The cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has yet to be announced, but Mary Wiseman’s Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly should definitely be a part of it.
Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5
Summary
- Tilly’s rise from eager cadet to First Officer makes her a perfect fit for the face of Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century.
- As a key player in the Starfleet Academy’s future, Tilly’s absence from the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy would be striking.
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will feature a massive set and new cadets facing a mysterious threat, and Tilly’s experience on Discovery would be needed.
Star Trek: Discovery has set up Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) as the face of Starfleet Academy in the 32nd century, and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy would feel incomplete without her. Introduced in Discovery season 1 as an overeager Starfleet cadet, Tilly has come a long way since her earliest days on the show. Her friendship with Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) helped both characters grow, as Tilly gained confidence and Michael let her guard down. Although Tilly initially wanted to be a Starfleet Captain one day, she began exploring other interests when the USS Discovery traveled 930 years into the future.
In the 32nd century of Star Trek: Discovery, Lt. Sylvia Tilly’s past in theoretical engineering has proven useful on multiple occasions, and she briefly served as First Officer under Captain Saru (Doug Jones). As Tilly began to step outside of her comfort zone, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) recommended her as a potential consultant for Starfleet Academy. Tilly then led a team of cadets, along with Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio), in a team-building exercise that turned dangerous. After Tilly ensured that the cadets survived by working together, Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) offered her a teaching position at Starfleet Academy, which she accepted.
Starfleet Academy Series Has To Include Star Trek: Discovery’s Tilly
Tilly is the perfect character to carry on Star Trek: Discovery’s legacy.
Over Star Trek: Discovery’s four seasons so far, Tilly remains one of Star Trek’s most relatable characters. Her positive energy is infectious, which has often proved useful as the USS Discovery crew has faced multiple extinction-level threats. In leading the cadet team-building exercise, Tilly proved herself as a teacher and a leader. In her most recent appearances on Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Tilly has shared how much she loves teaching at Starfleet Academy, and it would be a shame if fans never got to see her in action as an instructor.
Tilly has become a crucial player in the Starfleet Academy of the 32nd century.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is meant to appeal to both new viewers and dedicated Trekkies, and a familiar face might help bridge the gap between Star Trek: Discovery and the newest Star Trek show. Plus, Tilly’s appearance on Starfleet Academy would also open up the possibilities for more Discovery characters to appear. Tilly could ask her fellow Discovery crewmembers to help with cadet training exercises, for example, or Michael Burnham could require Tilly’s expertise. Tilly has become a crucial player in the Starfleet Academy of the 32nd century, so her absence from the upcoming Star Trek:Starfleet Academy show would feel particularly glaring.
What We Know About Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Very little has been revealed about the Star Trek: Discovery spin-off.
In their Star Trek cover story, Variety revealed more information about the franchise’s upcoming projects, including Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. It had been long suspected that Starfleet Academy would serve as a spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery, and take place in the 32nd century. This was confirmed to be the case, and more hints were revealed about the show’s setting and set pieces. Following young cadets embarking on their Starfleet journey for the first time, Starfleet Academy will be set in San Francisco, but executive producer Alex Kurtzman confirms there will still be starships.
The cadets in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will face an unknown new adversary that threatens the entire Federation.
The main set for the Academy itself is reportedly Star Trek’s biggest set ever, described as “a sprawling, two-story structure that will include a mess hall, amphitheater, trees, catwalks, [and] multiple classrooms.” Star Trek: Lower Decks star Tawny Newsome (who voices Lt. Beckett Mariner) serves as a writer on Starfleet Academy, and she has shared her excitement for the new show in multiple interviews. With its cast of cadets, Starfleet Academy is meant to appeal to young adults in a way no other Star Trek show has, and Star Trek: Discovery’s Lt. Sylvia Tilly simply must be a part of it.
