Starfleet Academy First Look and My Ongoing Trek Journey

I have been a fan of the Star Trek TV series for decades. During the pandemic years it felt like a celebration, with many shows running in parallel. Now, with both Discovery and Picard having ended, I am left with only Strange New Worlds, which continues to be a joy to watch.

The newly announced Star Trek Academy, from what I saw in the trailer, looks promising. It feels like a future world imagined with the help of today’s design tools. I am looking forward to it.

During the pandemic lockdowns, I kept my spirits up by rewatching Star Trek: TOS and Enterprise, and for the first time I also watched Deep Space Nine—which I hadn’t seen before—and loved it. I also enjoyed Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville, which sadly looks unlikely to return.

Over the years I have written quite a bit about Star Trek. When the final episode of Picard aired, I felt the series wrapped up storylines in a way that respected the crew and their long journey. It offered closure without losing the essence of the characters and their age. I even wished for a glimpse of Earth from their eyes. Read my review of Star Trek: Picard’s finale.

My admiration for the franchise goes beyond the newer shows. I remember watching Star Trek Beyond with excitement, though it felt more like a regular action film than the reflective stories I value in Star Trek. Still, the way the series handles social issues through interplanetary adventures remains special. My take on Star Trek Beyond. That same interest is why I revisited the 2009 Star Trek movie. The second half worked well for fans like me, even though it missed some of the depth that I enjoy in the TV episodes. Star Trek (2009) impressions.

When Star Trek: Discovery premiered, I liked how representation and diversity were central to the story. The Federation meeting Klingons after a long gap felt new, and the casting and visuals gave hope for a better future. It was a good reason to keep my Netflix subscription. Review of Discovery. The Discovery series also turned out to be one of the best. With the crew traveling into the future and doing incredible things, especially Michael Burnham felt very relatable among all the captains, with her faults and doubts.

As an engineer and someone who loves to dream, I have always been drawn to the imagined technology in Star Trek. Getting a signed copy of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual was a happy moment. It made me think about what might be possible one day. My thoughts on the Technical Manual. And sometimes I wonder about the future. When we actually travel to other stars, will those explorers be asked to watch Star Trek as part of their training in diplomacy and openness? The show continues to stay relevant and thoughtful. Speculating on Star Trek’s future relevance.

With Star Trek Academy on the horizon, I feel the same sense of curiosity and hope that has kept me watching all these years. I look forward to what comes next.