While the first season of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has resonated with everyone, mostly everyone agrees that Paul Giamatti's Nus Braka is one of the show's brightest spots. The half Klingon-half Tellarite has only been featured in a few episodes, but when he's on screen, he brings a feeling of intensity and aggressiveness.
It feels like we've only just begun to scratch the surface of Nus Braka's motives, with Episode 6 revealing just how much hatred he has for Starfleet and the Academy's leadership, especially Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter).
With only three more episodes to go in the season, we expect to see more of Braka, but what about beyond Season 1? Appearing on the The D-Con Chamber podcast, Giamatti essentially confirmed that his character is not killed off in the first season, and that he could return in the future.
"He’s still alive,” Giamatti revealed to hosts Dominic Keating and Connor Trinneer. “So, you know, something could be done with him.”
Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like we'll be seeing more of the villain beyond this season. Giamatti confirmed Braka is not in Season 2 of Starfleet Academy, which is currently in production and expected to wrap filming this weekend.
However, if the series does get renewed for a third season, Giamatti said he would love to come back.
“I just enjoyed doing it with everybody,” Giamatti said. “[I] like being on set, it was pleasant. We all probably know that’s not always the case.”
A lifelong Star Trek fan, the two-time Oscar-nominated actor previously referred to his time on Starfleet Academy as one of the best experiences in his career.
“I didn't actually think I'd ever actually get a call!” Giamatti told PEOPLE back in January. “I made no secret about the fact that I loved the show, but I never thought it would actually be something that would happen… It's a top experience for me. I don't know that much else can top this. I still kind of can't believe that I got to do it."
Giamatti's Nus Braka has only been seen on screen in just two episodes this season, but he's shined in both of them. Episode 6, "Come, Let's Away," firmly established Braka as a cunning foe of the Federation. In the episode he orchestrates a calculated, multi-layered trap, using the Furies as a guise while he steals top-secret weapons from a United Federal of Planes space station.
At this point, it's unclear what he stole or what his overall plan is, but it sounds like things will be resolved in the next few episodes.