In 1965, prior to the first airing of , the show received a second pilot episode. NBC wasn’t fond of the atmosphere of the Jeffrey Hunter/Captain Pike-led episode “The Cage.” Thus, a year later, “Where No Man Has Gone Before” was filmed, and Star Trek immediately had two dominant males in the spotlight in the forms of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood). Long – time fans are aware of what followed: the show couldn’t really handle two boastful guys, so Gary almost became a space god, and Kirk had to kill him.
However, 61 years later, the latest Trek starship crew has two very arrogant guys around, and neither has eliminated the other… yet. Right at the beginning of Starfleet Academy, Caleb Mir ( has a clash with Darem Reymi (George Dawson) over who is the top – dog. Essentially, these two are the Ice Man and Maverick of Starfleet at present, but historically, Trek hasn’t been able to maintain two ego – driven males simultaneously. So, how does this situation work?
In a discussion with Inverse, actor George Dawson reveals the secret to making Darem and Caleb very different types of guys and how there’s more to his character than what meets the eye.
“There’s a nice saying we came up with [during filming], which is: Darem fights to win and Caleb fights to kill,” Dawson tells Inverse. “I can picture Darem being raised in violent tournaments, and his combat is almost born out of a sense of safety. But there are limits. Meanwhile, Caleb has learned to fight out of desperation, for real survival. So, they’re two characters with high status, one who has almost been given his status, and another who has earned theirs.”
Dawson wasn’t overly aware of previous male rivalries in Star Trek canon before Starfleet Acadmey. When I point out that Episode 7, “Ko’Zeine,” could be seen as Darem’s version of the classic, he points out that it didn’t really occur to him. “I really wasn’t aware of that. And that’s what’s so great. I’m lucky, especially since I’m playing a new species. I don’t have the Star Trek heritage and ancestry that I feel I have to uphold. Starfleet Academy is the ideal place for this because you’re watching characters explore and react to a world they’re not accustomed to.”
In essence, Dawson believes that his “superpower” in approaching Star Trek was his “innocence” and “lack of knowledge” of the overall canon. In the debut episode, “Kids These Days,” we learned that Darem was a member of the Khionian species and capable of some obvious shapeshifting. In Episode 7, “Ko’Zeine,” we find out – much like Spock in “Amok Time” – that Darem has been engaged to be married and is destined to rule a kingdom, far from Starfleet. But, similar to Spock in TOS, things don’t go as planned, and thanks to some help from his Klingon buddy Jay – Den (, he manages to get out of his royal duties and returns to Starfleet Academy.
Paradoxically, for Dawson, since this episode reveals a lot about why Darem behaves the way he does, it was a reference point for his earlier performances in the series. “I used Episode 7 a great deal in my preparation,” he explains. “I used it to understand what he’s running away from and the life he was living before we meet him in Episode 1. Before, he lived entirely for others because he was supposed to be a king… so when he comes to the academy, he acts the opposite.”
This low – key episode challenges our assumptions about the cocky nature of Dawson’s character, which, in theory, will change the relationship between the two dominant males – Caleb and Darem – in the future. Or will it? Does the USS Athena have space for these two strong personalities?
Dawson won’t disclose what awaits all the cadets in Starfleet Academy, but he does confirm that the bond between the cast members is as strong in real life as it is on the show.
“We definitely mirror the show,” Dawson says about the friendship with his fellow castmates. “It’s a mutual understanding of what we’re undertaking in life right now. This is a huge moment in all of our lives to be part of a franchise that means so much to many people. When you see us all at a table together, or when we’re watching a debate, or in the dorm room, those moments just let our friendships shine through and influence the scenes.”