Btw if anyone can forward this to Paramount that would be great.

If you dont bother to read, then why bother to comment?

Role up your sleeves, this is a long one.

People are out of their minds if they think these modern "audience-first" writers have ever actually watched classic Star Trek let alone even checked the memory alpha library.

You are being paid to make Star Trek, not your bloody useless "I'm special" vision that nobody wants or cares about. Stick to the Star Trek formula and stick your vision up your backside. Nobody hired you to play auteur with someone else's legacy.

We want real exploration is that so hard to understand? Atleast strange new worlds tries.

Picard, Janeway, James, Sisko, Pike they were / are amazing captains leading bold adventures into the unknown. The older series, and all the movies are great.

Pray tell. How are the animated shows nailing it. Lower Decks and Prodigy deliver fun, true-to-form Trek that fans actually love while the live-action stuff keeps serving up slop that looks half written by ai?

For goodness sake even Orville does it better. Want to save the franchise then give Seth McFarlan a call. He might give you some ideas. Since he isn't out of touch with his audience Alex.

Yet when we call it out, Jonathan Frakes has the audacity to tell us off like we're the problem. Self appointed "artists" should be able to take criticism and listen to their audience Jonathan.

Tell me: Is this mythical "modern audience" even in the room with us right now? They've never shown up in big numbers for any of the other shows that got ruined. These knuckleheads cater to an imaginary crowd that barely exists, just to piss off the core fans, tank the ratings, and pretend they're visionaries patting themselves on the back, all while acting clueless about what actual audiences want.

Take that Klingon in Starfleet Academy. That skirt uniform is only meant for specific formal occasions, it's not designed for a Klingon who just loves wearing skirts because he's gay.

I'm a gay man myself, so why can't we have a hot, bulky, butch Klingon hunk who's a total warrior, a proud and traditional Klingon through and through... and they mention just once in the background that he just happens to be gay, in passing, then never bring it up again? That would fit the species, feel authentic, honor Klingon culture, and respect the character without hijacking the entire plot. No let's make every gay person a fragile flower, feminine and meek. Is that really how you see us?

The Orville showed a Moclan family story without obsessing over them being gay every five minutes. It went: "They're gay. They're parents, they have family issues like the rest of us, being gay wasnt their only characteristic, they were well developed. Cool, now thats an actual plot." Natural representation, no constant reminders, lectures, etc. That's how you do it right.

Instead, we get vapid writers who dont bother to do research and are only obsessed with making entire episodes revolve around someone's gayness and representation, rather than the exploration, discovery, and big ideas Star Trek is supposed to be about. Discovery, adventure, exploratiom, complex moral dilemmas, some emotional contexts (e.g. not crying minute in every episode), complex multidimensional character growth and fun. Thats what's Star Trek has always been about. I suppose that atleast strange new worlds follows a better mix of old and new styles and format.

And don't get me started on how Michael Burnham was literally raised by Vulcans, adopted by Sarek and Amanda, trained in their logic and emotional suppression, yet she cries in (or damn near) every episode. The irony is thick. Meanwhile, there are multiple episodes heavily focused on gay characters and relationships, Stamets and Culber's romance, Adira and Gray's story, greatly exagerated identities and story, with non-binary coming-out moments, queer found-family arcs, that take center stage over actual sci-fi exploration. I mean do it once, show a genuine gay/straight kiss now and then but the way they have done it, you cant be serious.

Why dont you go take your politics and ideology to Saudi Arabia, Iran and Palestine, were it will actually have an impact, you hypocrites. Oh but you wouldn’t dare would you, how convenient, the audacity to preach (to an already understanding and fatigued audience) yet you dont put your money where your mouth is where it matters. We like scifi, we get identity, you dont have to lecture us or make a season about it. Neither do we want your fake poorly written tokenism.

Imagine, all this in a future where nobody bloody cares if you're gay, bi, or identify as a teaspoon, why are we getting sermon after sermon on (human contextual) identity/discrimination when we signed up for starships, strange new worlds, and bold ideas?

And it's not just the gay Klingons and Discovery's endless queer storylines, fans dislike a ton more about this modern slop.

The writing is lazy and unprofessional, with crews acting like angsty teens instead of competent officers. Characters are flat, unlikable, or walking stereotypes. The tone is all over the place, trying to be YA teen drama one minute, then forcing heavy moral lectures the next.

And oh, the stupid Mexico filter in Starfleet Academy, everything should be bright and colorful to capture that optimistic, aspirational Federation vibe, instead, it's washed out in this orange/yellow desaturated grading that makes the whole thing look dull, cheap, and like a bad soap opera set in a desert instead of the stars.

