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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 don't consider myself a detractor, but rather a skeptic. However, it is difficult to escape the framing, and in my case, to set aside grievances in order to enjoy what SFA does well. My reviews of "Kids These Days" and "Beta Test" seem to lean heavily on weaknesses, but as an afterthought, I want to highlight the strengths. The sets are spectacular. Everything is bright, crisp and polished, much like in the Golden Age of the 1990s. Despite occasional lens flares and CGI excess, the cinematography is outstanding. SFA is the best-looking modern Trek show. The cast also impresses. Holly Hunter delivers as expected, but the young actors deserve praise for making the cadets feel alive and likable. Then there's the broader setting. Discovery laid the groundwork, but its constant galaxy-saving missions left little room to explore the 32nd century in depth. SFA already does far more in terms of worldbuilding.
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.
Bernd Schneider
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05 Apr 2026
Thanks for the reference! Yes, I suppose that's an explanation. As a result of ENT, SNW, DIS, post-burn DIS, and SFA the Star Trek universe becomes a lot more like the Star Wars universe in the sense that there's hardly any technological progress over the course of a thousand years (or whatever) because ENT is essentially VOY except that they say "polarize our hull-plating" instead of "raise shields," SNW has a holodeck, and they don't effectively/consistently use any of the magic 32nd century tech they supposedly have because it would preclude danger/drama.
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05 Apr 2026
This article is the reference for the assignment of series to different continuities: https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/inconsistencies/continuities.htm So "Discoverse" means it is the same universe but seen through a different lens. The problem you have with ENT is a consequence of the series showing some sort of quantum leap (<-- unintentional pun!). Before the launch of NX-01, technology was on "First Contact"-level and deep space was unexplored, after that technology was suddenly on TOS-level and space was open for exploration and colonization.
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04 Apr 2026
I appreciate the way that you handle the difference between the prime universe of Star Trek and the Disco-verse and the Abrams-verse. (I have to admit that I don't think of the Abrams-verse movies as even being Star Trek in any sense, so I appreciate being reminded of your system for categorizing them. Like you, I never think of Very Short Treks or Scouts.) If I'm understanding your system correctly, it seems that while Discovery, Short Treks, Strange New Worlds, Section 31, and Starfleet Academy all exist in the Disco-verse, Picard, Lower Decks, and Prodigy are continuations of the prime universe. I think this distinction will probably prove reasonable when we actually get an original series set in the prime universe timeline at some point after these three series. Such a series will likely consider the destruction of Romulus canon as it sets up a new galacto-political situation. It's my hope that we will eventually have such a series with an all-new crew and all new ship without legacy characters (the way TNG charted Star Trek's new course back in the 1980s).
This is totally beside the point, but I will add that I personally would also carve out an Archer-verse for Star Trek: Enterprise. This is not simply because the whole rest of Star Trek (TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY) had never heard of Archer's Enterprise (I remember clearly Commander Decker showing the V'Ger probe a gallery on the TMP recreation deck "all these vessels were called Enterprise," and a similar gallery of models in the conference room of the Enterprise-D, neither of which included the Akira-prise). But my complaints about the series are much more substantial as a historian. In order to have a Federation filled with human colonies that have populations in the millions like Deneva (1 million), Marcos XII (millions), Mantilles (82 million) by the TOS/TAS era, there needed to be dozens of large human colonies by the time of ENT. Assuming for a very high historical growth rate of 3%, to get to a population of millions by the time of TOS, Marcos XII will have needed an initial 10,000 colonists 155 years prior to "And the Children Shall Lead" (meaning the colony would already be some 40 years old by the time the Akira-prise is launched). Enterprise completely misunderstands this demographic reality, making human expansion as of the TOS era impossible. In addition, in order to have all of the lost Earth colonies that are found like Terratin, Mariposa, Bringloid V, Tau Cygna V, Moab IV, etc., Earth needs to have had "its aggressive colonizing period" as Spock describes it in TOS "The Balance of Terror," which would have occurred prior to when ENT is set. ENT is totally at odds with the demographic and historical necessity of the prime universe in shows that are canon.
A canonical show in the timeframe of ENT should have been set on a ship that was not named Enterprise, that was substantially more primitive, which was dealing with the reality of human space that included hundreds of independent and semi-autonomous Earth colonies (even the Martian colonies) that need to come together even before humanity can gather a Federation that includes the Vulcans, Andorrans, Tellarites, and others. For these reasons and more, it's clear to me that ENT is not set in the prime universe (despite the efforts of Lower Decks and other recent series to canonize it), and should instead be considered a stand-alone Archer-verse adventure.
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04 Apr 2026
Added hematology analyzer.
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01 Apr 2026
Another great investigation. By all means keep them coming!
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31 Mar 2026
This is pretty cool! Thanks for compiling your Ten Forward posts into a single article on this site!
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31 Mar 2026
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTy0iy2Dzi_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Torothan shuttle
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31 Mar 2026
I would love to know these things, too. My hope is that somebody who worked on the production will read this and give us some additional background info. :-)
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31 Mar 2026
Thank you very much! :-)
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31 Mar 2026
You're very welcome! :-)
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Here are two more updated old articles: Observations in TNG: "The Ensigns of Command" and Observations in TNG: "Evolution".15 Apr 2026

