Summary
Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale is proof of how much Paramount+’s nextStar Trekshow needs Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie). Now thatDiscoveryhas come to an end, attention turns to its upcoming spinoff series,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which will continue to tell the story of life in the 32nd century.Star Trek: Discovery’s finale and epilogue,“Life, Itself”, written by Kyle Jarrow & Michelle Paradise, and directed by Olatunde Osusanmi, contained several teases for the upcomingStarfleet Academyseries, including the revelation that Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) would become the institution’s longest-serving instructor.
However, there’s still a long time to go before Tilly reaches her Starfleet Academy milestone inStar Trek: Discovery’s 33rd century. Therefore, the most pertinent hints forStar Trek: Starfleet Academycome from how Tilly’s role in the search for the Progenitors' treasure may have shaped her approach to teaching the cadets.In Tilly’s final scene, she outlines to Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) her plan for a mentorship program that will pair cadets up with inspirational figures. Tilly’s mentorship program could, therefore, be the ideal opportunity to bring backStar Trek: Discoverycharacterslike Rayner.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 6 Or Movie - Everything We Know
Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is the final season, but will Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery be back for season 6 or a Paramount+ movie?
Star Trek: Discovery’s Finale Sets Up Rayner’s Return In Starfleet Academy
Tilly’s Starfleet Academy mentorship program is inspired by how Captain Burnham helped Commander Rayner overcome his anger to become less “crabby” and an even better starship captain.Tilly and Rayner’s friendship inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5 was a revelation, so it would be disappointing not to see more of their dynamic going forward. While aTilly and RaynerStar Trekshow won’t happen,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy ishappening, and is therefore an ideal opportunity to pair them up again, via Tilly’s mentorship program.
While Mary Wiseman hasn’t been officially confirmed forStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, it has been widely accepted that she’ll be involved since the series was announced.
Star Trek:Starfleet Academywill be predominantly focused on a YA audience, which may be off-putting to older fans.Rayner could, therefore, be the voice of those olderStar Trekfans put off by the youthful angst of Starfleet Academy’s newest cadets. There is surely a great deal of generation-gap comedy to be mined from Rayner butting heads with his young mentee, while his old friend Tilly tries to mediate the dispute. Furthermore, while not much is known aboutHolly Hunter’sStarfleet Academycharacter, her previous acting roles suggest she could be a great foil for Callum Keith Rennie.
Tilly’s Starfleet Academy Mentor Program Sets Up Future Discovery Cameos
Tilly’s proposed mentor program at Starfleet Academy sets up future cameos by theStar Trek: Discoverycast. Her plan is to pair promising Starfleet Academy cadets with serving Starfleet officers on a one-on-one basis. There’s certainly no shortage of potential mentors among the crew of the USS Discovery, from Captain Michael Burnham to the newlypromoted Admiral Saru(Doug Jones). WhileStar Trek: Starfleet Academywill be keen to establish its own identity in its first season, it feels inevitable that Tilly’s mentor program will start bearing fruit once the show is established.
According to Doug Jones, “Admiral” was an ad-lib by actor Oded Fehr, who was scripted to call Saru “Ambassador” during the wedding scene.
As a spinoff fromStar Trek: Discovery, it’s inevitable thatStar Trek: Starfleet Academywill contain various elements from its parent show. Tilly’s mentor program could codify these crossover appearances, so that guest appearances by members of the USS Discovery crew don’t feel forced. Tilly’s vision for Starfleet Academy is based on the idea of different generations working together and learning from each other. Hopefully, Tilly’s inter-generational outlook will inflectStar Trek: Starfleet Academytoo, making it a show that will delight fans young and old alike.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academyis executive produced by Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau, and is set to start shooting in Fall 2024.
All episodes of Star Trek: Discovery are available to stream on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Discovery
Cast
Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy follows a group of cadets as they embark on their journey to become Starfleet officers. Facing the challenges of friendship, rivalry, and romance, they confront a new enemy endangering the Academy and the Federation under the guidance of their rigorous instructors.