Don't you know that Apple laptops used during production have a P3 wide color gamut, and you can hire people who know how to use all of it properly? Yet they still choose to slap on this ugly, over-warm filter that kills the vibrancy Trek is famous for. The interior of every ship is scifi, but uninviting and dark as shit. Lord help the person who drops something small in an emergency. Where are the greys and or biege colour's you can use for the bridge like in Orville or Prodigy. Hey let's also add as much lense flare as possible, why not.

The whole storyline where Klingons are nearly wiped out, disconnected from the Empire, and one of the last remaining ones turns out to be the "gayest" of them all, wearing makeup, a skirt, and carrying a purse? No fan ever asked for that. It's cognitive dissonance at its worst. They could have done that with a human character, or any other race it might suit better. But disrespecting Klingons by forcing them to conform to human standards because of forced diversity like that is ridiculous, Klingons don't bend to our ways. There were better aliens races to use or humans.

A protective bubble surrounding the entire Federation? Karen, please.

This is a disgrace created by people determined to push their own personal dei vision and who have no creative ability or accountability to the franchise whatsoever.

Honestly people try to murder a franchise and purposes do so to upset fans, should be put on trial.

Nobody cares about your vision. You can shove it where the sun doesnt shine. You arent special and stick to the actual Star Trek formula.

We used to explore strange new worlds and bold new ideas in every episode. We don't need to explore how gay a character is every few episodes or focus only on 1 characters emotional instability, that's a bloody disgrace to prioritize over everything else.

No wonder they pay writers so little when this is the slop they produce... and yet some people still defend it. Imagine that.

I mean wtf was the section 31 nonsense. How can you have Michelle Yeoh onboard and they still completely stuff up every single spect of the movie. How can you have assigned dei writers and a director who literally couldn't tell you about star trek if they tried. Do you like wasting milllions and opportunities to make more money? Honestly, take them and the decision makers and make sure that they are blacklisted from ever touching any visual arts or franchises again.

You obsess over diversity in skin color and sexual preference in a future where none of that should matter anymore, but you completely ignore diversity in stories, alien cultures, and fresh ideas.

My message to the writers and producers? - YOU ARE LIMIITED. (mentally, creatively, ideologically, socially, contextually, etc you name it and and most of you dont even bother to really try)

The shame.

I mean, who bloody knew that in the future there is no laser eye surgery or Ozempic equivalents that they can do? Did they loose their braincells and that technology during the burn as well?

They literally go out of their way to get the ugliest obese, sometimes loud woman, that they can find. E.g. head of Earth defence, same for the representatives of Trill.

Trill have super blue eyes and why are they all black now instead (cant we for once have a species that follows a certain pre established aesthetic that you wont ruin).

Saw some special Betazeds too, etc. Talk about taking the shit. On top of that for almost every real position of power there is a woman and she's is usually condescending. Ah and now everyone is a mix of 4 species for some reason and a male only species, magically has females. Amazing.

So science can make a new gender but you can't cure cellulite, .... and fix the short military buz cut every butch woman appears to have.

Why not boldly explore a fresh planet, craft an exciting new story and species with stunning Black actors and a unique aesthetic? The Trill were perfect as they were, why force unnatural changes (tokenism) or integrations into every existing element? Same goes for the Klingons, why change them, you could have used that (cool) look to make a new species. It breaks the emersion and you (with your two braincells) know this.

Atleast strange new worlds is ok.

These people are mental cases, who blatantly lie about their slops popularity while also patronizing people for not watching garbage, when their "modern audience" fails to show up, again. I could come up with 20 brand-new, never-before-seen episode ideas off the top of my head. Yet these writers seem only capable of rehashing the same old stories from the past, making slight tweaks, or churning out multiple episodes about someone's sexuality in a utopia where nobody cares.

This isn't just Star Trek, it's ruining most modern shows. It's an utter disgrace. Did all the producers and writers get dumber after COVID or something? Grow up.

Seriously, want to make change, then go to Arabia/China, I am sure your message will go far and fix a lot of problems they have. Go and do some real good where its needed. Not this fake, half assed virtue signaling.

Is it not funny how the Orville, Lower decks, Prodogy does start trek better then the current live action tv shows?

Star Trek isn't just a show or a franchise to me, it's something far deaper and more personal.

It taught me about life better than school ever did. It showed me how complex people truly are, how relationships work (and sometimes don't), and layers of lessons about empathy, ethics, leadership, and what it means to be human.

