Star Trek Social Club

The Next Generation episode “Thine Own Self” has an A-plot that sees Data having to go retrieve radioactive metal. He gets into a shuttle accident, landing on a planet where he loses his memory. The inhabitants of the planet give him the name Jayden. Is Jay-Den named after this episode?

Much has been made about the expansive Starfleet Academy set, but have you done much location work so far? Are there any interesting places you can mention?

How it feels to have all the Klingon makeup?

What franchise you'd love to be in? Airing or otherwise.

Hey Karim, thanks for doing this. Really like your acting. I wanted to ask how did the name "Jay-Den" came to be? It sounds distinctively not Klingon and I assume meant to sound like a US American name which seems out of place.

What was the audition process like? Did you have any clue what you were auditioning for, or was it buried under 47 layers of secrecy?

Star Trek has always been a show using sci-fi elements to draw parallels to our own culture. What mirror do you feel Jay-Den holds up to people in the real world?

Hi and so happy to have you!

I love that you're playing - I don't know if I'm interpreting it right, but among all aspects of Jay-Den, I think, at least - a non-neurotypical Klingon. I'd love to hear your perspective on how you go about playing him not just as neurodiverse, but specifically as a neurodiverse Klingon!

If you could choose to play a character from the original series, who would it be?

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions!

First growing up, were you a fan of Star Trek? Second, now that you’re part of it, what has it been like to join such a large and long-lasting franchise?

Qapla! Do you speak any Klingon besides the lines you had to memorize? Did you study the history/lore of the Klingons? Btw, I love how you are bringing Jay-Den to life.

What’s it been like to work with actors like HH & PG? Learned anything from them?

Karim, your work as Jay-Den Kraag is so well done, you're definitely our favorite actor of the series! You do a better job portraying sometime caught between worlds than any other actor I've seen. Was it challenging to depict such a character?

Amazing to see this!

What's your favourite Star Trek (can't say Starfleet Academy)and how did you end up here?

Hi Karim! It's amazing to have you here answering our questions! You interact so much with the fans, and it's amazing to see a community be created in real time through your interactions with us. I'm loving your preformance as Jay-Den, cementing him as one of my favorite Trek characters of all time. I've got a serious and a silly question!

• Jay-Den breaks some serious barriers in his character arc. How similar are you to Jay-Den at the core, and is there anything from your own life that you translated into Jay-Den?
• If you were in the Star Trek universe, what would your position in Starfleet be? Would you choose to be in Starfleet, or pick to explore something else? Basically, tell us about your Star Trek self-insert character, if you've thought of one! Thanks so much for reading and answering our questions! Can't wait for next week's episode too!! LLAP!

Do you think Starfleet Academy is reaching younger audiences? What do you think about Strange New Worlds as far as that demographic? I ask as a 50 year old who grew up on TOS and TNG and everything since. (I've actually more or less liked every instance of Star Trek, but I really do like where SNW and SA are going recently!)

Hi, Karim! I just watched the latest episode and I adored it. I can’t wait to see where Jay-Den goes with Kyle and Darem. If it’s something you can talk about will these three end up together romantically? Definitely picked up on some of the subtext with episode 7 and I’m absolutely loving it! Thank you!

Hi Karim, and thanks for the AMA!

As your character is a healer and a now a medical student, how much preparation you have had to do about health, medicine and the experiences of medical school to give depth to the role, aside from the series own technical lore?

The voice, real or CG? If CG why did they feel they needed to make the characters voice so deep compared to the other klingons? It's a bit jarring listening, especially the debate episode.

How did Jay-Den voice came to be? did you pull from any specific reference? also, is his voice modified in post? it has a very unique feeling

You guys ever have to stop the set because you gotta go to the restroom?

I was recently on a hike with a group and just held it in uncomfortably throughout the entire time lol

When you were a 1 year-old, Katee Sackhoff was a 21 year old actress just starting out as Starbuck on the Battlestar Galactica remake. I see a lot of parallels with the cast of BSG in the early 2000s and the Star Trek: Academy "kids" in 2026.

On her YouTube channel she just recently started watching that BSG series for the first time. It's really interesting to see how she talks about her life in her 20s, looking back as an actress now in her 40s. She doesn't seem to have big regrets, but you definitely get the impression she'd like to send some messages back to the younger Katee. Have you and the rest of the cast found mentors found mentors who can help you with your careers and performances?

Star Trek is unique in that there have been almost continuous shows and movies on since the 1980s. So, there are dozens of actors at various stages in their careers who might be able to offer perspectives. For you, I wonder if Michael Dorn would be someone you'd reach out to. Not only is he obviously a fellow klingon, but he also started out as a musician before going into acting. There's also Wil Wheaton, who seems like he was really grateful to have been "adopted" by the TNG cast, and is the kind of guy who would pay that kindness forward.

Do the writers and directors give you a lot of input into how to play your character and the direction of his story/development?

If it were up to you, what kind of scenes or storylines would you most like to play or see Jay-Den Kraag in?

What previous trek cast member do you want to do a cameo on Academy, just so you can share the set with them?

Stealing from Colbert, what is the best sandwich? Both for you and for your character?

Have never watched anything Star Trek before, but might give it a try because of this. 👍

Thanks for the AMA!

I don't know if it's expired already, but what drew you into acting and the Starfleet Academy role? Were you into the series before hand?

Did you have any expectations that changed before and after taking the role on?

Is there something that surprised you in the role/show?

Thanks for the AMA!

How did you find the Fediverse? Have you found it enjoyable?