Starfleet Academy Recreates the Worst Part of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
By Chris Snellgrove | Published
When it comes to NuTrek, a common refrain from critics (myself included) is that Star Trek no longer feels like it did back in the golden days of shows like Deep Space Nine. However, the latest episode of Starfleet Academy“Series Acclimation Mil,” proved that we critics should be careful what we wish for. That’s because it accidentally recreated the worst part Deep Space Nine: combining an important, character-driven A Plot with one of the dumbest B Plots ever written.
First, a bit of context: back in the Golden Age of Star Trek, the writers usually combined two main stories in any given episode. The most important issue was named Structure A, and the least important issue was designated as Structure B. This storytelling structure often works because it gives the ensemble more to do while giving viewers an additional story, which they may find more interesting than the main plot.
That Face When You See A B-Building That Doesn’t Look Like You
However, this storytelling approach falls apart when the A Plot and B Plot don’t match at all, resulting in an episode that feels oddly disjointed. Deep Space Nine had many examples of this: in “Life Support,” a Plot about Bashir’s attempt to revive one of Bajor’s most important spiritual leaders after his death is paired with a B Plot where Jake has to explain to Nog that he is scaring the plows with his constant mistreatment of the Ferengi.
In “Call To Arms,” the A Plot is the long-awaited attack on the Empire. IB Plot is about encouraging Rom and Leeta, Casablanca-quoting marriage.
For me, it’s very different Deep Space Nine The all-time episode is “Doctor Bashir, I Presume?,” whose plot revolves around revealing that Dr. Bashir divorced his parents because they “fixed” him with genetic engineering when he was young. A moving episode about family trauma that completely changes our understanding of the main character. Unfortunately, it’s also the episode where the guy who built the Emergency Medical Hologram wishes to be sedated, and focuses on Leeta, who is written to be almost comically stupid.
Star Trek’s Most Ambitious New A Plot
So, what does this all have to do with it? Starfleet Academy? The latest episode “Series Acclimation Mil” had an amazing plot about a SAM cadet investigating Sisko’s final fate; his research helps him (and viewers) learn more about Sisko’s accomplishments, his personality, and the titanic legacy he left behind. Along the way, we get cameos from big names like Jake Sisko and the latest incarnation of Dax, all while SAM learns more about what it means to be a messenger from his holographic world to the Federation.
Unfortunately (and somewhat inexplicably), it’s paired with a B-plan about Chancellor Ake trying to help Commander Nelrec prepare to host a visiting dignitary. To do this, he throws a rehearsal dinner, which is an excuse for everyone except Nelrec to crack some weird jokes and engage in comedy (no, really). The climax of the scene is a fish that suddenly blows up, and the other three officers (with about 1,500 years of collective wisdom between them all) start laughing uncontrollably at the fish making a loud noise.
Shark, When the Rest of the Episode Is Stupid
That’s right with violence it’s not funny and it’s almost weird, but the bonkers B Plot is an episode and every episode. After all, among the most important things going down with Sisko, we have cadets cleaning up glitter and a digital ship captain making jokes about morning wood. As a viewer who enjoyed all the Sisko-related fan service, I was shocked that the episode kept slipping into a joke that would be more relevant to a show like. Beavis and Butt-Head.
However, in an almost unintentional irony, the “Series Acclimation Mill” managed to honor it even worse part of Deep Space Nineand that’s the stupidest pairing of a Strong Plot with a B Plot that writers can come up with. This makes the storytelling frustrating, of course, but this practice was very prevalent during the Golden Age of Star Trek. Starfleet Academy now it has proven that it can do what DS9 did so badly; with any luck, these new writers will be able to deliver what DS9 did well, which was tell good stories. outside an embarrassing stick of d*ck jokes and a fart.
