IR TV Review: STAR TREK - STARFLEET ACADEMY - EPISODE 4 (“Vox In Excelsio”) [Paramount+]

Depending on the trajectory, sometimes the best Star Trek episodes can be ones that have a greater semblance of structure but focus on one character coming to terms with their own reality. With Episode 4 of "Starfleet Academy" entitled "Vox In Excelsio", what begins as a class focus element of debate led by The Doctor (Robert Picardo), becomes in a way an existential progression for sole Klingon cadet Jay-Den Kragg (Karim Diane). His path is a long way off from Worf's in TNG and yet the mythology that comes into play doesn't feel as forced as that once was. There is a father and son story to be told but also the essence of brothers...and yet this feels much smoother while still filled with just as much strife. It uses the Kiingon code in a different and subtle way and yet in the final moments makes it more obtuse because that is what is needed.

Again Holly Hunter as Chancellor Ake uses some interesting angles to approach what she does and yet, as one scene shows, she is flawed too and doesn't necessarily achieve the exact path she needs to get to. That is why the way Kraag has to see life and how he speaks (since he rarely does) makes a difference as the episode goes on. It puts Caleb (Sandro Rosta) in his place and knocks him down a notch. What the writing in these last two episodes is starting to show is that the Academy (through Ake's guidance) needs to deconstruct the cadets and rebuild them, not to change them, but to reveal who they truly are. That is inherent strength of this specific series' storytelling. A late episode impart by Lura Thok (Gina Yashere) in her half Klingon ways shows exactly what Kraag might not be able to see. That makes the final moments, which doesn't rewrite the book but more truly understands it, feel all the more earned. A-

By Tim Wassberg