Latest Star Trek reboot unveils human-alien lesbian romance amid criticism that it is too woke
The latest Star Trek reboot has unveiled a human-alien lesbian romance storyline amid criticism that the series is 'too woke'.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy premiered on Paramount+ last week to mixed reviews.
The series serves as a prequel to the Star Trek universe and is set in a school that trains Starfleet officers.
During a promotional interview with TV Insider for the series, stars Tig Notaro and Gina Yashere - who play human Jett Reno and alien Lura Thok - revealed their characters' romantic relationship.
'I didn't think our dynamic made sense at first because I thought I would be the more dominant personality in a relationship,' Notaro said.
'Honestly, when I watched it with my real wife, she was like "I love this dynamic," because my wife's feeling is to make a relationship work, one person needs to be a little scared of the other one.'
The show's first two episodes premiered on Paramount+ on January 15. A new episode airs every Thursday until the season finale on March 12.
A critic from the National Review called the series 'beyond terrible.' 'People will accuse Starfleet Academy of being “woke” - and it is in a number of cringey ways,' the review read.
StarTrek: Starfleet Academy stars Gina Yashere (left) and Tig Notaro (right) as Lura Thok and Jett Reno
The actors gushed over their characters' romantic relationship in an interview about the series
The new Paramount+ series explores the lives of the characters at Starfleet Academy
Starfleet Academy takes place in the 32nd century after 'the burn,' an event explored in another spin-off series, Star Trek: Discovery, also featuring Notaro.
Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter is the show's star, playing Captain Ake, the academy's newly minted leader.
The left-leaning Guardian gave a positive review of the first two episodes calling them 'earnest, formulaic and a little cheesy. In other words: classic Trek.'
IndieWire criticized the show's premise, writing: 'What’s unpalatable about the new “Star Trek” series is that it mainly cares about the franchise’s past, not the audience’s, and that imbalance makes for a bland, cautious adventure.
'"Starfleet Academy” is a genre hybrid: half science-fiction, half teen-drama. But only one of those halves is developed well enough to please its viewers, and it’s not the half that’s new to “Star Trek."'
Others have also weighed in online, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Yashere and Notaro revealed that their characters' have a romantic relationship in the series
Nichelle Nichols as Uhura and William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek
Starfleet Academy airs every Thursday on Paramount+
Musk said the characters 'banned Ozempic and LASIK' in response to a viral clip showing Captain Ake putting on glasses.
'Tragic. But it’s not too late for Paramount+ to save the franchise. Step 1: Reconcile with William Shatner and give him total creative control,' Miller added.
Shatner responded to Miller's plea, trolling the White House aide by writing: 'I am so on the same page with you! The fact that they have not cured Hyperopia by the 32rd Century is an abysmal oversight on the writers.'
Whoopi Goldberg, who played Guinan on Star Trek: The Next Generation, hit back at Miller and Musk on The View.
'As a Starfleet Academy member - please also allow me to respond. If you've never been asleep, you can't be woke.'
She then explained that Star Trek was created to promote co-existence and inclusivity.
William Shatner mocked Stephen Miller's critique of the new series on X
Yashere echoed a similar sentiment, telling CNN in a recent interview: 'Woke is a good word. It's been given negative connotations.
'But woke just means you're awake and aware of everything that's going on in the world around you.'
Robert Picardo, who plays The Doctor on Starfleet Academy and Voyager, argued on X: 'Long before the term existed, Star Trek's heart was "woke" & even though that word has been hijacked & made a cudgel to insult, to ridicule & - at the toxic extremes of social media - to justify prejudice & racism, Star Trek's heart is strong & still beating for those listening.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Paramount+ for comment.
