The latest addition to the Star Trek universe has ignited a fierce cultural debate, with the newly launched Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series unveiling a groundbreaking human-alien lesbian romance storyline. This narrative development has arrived amidst mounting criticism that the long-running science fiction franchise has become "too woke" in its modern iterations, creating a polarising reception for the Paramount+ exclusive.
A New Frontier for Representation
Premiering on the streaming platform last week, Starfleet Academy serves as a prequel within the expansive Star Trek canon, focusing on the formative years of future Starfleet officers. During promotional interviews for the series, stars Tig Notaro and Gina Yashere—who portray human engineer Jett Reno and alien scientist Lura Thok respectively—openly discussed their characters' romantic relationship, confirming the significant representation milestone.
"I didn't think our dynamic made sense at first because I thought I would be the more dominant personality in a relationship," Notaro revealed to TV Insider. "Honestly, when I watched it with my real wife, she was like 'I love this dynamic,' because my wife's feeling is to make a relationship work, one person needs to be a little scared of the other one."
Critical Reception: From Scathing to Supportive
The series has generated decidedly mixed reviews since its debut. A critic from the conservative National Review delivered a particularly harsh assessment, declaring the series "beyond terrible" and explicitly labelling it as "woke" in what they described as "a number of cringey ways." This sentiment reflects a broader cultural conversation about progressive values in entertainment.
Conversely, left-leaning publication The Guardian offered a more favourable perspective, describing the first two episodes as "earnest, formulaic and a little cheesy. In other words: classic Trek." Meanwhile, IndieWire offered nuanced criticism, suggesting the show struggles to balance its dual identity as both science-fiction and teen drama, ultimately favouring franchise nostalgia over innovative storytelling.
Celebrity Commentary Fuels the Debate
The discourse surrounding the series has extended beyond traditional critics to include prominent public figures. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Tesla CEO Elon Musk both weighed in with sceptical commentary online. Musk quipped about a scene featuring glasses, suggesting the characters had "banned Ozempic and LASIK," while Miller provocatively suggested Paramount+ should reconcile with original Star Trek star William Shatner and grant him "total creative control" to save the franchise.
Shatner himself responded with characteristic wit, trolling Miller by writing: "I am so on the same page with you! The fact that they have not cured Hyperopia by the 32nd Century is an abysmal oversight on the writers."
Defending Star Trek's Progressive Legacy
Several Star Trek veterans have robustly defended the series' inclusive direction. Whoopi Goldberg, who memorably played Guinan on Star Trek: The Next Generation, offered a pointed retort on The View: "As a Starfleet Academy member—please also allow me to respond. If you've never been asleep, you can't be woke." She emphasised that Star Trek was fundamentally created to promote coexistence and inclusivity.
Gina Yashere echoed this defence in a recent CNN interview, stating: "Woke is a good word. It's been given negative connotations. But woke just means you're awake and aware of everything that's going on in the world around you." This perspective was further supported by Robert Picardo, who plays The Doctor in the new series and previously in Voyager. He argued on social media that Star Trek's heart has always been "woke," long before the term existed, and that its commitment to progressive ideals remains strong despite the word being weaponised by critics.
Series Details and Broader Context
Starfleet Academy is set in the 32nd century, following the catastrophic event known as "the burn" previously explored in Star Trek: Discovery. The series features Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter in a leading role as Captain Ake, the academy's newly appointed leader. New episodes are released every Thursday on Paramount+, with the season finale scheduled for March 12.
The controversy highlights the enduring tension between a franchise celebrated for its forward-thinking values and contemporary debates about representation in media. As the series continues its weekly release schedule, it remains to be seen whether this latest chapter will ultimately be remembered for its storytelling or become a flashpoint in the ongoing culture wars surrounding entertainment.
