Spoilers for "Vitus Reflux," Episode 3 of
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
For the first 20 minutes or so of Starfleet Academy's third episode, I wasn't really digging it. Too much 21st century slang and a tired premise--a prank war between rival groups of students--put my guard up. But the episode's intent gels right when Holly Hunter's Chancellor Ake confronts the War College's Commander Kelrec in his office, which is somehow Spartan and luxurious at the same time. Holly Hunter's performance is what drew me into the episode from this point, and after only three episodes I feel like she might be the most gifted and engaging performer in a Starfleet captain's role that we've yet seen on Star Trek--and I don't take that lightly, given the likes of, say Avery Brooks and Patrick Stewart. Hunter's Nahla Ake basically disarms everyone around her by lounging around like a harmless but playful kitten, perpetually barefooted and in either casual loungewear or pajamas. And yet, somehow, she makes it work.
Favourite lines of the series so far:
Cadet Mir: "Are your pajamas covered in little accordions?"
Chancellor Ake: "They are tiny warp cores, you wanna say something cute about it?"
This scene happens when Ake has to chew out her cadets for "not paying attention." And on reflection, it hit me: I hadn't been paying attention either, because the episode begins with a series of plant metaphors that plant the seeds of the episode's plot. It's actually kind of brilliant.
Once the students clue in to the hints Ake's been dropping, they finally make headway in the prank war in a Mission: Impossible style montage. And along with the shenanigans, we get some important character development, some great scenes with Tig Notaro, and an important message about the importance of empathy even when--especially when--your environment seems to call for open conflict.
Well done, Academy.
Favourite lines of the series so far:
Cadet Mir: "Are your pajamas covered in little accordions?"
Chancellor Ake: "They are tiny warp cores, you wanna say something cute about it?"
This scene happens when Ake has to chew out her cadets for "not paying attention." And on reflection, it hit me: I hadn't been paying attention either, because the episode begins with a series of plant metaphors that plant the seeds of the episode's plot. It's actually kind of brilliant.
Once the students clue in to the hints Ake's been dropping, they finally make headway in the prank war in a Mission: Impossible style montage. And along with the shenanigans, we get some important character development, some great scenes with Tig Notaro, and an important message about the importance of empathy even when--especially when--your environment seems to call for open conflict.
Well done, Academy.
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