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Jörg's article on Observations in TNG: "The Mind's Eye" has been updated with new references and more and better screen caps.14 Apr 2026

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Here is the last new story by Travis Anderson for now: Invasion.13 Apr 2026

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Here are two more reviews from Voyager season 7: "The Void" and "Workforce I/II". These episodes offer interesting variations on familiar themes and still rank comparably high in my view.11 Apr 2026

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The fifth of six new SID Rebirth stories by Travis Anderson: Criminal Underworld.10 Apr 2026

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Two more old articles updated with new references, better screen caps and other improvements: Observations in TNG: "Peak Performance" and Observations in TNG: "Shades of Gray".08 Apr 2026

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The next SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: Religious Strife.07 Apr 2026

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Voyager retro reviews of two episodes that couldn't be more different: the thought-provoking morality tale "Repentance" and the hollow myth farce "Prophecy".06 Apr 2026

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I have updated the Links as well, though I had to remove more than I could add.05 Apr 2026

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Here is another SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: The Orb.05 Apr 2026

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Continuing with my Voyager retro reviews. Here are "Shattered" and "Lineage". I have revised my views on both episodes, and in opposite directions.04 Apr 2026

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Here is the next SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: Civil Unrest.03 Apr 2026

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Three items can always be found on Picard's ready room desk on the Enterprise-D: a black desktop monitor, a rack of orange isolinear circuits and finally a crystal. Jörg found out much more about the latter than we would have expected. See his all-new article Picard's Ready Room Crystal.30 Mar 2026

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Continuing with the SID Rebirth series by Travis Anderson. Here is the next story: Syndicate.29 Mar 2026

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Starfleet Academy has been canceled after only two seasons. Read Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau's message and my comment on this latest situation.23 Mar 2026

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There are several additions and improvements in Jörg's article on Observations in TNG: "The Host".22 Mar 2026

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14 Apr 2026
The tiny Starfleet Blackbird-class scout is a mere 104-meters long and dwarfed even by starships from 100-years ago. Far smaller than famous cruisers like the refit-Constitution-class USS Enterprise, these 22-man vessels scout ahead of Starfleet task groups, conduct months-long sector patrols from local Starfleet Starbases and Federation planets, and conduct anti-piracy patrols along Federation shipping lanes, responding to distress calls from any Federation craft, and performing search & rescue missions throughout the Federation to fill in the gaps left by larger and more capable Starfleet ships.
The Blackbird-class was created by Bernd Schneider in 1996 and is featured on Ex-Astris Scientia (https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/my_ships/blackbird.htm)
Exterior views by Bernd Schneider, updated by myself. Cross-sectional views and Deck plans by me.

