The Paramount+ series that blends The Orville and Harry Potter is a must-watch for sci-fi fans. With more and more science fiction TV shows pushing the boundaries of storytelling, the genre is the best it’s ever been. However, compared to other streaming platforms, Paramount+’s sci-fi offerings aren’t as extensive, though it still boasts one of the most iconic science fiction franchises in history.
With its diverse cast, young people discovering their place in a vast universe, and themes of friendship and growth, <em>Star Trek: Starfleet Academy</em> is a sci-fi series that captures the same sense of discovery that made Harry Potter’s wizarding world so beloved. Much like Harry Potter, Starfleet Academy also follows a group of students at an extraordinary school.
Still, while the thematic similarities between Harry Potter and Starfleet Academy cannot be overlooked, the series is even closer to Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville, as they are both space adventures with futuristic concepts and stories of exploration. Interestingly, The Orville was inspired by both Star Trek and Star Wars, although its premise is more comedic compared to the mega franchises.
After decades of exploring starships, alien civilizations, and legendary captains, Star Trek has finally ventured into a setting that’s always existed in the background but has rarely been explored: the place where future officers are created. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy represents a bold new direction for the franchise by moving away from the familiar structure of a starship crew on a mission and instead focusing on the next generation of explorers before they ever take command.
Set after the events of Star Trek: Discovery, Starfleet Academy pushes the franchise further into the future than its previous installments. This is significant because Star Trek has often revisited familiar eras, such as the time of Kirk or Picard. Sadly, though, its TV future has been cut short.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Showed Plenty Of Promise In Season 1
MovieStillsDBThe Star Trek universe is vast and old, but it still has a hold on people, which is why every new entry in the franchise faces heavy scrutiny. Starfleet Academy isn’t the best sci-fi show out there. In fact, it’s not even the most memorable Star Trek TV series, but its first season showed real promise. Unfortunately, the show has faced harsh criticism since it debuted earlier this year. While it managed to garner an honorable 84% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, fans were (predictably) divided by it, which is made clear by the series’ 52% audience score.
Starfleet Academy isn’t perfect, but it’s still a refreshing entry in the franchise that shows that the Star Trek universe has a lot more to offer. By introducing new characters, expanding the future of the Federation, and exploring what it means to become a Starfleet officer in a changing galaxy, each episode of Starfleet Academy is a joy to watch, particularly because it ensures that its protagonists actually grow.
With Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake, Starfleet Academy connects the younger characters’ storylines with the larger stakes of the Star Trek universe. Starfleet Academy season 1 is an exciting entry in the franchise because of what it promises for the future, opening a door into a part of the Star Trek universe timeline that fans have imagined for decades.
Starfleet Academy’s Premise Could Have Lasted Much Longer Than 2 Seasons
Paramount+ renewed Starfleet Academy for a second season before its first season aired; clearly, the streamer had big hopes for the show. However, it failed to impress long-time fans or draw in its target audience, with the franchise hoping to attract newer, younger fans to Star Trek‘s world. After debuting to low ratings and divisive reviews, Paramount+ decided to make the show’s already-filmed second season its final one just days after the season 1 finale (via Variety).
