# Starfleet Academy S1 FINALE! - ITS FINALLY OVER! - Angry Review Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBD42zUxrQ Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/_OBD42zUxrQ Generated: 2026-03-13T16:03:07.631+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season finale review concludes that the episode and the season were terrible, rating the finale a 2 out of 10 because the complex Omega 47 particle threat was solved through easily accessible hacking and improbable stabilization methods, the courtroom drama felt forced and unnecessary, and the main characters' resolutions relied on platitudes rather than competence or clever strategy. **Key Points:** - The reviewers rated the finale episode a 2 out of 10, concluding the series is consistently bad and that the writers lack skill for complex Star Trek concepts. - The existential threat of the Omega 47 molecules, which the Borg could not stabilize for long, was resolved when the cadets stabilized it easily using Reuben particles and information provided by the Doctor and Jaden. - The courtroom drama involving Baraka was deemed unnecessary, as he was already defeated, with his motivations ultimately traced back to his father accidentally causing the initial disaster, leading to a resolution based on forgiveness rather than logic. - Reviewers criticized the plot for relying on characters' innate abilities—Caleb being the best hacker, Sam stabilizing the particle, and T'Lyn (Discount Troy) finding the frequency despite 'chatter'—instead of clever collaboration or strategy. - The reviewer noted that director Jonathan Franks pushed back against showrunner directives, specifically mentioning resistance to putting 'glitter in the hallways' during the opening sequence. - The reviewers expressed strong dislike for the main cast, stating they 'grew to hate these characters,' citing Captain Nala's incompetence and the lack of discipline in Starfleet Academy. - Despite the overall poor quality, Paul Giamatti's performance as Baraka was highlighted as 'one of the better parts of the series,' though his character's downfall was still criticized as silly. **Context:** The video is an angry review of the season finale of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a series the reviewers clearly consider a disappointment and a significant low point for the franchise. The discussion centers heavily on the perceived incompetence of the writing staff, particularly Alex Kurtzman, and the handling of high-stakes science fiction concepts, contrasting the show's teen drama focus with traditional Star Trek problem-solving. ## Detailed Analysis The Starfleet Academy season finale failed to redeem the series, earning a 2 out of 10 rating, as the central crisis involving the Omega 47 particles was resolved too simply: Caleb hacked the control signal, and Sam stabilized the particle, something the Borg could not do, using Reuben particles and information derived from the Doctor and Jaden. The major focus was a courtroom trial where Baraka presented his case against the Federation, but the writers undercut this by having the main characters poke holes in his logic, ultimately revealing his father caused the initial planetary destruction, forcing a resolution based on forgiveness rather than tactical victory. Reviewers widely panned the episode for relying on character specialties—Caleb's hacking, Sam's sudden scientific breakthrough, and T'Lyn's ability to filter sensor noise—rather than intelligent collaboration, feeling the main conflict was solved for them. Specific complaints included misspelling 'imminent' on a console, the bizarre use of physical rope to tow a starship, and the perceived failure to integrate the show's connection to Discovery by making spore drive unusable due to 'subspace frequency synchronization.' Paul Giamatti's portrayal of Baraka was praised, but the overall narrative structure, especially the forced teen drama involving the cadets hiding while the adults handled the crisis, was heavily criticized, leading both reviewers to state they have no interest in watching a potential Season 2. ### Finale Episode Verdict - Reviewers assigned the finale a 2/10, deeming the entire season a '1' or '2' out of 10, with the best part being Paul Giamatti's performance, noting the show rewards low-brow, surface-level drama over complex sci-fi problem-solving. ### Resolution of Omega 47 Threat - The most powerful molecule in the universe was stabilized by Sam using Reuben particles after the Doctor provided a solution, a feat far beyond what the Borg accomplished, which the reviewers found insulting to established canon. ### Baraka's Trial and Motivation - Baraka initiated a televised trial, but the heroes won by proving his father, not the Federation, caused the atmospheric ignition that led to his people's suffering; this revelation caused Baraka's allies to abandon him, leading to his arrest. ### Writing and Canon Failures - Specific writing errors included misspelling 'imminent' on a console and the plot device where the USS Discovery's spore drive was deemed unusable because 'the fields have synchronized in a subspace frequency' despite its established function. ### Character Development Criticism - Reviewers grew to hate the characters, citing Captain Nala's incompetence and the constant teen melodrama, such as hiding the cadets even though they proved capable, which was deemed 'pointless' setup for unnecessary drama. ### Production Insight - Director Jonathan Franks confirmed he resisted showrunner requests, specifically stating, 'I said, "Really? We're going to just throw glitter in the hallways?"' regarding the opening scene request.