The Star Trek universe is continuing to expand with the announcement of a brand-new spinoff, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is already promising to be the most unique series in the franchise's decades-long history. Set in the distant 32nd century after the events of Star Trek: Discovery, Starfleet Academy will chronicle the return of the Earth's most important educational institution as it begins training its first class of new recruits in 100 years. Unlike the host of other Trek series in the past, Starfleet Academy will shake up the formula and take place exclusively on Earth.

The massive time jump in Star Trek: Discovery took viewers further ahead in the Star Trek timeline than ever before, and introduced a 32nd century that was not the utopian vision of Gene Roddenberry. Despite this departure from the ideals of Star Trek's thesis statement in Discovery, Starfleet Academy has the opportunity to rebuild...