From the very beginning, Star Trek has been about exploring the unknown, and each new series has offered a unique take on that idea. But despite all the changes over the years, one type of character consistently appears. It’s not a starship, a computer, or even an immortal being like Q. Instead, Star Trek frequently features a character who is different – someone like Spock grappling with logic and emotion, or Data striving to be seen as more than just a machine. These ‘outsiders’ all share a common goal: to understand humanity and find acceptance, and they’ve been a consistent and relatable element throughout the franchise.
You know, it’s funny – the characters I always end up loving the most are the ones who don’t quite fit in, and this new character is totally that! She’s super outgoing, talks a mile a minute, and she’s just instantly likeable. Everyone’s calling her SAM – short for Series Acclimation Mil – and from what we’ve seen from Starfleet Academy, she’s definitely going to be something special, way more than just a typical cadet.
Star Trek’s Most Reliable Archetype
SAM, like characters such as Data, Spock, and Seven of Nine, is initially a bit of an outsider. She’s energetic and enthusiastic, perhaps even overwhelming at first – and that’s saying something, considering how similar she is to the Doctor! SAM is a Kasqian, meaning she’s a holographic lifeform designed to connect with living beings. She’s incredibly curious and eager to make friends, but she has a lot to learn about navigating the world and interacting with others.
It’s not surprising that many of the most beloved characters in Star Trek are those who feel like outsiders. They resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit in, and they make us think deeply about what it truly means to be human. Spock wasn’t simply an alien on the crew; he represented fundamental questions about logic, feelings, and who we are. Data wasn’t just a robot; he forced us to examine our own beliefs about life, what it means to be a person, and what’s right and wrong. Characters like the Emergency Medical Hologram and Seven of Nine continued this exploration, all asking the same core question: what makes someone a person, and who gets to define it?
Characters like Data and Spock were key to the thoughtful themes explored in Star Trek. By presenting characters who struggle to understand human actions, the show naturally led to discussions about complex topics like love, humor, morality, and free will. Data’s questions about laughter and Spock’s inquiries into grief encouraged viewers to think deeply about themselves and the world around them, prompting them to question their own beliefs.
Why Starfleet Academy Is the Perfect Setting For SAM’s Journey
Unlike Data, who was built to solve problems, or the Doctor, who was a medical professional, SAM was uniquely created to understand and experience life with people.
It’s hard not to sympathize with SAM. The person who created her designed her to feel like a normal teenager, despite only existing for four months – a decision that seems likely to cause problems. Unlike characters like Data or Spock, who had established skills or backgrounds, SAM is essentially experiencing everything for the first time. Kerrice Brooks delivers a fantastic performance, making SAM instantly likable. Her unwavering optimism and resilience make you root for her, feeling both her setbacks and celebrating her achievements.
As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I think Starfleet Academy is a brilliant place to develop a character like SAM. There’s something about school – it’s where you really figure out who you are. And SAM is thrown right into the thick of it, dealing with all the usual teenage awkwardness, hidden social rules, and cliques. It’s not just about learning Starfleet stuff; it’s about figuring out life as a young person, surrounded by others who are just as unsure and sometimes critical. Plus, this setting lets Star Trek ask some familiar questions in a whole new way. How does Starfleet support its new, unique cadets? Does SAM get the same chances to mess up, push boundaries, or change her mind as everyone else?
The conflicts in this show remind viewers of classic Star Trek episodes, but are presented in a new way, focusing on the challenges of growing up. Instead of legal battles over SAM’s rights, the series examines these issues through everyday experiences like friendships, competition, and making mistakes – the relatable, human moments that Star Trek always excels at. While Data was an adult trying to understand humans from an outside perspective, SAM is more like a child learning who they are and how to navigate life, often without the guidance they need.
What SAM Being The “New Data” Means for Star Trek in 2026
What really makes me excited about SAM as a character is how she takes the idea of artificial life in a new direction. We saw Data constantly trying to become more human, changing himself to fit in. But with SAM, it feels like her story is about self-acceptance and finding where she belongs as she is. She’s already built to feel human, which makes me wonder… if someone is programmed to have feelings, does that make those feelings any less genuine?
This storyline feels very modern for Star Trek. The AI, SAM, isn’t trying to become human by experiencing emotions; she’s trying to understand what her own form of humanity looks like. It’s a natural progression for Star Trek, which has long explored the idea that artificial life can be intelligent and deserves respect. But this story asks a new question: what happens when that artificial life integrates into the world and finds its place within it?
While SAM isn’t simply a new version of Data, each Star Trek series features a character who challenges us with difficult questions. In the 2026 series, those questions have shifted. Instead of asking if machines can become human, the focus is on what it means to be human when artificial intelligence exists and the line between living beings and machines becomes increasingly unclear. SAM captures both the fears and the potential of this new reality, feeling both familiar and relevant to today’s world.
The success of Starfleet Academy will likely be thanks to Kerrice Brooks and her performance as SAM. She’s become the most relatable character on the show, and she’s continuing a tradition started by Leonard Nimoy and others: exploring what it means to be human through the perspective of someone who sees things differently—but this time, from within our society rather than as an observer.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Darkwood Trunk Location in Hytale
- How To Watch A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Online And Stream The Game Of Thrones Spinoff From Anywhere
- Hytale: Upgrade All Workbenches to Max Level, Materials Guide
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Daredevil Is Entering a New Era With a Chilling New Villain (And We Have A First Look) (Exclusive)
- Olympian Katie Ledecky Details Her Gold Medal-Winning Training Regimen
- RHOBH’s Jennifer Tilly Reacts to Sutton Stracke “Snapping” at Her
- The Rip Ending Explained: Who’s The Traitor (And What Those Tattoos Are About) In Ben Affleck And Matt Damon Thriller
- Arc Raiders Guide – All Workbenches And How To Upgrade Them
2026-01-18 23:42