Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 7 Review — Ko’Zeine

Ah, the seventh episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, titled “Ko’Zeine.” It’s time to slow the warp speed down a notch, folks! After the thrill ride that was the previous episode, “Come, Let’s Away,” we’ve entered a calmer zone. And while it’s not a bad hour, it’s like settling into an old, worn couch after a whirlwind adventure—comfortable but missing the excitement. As everyone prepares for the spring semester holiday, our cadets are attempting to keep their sanity intact. Poor Caleb is sweating bullets over whether he should ring up Tarima, who’s now back on Betazed recovering from her implant removal (and slaying some alien bad guys in the process). Good news: she’s out of her coma! Go team! Meanwhile, Sam’s still experiencing some glitches—thanks, injuries! Everyone is also in a heavy cloud of sorrow, mourning not just their pal B’Avi from War College, but also the illusion of safety they’ve been living in. With Nus Braka’s plot forcing them into adulthood overnight, it’s high time they face reality, even if they’d rather not. Why doesn’t “Ko’Zeine” address the fallout more directly, you ask? Well, there’s been a time jump, folks! About a month has passed since we last tuned in. We breezed past the aftermath of that explosive episode where Braka made off with the goods, and missed a heap of juicy dialogue that could’ve clarified the Federation’s response. We’re left feeling like we’ve skipped a chapter in the drama! Let’s break down the episode, shall we? We’re treated to two parallel stories that run through this hour. The first one drags Darem back to the Khonian Realm. Why? To celebrate his sealing with a woman we’ve never even heard of—talk about a surprise engagement! Jay-Den, thinking his buddy was in some sort of abduction situation, tags along, and thus begins a fantastic cultural crash course, where we discover that Darem has a surprisingly sweet side. Jay-Den has to step into his role as the “Ko’Zeine” or Best Man, and things get delightfully complicated. Of course, their interactions bubble with all the charming awkwardness expected from young adult fiction. Who knew being a best man would come with such emotional baggage? As the chemistry between the duo sparks, we can’t help but root for them—especially since one is tied to a fiancée and the other has a crush back home. Talk about messy love triangles! Meanwhile, on another side of the Academy, Caleb and Genesis are holding down the fort, opting to stick around instead of going off to join the festivities. Caleb snubs his nose at the foster family’s offer while Genesis is clearly dodging something, making her excuse about a ‘last-minute obligation’ sound like a trip to the dentist. The two are all set for a weekend of fun and rule-bending—and who could resist that? Genesis, despite being part of the main crew, remains a mystery so far. But “Ko’Zeine” finally spills some of her secrets. Turns out, she doesn’t even belong in the Academy! She’s altered her recommendations to get in and is terrified of not living up to her father’s high expectations. Ake, in an epic move, wants to push her into the Academy’s elite pre-command track, which sounds like an intense boot camp for future captains. Now, all of this sounds innocent until Genesis freaks out and concocts an elaborate scheme involving Caleb, a captain’s chair, and a cloned key to cover up her little white lie. I mean, who hasn’t felt the heat of an impending doom based on expectations? As she struggles to maintain her “got it all together” image, we get a glimpse of her inner turmoil. The parallels between Genesis and Darem’s stories shine through as they wrestle with their fears and societal pressures. Are they truly on the paths they want, or are they shrinking to fit into someone else’s idea of them? Questions every young adult faces, even in the farthest reaches of space! The episode wraps up with Darem breaking off his engagement (who knew best man duties could lead to such wild decisions?) and his royal status, while Genesis gets booted from her dream captain’s track. Both stumbles mark failures in a way, but also open the door for fresh starts. Talk about taking the leap—who knows what awaits them next! Make sure to catch fresh episodes of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy every Thursday on Paramount+, culminating in the exciting finale on March 12.