Starfleet Academy's double-episode premiere got Paramount+'s new Star Trek show off to a strong start. But season 1, Episode 3 has me worried about what's to come. "Vitus Reflux" isn't an objectively bad Star Trek episode, but it certainly lacks key elements of what made the show so appealing in its first two offerings.
Already confirmed to run for two seasons, Starfleet Academy is still right at the start of its journey. Set in Star Trek's 32nd century, the Discovery spinoff has managed to impressively tie itself into the space opera's larger canon in a way that feels convincing. However, if the show continues in the same vein as "Vitus Reflux," we could be in for a bumpy ride.
FULL SPOILERS ahead for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 Episode 3, "Vitus Reflux"
"Vitus Reflux" ditches the balanced formula that I loved in Starfleet Academy's first two episodes
Starfleet Academy's very title prepared me for the kind of storylines the show would focus on. Rather than the high-stakes space adventures that are so commonplace in Star Trek projects, I expected more young love twists and other arcs often found in teen dramas. While that was immediately proven to be true, the show's first two episodes tied these tropes into Starfleet Academy's larger effort to make those moments matter on far more than a personal level.
The cadets' mistakes and learning curves in the first two episodes had real impacts on what happened. It wasn't just the Academy that was at the heart of the story, but Starfleet as a whole. What the cadets were doing went beyond merely attending lectures and surrendering to their hormones. They were enduring trial by fire, and that was great. It allowed the more traditional Star Trek characters, like Holly Hunter's Captain Ake, to also have a central role as Starfleet Academy reopened.
Unfortunately, "Vitus Reflux" was almost everything I hoped Starfleet Academy wouldn't be. The episode revolves entirely around its younger characters as they engage in activities that aren't all that entertaining in the grand scheme of things. There are some successful glimmers of comedy and drama, but the episode is sorely missing any kind of notable presence from the senior officers. After the near destruction of the USS Athena and almost missing the chance to bring Betazed back into the Federation, "Vitus Reflux" feels like an unworthy third episode. And where did all the cool Star Trek Easter eggs go?!
Starfleet Academy's third episode is a necessary evil for the show to progress
As bland and predictable as most of "Vitus Reflux" is, the episode does at least create a more believable connection between the show's main cadets. Before this installment, it was tricky to buy into the fact that anyone had any sort of strong feelings for their classmates — negative or otherwise. Having seen "Vitus Reflux," I'm more on board with where everyone stands within the shared dynamic.
The most rewarding arc in the episode belongs to George Hawkins' Darem Reymi. I'm aware he was supposed to be arrogant and irritating in the first two episodes, but boy, was he arrogant and irritating. Now that we have a little more backstory for Darem, he's easier to take. Furthermore, "Vitus Reflux" is an important part of what will surely be a larger redemption story for how he's acted so far.
Moving forward, I hope "Vitus Reflux" has already done most of the heavy lifting when it comes to establishing how these younger characters interact. I want to get back to Starfleet Academy's even earlier efforts, which saw Captain Ake and the cadets in the trenches together in ways that differed for various reasons. A prank war makes sense to the show's setting, but it's also not all that entertaining to watch. The rivalry in general between Starfleet Academy and the War College, on the other hand, is something I want to see far more of.
Starfleet Academy just rushed its most interesting dynamic to the finish line
Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) and his connection to Captain Ake are pivotal to Starfleet Academy's premise. The show's first two episodes present the dynamic very well. It's abundantly clear that Caleb has no real interest in being Captain Ake's surrogate son, which is how Hunter's character is treating him due to the guilt caused by how Caleb became separated from his real mother. While it was pretty predictable that the pair would become close as the show progressed, "Vitus Reflex" seemingly proves Starfleet Academy has no patience in this regard.
What could have been a gradually developing bond over the course of multiple episodes, or even seasons, has apparently already been fully establishedrebuild by the end of "Vitus Reflex." The way Caleb and Captain Ake are interacting in the chancellor's office is so playful and informal that it's hard to believe they've come so far in such a short space of time. With any luck, something big will come along to disrupt their unearned dynamic, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will be required to rebuild this relationship from the ground up over a more realistic period.
Episode Rating: C-
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is streaming now on Paramount+. Catch a new episode every Thursday until the season 1 finale on March 12, 2026.