Star Trek Just Had Its Best Captain Catchphrase Since Picard’s “Engage”

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The command to initiate warp speed has become a key part of what defines a Star Trek captain. Patrick Stewart, as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, really made it famous by saying “engage” with a powerful and commanding tone.

Recent Star Trek series have playfully updated the classic command to initiate warp speed. We’ve seen variations like Michael Burnham’s somewhat corny “let’s fly,” Christopher Pike’s straightforward “hit it,” and Cristóbal Rios’ impressively cool “¡Dale!”

Taking care of young, emotional cadets on the USS Athena has kept Captain Nahla Ake, played by Holly Hunter, from developing a memorable catchphrase of her own, but the last episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy gives another character a truly fantastic signature line.

Jett Reno Gets A Truly Great Warp Catchphrase In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Tig Notaro’s character, Jett Reno, usually isn’t in charge, but in the final episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, she unexpectedly becomes captain of the USS Athena – or what’s left of it. As captain, Reno directs Cadet Reymi to warp the ship into a fight, successfully disabling a dangerous field of Omega 47 mines surrounding Nus Braka and saving the day.

Being in charge can really get to people, as we see with Cadet Lythe’s unexpected need to use the restroom. It’s obvious Reno wasn’t ready for such a surprising moment, but Notaro’s character quickly delivers a witty command that perfectly captures Reno’s personality and brings a smile to your face.

The line, ‘Now show me pretty streaks of light,’ perfectly captures Reno’s dry wit and sarcastic humor. While it’s a bit lengthy and clumsy compared to typical captain’s orders, that actually fits her personality – she’s unconcerned with politeness or following social norms. Just like Reno isn’t a typical Starfleet officer, the phrase is an unconventional ‘catchphrase’.

Starfleet Academy Has Been Huge For Tig Notaro’s Jett Reno

Jett Reno, played by Tig Notaro, was a consistently enjoyable character on Star Trek: Discovery, providing a down-to-earth and witty perspective amidst the show’s often chaotic events. However, with so many characters, Jett Reno wasn’t a main player, and the series didn’t have many opportunities to fully explore her background or personality.

Reno feels more fully developed in the first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy than she was throughout her time on Discovery. Her new job as a teacher brings out a side of her we hadn’t seen before – she’s more caring, thoughtful, and takes on a mentor-like role. On Discovery, Notaro’s character was mostly portrayed as a tough, unconventional rule-breaker.

Jett Reno also had a romantic relationship with Lura Thok. While Star Trek: Starfleet Academy only shows brief scenes of them together, those moments hint at a tender, meaningful, and unusual connection between the two. It’s worth remembering that Lura Thok is part-Klingon, and Jett Reno previously lost her wife during the Klingon-Federation war depicted in Star Trek: Discovery.

As the final battle of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy begins, Jett Reno steps up as a leader. She doesn’t give grand speeches or offer lavish praise, but she’s skilled at understanding what her cadets need to hear. Sometimes it’s a bit of self-deprecating humor, like when she talks about her own shuttle crashes, and other times it’s a dose of practical advice to help Caleb Mir stay focused on the mission.

Jett Reno is a fantastic, yet often overlooked, character in Star Trek. However, her unique spin on the classic captain’s command – “Now, show me pretty streaks of light” – is a truly memorable moment that fans will likely remember for a long time.

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2026-03-14 20:45