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13 Apr 2026
The comet had no name yet, only a string of catalog numbers arrayed on the Astrometric LCARS. But to Lt. Alexa Wolff it felt personal, almost whimsical too. A point of light threading the dark, illuminating their way.
She leaned forward towards the console, taking all the readings in. Data points left and right, immaculate scans of the surface and ejecta. This was exactly what she imagined as a child beneath the domes of Tycho City. Peering through her first telescope, reading stories of daring captains. Batel, Kirk, Saavik, the golden years. Now she was here, at the very same forefront.
“Helm, bring us two hundred kilometers closer.” came Captain Han Lo’s voice over the comm. The visual lenses adjusted, Alexa noticing the Rooivalk was moving in closer, thrusters gliding her on. The hull catching faint reflections of the comet’s glow. The captain had not questioned her request, not even hesitated. The confidence in her expertise had startled her more than any formal commendation. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a younger version of herself smiling gleefully.
Enhanced scans blossomed with new detail. Ice and dust resolved into layers. Ancient volatiles trapped since the dawn of time, now shedding themselves in delicate arcs. Alexa adjusted the filters, isolating elements, mapping a 3d simulation, simulcast to the bridge. “It’s beautiful.” she whispered to herself. Obscure beauty indeed. The kind that required patience, curiosity and faith that meaning existed in the far corners of space.
“Careful, Lieutenant...” Captain Lo said, with a trace of amusement. “At this distance, we might inspire it. Give it a few million years and it could start its own civilization, studying us in return.”
Alexa laughed softly, though her eyes never left the display. “Then we’d better make a good impression, sir.” She paused, recording another data stream. “If they ever ask how it all began, I hope it starts like this. With someone choosing to come a little closer.”
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3ds Max / Photoshop
Vesper Class from ST: Online
My Links: https://linktr.ee/jetfreak
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12 Apr 2026
The Kumari Battlecruiser (2)

