Star Trek: Discovery’s Spiritual Successor Almost Makes Up For No Season 6

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The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery felt rushed to many viewers. Jonathan Frakes, a well-known figure in the franchise, later revealed the finale was filmed before anyone knew it would be the show’s last episode. It seemed Captain Burnham and her team still had plenty of stories to tell and characters to develop.

It’s a shame that Star Trek: Discovery won’t have a sixth season, but the franchise has a history of bringing back its stories in unexpected ways. We might even see continuations like Star Trek: Burnham or Trouble in Paradise: The Saru Story decades from now. For now, a new series carries on the spirit of Discovery, and while it doesn’t fully replace a sixth season, it’s a good successor to the show.

Starfleet Academy Feels Like The Spiritual Successor To Star Trek: Discovery

Image via Paramount

Even before the first episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premiered on Paramount+ on January 15th, fans knew the show would include characters from Star Trek: Discovery and take place in the same future timeline. But it wasn’t until watching those initial episodes that it became obvious Starfleet Academy is essentially a continuation of the Discovery story.

Besides quick appearances by Tig Notaro’s Reno and a future role for Mary Wiseman’s Tilly, Admiral Vance plays a surprisingly important part in the first two episodes of Starfleet Academy. While he first seems to only be there to find Nahla Ake’s character to lead the show, the second episode puts Vance at the center of the story as a negotiator for the Federation.

What truly links Starfleet Academy to Discovery isn’t the actors, but the stories it tells. The show revisits the Burn – the major event from Discovery‘s third season – and the attempt to bring Betazed back into the Federation mirrors the situation with Ni’Var in Star Trek: Discovery season 4, raising similar political and ethical challenges.

The new series isn’t simply a teenage version of Star Trek. It delves into darker themes like the harsh realities of penal colonies and Starfleet’s actions after the Burn, thanks to the protagonist Caleb’s difficult past. The villain, played by Paul Giamatti, feels reminiscent of Osyraa from Star Trek: Discovery, and the central mystery surrounding Caleb’s mother shares similarities with the Red Angel storyline from Discovery, as it’s a major puzzle tied to his family.

Though set in a school environment with younger characters, Starfleet Academy clearly draws heavily from Star Trek: Discovery, and this influence will become even more apparent as the season progresses.

Starfleet Academy Sets Up An Even Bigger Link To Discovery

The U.S.S. Athena, Starfleet’s brand new training vessel, is a fully functional starship that immediately runs into problems in the first episode. When the Athena requests assistance, the show reveals that the Discovery – equipped with its unique spore drive – is currently undergoing repairs and can’t come to the rescue.

While it makes sense that the Discovery wasn’t involved in the Starfleet Academy episode, that can’t continue forever. Eventually, when someone needs help in space – like Athena – people will naturally call for assistance, and the Discovery will likely be the first ship to respond.

Because Starfleet Academy is now able to send people off-site, and the Discovery is currently an operating starship during this period in Star Trek history, there’s a good chance Burnham’s ship will become important to the Academy’s future. While this might not happen immediately in the first season—the show needs time to find its footing—it’s likely to occur as the series progresses.

This creates opportunities for more guest appearances from characters like Reno, Tilly, and Vance, plus further developments regarding the Discovery’s location and continuing stories with the beloved crew. While Starfleet Academy isn’t a sixth season of Star Trek: Discovery, it definitely helps satisfy fans’ desire for more content.

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2026-01-17 16:48