Summary
Star Trek: Starfleet Academyshould have a helpful groundskeeper like Boothby (Ray Walston) fromStar Trek: The Next Generation. Although not much has been revealed about the upcomingStarfleet Academyseries,it has been confirmed that the series will be set in the 32nd century as a direct spin-off ofStar Trek: Discovery.Star Trek’snewest show will reportedly feature a massive set for the main Academy building, which will be located in San Francisco just like the original Starfleet Academy campus.
PreviousStar Trekshows have only shown glimpses of Starfleet Academy, such as inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 5, episode 19, “The First Duty” when Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) visits afterCadet Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton)is in a training accident. While there,Picard catches up with the Academy’s head groundskeeper, Boothby, who once offered advice to a younger Jean-Luc.Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) had also crossed paths with Boothby while at the Academy. Although Boothby only appeared in one episode ofTNGand two ofStar Trek: Voyager(as a duplicate or in a vision), he left quite a lasting impression.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academywill be the firstStar Trektelevision series set at Starfleet Academy, as well as the first show geared toward a young adult audience.
Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show
Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new streaming and theatrical movies.
Who Was Boothby In Star Trek: The Next Generation?
“He’s the groundskeeper. One of the wisest men I ever knew.”
As Starfleet Academy’s groundskeeper, Boothby was always around on campus, ready to offer advice to any young Starfleet cadets who needed it. Even after becoming Captain of the USS Enterprise-D, Picard still considered Boothby to be"one of the wisest men [he] ever knew.“With this high praise, Picard told Wesley Crusher to seek out the groundskeeper upon arriving at Starfleet Academy.Although there were likely more efficient ways to tend to Starfleet Academy’s grounds during the 24th century, Boothby preferred to do his work by hand.Boothby may have been cranky on occasion, but he clearly cared about the cadets and often followed their careers.
When Picard approached Boothby inTNG’s"The First Duty,” he wanted to thank the groundskeeper for helping him graduate, but Boothby said that watching Picard’s soaring career had been thanks enough. Much likeGuinan (Whoopi Goldberg)on the USS Enterprise-D,Boothby may not have officially been a counselor, but he had the ability to help people see their problems from a new perspective.While aboard the USS Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, Chakotay recreated a hologram of Boothby to serve as his boxing coach, and he later saw the groundskeeper in a vision quest. While the young Janeway was at the Academy, Boothby regularly brought her fresh roses.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Casts Holly Hunter As Series Lead
Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter joins Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as the series lead, playing a Captain and the Academy’s Chancellor.
Will Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Get Its Own Boothby?
Could Boothby’s descendants have followed in their ancestor’s footsteps?
The Starfleet Academy of the 32nd century has only recently been reopened after the devastation caused by the Burn, so it will likely be very different from the Academy shown in past series. Not only has the technology advanced significantly since the 24th century, but Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets are both still in the process of rebuilding.While there is likely no need for a human (or alien) groundskeeper to maintain the Academy’s grounds,Star Trek:Starfleet Academyshould still have a character like Boothby.Starfleet needs intelligent, talented officers more than ever, and a character like Boothby could help shapehistory-making Starfleet cadets.
Whether one of Boothby’s descendants has continued the family business or an android was created to fulfill a similar purpose, a groundskeeper is the perfect position for a wise advice-giver.Starfleet Academy is likely one of the most difficult periods for many young cadets, as they struggle to figure out how they want to spend the rest of their lives. Many of them will need someone like Boothby to help them through their Academy years. In only a few scenes, Starfleet Academy’s groundskeeper became a memorable and fully realized character, andStar Trek: Starfleet Academyshould definitely get its own Boothby.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will premiere at a future date on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Cast
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy follows a group of cadets as they embark on their journey to become Starfleet officers. Facing the challenges of friendship, rivalry, and romance, they confront a new enemy endangering the Academy and the Federation under the guidance of their rigorous instructors.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