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22 Mar 2026

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15 Apr 2026
Here are the slanted wall monitors, seen to the right of the transporter room corridor exit of the medical lab (the tiny set has four entrances), in six episodes of #StarTrekTNG. The orienttation of these two monitors never changed in 5 years. In "The Mind's Eye", they are seen in the tactical lab.
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15 Apr 2026
#STarTrekDS9's "Duet" (what a great episode!!) is the third episode in a row which features a Bajoran officer stationed to #DS9 wearing the ensign rank pin. Ensign Neela appears for the first time in this episode but will have a much bigger role (and better pin close-ups) in the season finale.
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15 Apr 2026
#StarTrekTNG's "The Mind's Eye" is one of the rare episodes in which we see the shuttlebay ⬅️➡️↘️ and the cargobay ⬇️↙️ (a redress of the shuttlebay) in the same episode. Here are some screenshots for you to compare. :-)
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14 Apr 2026
Here are the same twin slanted wall monitors seen in four seasons of #StarTrekTNG. Notice how the orientation of the upper monitor changed after season 1. In season 4's "The Mind's Eye", the monitors are seen in the tactical lab.
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14 Apr 2026
In #StarTrekDS9's "Dramatis Personae", we see another Bajoran ensign )(dentified as such in the episode's end credits) with the ensign rank insignia, consisting of the circle at the bottom of the Bajoran emblem, the pin and only the right half of the smaller oval. Is that a LEGO earring? 😋
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14 Apr 2026
#StarTrekTNG's "The Mind's Eye" features one of the best looks at the complete cargobay set on #TNG yet, so here are six shots showing what the set looked like in late season 4 of the show.
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14 Apr 2026
The cargobay in #StarTrekTNG's "The Mind's Eye"↖️ features a large number of styrofoam crago crates also seen in previous episodes like "Code of Honor"↗️ and "The Hunted"➡️. The same crates already appeared in the original Battlestar Galactica ↙️ and Buck Rogers ↘️.
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13 Apr 2026
The cargo crates on the second level of the cargo bay are not seen in many episodes of #StarTrekTNG. Here they appear in "Up the Long Ladder"↖️, "Hollow Pursuits"↗️ and, quite prominently, in "The Mind's Eye"⬇️. They are resting on the (fake) wall hiding the outer shuttlebay doors.
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13 Apr 2026
#StarTrekDS9's "The Forsaken" is the first episode in which we see the Bajoran ensign rank insignia, worn by Anara. It consists of the circle, a shortened pin and (the right) half of the inner oval. This will be seen again in later season 1 #DS9 episodes.
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13 Apr 2026
Geordi is seen a unique red engineering carrying case in #StarTrekTNG's "The Mind's Eye"↖️. This is based on an 80's cassette carrying case seen (with different paint schemes) in earlier episodes like "11001001"↗️, recently in "Half a Life"↙️ and "Booby Trap"↘️.
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Updated: Observations in TNG: "The Ensigns of Command" and TNG: "Evolution" - Here are two more updated old articles: Observations in TNG: "The Ensigns of Command" and Observations in TNG: "Evolution". Observations about sets, props, make-ups and visual effects in TNG: "The Ensigns of Command"15 Apr 2026
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Updated: Observations in TNG: "The Mind's Eye" - Jörg's article on Observations in TNG: "The Mind's Eye" has been updated with new references and more and better screen caps. Observations about sets, props, make-ups and visual effects in TNG: "The Mind's Eye"13 Apr 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: Invasion - Here is the last new story by Travis Anderson for now: Invasion. SID Rebirth: Invasion - a story by Travis Anderson12 Apr 2026
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Updated Reviews of VOY: "The Void" and "Workforce I/II" - Here are two more reviews from Voyager season 7: "The Void" and "Workforce I/II". These episodes offer interesting variations on familiar themes and still rank comparably high in my view. Star Trek Voyager (VOY) season 7 episode guide and reviews11 Apr 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: Criminal Underworld - The fifth of six new SID Rebirth stories by Travis Anderson: Criminal Underworld. SID Rebirth: Criminal Underworld - a story by Travis Anderson10 Apr 2026
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Updated: Observations in TNG: "Peak Performance" and TNG: "Shades of Gray" - Two more old articles updated with new references, better screen caps and other improvements: Observations in TNG: "Peak Performance" and Observations in TNG: "Shades of Gray". Observations about sets, props, make-ups and visual effects in TNG: "Peak Performance"08 Apr 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: Religious Strife - The next SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: Religious Strife. SID Rebirth: Religious Strife - a story by Travis Anderson07 Apr 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: Religious Strife - The next SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: Religious Strife. SID Rebirth: Religious Strife - a story by Travis Anderson07 Apr 2026
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Updated Reviews of VOY: "Repentance" and "Prophecy" - Two more Voyager retro reviews, of the thought-provoking morality tale "Repentance" and the hollow myth farce "Prophecy". Star Trek Voyager (VOY) season 7 episode guide and reviews05 Apr 2026
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Updated Links - I have updated the Links as well, though I had to remove more than I could add. Links to the best Star Trek websites05 Apr 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: The Orb - Here is another SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: The Orb. SID Rebirth: The Orb - a story by Travis Anderson05 Apr 2026
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Updated Reviews of VOY: "Shattered" and "Lineage" - Continuing with my Voyager retro reviews. Here are "Shattered" and "Lineage". I have revised my views on both episodes, and in opposite directions. Star Trek Voyager (VOY) season 7 episode guide and reviews04 Apr 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: Civil Unrest - Here is the next SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: Civil Unrest. SID Rebirth: Civil Unrest - a story by Travis Anderson03 Apr 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: Civil Unrest - Here is the next SID Rebirth story by Travis Anderson: Civil Unrest.03 Apr 2026
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New Article: Picard's Ready Room Crystal - Three items can always be found on Picard's ready room desk on the Enterprise-D: a black desktop monitor, a rack of orange isolinear circuits and finally a crystal. Jörg found out much more about the latter than we would have expected. See his all-new article Picard's Ready Room Crystal. Surprising observations about the crystal on Captain Picard's desk30 Mar 2026
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New Story by Travis Anderson: Syndicate - Continuing with the SID Rebirth series by Travis Anderson. Here is the next story: Syndicate SID Rebirth: Syndicate - a story by Travis Anderson29 Mar 2026
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Starfleet Academy Canceled - My Comment - Starfleet Academy has been canceled after only two seasons. Read Kurtzman's and Noga's message and my comment on this latest situation. The latest news and comments on ongoing Star Trek productions23 Mar 2026
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Updated: Observations in TNG: "The Host" - There are several additions and improvements in Jörg's article on Observations in TNG: "The Host". Observations about sets, props, make-ups and visual effects in TNG: "The Host"22 Mar 2026
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Observations in TNG: "The Arsenal of Freedom"


















