Get ready to have your heartstrings tugged and your Trekkie senses tingling, because Starfleet Academy just dropped an episode that’s a love letter to Deep Space Nine—and it’s everything fans didn’t know they needed. But here’s where it gets controversial: does this tribute hit the mark, or does it risk overshadowing the new series’ identity? Let’s dive in.
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched Series Acclimation Mil, Episode 5 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (streaming on Paramount+), proceed with caution—spoilers ahead!
This week’s episode isn’t just a nod to Deep Space Nine; it’s a full-on embrace, complete with the return of Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about fan service. The episode uses Jake’s return to explore deeper themes of legacy, identity, and the weight of being an emissary—both for Jake’s father, Captain Benjamin Sisko, and for SAM (Kerrice Brooks), the show’s android protagonist.
SAM, tasked by her Kasqian creators to understand ‘organics,’ stumbles upon the mystery of Captain Sisko’s disappearance in the Deep Space Nine finale. Her obsession with uncovering the truth mirrors her own struggle to define her role as a bridge between the Kasqians and the organic world. Enter Jake Sisko, whose book about his father becomes a catalyst for SAM’s journey. In a poignant twist, Jake appears in SAM’s mind, offering insights into the man—and emissary—his father was.
In an interview with Variety, Lofton couldn’t stop praising Kerrice’s performance. ‘Honestly, I work well with Brookses,’ he quipped, referencing his on-screen father, Avery Brooks. But it wasn’t just camaraderie—Lofton called Kerrice a ‘phenomenal’ performer who elevates the Star Trek legacy. ‘She was a perfect scene partner,’ he said. ‘Her ability to channel emotions and dive deep was mind-blowing.’
Kerrice returned the praise, describing Lofton as a guiding light. ‘Working with him felt like being guided by the stars,’ she said. ‘He’s beautiful, inside and out.’
The episode also includes a never-before-heard speech by Avery Brooks, pulled from an album he recorded years ago. For Lofton, it was a deeply personal moment. ‘Hearing his voice in this context meant a lot,’ he shared. ‘It’s a signature voice, and it’s so compelling.’
Co-written by Lower Decks alum Tawny Newsome, the episode also introduces her as Professor Ila—later revealed to be Ila Dax, the Trill symbiont who served with Captain Sisko. Newsome’s role required her to wear prosthetic makeup for the first time, an experience she described as eye-opening. ‘I have a whole new respect for actors like Doug Jones,’ she said. ‘It’s one thing to admire their work, but actually doing it? It’s exhausting. Those people are built different.’
But here’s the real question: Does this episode lean too heavily on nostalgia, or does it strike the right balance between honoring the past and charting new territory? SAM’s journey, after all, is the heart of the story. The episode even adopts a unique format, with on-screen graphics that feel like a nod to Spider-Verse—a choice Kerrice adored. ‘It felt like SAM’s version of that,’ she said, ‘and it made me even more excited.’
What’s truly charming about Starfleet Academy is how the characters’ lives mirror the actors’. Kerrice, for instance, relates deeply to SAM’s struggle. ‘SAM is technically smart and book smart, but she doesn’t know much about culture,’ Kerrice explained. ‘I feel the same way, so I couldn’t come into this episode feeling comfortable in my own skin—because that’s not who she is.’
The episode also features an epic bar fight between Starfleet Academy and the War College, a sequence Kerrice found both fun and challenging. ‘Cecilia Lee, who plays Dzolo, got punched for real,’ Kerrice admitted. ‘I felt so bad. I tried to make it up to her with a candle and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups—which she’s allergic to. It was just one of those days.’
So, what do you think? Does Starfleet Academy’s tribute to Deep Space Nine hit the mark, or does it risk losing its own identity in the process? And how do you feel about the balance between nostalgia and innovation in modern Star Trek? Let’s debate in the comments—because this is one conversation that’s just getting started.
