StarFleet Academy - Episode 9 Review - StarFleet Runs Deep

As we open Episode 9 of StarFleet Academy, the first academic year is finally coming to an end. The Academy whether it’s technically a school or technically a ship (honestly I’m still not entirely sure) is on the move, heading toward Betazed. Which means one thing: something is about to go very, very wrong.

Right away, the episode brings us back to where many of these characters started emotionally, but in a way that feels closer and more personal now that we’ve spent nine episodes with them. Caleb, despite all the growth we’ve seen this season, is still struggling with the same questions about family and belonging. The Klingon bonding ritual that was presented and clearly important to Jay-Den didn’t exactly simplify things either. It may have just raised more questions. 

And speaking of weird behavior, Sam has entered her own new phase. After last episode’s revelations, she’s clearly different. Getting a single room and not even telling Genesis about it? That’s strange. And Sam has been strange all season, so when she feels weird, you know something is up.

Then there’s Tarima and Caleb...still awkward. Still weird. Still stuck in the same emotional loop they’ve been running since the beginning. Don’t get me wrong, I like them together. But with a ten-episode season, at some point we need a decision. Either get back together or call it quits so Caleb can start whatever potential thing is happening with Genesis. Because right now it feels like emotional limbo, and the clock is ticking.

Meanwhile, in classic Star Trek fashion, the galaxy is once again in immediate danger. Nus Braka’s storyline continues as we learn he stole not just a particle of Omega-47. A synthetic variant of pure Omega capable of catastrophic destruction, but also several devices that allow him to mine it and target Federation worlds.

If Star Trek didn’t have a psycho threatening the entire Federation every few weeks, would it even still be Star Trek?

One of the more interesting parallels in this episode is between Caleb and Sam. Sam has been digging through her old memories and realizing she doesn’t actually like the person she used to be. So now she’s trying to figure out who she is supposed to be moving forward. That search for identity has basically been Caleb’s entire arc this season.

But while Caleb has arguably grown the most, he still can’t move on from one thing: his mom. And just when it seemed like maybe he might start to...surprise! She’s been secretly contacting him, and he only just found out. If anything good comes out of this, I’ll be shocked.

Honestly, part of me is hoping Braka is actually working for her and she ends up being the real villain. That would at least force Caleb to confront everything he’s learned at the Academy and prove how much he’s changed.

Back in Federation territory, Starfleet has gone into full lockdown. No ships are supposed to leave Federation space. Which, if you’ve watched Star Trek for more than five minutes dating back to the days of Pike and Kirk you already know exactly what that means.

Someone is absolutely going to leave Federation space. And that someone is obviously Caleb.

Because Caleb Mir has inherited that classic Starfleet trait: zero permission and even less common sense when someone he cares about is in danger. Naturally, the mission to “save his mom” turns into a full cadet field trip when Sam, Genesis, and a very drunk Darem tagging along.

You would think Starfleet security would have improved over the centuries. You would be wrong.

Now here’s where I’m torn. I’m not sure if I dislike the new Sam, or if I dislike how she’s treating Genesis. Maybe both things are true.

Meanwhile Caleb leaves Tarima and Jay-Den with no option but to run straight to Ake and report what’s happening. Vance already knows how this will play out, and once the remaining cadets reach Betazed safely, Ake is going after Caleb.

And I have to say, one of the best things about this show so far has been the world-building of the future. Setting the series so far in the future allows the writers to really stretch their imagination. The planets we’ve seen are visually incredible, brutal, and completely new territory for the franchise.

When the cadets finally reach the planet where Caleb’s mom is hiding, we also get a glimpse into what life must have been like for him growing up, always on the run from the Federation. The others are suddenly forced to live that reality too, and I think it helps them understand their friend a little better.

It doesn’t take Caleb long to find his mom, Anisha. From the outside, the reunion might look heartwarming. But if you’ve watched Caleb’s growth over the season, the moment feels more unsettling than emotional. And that feeling is justified.

Because almost immediately, Anisha reveals she escaped with Braka’s help. Also, she’s kind of a paranoid psycho. I’ll just say it now: I am not a fan.

Thankfully, before my frustration with Anisha could completely take over the episode, we get one of the best comedic moments of the season. Tarima and Jay-Den ignored orders (shocking, I know) and snuck aboard the ship with Ake, Reno and The Doctor. When Ake sees them, her reaction perfectly captures what the entire audience is thinking:

“Are you kidding me?”

Back on the planet, Caleb drops the emotional bombshell. He’s planning to leave with his mom and not return to Starfleet. His friends understandably do not take this well. What follows is a brutal confrontation where Caleb lashes out with some pretty hurtful comments.

It’s classic Caleb self-destruction of pushing away the people who care about him while pretending he’s still the same broken kid he used to be. The group finally calls him out on it and leaves him alone.

And almost immediately after they walk away...they’re captured.

Their arrest is broadcast across the city right as Caleb and Anisha prepare to leave. But Starfleet runs deep in its people and apparently even deeper in Cadet Caleb Mir.

Instead of running away with his mom, he runs back to save his friends. Everything quickly explodes into chaos. Anisha surprisingly tries to intervene peacefully, which works about as well as you’d expect. Within seconds the whole situation escalates into a full street battle, phasers firing, fists flying.

And just when things are at their worst, Nahla Ake pulls off one of the coolest entrances of the season. She blasts into the atmosphere, breaks the sound barrier, and beams the cadets and a wounded Anisha straight up to the ship.

Unfortunately, the chaos isn’t over.

As they attempt to escape, the ship is caught in a tractor beam, forcing them to separate the saucer and warp away before taking more damage. The ship itself is left behind in the hands of the Venari Ral.

Or more accurately...in the hands of Nus Braka.

The episode closes with a devastating reveal: Omega-47 mines now surround Federation space. Each one emits an energy field that will trigger the mines if any ship attempts to enter. Which means our cadets, Ake, the Doctor, and Reno are now stranded outside Federation territory with no safe way home.

And to top it all off, Anisha and Ake finally get their long-awaited moment face-to-face.

Overall, Episode 9 is fast, chaotic, and very Star Trek. The story beats themselves may feel familiar, but the scale of the ending sets up a massive finale. Caleb once again tries to be someone he isn’t anymore, but the truth is becoming clearer every episode. Whether he likes it or not and whether his mom likes it or not, Caleb Mir is Starfleet through and through. 

Now that the crew is stranded outside Federation space with no safe way back, the finale has a chance to finally resolve some of the character arcs we’ve been watching all season. Or, knowing this show, it might throw even more chaos at us instead.

Either way, Episode 9 did exactly what it needed to do. It launches us straight into what should be a very exciting finale. One that hopefully brings some answers...and almost definitely brings more problems.

Until Next Week...

Live Long & Prosper