It's no secret that Star Trek's newest show has been drawing criticism for various reasons, but Starfleet Academy is far from being alone when it comes to modern projects within the franchise being torn down by supposed fans. Sure, Starfleet Academy is nothing like Star Trek's classic era, which is what many of the show's critics are choosing to focus on. However, the space opera's attempts to appease this portion of the fan base have been equally dissected and labelled unworthy of canon status.
Many Star Trek fans were immediately frustrated when 2017 made Discovery the first TV show within the franchise since 2005's Enterprise finale. It ruffled a lot of feathers by placing Sonequa Martin-Green's Michael Burnham as Discovery's main character. Star Trek shows traditionally have an ensemble cast, but countless Trekkies were unhappy with this change to the established formula. However, the franchise has tried various things since, and some people are proving impossible to please.
Why tearing down Star Trek: Starfleet Academy doesn't make any sense
Just a handful of episodes in, many Trekkies have already given up on Starfleet Academy. Others claim to have avoided it altogether, which makes it even more confusing that they have such strong opinions on the new show. However, the direction that Starfleet Academy has taken actually makes perfect sense. Discovery, which is technically Starfleet Academy's parent show, has gradually found its fan base. More people enjoy it than it seems, but the negative voices, as always, are often the loudest.
So, when Strange New Worlds took over as the franchise's flagship show, the decision was made for Anson Mount's Captain Pike and his crew to embark upon adventures that were far more reflective of the classic era. The storyline wouldn't be heavily serialized like Discovery, and the plan was that this would please disgruntled Trekkies. Wishful thinking, I guess.
Despite Strange New Worlds adopting the classic-era episodic formula that championed an ensemble cast, the show still has droves of Trekkies claiming it isn't good enough. Instead, they've found new things to complain about. Personally, I think Strange New Worlds is easily the finest effort of Star Trek's modern era. It would even give some of the classic shows a run for their money. Still, if I'm in the majority with that opinion, it's just barely.
One possible explanation for this is that Discovery is actually more widely enjoyed than Paramount thought, and that the show's formula should be returned to for Starfleet Academy. Somewhat predictably, that also appears to have been the wrong move. So, if fans dislike Discovery's modern-era approach AND Strange New Worlds' attempt to bring back the Star Trek golden age...what's left to try, here? Trekkies need to pick a lane, and that lane should start with giving Starfleet Academy a fair shot. You never know, you might just have fun.
The only modern Star Trek show I haven't seen criticized highlights the franchise's biggest problem
Lower Decks is a rare example of a modern Star Trek show simply being allowed to get on with things. Its 24th-century setting helps massively, as it opens up countless opportunities for returning fan-favorites in animated form. Don't get me wrong, I love Lower Decks. That said, I'm very aware that its primary audience is classic-era Star Trek fans who just want more and more of the exact same.
Despite the animated show's zany, almost parodical approach to fleshing out the Star Trek canon, its biggest appeal is the endless slew of references and cameos that tie into classic-era shows like The Next Generation and Voyager. Lower Decks does plenty to make its own original additions to the lore, but what really sticks in the mind are the Easter eggs and similarly obvious fan-service moments.
The only conclusion I can derive from Lower Decks' lack of critics is that long-standing Trekkies want nothing to do with the modern era unless it retreads the same old ground again and again. I must say once more that I adore the show, but Lower Decks is a poor example of how to move the franchise forward. It's made for fans like me who have followed the space opera for decades, but it also alienates newcomers. Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy are both equally capable of paying homage to Star Trek's six-decade history, but they don't run their own resources dry, either.
Catch a new episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy every Thursday on Paramount+ until the season 1 finale on March 12, 2026.