darem even rejoins the group after receiving some surprisingly heartfelt relationship advice from Reno about Thok and Genesis.
The Academy executes a bold “reverse heist” on the War College, exploiting every cadet’s unique—and occasionally gross—skill set. Highlights include Jay-Den Kraag(as Karim Diane) telling a Klingon joke (“Waiter, what is this gagh doing in my aO’mat Gri? / Screaming”). He also bio-clones a commander’s eyeball, because Starfleet apparently skipped that ethics lecture. The plan nearly implodes when Caleb, disguised as a Mugato, runs into Tarima. Her icy resolve melts just long enough for a secret kiss, proving that rivalry and romance can absolutely coexist at Starfleet Academy.
The true payload soon reveals itself: Vitus Reflux spores. The fungus transforms the War College into a botanical nightmare, forcing the “Warholes” to echo orders in shrill cartoon voices. Completely humiliated, Commander Kelrec finally admits defeat to Ake.
In the aftermath, Caleb realizes Ake orchestrated the entire ordeal. Drawing on her past as a legendary “prank queen,” she delivers a classic Starfleet lesson: the best way to defeat an enemy is without firing a single phaser. The episode closes on a satisfying note as the cadets receive their letter jackets, Darem cedes leadership to Genesis, and Caleb finally accepts that being a loner isn’t a survival strategy—it’s just lonely.
Overall: Watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026): S1E03 – “Vitus Reflux”
Watch the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode “Vitus Reflux” because Star Trek has always been about fun.
“Vitus Reflux” represents a conscious change in tone for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, embracing themes of youthful energy, emotional discovery, and interpersonal stakes. The prank-laden structure may seem shocking to those who have long adhered to Star Trek traditions, but it has a clear function within the framework of this series.
This tale revolves around a post-Burn generation figuring out how to live together in a galaxy that lacks stability. The unconventional method of Chancellor Ake (who still likes to go barefoot), the cadets’ maturation challenges, and the gradual development of Caleb and Tarima’s romance all lead to the same realization: peace is more difficult than war, and trust is more difficult than victory.
Starfleet Academy’s success will stem from its recognition that true leadership starts with connection, not command. The tone of the show is a feature and not a bug, but it feels very empty. While the actors perform well, there’s a feeling that nothing of importance is happening on the show. That could work for or against it in the long run.
I’m giving this episode 3.5 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.
Click the link to read our review of the previous episode, “Beta Test.“
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Reviews and Recaps:
Have you watched Star Trek: Starfleet Academy yet? Let us know what you think in the comments section below, and feel free to share this review on any social media platform.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Bluesky. Have a wonderful day, and be sure to read our previous television reviews.
