At a Glance
- Holly Hunter’s Captain Nahla Ake lounges barefoot, curls up in chairs, and shrugs off Starfleet decorum
- The 32nd-century setting shows a Federation rebuilt after Discovery-era upheaval
- Ake’s laid-back style contrasts with past buttoned-up captains like Picard or Janeway
- Why it matters: Signals a youth-skewing, rule-bending reinvention of the venerable sci-fi franchise
The first two episodes of Starfleet Academy make one thing clear: this is not your parents’ Star Trek. Where classic series prized protocol and polished uniforms, the new Paramount+ drama spotlights hormonal cadets and a captain who kicks off her boots on the bridge. That captain-Holly Hunter’s Nahla Ake-steals the show with a slouchy, barefoot charisma that thumbs its nose at six decades of Starfleet tradition.
A Captain Who Refuses to Sit Up Straight
Hunter plays Ake as dual chancellor of the revived Starfleet Academy and commanding officer of the USS Athena. A half-Lanthanite who has lived for centuries, she once followed judicial orders that forced her to quit Starfleet in disillusionment. Fifteen years later, the Federation lures her back to rebuild the Academy in the 32nd century, a timeframe previously explored in the back half of Star Trek: Discovery.
The actress leans into the character’s age and stature. At 5′2″, Ake is often framed against torsos twice her size, emphasizing her small physical presence. Yet she dominates every room by draping herself over furniture like a house cat. One early bridge scene shows her lowering the captain’s chair to its minimum height, propping her feet on an armrest, and later reclining with a book. Her private office overflows with chaises and sofas that she curls up on throughout the six episodes screened for press.
Costume choices reinforce the casual vibe. Ake trades regulation boots for bare feet the moment the Athena docks in San Francisco. She pairs chunky glasses and flowing dresses with her red command tunic, sending a visual signal that rules are optional. The effect feels like an intentional counterpoint to the ram-rod posture of Picard or the crisp salutes of earlier eras.
From Rule-Abider to Rule-Bender
The series flashes back to Ake’s earlier Starfleet career, showing a by-the-book officer who upheld a broken status quo. That experience soured her on protocol. Now, she treats the captain’s chair as living-room furniture and invites cadets to see her as an approachable aunt rather than a distant authority figure. The approach mirrors early Voyager beats where Captain Janeway questioned whether traditional command structures could survive 70,000 light-years from headquarters, but pushes the looseness further.
Cameron R. Hayes, writing for News Of Fort Worth, notes that every Star Trek captain claims a quirk-Picard had tea, Sisko cooked, Janeway loved coffee. Ake’s trademark is finding inventive ways to hang off her furniture, a running gag that feels both playful and pointed. The posture sends a message: the Federation’s newest generation will not be confined by the rigid discipline that defined Kirk or Spock.
Youthful Cadets Drive the Rebellion
The cadets themselves amplify the anti-establishment tone. They sport hormonal emotions and sullen distrust of elders, a deliberate departure from the measured professionalism fans expect. The show baits longtime viewers by letting these “damn youths” shrug off Starfleet etiquette, then dares them to complain. Hunter’s Ake provides adult cover for the rebellion, modeling relaxed authority rather than barking orders.
The dynamic fuels the series’ mission: re-establish the Academy after a period of galactic upheaval. Ake’s barefoot, book-reading leadership style becomes a teaching tool, showing students they can be comfortable with their commandant and, by extension, with a more flexible Federation.
Key Takeaways
- Starfleet Academy trades pristine uniforms for bare feet and slouchy chairs
- Holly Hunter’s centuries-old captain embodies the show’s laid-back 32nd-century tone
- The series targets younger viewers by letting cadets and faculty flout classic protocol
- Ake’s furniture-perching habit becomes the latest in a long line of iconic captain quirks
