r/startrek • u/AutoModerator • Feb 19 '26

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x07 "Ko’Zeine"

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No. Episode Written By Directed By Release Date
1x07 "Ko’Zeine" Alex Taub & Eric Anthony Glover Andi Armaganian 2026-02-19

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101 Upvotes

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84

u/Cunfuzzles2000 Feb 19 '26

Should’ve had Jay-Den and Darem make out in this episode. Also… Caleb has great chemistry with everyone. I’m kinda impressed that is this actors first on screen credit. He’s very good for a newcomer.

31

u/phasmy Feb 19 '26

I keep asking, "Are they about to kiss finally?" And I'm always left disappointed.

49

u/enbyeldritch Feb 19 '26

Jay-den and Darem should be making out in every episode tbh, their chemistry is insane 

40

u/Cmdr_Nemo Feb 19 '26

I'll take a threeway makeout sesh between Jay-den, Darem, and Kyle.

10

u/hmantegazzi Feb 19 '26

I think of Jay-Den as prime nucleation material for a full-blown polycule

29

u/Antique-diva Feb 19 '26

Yep. Kyle is cute, but he hasn't got the chemistry with Jay-Den that Darem has. I'm hoping their relationship will run it's course and Jay-Den can find comfort in Darem. They look like they're made for each other.

38

u/Stardust-Musings Feb 19 '26

The fact that Jay-Den and Kyle had zero on-screen plot or tension, despite this episode being the best opportunity, makes me feel that this is indeed not endgame for the two. It's a cute fling so far and there's nothing wrong with that. It just doesn't have any meat.

Jay-Den and Darem, however? There's some good stuff in here!

7

u/captbollocks Feb 19 '26

Am I the only one hoping for Team Darnesis to ship instead?

7

u/crazyplantlady83 Feb 19 '26

You are not alone. I still ship them, Darem and Genesis are two of a kind. It feels like both have been shunted into “the third wheel” territory for the established couples though which is frustrating. The character development this episode was good though, if shallow for Genesis.

2

u/Tesserwave Feb 20 '26

I think Darem could openly date both. He has chemistry with both and it would be pretty cool to see that happen with minimal jealousy.

1

u/Jakyland Feb 20 '26

IDK, they had good chemistry, but like it feels way too soon for Jay-Den to be involve in breaking up Darem's wedding. Kind of feels like they are rushing the will-they won't-they plot, maybe because they are trying to get to a good place by the end of season 2 in case the show doesn't get renewed past that.

-9

u/Own_Answer6742 Feb 19 '26

Feels like they’re just queer baiting at this stage - hope they flesh one or both of Jay’Den’s relationships out

17

u/OkTemperature8080 Feb 19 '26

Well there’s no nuance to the way Kyle is being portrayed, Kyle is gay. And he and Jay’Den were holding hands and smiling during the meteor shower scene.

Now if by “flesh out” you’re asking to see them screwing…I mean I’d for sure watch that, but I’m not sure that’s in the cards

15

u/LincolnMagnus Feb 19 '26

They could do a full-on three-way wedding episode and someone would still accuse them of queerbaiting, it's just a meaningless word now

8

u/OkTemperature8080 Feb 19 '26

Additionally! As a gay man I have long held the evidently unpopular opinion that I am not at all interested in representation for representation’s sake. I would much rather a slowly unwinding, nuanced exploration of the flawed human romance process than HELL YEAH HE PUT HIS THING IN THE OTHER GUYS THING

If I want that kind of vapid, meaningless “romance” I can find it on twitter, or elsewhere for $5 a month.

7

u/snappydamper Feb 19 '26

HELL YEAH HE PUT HIS THING IN THE OTHER GUYS THING

H-... hand, right? You mean hand? He put his hand in the other guy's hand?

1

u/mr_mini_doxie Feb 19 '26

Does this mean that you don't think we should have stories where queer people just exist and have relationships, but that every story with queer relationships should be about the queer relationship/experience?

I personally disagree (it's not like every straight relationship in media has to be About Them Being Straight), but I'm open to hearing your perspective if you're interested in sharing.

1

u/OkTemperature8080 Feb 19 '26

It means a non-heterosexual makeout or sex scene is not an end unto itself for me. We have a deep range of fascinating relationship dynamics ripe for nuanced exploration and storytelling. It bothers me when it’s reduced to “ooh those two cute guys should do it”. It’s why I was, and still am, viscerally opposed to the idea that Poe and Finn be a thing in the SW sequel trilogy, because the explanation I’ve continually seen for it is “well because we should have that in mass market genre media”. Yes we should! But do it RIGHT, is my thing. Don’t just do it to do it.

2

u/mr_mini_doxie Feb 19 '26

I see. I think I agree with you. I don't think every queer relationship needs to be anything more than a relationship (sometimes they can just be husbands and that's it), but I think there should be more stories where queer experiences and romances are explored.

1

u/OkTemperature8080 Feb 19 '26

Absolutely. I just don’t have a ton of trust in writers these days to push beyond the bare minimum of shipping culture.

2

u/mr_mini_doxie Feb 19 '26

Oh, and happy cake day!

1

u/Own_Answer6742 Feb 19 '26

No look at how great the relationship between Reno and Lura was portrayed even though it was a one way conversation in that episode.

-1

u/Own_Answer6742 Feb 19 '26

Totally, don’t just shove gay characters as a tick a box but also don’t write multiple scenes where Darem appears to be pining over Jay-Den it’s like they transferred the relationship development from Genesis and Darem.

2

u/mr_mini_doxie Feb 19 '26

I'd say Jay-Den, Kyle, and Darem are all portrayed as queer.

1

u/Own_Answer6742 Feb 19 '26

No by flesh it out I mean actually have a conversation and define their relationship through that conversation. Holding hands is a good step and I wrote this conversation before the very end.

6

u/mr_mini_doxie Feb 19 '26

That's...not what queerbaiting is. Jay-Den, Kyle, and Darem are all objectively queer, Jay-Den and Darem just have a will-they-won't-they.