Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Vitus Reflux

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Episode 3, “Vitus Reflux,” injects the narrative with unexpected joyousness and playful energy. Most of the outing doesn’t feel like “traditional” Star Trek (in terms of what we’ve seen thus far), but something entirely new. After all, change is a fulcrum of this franchise. As we boldly go into the future, so must Trek. 

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, “Vitus Reflux” 

Therefore, it takes a beat to adjust to “Vitus Reflux.” You strip away the titular school, and one might assume this is simply a young adult-themed series set in the far future. It’s understandable why the major focus on the cadets and their burgeoning relationships requires a bit of an adjustment. 

Admittedly, the show hasn’t yet figured out how to balance the teen drama and the Trek of it all. It’s only the third episode, though, so we cannot expect perfection out of the gate. Pacing-wise, “Vitus Reflux” is a bit uneven. It’s not until the Ocean’s Eleven nod as Genesis walks the crew through pranking the War College that it really kicks into high gear. 

“Vitus Reflux” isn’t afraid to have fun. It doesn’t pull punches on the jokes front. In fact, there’s something Star Trek: Lower Decks-esque about its style of humor. After the Academy wins the prank war, a moving string arrangement complements the episode’s ultimate lesson, as presented by our eccentric and intrepid Captain Nahla Ake. 

Empathy and Patience 

For those on the fence, this moment should persuade them that the new series embraces the tenets of Trek, regardless of how “different” it comes across. Nahla drives home the importance of putting empathy and patience into practice. These traits are inherently Starfleet, and a stark reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

Holly Hunter is utterly charming as usual. She’s a breath of fresh air and steals every scene she’s in. We love an unconventional captain. She harbors easygoing chemistry with Sandro Rosta. Rosta is consistently excellent as Caleb, although he takes a backseat for the most part, giving George Hawkins more time to shine as Darem. Darem receives the bulk of the character development in “Vitus Reflux,” and it certainly endears us to him. 

Control and Mirrors

Meanwhile, the episode’s conflict between Caleb and Tarima feels a little too contrived. It doesn’t ring true, even for teens. Although perhaps this writer is simply too old to relate to something like this. That said, Tarima’s desire to control her overwhelming emotions could be an intriguing narrative angle to explore. 

Caleb and Darem serve as fascinating mirrors to each other in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Well, only in the sense that both are learning to be team players.

Where they diverge is their respective backgrounds. Darem tells Genesis about growing up playing a “fancy instrument” on Khionia (a new planet in the franchise), living with his wealthy parents, while other children starved in this post-Burn universe. Elsewhere, Caleb spends his traumatic childhood in survival mode. Initially, he resists the idea of teamwork. This is understandable, given that he spent said childhood doing what he could to see another day. 

By the episode’s end, Caleb slowly warms up to his new friends and his team. It takes an inspiring speech from Nahla to steer him in the right direction. This is one of the best parts of the episode — Nahla’s rousing words of motivation. 

Balancing Act 

Some elements of this Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode are a bit cheesy. But even “traditional” Trek can bask in the cheesiness, right? It’s a balancing act that “Vitus Reflux” doesn’t always pull off successfully; however, like the double-episode series premiere, there’s potential for growth. We have interesting new characters, beloved franchise vets (although Robert Picardo is sorely missed in this outing), and fascinating lore to explore in the farthest point in the timeline. 

All the elements are there for a truly great Trek series. Here’s hoping they gel together in the coming episodes. 

Stray Observations: 

• I value my sleep too much to get my ass up willingly at 4:30 AM. But more power to Genesis and Darem. 
• I appreciate, admire, and relate to Nahla Ake’s allergy to sitting normally in a chair. 
• Heated Rivalry has taken over my brain to the point that I’m seeing “heated rivalries” in every character dynamic. Caleb and B’Avi, the Vulcan dude from the War College? Bring it on. 
• As a GERD girlie, Vitus Reflux sounds like an offshoot of acid reflux. 
• The Digital Dean of Students’ announcements are fun little inserts. Go, Stephen Colbert, go. 
• Klingons and their blood… 
• I’m loving the Lura Thok and Jett Reno as a couple. They’re adorable. 

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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy streams new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+.

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