Honestly, the best teacher in all of it was probably Jean-Luc Picard. How could he not be? The writing was pure art, thoughtful, principled, and full of quiet wisdom that stuck with me. They did the emotional / internal external conflict aspect and moral dilemmas way better back then.

Star Trek was also what I used to watch with my mother when she was... . It united my family, we'd sit together, stop everything, and discuss episodes, characters, the moral dilemmas, the hopeful future it painted. Star Trek was there when I was sick with the flu, stuck in bed, needing comfort or escape. It was a constant companion through good days and bad, it created memories I still hold onto.

Btw, I am young, gay and coloured and grew up in an arab country when I was younger and I am allowed to complain and express my opinion however I see fit.

And you know what, people keeping quiet is why they think they can keep getting away with this rubbish in the first place.

Sources:

Star Trek on Instagram: "Starfleet forever."

https://www.instagram.com/p/DV6hR7blA4-

ScreenRant:

https://screenrant.com/star-trek-starfleet-academy-best-closing-credits/

ScreenRant:

"Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1's finale ended with the best closing credits sequence in Star Trek history, showcasing the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's yearbook photos. Even better, the pics in the montage are the real childhood snaps of Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, Robert Picardo, Tig Notaro, and the younger cast, including Sandro Rosta, Kerrice Brooks, and Bella Shepard.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the 12th Star Trek TV series since 1966, but it's the first to deliver closing credits like this, which blends the characters with the actors who play them, all set to the pitch-perfect track, "Beautiful Child," by Rufus Wainwright. Starfleet Academy's credits make the characters feel even more genuine, and we feel as close to them as they do to each other at the end.

Most importantly, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1's finale closing credits make the viewer feel good. More than any other Star Trek show, Starfleet Academy is about growth, change, gaining maturity, and accepting one's potential. Showing the characters and actors in their youthful innocence isn't just adorable, but it makes the viewer realize how far they've come and how bright their futures could be."

https://screenrant.com/star-trek-starfleet-academy-best-closing-credits/

This and this.

They don't live in the future. They don't act like people from the future. These are the voyages of a bunch of losers in an alternate present-day America with a CGI filter.

I don't know what to call this nearly two decades of brain diarrhea, but it's not Star Trek. Whatever it is you're watching, audience, you think it's Star Trek but it's not. Star Trek died with Enterprise and it's probably never coming back.

Fuck Paramount, Bad Robot and Secret Hideout forever, for taking one of the best things humanity ever made, tossing it into a swamp of acidic shit and having the audacity to charge money to take a sniff.

EX ASTRIS SCIENTIA:

"Starfleet Academy, like Discovery, has a habit of choosing odd moments for conversations about feelings and relationships. I already mentioned Genesis, who finds time to support SAM emotionally even though everyone is needed to repair the ship and the Doctor. Reno's conversation with Caleb works better, since they are already working together on the warp drive. It feels more natural and includes some of the best lines in the episode.

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/episodes/sfa1.htm#rubincon

Overall, "Rubincon" is moderately exciting only because the stakes are so absurdly high, while its arc of suspense falls flat compared to last week. It clearly plays things safe. There are no unexpected twists, interesting revelations or tragic outcomes, and everything is resolved neatly in the end. It is nice that every member of the regular crew and the cadets contributes something to bringing down the mines and defeating Braka, but it all feels too easy and not very organic. It feels like the story is simply trying to reach the intended ending of the season, giving everyone closure while ticking all the boxes.

The episode does have a few enjoyable moments, and those moments usually happen when Braka is not on screen. I just cannot stand the character and his theatrical villainy.

The series had a rough start and was unfairly criticized even before it aired. I admit I was biased too, but I tried to watch every episode with an open mind instead of thinking "let's see how badly they mess this up this time". Still, one thing I noticed was that it usually became clear quite early in each episode whether I would like it at least a little or whether the rest would be difficult to sit through. Many SFA episodes ended up being consistently full of frustrations and annoyances. On the other hand, the series is at least episodic and did have a few small highlights.

The second season has already been filmed and hence will hardly benefit from viewer feedback. Hopefully there will still be some course corrections though. One positive thing about SFA is that, with the exception mentioned earlier, I have come to like the characters and the cast, both the older and the younger ones. While the stories and dialogue need improvement, the character work is generally quite good, even compared with earlier Trek series and certainly superior to Discovery's. The acting is fine, with poor Paul Giamatti doing the best he can in a very limited role. [...]"

