35 Years On, Star Trek Finally Honors An Underrated Next Generation Legend

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As Star Trek seems to be moving on from the Kurtzman years, you’d expect the franchise to be all about what’s next. But the new show, Starfleet Academy, is surprisingly focused on celebrating its history. It’s not just a cameo, either – Robert Picardo is bringing back the Doctor, and we’re seeing nods to beloved characters like Wesley Crusher and, believe it or not, Admiral Harry Kim! It feels like a real effort to connect with what fans already love about Star Trek.

A recently released clip promoting the upcoming two-part episode on January 15th reveals another subtle nod to a beloved, but often forgotten, character from The Next Generation and Voyager: Mr. Boothy. This reference is a great way to establish the tone of Starfleet Academy as it launches into what’s planned to be at least a two-year story arc.

How Starfleet Academy Honors TNG’s Mr Boothby (And Why)

A new clip from Starfleet Academy shows Gina Yashere as Commander Lura Thok, a tough instructor who enjoys intimidating her students. While Lura Thok, a Klingon/Jem’Hadar hybrid, mostly provides comic relief, the scene offers a good look at her character. Interestingly, the training takes place in Boothby Memorial Park, a clever nod to a significant, yet often overlooked, character from Star Trek. You can watch the clip here:

In the Next Generation episode “Final Mission,” we first learn about Boothby when the injured Captain Picard asks Wesley Crusher to find him, describing him as “one of the wisest men [he] ever knew.” This establishes Boothby as the Starfleet groundskeeper. It speaks volumes about Picard’s character that he values Boothby for his wisdom, not his position or authority, and that he remembered him so fondly after all those years. The show’s creators clearly feel the same way – and for good reason.

Though he only appeared briefly in The Next Generation, Boothby was a crucial figure in shaping Jean-Luc Picard’s early life. The character, memorably played by Ray Walston (who passed away in January 2001, over 25 years ago), was largely forgotten until recent appearances in Voyager and Lower Decks. In Voyager, he resurfaced as a mentor to both Chakotay and Janeway, and even appeared as an alien copy and a hologram. While these later roles were interesting, they never fully acknowledged his importance. The recent tribute at Starfleet Academy is therefore a welcome and fitting recognition of his influence.

The new series, Starfleet Academy, arrives on Paramount+ this Thursday, January 15th. I gave it a 3.5-star rating – you can read my review here. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-14 19:10