Holly Hunter-led Starfleet Academy hailed as best modern Star Trek series

Collider's review of the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy calls it the best Star Trek series of the modern era, praising a cast led by Academy Award winner Holly Hunter.

The review says the show is set in the 32nd century after the fourth season of Star Trek: Discovery and follows the first class of cadets at the newly reopened academy in the wake of "The Burn." Hunter plays Chancellor Nahla Ake; Sandro Rosta's Caleb Mir, Paul Giamatti's space pirate Nus Braka, returning actors Robert Picardo and Tig Notaro, and Gina Yashere are highlighted among the instructors and antagonists. The review notes a large ensemble of cadets — including characters played by Bella Shepard, Kerrice Brooks, George Hawkins, Karim Diane, and Zoë Steiner — and calls the series both a fresh entry point and a love letter to earlier franchise entries.

Having seen the first six episodes, the reviewer praises Hunter's magnetic performance and the show's blend of episodic and serialized storytelling, humor, romance, and high-stakes action. The first two episodes of Starfleet Academy premiere on Paramount+ on January 15, 2026, with weekly episodes to follow.

Key Topics

Culture, Starfleet Academy, Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, Star Trek, The Burn