I had quite a few issues with the previous 28 Years Later, and unfortunately many of those same problems return here. The infected feel less like the terrifying, unpredictable force from the original films and more like “forest people,” which immediately breaks the continuity. The world itself doesn’t feel grounded in the same reality as 28 Days or 28 Weeks. It’s hard to pinpoint, but the tone just doesn’t connect.

I wasn’t excited going in, but people I trust had seen it early and managed to get me hopeful. Even so, my reaction ended up almost identical to part one: this still doesn’t feel like the same universe. The originals thrived on tension — the fear that the infected could appear at any moment. Here, that atmosphere is missing. There’s a major sequence involving fire and loud rock music, and none of the characters seem remotely concerned that it might attract infected. That lack of internal logic really stood out.

Two Stories, One Collision

The film splits its narrative between:

• Spike, trapped within the cult of Jimmys and trying to escape
• Dr Kelson, whose growing bond with the alpha infected Samson becomes the emotional core

Both threads build steadily until the casts collide in an explosive finale.

Performances That Outshine the Film

Jack O’Connor is captivating as Sir Jimmy — very much in line with the energy he brought to Sinners. He’s quickly becoming one of the standout talents of the last year.

But this film truly belongs to Ralph. Every scene he’s in pulls focus. He’s funny, vulnerable, and unexpectedly tender, especially in his relationship with Samson. The heart‑to‑heart between Jimmy and Kelson is easily the film’s strongest moment.

A Character Drama Wearing a Horror Skin

I expected more gore and violence, and while there is some, this isn’t really a film about the infected. It’s a film about people — about the paths they choose when everything else has been stripped away. Which was the premise of the original 28 Days Later, but lost in 28 Weeks.

The final moments set up potential future stories while also functioning as a loose conclusion to the “28 Years” arc. A sequel isn’t necessary, but you can see where one might go.

Unanswered Threads

One lingering frustration:
Where is Aaron Taylor‑Johnson?
His character’s son is still out there. Why doesn’t Spike even attempt to reconnect? It feels like a thread the film simply ignores.

As a lifelong Star Trek fan, this franchise has always been my comfort universe — but Starfleet Academy wasn’t a show I was eagerly anticipating. Being a spin‑off of Discovery and set so far into the 32nd century, it didn’t initially appeal to me. I wanted to be excited, but the later seasons of Discovery left me lukewarm, especially the clumsy resolution of the Burn storyline. My heart has always belonged to the Picard‑era timeline, and part of me still wishes this series had been set closer to that familiar era.

A Quick Primer for Non‑Trek Fans

The Burn was a catastrophic event where dilithium — the substance that enables warp travel — suddenly destabilised and exploded across the galaxy. Warp travel became impossible, planets were isolated, and the Federation collapsed into a fragmented, almost feral state.

By the time Starfleet Academy begins, the crisis has been resolved ( badly), the galaxy is reconnecting, and the Federation is slowly rebuilding. These cadets are the first new class in over a century, making the Academy itself a symbol of hope.

Episode One – Worldbuilding and Character Introductions

The premiere is largely about grounding viewers in this future era while introducing the ensemble cast. The characters are varied, distinct, and clearly designed to represent different corners of Trek lore:

Captain Ake

Chancellor of the Academy and a standout presence. She’s quirky, authoritative, and carries a personal history with one of the cadets. 

Caleb

The reluctant recruit drafted into the Academy to atone for past mistakes. His emotional arc — searching for his mother and his own identity — seems to be the spine of the series so far.

Kraag

A Klingon who prefers science over combat. It’s refreshing to see a Klingon character who isn’t defined by aggression but still carries the cultural pride of his people.

SAM

A newborn hologram experiencing life for the first time. Trek has always excelled at exploring artificial life, and SAM feels like a spiritual successor to characters like Data and The Doctor.

Genesis

The academically gifted one — the classic “brains of the group” archetype, but with enough personality to avoid feeling generic.

Thok

Half‑Klingon, half‑Jem’Hadar, and the Academy’s drill instructor. She’s the first female Jem’Hadar we’ve ever seen on screen, and the pre‑airing criticism around her was completely unfounded. She’s fierce, compelling, and full of potential. I really hope the show digs into her heritage, especially given how little we’ve seen of the Jem’Hadar since Deep Space Nine.

The Doctor Returns

The big nostalgic hook: Robert Picardo is back as The Doctor from Voyager, now 800 years older. His presence alone bridges eras of Trek history, and I’m fascinated to see how an Emergency Medical Hologram evolves after nearly a millennium.

A Universe Rich with Easter Eggs

One of the show’s biggest strengths is how densely packed it is with references. It honours not just the live‑action series but the animated ones too, weaving them into canon with surprising care. For long‑time fans, it feels like a treasure hunt — and so far, a very rewarding one.

The USS Athena – Beautiful, But…

The new hero ship, the USS Athena, is genuinely elegant. The wing‑like nacelles give her a graceful silhouette, and the design feels appropriately futuristic for the 32nd century.

My ongoing gripe with far‑future Trek ships remains, though: the disconnected components. The floating nacelles and segmented hulls just don’t feel as cohesive or iconic as classic designs. It’s a stylistic choice that still looks odd to me.

That said, the Athena’s ability to land and integrate into the Academy’s structure is a clever, visually striking feature.

What Isn’t Working

My biggest annoyance so far is the sheer number of hybrid species. It feels like nearly every character is a hybrid of something, and while the designs are cool, hybrids used to feel rare and narratively meaningful. When everyone is a hybrid, the novelty wears off.

Alpha Trion has had one of the strangest journeys in Transformers lore. Originally introduced in the Generation 1 cartoon as the wise creator of Optimus Prime, he spent decades as a major lore character with no action figure to his name. It wasn’t until 2016 — over 30 years later — that he finally received an official toy. Now, less than a decade on, we’re already on his third.

This new version takes a different approach, presenting Alpha Trion in his younger days. The most noticeable change is the reduced facial hair, which gives him a sleeker, more streamlined look while still keeping the essence of the character.

Alt Mode – A Fresh Take on a Mystery

The original G1 Alpha Trion never had an on‑screen alt mode, leaving every toy designer to interpret it their own way. Recent iterations have leaned toward a Cybertronian spacecraft, and this figure continues that trend — but with a twist.

For the first time, Alpha Trion gets a fully original version of this mode rather than a repaint or retool. It builds on the spaceship concept but refines it into something that feels purpose‑built for him rather than borrowed from another mold.

Robot Mode – Faithful and Elegant

The robot mode is where this figure truly shines. It’s extremely faithful to his character design, with a beautifully sculpted head and a silhouette that feels instantly recognisable. Much of the alt‑mode mass is cleverly hidden, allowing him to maintain that classic Alpha Trion look without bulky kibble or awkward panels.

Accessories – Thoughtful and Lore‑Driven

He comes with a surprisingly rich set of accessories, all of which feel meaningful rather than filler:

• A functional miniature Covenant of Primus
• A cybernetic quill
• A shield formed from part of his alt mode

Because Alpha Trion is traditionally portrayed as a peaceful figure, he doesn’t include any offensive weapons — a nice touch that respects his role in the mythology.

Even better, all accessories can be stored in vehicle mode, so you’re not left with loose parts scattered around your display.

One standout feature is the removable Autobot symbol, which he can hold. It’s a brilliant nod to the lore, letting collectors recreate the moment he helped inspire the rise of the Autobots.

Transformation

The transformation is simple but effective — intuitive enough to be enjoyable, yet satisfying in how it reconfigures the figure without compromising either mode.