Episode 6 Intense Starfleet Academy

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 6 – “Come On, Let’s Go”Zoë Steiner and Sandro Rosta were very happy to receive it Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to another level in episode 6. Written by Kenneth Lin & Kiley Rossetter, and directed by Larry Teng, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 upped the ante when the villainous Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti) caused Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) and Starfleet Academy to suffer a tragic defeat.

At the end Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6, Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner) is in a coma after releasing her Betazoid psychic abilities to save Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) and his fellow cadets. However, one of Tarima’s classmates at War College dies tragically, the Series Acclimation Mil aka SAM (Kerrice Brooks) is badly damaged, and Nus Braka escapes with a secret weapon to use against Starfleet.

Screen Rant’s John Orquiola had the pleasure of chatting with Zoë Steiner and Sandro Rosta to discuss Caleb and Tarima’s love story, Jonathan Frakes’ reaction to Star Trek’s new version of Riker and Troi, and why Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 raises the stakes for the back half of season 1.

Tarima & Caleb Had Great On-Screen Chemistry in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Zoë Steiner’s Tarima Sadal was introduced in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 2, and there was an immediate spark with Sandro Rosta’s Caleb Mir. They consummate their relationship Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6, which showcases real chemistry between Steiner and Rosta. The two actors discuss what makes each other bring out the best:

Zoë Steiner: For me, Sandro is extraordinary. He’s an amazing actor. So be present and give. That makes it easier for me. I have my work cut out for me in that regard. So I think the chemistry happened naturally.

Sandro Rosta: Zoe underestimates herself significantly. I think Zoe is perfect for the job she does. I feel, as an actor, I’m at my best when working with better actors, and I consider Zoe to be a much better actor than I am. I think it’s just a mutual respect, a shared sense of how we want this to reach those who are watching. I think it’s just a good collaboration in the best way.

But There’s One Awkward Thing About Caleb & Tarima’s Love Scene

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 6’s opening love scene between Tarima and Caleb has one awkward aspect: They’re in the room Caleb shares with Tarima’s brother, Ocam (Romeo Carere). Mir grew up on the run across the galaxy for 15 years and never had his own bed before, so Ocam even helped Caleb make his bed.

Sandro Rosta laughed about how Ocam reacted to Caleb and his sister: “That’s a fun fanfiction that we can look into someday. But no, I don’t think Ocam helped make my bed afterwards. I think Ocam is a very busy guy. He’s kind of stupid, but, as we know, he’s a joiner, and he likes to get involved in his extracurricular activities. He probably just likes messing around with the Andorians or something.”

Jonathan Frakes Says Caleb Is A Lucky Man For Dating A Betazoid

Jonathan Frakes directs the upcoming film Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 9. Of course, Frakes plays Commander Will Riker, who has a very popular romance with a Betazoid, Councilor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). Zoë Steiner and Sandro Rosta said that Frakes couldn’t resist telling them about it “knowledge,” and called Caleb Sandro “lucky guy” For “dating Betazoid’s daughter.”

Zoë Steiner: Yes, I remember the first day I met Jonathan. I tried to remember the exact words he said. It felt great to meet me, and he couldn’t wait to collaborate. And like, ‘Did you know that my character was involved with Betazoid?’ He said something like, ‘I really like Betazoid.’

Sandro Rosta: He also said something similar to me. We’re shooting episode 9, and Frakes is a really interesting guy. And he’ll just put his arm around you and whisper in your ear, like a little bit of his knowledge. He said something very similar to me, like, ‘You know, you do what I used to do. You’re dating Betazoid’s daughter.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, right.’ He was like, ‘You’re a lucky guy. I know how it feels.’

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 6 Is a Game Changer

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 had the impossible task of following up on the show’s previous episodes, which were a joyous tribute to Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. However, “Come on, Let’s Go” takes time Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to another level of drama, action and intensity.

ScreenRant: This was a great, amazing episode. And one of the things I loved was the loss of Starfleet Academy. That shit is real. You got kicked. That’s great. What was it like reading the script?

Zoe Steiner: Yes, thank you for saying that. I’m so excited for fans and viewers to see this episode, because, as you said, the stakes are so high. I hope and I think a lot of people watching will appreciate it. I think this show is on a lot of different levels. There’s excitement and nostalgia in episode five. And then, we get to episode six, and it’s a very different episode. I love the script and the writing, because they have allowed the cadets to, time and time again, rise up and face challenges in these very, very real situations. You know, this is not a simulation.