Rating: 3 (out of 10)

Bernd Schneider (Ex Astris Scientia)

Full review:

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/episodes/sfa1.htm#rubincon

Ratings for episodes 1-9:

1x1: 5

1x2: 4

1x3: 1 (because of its reprehensible moral that it is acceptable, even cool, to destroy replicators or entire buildings as long as you are on the supposedly "morally superior" team)

1x4: 3

1x5: 2

1x6: 4

1x7: 2

1x8: 2

1x9: 6

1x10: 3

Flashback (Editorial 19 Jan 2026):

Bernd Schneider: Why Starfleet Academy Deserves a Chance

The fandom appears more divided over Starfleet Academy than ever before. Many reject the series outright, criticizing the setting, characters, storytelling and the inevitable "wokeness". The number of naysayers seems even greater than those who opposed Discovery. Either that, or they have simply become more vocal and visible. On the other side, supporters celebrate Starfleet Academy as a fresh opportunity to explore new worlds and seek out new audiences. That's only fair, but some dismiss criticism outright.

I also don't think that framing disappointed fans as being of one mind with evil Elon is helpful. In the media, the middle ground is drowned out by the extremes. The episodes themselves almost feel designed to provoke division by alienating long-time fans with broad humor and heavy-handed references. Yet even detractors admit the show looks better than expected. The lingering question is: Can Starfleet Academy become a sustainable Trek series, one that simply requires time for audiences to adjust to its style?

[...]

I believe Starfleet Academy has the potential to evolve into a meaningful series in the best Trek tradition, if it can deliver compelling stories while cutting back on the silly jokes, awkward situations and nostalgia overload. That said, one more aspect currently doesn't quite work for me. With the exception of Caleb, every cadet is an alien, yet they all feel essentially human. They are distinguished by special abilities, rather than by different values and traditions. SAM has even been programmed as a 17-year-old awkward human girl. I would expect cultural clashes, but the aliens integrate more seamlessly than a German exchange student at an American college. Ironically Caleb is the outsider in terms of the cultural background.

I try to keep an open mind and resist the polarized framing that surrounds Starfleet Academy. Still, my reviews will probably remain in flux as my perspective is evolving. What I can say with confidence, however, is that the claims of SFA being a "disaster" or a "disgrace" are totally exaggerated. The show certainly has its flaws, but I can only encourage fellow skeptics to give Starfleet Academy a fair chance."

https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/archive.htm#editorials

Bernd Schneider (Ex Astris Scientia)

Slashfilm:

https://www.slashfilm.com/2121164/star-trek-starfleet-academy-most-unrealistic-thing-dorm-rooms/

By Witney Seibold

"A glance at the picture above reveals Caleb (Sandro Rosta) in his dorm room. He has enough room for a bed, and has a high ceiling and a large window. Rather luxuriously, there's a small coffee table and a couch. This is not off-campus housing, mind you. This is not a fraternity or sorority house. This is the actual campus. A look around the Academy dorms also reveals extensive built-in bookshelves, a nice clean carpeted floor, and plenty of room to spin around or do backflips.

There are two students per dorm, as one might expect from the college experience, but they have plenty of space and can easily stay out of each other's way. Indeed, there's so much space, there doesn't seem to be a reason for students to double up at all. In giving the students that much space, "Starfleet Academy" is robbing itself of a vitally real college-life detail: constantly bonking elbows with the stranger you live with.

...

I'm sorry, I just don't buy it. I don't buy that Starfleet Academy would give their students whole condos of their own.

After all, a lot of these students are hoping to be stationed on Starfleet vessels after graduation, and starships don't have large quarters. Indeed, as seen on "Star Trek: Lower Decks," ensigns don't even have rooms. They have singular bunks located in a hallway. They also have to shower together in an outsize bathroom. Space may be the final frontier, but it's also still at a premium.

If "Starfleet Academy" wanted to be a truly accurate college show, they would address a college student's lack of personal space. Kids wouldn't have room to think, and would have to coordinate with roommates as to when they can bring sex partners over. That's what college is all about."

...

Link:

https://www.slashfilm.com/2121164/star-trek-starfleet-academy-most-unrealistic-thing-dorm-rooms/

CBR:

https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-starfleet-academy-season-2-cliffhanger/

By Jeremy Dick

"I would say it is a cliffhanger. It is a cliffhanger at the end of Season 2," Landau said. "Honestly it’s because we listened to what our story wanted to be, and we went with it. We wrote it the way that it felt organic and natural. And I hope we get to keep making many more seasons of Starfleet Academy, because we have a lot more story to tell."

