If there has been a persistent complaint about the modern iteration of Star Trek, it's that it doesn't quite feel like the Star Trek of old. This criticism has been particularly leveled at Starfleet Academy with great gusto, so it's probably no surprise that Episode 5, titled "Series Acclimation Mil," seems designed to be a deliberate counter to it. It's a passionate and sincere embrace of the broader franchise, a lovely tribute to Avery Brooks, and an attempt to solve a mystery that fans have been fretting over since the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. What exactly happened to Captain Benjamin Sisko?
This isn't just fan service. It's an exploration that doubles as a key part of SAM's growth as a character. As a photogenic lifeform, she finds herself in the same position as Sisko was - an emissary struggling with the best way to fulfill her mandate and understand her own existence. It also touches on a bunch of quintessential YA tropes - a boozy party, anyone? - for good measure, so all in all, it's an outing that is very on-brand for this show, while also being pretty reverential of Star Trek at large. You'd think that'd be the best of both worlds, but I'm sure people will still hate it for whatever reason.
The key selling point of this episode is undoubtedly the focus on Sisko and many callbacks to Trek's past, with a lot of nods to Deep Space Nine and the wider franchise. It even ends with a spoken word coda from Avery Brooks himself, even though he isn't in the episode since he has retired from acting. Cirroc Lofton does return as an adult version of his son, Jake, though, which is the next best thing.
However, the reason the episode works is that it uses the parallels between Sisko and SAM to tell a story that is fundamentally about SAM. She is essentially a child learning how to navigate the responsibilities she has to her people and her own wants and desires as an individual. She sees herself in Sisko, so delving into the mystery of what happened to him is as much a coming-of-age experience as it is an effort to genuinely answer what happened. Which is perhaps just as well since "Series Acclimation Mil" ultimately doesn't reveal what happened to Sisko.
However, it does make the argument that the specifics don't really matter. It creates an environment where the ambiguity is satisfying for the audience to interpret how they wish, and it also means that SAM is able to figure out who she is and begin making her own choices in a way that she feels honors Sisko, which in turn honors Star Trek overall. Everyone's a winner.
My only genuine complaint with Starfleet Academy Episode 5 is that it feels a bit too tailored to a younger audience. The on-screen graphics and text overlays are unnecessary, given that Kerrice Brooks' performance already effectively conveys SAM's personality. While I'm more receptive to the fourth-wall-breaking elements, as they subvert the trope by revealing who SAM is actually talking to, the usual personal logs used in most Star Trek episodes are not far off. However, I believe that we don't need such excessive embellishments to grasp the essence of SAM's character.
Despite this, some of these elements might aid in smoothing out the exposition, considering the extensive background explaining SAM's people, their conflict with organics, and their misguided belief that her participation in the "Confronting the Explainable" course at the Academy would unravel all the mysteries of organic civilization. If only it were that simple!
While "Series Acclimation Mil" focuses primarily on SAM, the other cadets are present, and she finds answers to her personal questions through them. The episode strikes a balance between being SAM-centric and not completely neglecting the other characters. However, Caleb's main character syndrome persists, as his relationship with Tarima takes a significant leap here, which is fine, but there's also an unnecessary show-off element to his hacking into SAM's software. Despite this, the group dynamic works well overall.
The obligatory part of any YA coming-of-age story, such as teens attending a cadet party and getting drunk and boisterous, is included here, and I enjoy the ongoing conflict between the Academy and War College. However, I didn't appreciate how this rivalry extends into a B-plot focused on adults, where Nahla helps Commander Kelrec from the War College rehearse a diplomatic dinner with a visiting alien chancellor. It's exceedingly dull, but you can't have everything.
Ultimately, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 5 succeeds on every level it aims for, using the franchise's past to meaningfully inform its present and hopefully its future. If subsequent episodes can truly nail this concept, Starfleet Academy will secure a valuable place in the overall canon.
