Starfleet Academy Episode 5 Review: Star Trek Finally Examines What Happened to Captain Sisko

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The latest episode of Starfleet Academy concludes with a thoughtful reflection on love. Despite criticism from some modern Star Trek fans, “Series Acclimation Mil” demonstrates the creators’ genuine love for the franchise. The episode’s main character attempts to unravel a long-standing mystery – what actually happened to Benjamin Sisko, a question fans have pondered for over 25 years.

According to accounts from behind-the-scenes documentaries and retrospectives, Deep Space Nine co-creator Michael Piller gave Ira Steven Behr full creative control of the show. Knowing it was the third live-action Star Trek series, Behr aimed to move beyond the optimistic vision established by Gene Roddenberry. This level of creative consistency was unprecedented, even compared to The Original Series. Now, Starfleet Academy is the first story to explore what happened to Captain Sisko after the events of the Deep Space Nine finale, and it handles his story with great care. It turns out Starfleet doesn’t know any more than the fans do. The series follows SAM, a 217-day-old artificial lifeform, as she tries to uncover the truth, drawing parallels between herself and Sisko as an emissary. With assistance from two beloved Star Trek characters, she finds some answers and provides fans with a satisfying resolution.

‘Series Acclimation Mil’ Starts With an ‘Annoying’ Trope, Then Earns Its Use

The episode begins with a technique common among those who grew up sharing their thoughts on social media: Sam appears to speak directly to the audience, introducing herself, her job, and her anxieties about succeeding. However, the final scene reveals she wasn’t addressing viewers at all—she was talking to herself, imagining a conversation with Captain Sisko. This mirrors a previous scene where she visited a museum exhibit dedicated to the famous Starfleet Captain.

This storytelling technique is common in all Star Trek series, mirroring the use of “log” entries where characters, often the captain, provide background information through narration. This explains why scenes showing SAM connecting with her fellow cadets are just as crucial as the mystery surrounding Sisko. It highlights a connection: both Sisko and SAM are defined by more than just their official roles. Like Sisko, who depended on his family and crew, SAM needs her new friends to succeed in her mission and to build a meaningful life.

“Series Acclimation Mil” represents the best of what a show like Starfleet Academy can offer, especially for dedicated Star Trek fans. Even newcomers, much like the character SAM, will likely be captivated by the mysteries it presents. This episode mirrors classic moments like when characters from The Original Series appeared in The Next Generation, or the “Trials and Tribble-ations” episode of Deep Space Nine. These connections enrich the Star Trek universe in both directions, and are a key reason why the franchise continues to thrive after 60 years.

Starfleet Academy Brings Back Two Iconic Star Trek Actors to Unite Its Past and Future

This episode was written by two people with a long history with Star Trek: Kirsten Beyer and Tawny Newsome. Newsome, who played Beckett Mariner, is a well-known Star Trek enthusiast – fans of the show’s commentaries will know that! So, it makes sense she’s now playing Dax, but with a twist. This version of Dax, set in the 32nd century, isn’t just Trill anymore. Like previous characters such as Lura Thok and Nus Braka, this Dax is formed from the combined essences of many different species.

While the new Dax host is enjoyable, the return of Jake Sisko is truly special, and his appearance is the most meaningful part of the episode. Although Dax shares a longer history with Benjamin Sisko, Jake was the person closest to him in his life. Despite Sisko’s dedication to Starfleet and his duties as the Emissary, being a father to Jake was his most important role. SAM learning about Sisko through his memories of his father in the museum provided the most crucial insight into her fellow Emissary. (And it’s also worth noting Sisko’s strong opinions on tomatoes in gumbo!)

Starfleet Academy carefully avoids definitively resolving Sisko’s story. This ambiguity means his ultimate fate is still a mystery to Starfleet, just as it is for viewers. However, those who knew Sisko well – like Dax and Jake – likely have a clearer understanding. The extent of their knowledge, and whether they’ve had any further contact with him since he entered the Celestial Temple, is left open to interpretation.

Dedicated to Avery Brooks, This Episode Fixes His Biggest Gripe About Sisko’s Fate

This episode is a heartfelt tribute to Avery Brooks, just as much as it is to Deep Space Nine overall. Brooks wasn’t just a key figure on screen; he also became a leader behind the scenes, even directing some of the show’s most impactful episodes. Though he’s retired from acting and didn’t appear in this episode, his absence actually made it more meaningful. It gave Cirroc Lofton, who shared a close bond with Brooks similar to the one between their characters, the opportunity to pay tribute to both the man and the character he portrayed.

Avery Brooks was likely disappointed with the series finale, despite understanding the story’s need for Sisko to join the Prophets. As both a groundbreaking Black captain and a positive father figure, Brooks disliked the idea of Benjamin leaving his family behind. Later, through a connection established in a novel, Jake tells SAM he constantly felt his father’s presence, even if he couldn’t prove it. This detail acknowledges Brooks’s concern about Benjamin abandoning his son while still honoring the show’s ending.

Jonathan Brooks directed a particularly memorable and impactful episode of Deep Space Nine. It retold the story of Benny Russell, a 20th-century science fiction writer who faced prejudice and was often dismissed, but who envisioned a future with someone like Captain Sisko. The episode “Series Acclimation Mil” continues this theme more explicitly. SAM, a photonic lifeform rejected by her creators, is another example of how Star Trek can empower people to reach their full potential. Hopefully, Starfleet Academy and the many Star Trek shows over the last six decades can have the same effect on all of us.

New episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy are now available on Paramount+ every Thursday, along with all episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

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2026-02-05 11:11