Star Trek: Starfleet Academy truly comes into its own in Episode 3, "Vitus Reflux." While I was among the (admittedly few) who found the two-part premiere quite commendable, this episode is a step up in every sense of the word. It embraces the young-adult vibe in a way that not only feels appropriately "Trek-y" but also starts to flesh out the individual characters, giving them more depth than just their race or gimmick.
Of course, there's still room for improvement. The show feels a bit spread thin, and while this episode nominally centers around Darem Reymi, it encompasses the entire core group in a classic large-scale prank war between the Academy and the War College. These episodes are an hour long, and they'd probably be better served at 45 minutes with tighter editing, but you can't have everything.
"Vitus Reflux" revolves around an escalating prank war between Starfleet Academy and the War College. The fact that we don't know anyone at the War College except Tamira slightly dampens the drama, but it's still pretty fun because Star Trek pranks go above and beyond. We're talking about teleporting Academy students, still in their underwear, from the changing rooms into the wider campus, and empathy-powered plants growing to giant-size proportions to clear people out of their dorms. It's harmless but entertaining enough, and a new sport called Calica is introduced, giving the whole thing a more action-oriented contour.
Calica is like laser tag but visually plays out like a standard action sequence, so it basically excuses multiple gunfights, each with a slightly different purpose. The training battles between the Academy students are used to further the rivalry between Darem and Genesis, while the eventual climactic game between the Academy and the War College has a more oppositional feel. There's a lesson underpinning all this – being set in a school and all – about the Academy teaching patience, empathy, and tactics as opposed to just straight-up warfare, but the students aren't half-bad at the warfare stuff either.
As mentioned, one of the key rivalries in this episode is between Darem and Genesis, two of the more privileged kids, but also the two most determined to prove themselves as the natural leader. Genesis, as the daughter of an admiral, carries a nepo baby vibe, while Darem, due to neglectful parents who have always considered anything less than perfection to be a disappointment, is obsessed with being the best at everything. Initially, it seems they have little in common, but a deeper dive reveals more shared experiences than they realize. Genesis is more likable, and when Darem resorts to a low blow to gain an advantage, you find yourself automatically on her side. However, it's a learning experience for him. While Genesis doesn't learn much since she's largely in the right from the start, Darem, through the lessons imparted by Nahla and his own failures, begins to realize that leadership and being led can come through empathy, not just by being "the best" at everything.
Sure, it isn't Shakespeare, but it's a decent throughline, and I appreciate how the wider theme is embodied particularly in the personal arc of the focal character. Fittingly, the real theme underpinning Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 3 is learning, which is probably just as well. This is explicitly embodied through Darem, but you see it elsewhere too. It's not just about learning subjects on the syllabus but also about human and non-human interactions.
There's room for romance, for instance. Lura and Reno's relationship is held aloft as an example of relationships being a case of whether someone is willing to show up for you or not. It's a nice counterpoint to Caleb and Tarima's frosty dynamic since he's trying to force the issue but doesn't make any progress until he gives her space and allows her to decide in her own time if she wants to be involved. Sometimes, you have to let people show you what they're about.
The learning angle also applies nicely to Nahla, who continues to show her bona fides as a truly unconventional Chancellor by coaching the kids to victory in the prank war entirely through hidden messages and implications. You can feel the team bonding, but you can also feel everyone's respect for Nahla growing. Despite her bumbling barefoot demeanor, she's exceptionally shrewd and has her share of wisdom to impart, which even Caleb is beginning to realize.
Again, it's nothing special, but it all works in precisely the way it's intended to. Thus far, the show is achieving the level it has set for itself. Let's just hope it delivers some more focused storytelling as it progresses.
