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In his review of the first two episodes, published January 15, 2026, Jonathan M. Gitlin finds Star Trek: Starfleet Academy an intentional break from the familiar look and feel of older Trek—and a change he is willing to follow. The series leans into cadet relationships and young-adult drama, but its setting still leaves room for exploration and a Federation trying to rebuild. His verdict is curious, not unconditional: viewers who want more of the TNG, DS9, or Voyager-era experience may not take to it.
What the review covers
Gitlin’s Ars Technica review examines the first two episodes, rather than judging the season as a whole. It notes mild spoilers, mostly from the opening of episode one. His response is a qualified reaction to a new direction, not a definitive verdict on the series.
A rebuilt Federation and a reopened Academy
The story is set in the late 32nd century, 120 years after the Burn disrupted warp travel and Starfleet. With warp travel possible again, the Federation is rebuilding and reopens Starfleet Academy in San Francisco. The show follows young people entering service in that unsettled moment, joining academy life to a wider story about what the Federation becomes next.
Caleb, Ake, and the cost of an early separation
The opening centers on Caleb Mir and his mother. Captain Nahla Ake carries out their separation; years later, she is asked to return as academy commandant and brings Caleb into the Academy. The review describes a 15-year jump in Caleb’s story and says Ake is 422. Those figures belong to the fictional story, not real-world statistics.
#1 Best Overall
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Cadet life aboard the USS Athena
The Academy’s starship, USS Athena, links training and campus life to exploration. That setup gives the series a way to move beyond the cadets’ relationships and lessons without abandoning its academy focus.
How this Star Trek feels different
A shinier look and a younger-adult emphasis
Gitlin contrasts the show’s shinier visual style with the more familiar aesthetic of the TNG, DS9, and Voyager eras. He also points to young-adult drama, swearing, and a focus on cadets’ relationships and life lessons. These are deliberate changes in tone and emphasis, rather than an attempt to reproduce the older shows’ feel.
Rank #2
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Academy drama alongside exploration
The shift does not, in the review’s view, eliminate the franchise’s exploration tradition. The late-32nd-century setting offers a rebuilding Federation to explore, while the USS Athena gives cadet life a connection to voyages beyond the Academy. Gitlin also sees recognizable Trek callbacks. The balance is the key uncertainty: the first episodes establish both a young-adult academy story and the possibility of a broader exploration narrative.
New cadets meet familiar faces
The review discusses new characters alongside returning figures, without offering a complete cast inventory. Sandro Rosta plays Caleb Mir, Holly Hunter plays Nahla Ake, Tatiana Maslany plays Caleb’s mother, Paul Giamatti plays Nus Braka, Kerrice Brooks plays SAM, and Gina Yashere plays Lura Thok. Familiar franchise characters include Jett Reno, played by Tig Notaro, who teaches physics, and the Doctor, played by Robert Picardo, who serves as chief medical officer.
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Rank #3
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Who may welcome the change—and who may not
Gitlin’s reaction is best read as an invitation to consider a tonal shift, not a promise that the show will satisfy every Trek viewer. The review suggests weighing what you want from the franchise:
- If you enjoy character-led stories: the cadets’ relationships, academy setting, and life lessons are central to the approach described in the opening episodes.
- If you want exploration: the Federation’s recovery and the USS Athena provide a route into that tradition, though the review does not treat these episodes as exploration-first storytelling.
- If the older visual style and tone are part of the appeal: the shinier look and young-adult emphasis may feel like a departure rather than a return.
- If you are open to a different mix: returning characters and callbacks sit alongside new cadets, giving the series familiar points of connection without making it a recreation of earlier Trek.
These are distinctions in the review, not evidence of a measured audience consensus. Gitlin says the approach will not suit everyone seeking more of the older series, but he is curious to see where it goes.
Rank #4
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Viewing context
When Gitlin’s review was published on January 15, 2026, it said the first two episodes had arrived on Paramount+. That is a publication-date reference, not confirmation of present availability or regional streaming terms.
Source
Jonathan M. Gitlin, “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy tries something different, and I don’t hate it,” Ars Technica, January 15, 2026. Read the review.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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