“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” is concluding after its second season, primarily due to insufficient viewership.
The series, which incorporated a drag queen and diversity training themes, apparently didn’t resonate with many viewers. While its first season earned a respectable 87% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it failed to make it onto the Nielson Top 10 streaming viewership charts, as reported by Variety.
Set in the 32nd century, “Starfleet Academy” follows the inaugural class of students and teachers at the restored academy, which was picked up by Paramount+ in 2023. Interestingly, the second season was greenlit before the first season even aired, yet it didn’t gain much traction.
There were initially high expectations. Variety’s Aramide Tinubu referred to it as a “delightful entry point” into the expansive Star Trek universe. However, the show didn’t quite click with the audience.
In a joint statement, CBS Studios and Paramount+ expressed pride in the creativity and ambition behind “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.” They mentioned the introduction of new characters and acknowledged the contributions of the cast and crew, even as the show wraps up unexpectedly.
The statement continued, thanking those who were part of the project despite the sudden cancellation. They emphasized the intent to share the upcoming second and final season while celebrating the achievements realized during the show’s run.
William Shatner, who famously portrayed Captain James T. Kirk, reacted to the cancellation on X, expressing his disappointment. He had hoped for a longer life for this segment of the franchise. Shatner mentioned having previously poked fun at a particular clip but clarified that his viewing of the show was limited to that moment and snippets from other series for his documentaries.
The first season of “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” premiered in January, with its finale airing on March 12. As it stands, production for the second season is completed, marking the end of the series.