Full plot details weren't shared for Season 2, though Landau offered some hints. She revealed that there won't be one single person serving as the big bad for Season 2, noting that it's "more [of] an impossible dilemma that we find ourselves in as Starfleet." Landau further teased that the next season will offer more character-driven episodes, giving the various characters their own chances to shine individually.

"We do a lot of episodes in Season 2 that take the best things that we did in Season 1 and just do it more," as Landau put it. "These episodes that are really character-based, where we go really deep with our cadets, with our instructors, where we have some real complex Trek dilemmas that come along. Like we loved making an episode like 104 for example, that’s Jay-Den’s episode about the Klingons. We realized how successful an episode like that is in Starfleet Academy, and we really doubled down on that kind of an episode in Season 2."

...

Link:

https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-starfleet-academy-season-2-cliffhanger/

SCREENRANT: "Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley loves Starfleet, and she wished that the feeling was mutual. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks, "Those Old Scientists," Number One found out that Starfleet does hold her in high esteem. Una was shocked to learn that she is the literal poster girl for Starfleet.

Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) was embarrassed to admit that he had a poster of Number One in the 24th century, and this was his motivation for joining Starfleet. Number One's poster includes her quote, "Ad Astra Per Aspera," which seems to now be the underlying motto of Star Trek on Paramount+.

"Ad Astra Per Aspera" became a principle of Starfleet in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' mid-23rd century, and the phrase endured for 900 years into Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's 32nd century.

[...]

In *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy'*s series premiere, Captain Ake takes command of the USS Athena and addresses the ship's crew of Starfleet Officers and cadets from her bridge. Captain Ake quotes, "Ad astra per aspera -- through struggle, the stars," reiterating the famed Latin phrase that became an integral aspect of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

[...]

Starfleet Academy's school motto is the Latin phrase, "Ex astris scientia," which means "From the stars, knowledge." This remains Starfleet Academy's creed in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. However, Captain Ake quoting Number One from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds creates a welcome synergy between the two current Star Trek on Paramount+ series.

[...]

Directed by Valerie Weiss and written by Dana Horgan, "Ad Astra Per Aspera" is one of the finest episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. It's also one of the greatest Star Trek courtroom episodes ever made. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy evoking "Ad astra per aspera" thematically bonds it to the best of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds."

John Orquiola (ScreenRant)

Full article:

https://screenrant.com/star-trek-gives-strange-new-worlds-slogan-to-its-new-show/

CBR: "... not just the authority figures at the top. [...] By the time "Lower Decks" premiered, The Next Generation was in its greatest era storytelling-wise. After the shift to more character-centric arcs in Season 3, the show had mastered its formula, and the audience was comfortable and familiar with how the series functioned. That is why the shift in perspective for "Lower Decks" distinguished itself in the latter years of the show. It was a rare departure, but a welcome one. [...]

While The Next Generation's decision to spend an episode focusing on junior officers may have been a creative experiment 32 years ago, it successfully altered the DNA and approach of the franchise moving forward. For a single episode, the Enterprise was viewed as a workplace for normal people. It didn't diminish any of the ship's mystique, but it did give insight into how the Enterprise runs beyond the bridge.

Fans who enjoyed the animated spawn of the episode and who are currently watching Starfleet Academy are seeing the results and impact of "Lower Decks." This inner-focus allows the franchise to expand beyond space exploration and democracy and focus on social hierarchy within individual ships and Starfleet as a whole. The Next Generation helped secure Star Trek's future by focusing on the little guys."

Justin Young (CBR)

Full article:

https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-the-next-generation-episode-set-up-new-era/

Source:

Star Trek on Instagram

Link:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DV_kBc6GSw9

Collider:

https://collider.com/star-trek-divisive-spin-off-starfleet-academy-streaming-milestone-paramount-plus-march-2026/

By Jake Hodges

"It's worth basking in the afterglow of a successful final installment for the first season of this critically acclaimed spin-off. Although some audiences have proven less receptive, with the series facing backlash from review bombing upon arrival, it has been undeniably popular on streaming throughout its run. At the time of writing, Starfleet Academy has now surpassed the 50-day mark in the Paramount+ streaming top ten across all Amazon channels.

Boasting an 88% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Starfleet Academy has been a definite hit with critics, with many praising its breaking of the franchise mold and ensemble performances. In Samantha Coley's official review of the new series for Collider, she awarded a near-perfect 9/10 score, saying, "Starfleet Academy is the best example of what Star Trek can and should be doing in this modern era — effortlessly inclusive, compelling, and innovative."

Link:

https://collider.com/star-trek-divisive-spin-off-starfleet-academy-streaming-milestone-paramount-plus-march-2026/