When Jean-Luc Picard was appointed captain of the USS Enterprise-D in 1987, there was loads of head-scratching amongst followers of Starfleet. Who was this bald French man with a distractingly English accent? Why did he speak like a Shakespearean actor, depart many of the planetary excursions and womanizing to his first officer, and have a penchant for classical music, archaeology and tea (ideally of the Earl Gray, sizzling selection)?
These questions have been requested as a result of Picard appeared galaxies away from his predecessor in “Star Trek”‘s massive chair, James Tiberius Kirk. However although Kirk’s popularity as a gung-ho, macho girls’ man is considerably exaggerated — he is additionally clever, calm underneath stress and one hell of a frontrunner — the distinction is intentional and essential.
The second “Trek” out of Spacedock was fast to ascertain the notion that each commanding officer could possibly be completely different, making it acceptable for every captain to do issues their very own approach. Briefly, Picard proved that you do not have to be a mini-Kirk to earn a spot in Starfleet’s corridor of fame. “Starfleet Academy”‘s Nahla Ake is the newest to go the well-known Kobayashi Maru command check, and an all-new sort of CO — although she shares most of the attributes of those that’ve boldly gone earlier than her. She’s additionally proven sufficient promise all through the primary season of the school-set spin-off to counsel she’s already worthy of a spot on the captains’ desk with the Federation’s MVPs.
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In fact, you do not recruit an actor of Holly Hunter’s Oscar-winning calibre, after which ask her to play some go-through-the-motions Federation jobsworth. Showrunner and franchise overseer Alex Kurtzman has described Ake as “nearly like an area hippy”, and her informal method to command is evident in the best way she walks the halls of the Academy barefoot. She additionally takes a deeply unconventional method to sitting within the captain’s chair — not even Will Riker’s famously eccentric relationship with seating can compete with the just about yoga-like poses she adopts on the bridge.
Being the captain of a starship is difficult sufficient, however Ake’s job description additionally consists of the extra position of “chancellor” of the Academy. Given her seemingly relaxed method to schooling, it could be straightforward for her to fall into the lure of changing into a kind of lecturers who tries a bit too exhausting to be associates with the scholars. However Ake’s approach too sensible and skilled to make that type of error.
That she’s so snug with youngsters — in a approach that Jean-Luc Picard by no means was, significantly throughout his early days on the Enterprise bridge — is especially spectacular seeing as she’s centuries outdated, courtesy of her Lanthanite heritage. She’s able to placing a reassuring arm around the shoulder — an echo of Kathryn Janeway’s administration fashion — but in addition is aware of when to maintain her distance. Certainly, she has the uncanny knack of being approachable with out diminishing her authority.
In consequence, you get the impression that her classes could be enjoyable, even when she has the unlucky behavior — à la Albus Dumbledore at Hogwarts — of placing her college students in hurt’s approach. The failed mission to the USS Miyazaki in “Come, Let’s Away” turned out to be the kind of studying expertise that is often greatest prevented.
That stated, breaking the odd rule is a part of what makes Ake tick. There is a lengthy custom of Starfleet commanders defying orders, whether or not it is a pre-captaincy Michael Burnham by chance kickstarting a battle with the Klingon Empire in “Discovery”, or Kirk stealing the Enterprise to rescue his late BFF in “The Seek for Spock”. However most of them save taking part in fast-and-loose with laws for a bona fide life-or-death scenario.
Not a lot Ake, who unashamedly does what she will be able to to get one over Commander Kelrec — her counterpart on the rival Struggle School — when the respective scholar our bodies get themselves caught up in an extremely low-stakes feud. Is it professional to help your young charges unleash an aggressive species of emotionally sensitive fungus (vitus reflux) in the pursuit of victory? Possibly not, but it’s good for them to know she has their back.
Besides, she’s crossed enough neutral zones and mediated enough disputes to recognize when the consequences of not breaking the rules are much greater than breaking them. She’s subsequently developed an extremely productive working relationship with her boss, Admiral Charles Vance — even when she takes the USS Athena on an off-the-books mission to rescue her kids in penultimate episode “300th Night”, he’s smart enough to give her some latitude to be, well, Nahla. He knows he’s not going to stop her doing her own thing, and simply reminds her that, if she strays into Venari Ral territory, she’s on her own. No Kirk-style court martial for her.
But it’s arguably when the chips are at their downest, when Nahla’s being held captive by her nemesis Nus Braka (played by another Hollywood heavyweight in Paul Giamatti), that the captain really earns that fourth pip on her uniform. Even when the Federation is in danger of being cut off from the rest of the galaxy by an excess of Omega 47 — and the Venari Ral crimelord is taunting her about the death of her son as part of his anti-Federation show trial — she has the presence of mind to deliver a rousing speech and buy enough time for her friends on board the Athena to unleash their countermeasures.
“There is so much anger in the universe,” she points out. “So much atrocity. All of it started with some guy saying what Nus is saying right now: ‘It’s us or them. Your hate will set you free.'”
She’s channeling Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Pike and every other heroic captain since via one of the most “Trek” messages imaginable — the idea that we’re stronger together. Her words even win over the Academy’s most cynical student, Caleb Mir: “She believes that we can make a difference. She listens.”
So while her style is different to all her predecessors — none of whom would ever have been caught stepping into a turbolift without their shoes on — she’s carrying their legacy into the 32nd century. And even after a mere 10 episodes in her company, it’s clear that Nahla Ake is capable of becoming one of the greats.
Every episode of “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” is now available to stream on Paramount+.
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