Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Episode 9 Review: 300th Night

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Episode 9, “300th Night,” is a thrilling penultimate episode that sets the stage for the grand finale. It’s easily one of the strongest outings (along with last week’s “The Life of the Stars”) of the season thus far, although the bar, admittedly, isn’t that high. There’s plenty to love about this series, but it’s a bit rough at times. That said, the potential is there. Nahla Ake, in particular, is a fascinating and memorable captain in Star Trek canon. But this writer digresses.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, “300th Night”

It’s about time the series refocused on Caleb and his missing mother. Well, and as a Tatiana Maslany fan (Orphan Black forever), I was excited to see her return to the fold. Maslany doesn’t disappoint. She delivers moving work during her brief time on screen (and serves in that cute Romulan pixie cut). She leaves an indelible impression and is, as usual, a scene stealer. 

Holly Hunter is also a force of nature. Her understated, grounded approach to her scenes makes her feel more natural. Trek can be over-the-top and operatic at times, but Hunter keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground. It’s the smaller moments for Nahla in “300th Night,” notably when she realizes what Nus Braka is trying to accomplish and her reunion with Anisha Mir, that really land. 

Kerrice Brooks seamlessly readjusts her approach to SAM in “300th Night.” Admittedly, SAM has always been a favorite, even when she was the awkward, boisterous photonic of the first eight episodes. However, Brooks still plays this version of SAM with vim and vigor, but there’s more focus to her. SAM feels less directionless and even closer in personality to her dad, The Doctor. 

R’uustai

Jay-Den’s Klingon bonding ceremony really cements the friendship between our core cadets. Their closeness feels tangible now. You see it in Caleb’s lambasting of Darem, SAM, and Genesis on Ukeck (a planet with a marketplace that feels distinctly Star Wars-esque).

He exposes their insecurities, not to mock them but to push them away so he can leave with his mom. He harbors a deep love for his friends, but Anisha’s repulsion of all things Federation means he plans to sacrifice his tenure at the academy to be with her. 

That said, “300th Night” muddies the waters regarding perceived loyalties. It feels like Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is about to throw a character or two under the betrayal bus, as it were.

For example, we could learn that Anisha is more attached to Nus than previously thought. Her story about faking her death during her prison escape smacks of suspicion. Genesis also raised a few alarms for this writer. Genesis, in particular, might be an intriguing heel turn if done well. After all, she’s spent the entire season fostering relationships with these cadets. 

All About Control

Ultimately, Nus is the one coming out on top (for now). The seeds of his audacious plan were planted as early as episode six, when he explained to Nahla that his father advised him to seize power by controlling the flow of traffic. “300th Night” raises the narrative stakes significantly by threatening a Burn 2.0. Nus has cordoned off Federation space with his Omega-47 mines, and now the Athena is stranded sans nacelles. 

Admittedly, this would’ve made a better origin story for the original Burn, but the threat of a second wave in a Federation and Starfleet still in recovery mode works, too. Regardless, “300th Night” is well-paced and filled to the brim with action and fun character beats (although you still can’t get me to care about Caleb/Tarima). It seems like the series is finally finding its footing. Here’s hoping it doesn’t trip over its own feet in the season finale. 

Stray Observations: 

• Specialist Krebs and his Talaxian Furfly are an amazing running gag. I hope we never actually see him, and that the disgruntled Digital Dean of Students continues to announce his hijinks throughout Season 2. Let’s keep that running gag, you know, running. 
• As a girlie with a musical name, I fear that “When I look at you, that’s what I see — music” would work on me something fierce.
• I would love to party in Starfleet Academy’s hallowed halls. It looks like a club. 
• I, too, forgot that Vulcan is now called Ni’Var. 
• You’d think one would know better than to mess around with the Omega molecule. 
• If we don’t get a Discovery cameo in the season finale, I might riot. Jett makes the distress call, after all. 

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