Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's Solution To The Klingon Problem, Explained

Shields up! This article contains spoilers for episode 4 of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."

"Star Trek" has always had a Klingon "problem," but never really to this extent. Once upon a time, the species of forehead-ridged extraterrestrials stood as an allegory for the most terrifying of geopolitical conflicts: the Soviet Union locking horns with the United States during the Cold War. Over the decades, however, the Klingons' narrative purpose in the "Star Trek franchise has evolved nearly as much as their physical appearance. By the time shows like "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine," "Voyager," and especially "Discovery" arrived, the role the Klingons had come to play would seem downright unrecognizable compared to Gene Roddenberry's original vision. The fourth episode of "Starfleet Academy" has now taken the "Star Trek" species into the far-flung future, and the results are, fittingly, complicated.

The most controversial choice in this young adult-skewing series might be the new status quo surrounding the Klingons — now an endangered species on the verge of total extinction — and the lengths Starfleet goes to in order to find a solution. When a refugee ship carrying the last remnants of the Klingon Great Houses is feared to be destroyed, the Federation attempts to relocate survivors to a new home world ... which the proud aliens refuse to accept. Episode 4, titled "Vox in Excelso," begins with Klingon cadet Jay-Den (Karim Diané) struggling to express himself publicly in debate class and ends with him grappling with the very real possibility of his entire family (and species) ceasing to exist in a post-Burn galaxy.

"Starfleet Academy" takes the opportunity to approach this topic exactly as you'd expect it to: with an earnest, emotional debate for the ages and a final diplomatic twist that's as vintage "Star Trek" as it gets.

Maybe Klingons aren't as outdated a concept as some "Star Trek" fans have feared lately. Though obviously a fan-favorite hallmark of the franchise, do Klingons still offer anything new? "Starfleet Academy" answers in the affirmative. The addition of Jay-Den in "Starfleet Academy" is a novel one, as he represents the sole Klingon cadet following their devastation during the Burn — which, apparently, claimed countless lives, both on their original home world of Qo'noS and around the galaxy at large. When his own family appears to be lost, Jay-Den buries his anguish under preparation for the Academy's upcoming debate ... and, unexpectedly, insists on arguing against the position of Starfleet intervention and resettling the remaining Klingons on the newly-discovered planet Faan Alpha.

Jay-Den's anxiety-ridden journey to discovering his own voice is the emotional backbone of the hour, while the arrival of de facto Klingon leader Obel Wocak (David Keeley) and his stubbornness to accept Federation "charity" makes up the philosophical quandary to be solved. Just as Jay-Den is constantly talked over and dismissed by his classmates leading up to the big debate, including his well-intentioned friend Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta), the disaffected Klingon survivors remain at odds with the Federation deciding their fate on behalf of themselves. Offering the planet as a gift might as well be spitting in the face of the honorable warriors, even though refusing Starfleet's offer would almost certainly spell their own destruction.

Naturally, Jay-Den figures out a compromise to allow both sides to save face. On paper, Starfleet engaging in a faux battle against the Klingon fleet and losing — that is, meeting another culture on their own level and accepting what makes them who they are — is quintessential "Trek." The execution, however, proves tricky.

Throughout this week's "Starfleet Academy," the nature of communication and the idea of fighting with words rather than weapons remain at the forefront. As we saw previously this season, Starfleet was able to bring the Betazeds into the fold through passionate debate and backing it up with action. Before that, Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) convinced Caleb to join her in the Academy simply by meeting him where he was. "Vox in Excelso" keeps this going with its ultimate conclusion, as Jay-Den's speech inspires him to have Starfleet gracefully lose a "battle" against Klingon warships and cede ownership of Faan Alpha as a war prize.

But what better way to discuss this conclusion than through a debate of our own? Although presented as a perfect middle ground, did anyone else find it somewhat patronizing to the Klingons? One reading of this episode is that Starfleet takes on a role similar to the modern-day United States, perpetually deciding for others how to conduct themselves. In this case, the Federation compels the Klingons into complying by playing along with their traditions and tricking them into doing what Starfleet wanted all along. But here's a crucial counterpoint: The episode makes a point of validating the Klingon way of life through Jay-Den, who seeks to reconcile his Starfleet ambitions with his cultural roots in both the present and the various flashbacks. He's the one to propose this radical solution, and Obel knowingly agrees as a gesture of good faith. That's diplomacy.

Either way, "Starfleet Academy" continues to embody the ideals the "Star Trek" franchise is known for. In this case, cultural exchange and mutual understanding brings two uneasy allies together. It's as "Trek" as it gets, folks.

"Starfleet Academy" is streaming on Paramount+.