Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is now available with a Paramount+ subscription, and while some choose to focus on critic reviews and review bombing, others are just happy that new Trek is finally airing on the 2026 TV schedule. I'm loving the series so far because I love the new characters introduced on this show, especially Gina Yashere's Lieutenant Commander Lura Thok.
Thok initially raised eyebrows among Trekkies when it was revealed she was a female Jem'Hadar/Klingon hybrid, but she's quickly become a fan favorite character of the new series. Thok has the brash and angry nature of both species down pat, and I had to know if Yashere came up with how to play the role after watching the species in previous Trek shows or just came up with it on her own. The actress shocked me with her response, revealing she used Full Metal Jacket as inspiration for her audition because she didn't know it was for the franchise:
