The latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy centers on the mystery surrounding Deep Space Nine’s beloved captain Benjamin Sisko — and even includes a cameo of sorts from actor Avery Brooks.
Warning! Spoilers for Starfleet Academy follow:
Starfleet Academy’s fifth episode, Series Acclimation Mill, was released today, and follows some notable hints by the show that it would reveal more about Sisko’s fate. Indeed, the story does include new details on what happened next to Sisko’s family following the events of Deep Space Nine’s finale, which saw Sisko leave the physical plane to go live in a wormhole — while promising one day to return.
As Starfleet Academy’s new character SAM investigates what happened, viewers get to see Ben’s son Jake appear in hologram form (played by returning DS9 actor Cirroc Lofton) and meet a new incarnation of Trill lifeform Dax, both of whom reveal new detail on life after Deep Space Nine’s credits rolled.
The adult Jake hologram is shown to have grown up as a successful writer, continuing on from his work as a journalist in later DS9 episodes. He also reveals that he is now a father, and is following the fine example that his own father set. As of the hologram’s recording, it certainly seems like Sisko has not returned at this point.
Later in the episode, SAM meets Illa Dax, a new host of the symbiote who was previously good friends with Ben as hosts Curzon, Jadzia, and Ezri. (In a nice touch, Illa is also Cardassian!) Now 1,250 years old, Dax still holds warm memories of Ben — though again the suggestion here is that Ben still has not returned.
But as the episode reaches its closing moments, Star Trek fans do get to hear from Sisko. While unseen, Avery delivers the following words — the first time his voice has been heard within Star Trek in a quarter of a century:
“Divine laws are simpler than human ones, which is why it takes a lifetime to be able to understand them. Only love can understand them. Only love can interpret these words as they were meant to be interpreted.”
As reported by ComicBook, this dialogue is taken from a spoken word album that the 77-year-old Brooks recorded back in 2007, partially in tribute to his own father. While not originally intended for use in Star Trek, Paramount contacted Brooks — who formally retired from acting in 2013 — who then granted permission for its use in the episode.
The episode then closes with the Deep Space Nine theme, as a title card displays the simple message: “Thank you, Avery.”
As tributes go, it’s a moving moment clearly designed as a farewell to Sisko’s character, in an episode centered on the idea of finding identity, and the legacy of fathers. And while Avery may not have come out of retirement to appear in person, fans who long wondered whether Sisko ultimately did return to his family now have more of an answer.
“Starfleet Academy is off to a strong start,” IGN wrote in our review of its first two episodes. “While the pilot episode falls into a bit of the shock-and-awe trap that modern Star Trek sometimes does, it soon settles into a fun and exciting story that establishes the endearing young cast and direction of the new show.”
Image credit: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
The latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy centers on the mystery surrounding Deep Space Nine’s beloved captain Benjamin Sisko — and even includes a cameo of sorts from actor Avery Brooks.
Warning! Spoilers for Starfleet Academy follow:
Starfleet Academy’s fifth episode, Series Acclimation Mill, was released today, and follows some notable hints by the show that it would reveal more about Sisko’s fate. Indeed, the story does include new details on what happened next to Sisko’s family following the events of Deep Space Nine’s finale, which saw Sisko leave the physical plane to go live in a wormhole — while promising one day to return.
As Starfleet Academy’s new character SAM investigates what happened, viewers get to see Ben’s son Jake appear in hologram form (played by returning DS9 actor Cirroc Lofton) and meet a new incarnation of Trill lifeform Dax, both of whom reveal new detail on life after Deep Space Nine’s credits rolled.
The adult Jake hologram is shown to have grown up as a successful writer, continuing on from his work as a journalist in later DS9 episodes. He also reveals that he is now a father, and is following the fine example that his own father set. As of the hologram’s recording, it certainly seems like Sisko has not returned at this point.
Later in the episode, SAM meets Illa Dax, a new host of the symbiote who was previously good friends with Ben as hosts Curzon, Jadzia, and Ezri. (In a nice touch, Illa is also Cardassian!) Now 1,250 years old, Dax still holds warm memories of Ben — though again the suggestion here is that Ben still has not returned.
But as the episode reaches its closing moments, Star Trek fans do get to hear from Sisko. While unseen, Avery delivers the following words — the first time his voice has been heard within Star Trek in a quarter of a century:
“Divine laws are simpler than human ones, which is why it takes a lifetime to be able to understand them. Only love can understand them. Only love can interpret these words as they were meant to be interpreted.”
As reported by ComicBook, this dialogue is taken from a spoken word album that the 77-year-old Brooks recorded back in 2007, partially in tribute to his own father. While not originally intended for use in Star Trek, Paramount contacted Brooks — who formally retired from acting in 2013 — who then granted permission for its use in the episode.
The episode then closes with the Deep Space Nine theme, as a title card displays the simple message: “Thank you, Avery.”
As tributes go, it’s a moving moment clearly designed as a farewell to Sisko’s character, in an episode centered on the idea of finding identity, and the legacy of fathers. And while Avery may not have come out of retirement to appear in person, fans who long wondered whether Sisko ultimately did return to his family now have more of an answer.
“Starfleet Academy is off to a strong start,” IGN wrote in our review of its first two episodes. “While the pilot episode falls into a bit of the shock-and-awe trap that modern Star Trek sometimes does, it soon settles into a fun and exciting story that establishes the endearing young cast and direction of the new show.”
Image credit: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social