Sandro Rosta: I’ll just repeat what Zoë said. I’m excited for fans to see the change in tone and the change in stakes. Until now. Starfleet Academy has a very light, almost whimsical, and wonderful feel, and that’s good because that’s what it comes across in a lot of ways, as it should. But our shows also have real variation in the number of tones and storytelling. Seeing his reaction will be very interesting.

Zoë Steiner and Sandro Rosta Love Playing Intense Scenes Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 6

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 puts Caleb, Tarima, and the cadets in great danger. Tarima risks herself and unleashes her full Betazoid powers to save Caleb and their friends. Zoë Steiner says Tarima let herself go “very” fun to play. “You mentioned Tarima being able to use her powers. Of course, as an actor, it was a gift and a dream come true to have a character with real depth and arc that I could, as you said, dive into. I could explore her emotional landscape, and play with her to discover her powers.”

Sandro Rosta agrees: “Yeah, who wouldn’t want to be a hostage to a scary alien zombie creature? It’s fun. I think the pace of watching TV can be blinding sometimes. So, those times where you have to try something new, sometimes you have to go off instinct. And whatever your instincts tell you, you have to go with it. I think it was one of those times.”

Rostra explained, “I already know who Caleb is. He’s not the type of person who likes to be pushed around, but at the same time, he’s in a situation where he has to cooperate. And he’s going to die, and the people around him are going to die, if he doesn’t. So, it’s really interesting to see that tug-of-war inside and see what happens on screen.”

Zoë Steiner’s Amazing Basketball Stunts Were Inspired By Sigourney Weaver In Alien: Resurrection

In the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 3, Zoë Steiner pulls off a jaw-dropping stunt where she dunks a basketball over her head without looking. Desir Steiner was inspired by Sigourney Weaver who performed as Ellen Ripley Alien: Resurrection. Despite sharing her accomplishments on her social media, Steiner has yet to hear from Sigourney: “I’m still waiting for that call, John.”

Zoë Steiner explains how the stunt came about, revealing that she’s always been an athlete, and it paid off when it did Star Trek: Starfleet Academy wrote Tarima to play basketball: “I played basketball when I was a kid, competitively, and I was really excited when I got the script [for episode 3]. There are many things [and it] everyone just lines up. They can choose any sport, I mean, it’s the world of basketball. I’m very happy and excited to play again.”

Zoë Steiner: “The photo was definitely not scripted at all. I was just scrolling through TikTok one night, and an interview with Sigourney came up and reminded me of that amazing shot she did in Alien: Resurrection. And I was just like, ‘Wait, can I do that?’ As soon as it came into my head, I couldn’t sleep. And then for days afterward, I couldn’t let it go. And I thought, ‘Well, I won’t know unless I try.’ So I called Romeo, and we played for a while at a field near where I was staying, and tried it out for a bit. And I can do it. I got it a few times. So I thought, ‘It’s possible. Practice more.’

And then they introduced, a few weeks before we shot, that it would be a [3D] A cool and aesthetic print ball is definitely perfect. It’s not the easiest ball to play. This is very, very, very different. There are no reflections whatsoever. Literally, you have to hit it for it to come back up. So it creates a few obstacles in the process. But everything worked out that day.

I won’t say who it was, but literally, right before we started shooting, a crew member came up to me, and they said, ‘You know, there’s a bet going on.’ I laugh. I thought they were joking. And they’re like, ‘Uh, there’s a bet on whether you’re going to make it or not. And then another thing happened [of] how much time will it take.’ And then they just leave. I was like, ‘Great, I really want to know that information before we start rolling it out.’ But I only had to log in once, and I did it. So I’m proud of myself, and I think it’s a nice tribute to Sigourney, of course.

Check out the rest of us Star Trek: Starfleet Academy interview:

Release Date

January 15, 2026

Network

Most importantly+

Show runner

Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau

Director

Douglas Aarniokoski

Writer

Alex Taub, Tawny Newsome, Kirsten Beyer, Jane Maggs, Kiley Rossetter

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