War College Chancellor’s Cadet Choices & Season 2 Hints

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s Raoul Bhaneja chooses which of Captain Nahla Ake’s (Holly Hunter) cadets he would enroll in the War College and hints at what’s ahead for season 2. Bhaneja plays Commander Zeeren Kelrec, the Chancellor of the War College and counterpart (and sometimes rival) of Chancellor Ake.

The War College suffered tragic losses in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1, with the deaths of their star Vulcan cadet, B’Avi (Alexander Eling), and an instructor, Lieutenant Tomov (Jeff Teravainen). Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner) was also transferred to Starfleet Academy after the trauma she suffered in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6.

Raoul Bhaneja joined Virtual Trek Con’s The Main Viewer to discuss Star Trek: Starfleet Academy with hosts Ryan T. Husk, Malissa Longo, Matt Boardman, and ScreenRant‘s John Orquiola. After selecting Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) as his dream pick to join the War College, Raoul answered John’s question about who from Captain Ake’s academy he would choose to replace Tarima:

Raoul Bhaneja: “While it makes sense, I think the loss of Tarima really exemplifies [the reason] she went to the War College, which is that the War College is the place that can teach her about discipline and control. And I think losing her because of the terrible situation the cadets are all put in, and the sacrifice she makes to save everybody, it wouldn’t be responsible for her to be put in that situation again. And I’m pretty sure the Federation doesn’t want [the] star diplomatic daughter of Betazed to undergo any trauma like that again. So, I think Tarima was a tough one to lose.

I think probably Darem would fit in with the War College. He’s got some swagger, and he likes to fight. I think he’s still a little too, from where we’re at in season one, he’s not quite disciplined enough. He’s a little too hot-headed, he’s a little too emotionally immature. But I kind of think for someone like Kelrec, he’s also thinking about these kids in a four-year track. If they make it through the first year, he’s work on that with Darem in the second year.

It’s pretty interesting, but I will say the War College kids are pretty damn rough riding in season one, if you think about it. We’ve got cadets sacrificing their lives, we’ve got Tarima in this trauma, Lieutenant Tomov dies in this horrible exercise trying to save the students. So it’s a pretty rough go for the War College in season one.”

While careful to avoid spoilers, Raoul Bhaneja also broke down what to expect for Commander Kelrec in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2:

Raoul Bhaneja: “I can say that Kelrec definitely appears in season 2. For me, anyway, it was an interesting development of the character and the kind of situations he’s in, or he finds himself in. Had the show been able to go for four seasons, I think it would have been pretty satisfying on a few fronts. Primarily, it was going to be about the growth of our cadets, and to see them go from frosh week kids to ‘could these be the future Janeways and Kirks?’ By the end of season 4, hopefully, you’d be like, ‘Yeah, maybe some of these kids could do it.’ To me, at least, that’s what I thought the trajectory of a four season show would be…

Also, there was an opportunity to see, to a lesser degree, ‘cause it’s not as centrally about the instructors, but you were also going to get to see the progression of Tig [Notaro]’s character, of Gina {Yashere]’s character, of my character. So one thing that is satisfying for me is that in season 2, you can basically say that Kelrec continues to be a presence, and he finds himself in a different situation than in season one. Which is so fun because you’re just getting to build more on this character and find some more shapes and sizes to him… I think it’ll be fun.”

Watch Raoul Bhaneja’s appearance on Virtual Trek Con’s The Main Viewer below:

Darem Reymi (George Hawkins) has a world of potential that Raoul Bhaneja recognizes. While Darem is hot-tempered and lacks discipline, the latter can be instilled in the Khionian, and his anger could be harnessed to help Darem fight better.

Cadet Reymi is bright and driven, and Darem would be a good fit for the War College if he transferred. However, Reymi would not enjoy being in the same academy as Kyle (Dale Whibley), Darem’s romantic rival for Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diané).

Raoul Bhaneja confirmed that Chancellor Kelrec will be back in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2. Executive producer and co-showrunner Noga Landau told ScreenRant that the War College is very important in season 2. Series creator Gaia Violo also said, “We love the actor who plays Kelrec, Raoul Bhaneja, too much. He’s too wonderful a human being and an actor.”

Sadly, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy won’t continue past season 2, ending the journeys of the cadets and their instructors at their sophomore year. Still, the War College adds a compelling facet as Starfleet Academy’s opposite number, and Captain Ake and Commander Kelrec’s evolving relationship is a highlight.

It will be fascinating to see just what kind of “different situations” Chancellor Kelrec finds himself in, and what happens next to the War College in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 2.