Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's first season features a standout episode, "Series Acclimation Mil," which has been hailed as a significant high point in the franchise's 60-year history. This unique fifth episode sees Kerrice Brooks' holographic character, SAM, break the fourth wall to embark on a compelling journey to unravel the mystery of Captain Benjamin Sisko, a beloved figure from Deep Space Nine. The episode pays a touching homage to the iconic series and its magnificent captain, featuring a special appearance from Cirroc Lofton, who portrays Jake Sisko, and a breathtaking final voiceover from Avery Brooks himself.

In a recent interview, Kerrice Brooks, alongside co-stars George Hawkins and Sandro Rosta, discussed their experiences with this pivotal episode. Brooks shared her profound honor in delving into the history of Sisko and Avery Brooks, noting that working with Cirroc Lofton was a dream. She described it as an incredibly empowering experience, likening Lofton's supportive presence to the iconic swimming scene in Moonlight, where she felt she could relax and take a deep breath in a new industry. Her research into Avery Brooks' portrayal of Sisko, particularly his autonomy and steadfastness in doing things his own way despite expectations, resonated deeply, providing her with a sense of autonomy both as SAM and as an actor, further strengthened by their shared surname.

George Hawkins introduced a new alien race, the Khionians, to the Star Trek canon in this episode, teasing their unique abilities, such as turning into fish and emitting glitter. While he couldn't reveal extensive details due to his character Darem's specific, privileged family background within Khionia, Hawkins expressed excitement about the possibilities for exploring this new species. He found the experience of playing a new species liberating, as it allowed for immense creative freedom. Hawkins also discussed Darem's intense chemistry with every other cadet, highlighting how each relationship reveals a new facet of Darem, allowing him to discover himself through his interactions.

Sandro Rosta spoke about the magnetic connection between Caleb and Tarima, which finally comes to fruition in Episode 5. He explained that Tarima, an empath, effortlessly sees through Caleb's deeply guarded nature, providing him with a profound sense of safety and comfort. For Caleb, who has spent his life building emotional walls, Tarima's ability to render these barriers invisible is a blessing. Rosta described their dynamic as two magnets: Tarima sees freedom and possibility in Caleb, while Caleb finds a space where his defenses are automatically down, allowing him to simply fall into their connection.

The cast also reflected on filming in the cadet bar, a welcome change of environment from the academy halls. Brooks and Hawkins recalled the fun of portraying