Holly Hunter's portrayal of Nahla Ake as the captain of the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek's "Star Trek" has been hailed as a new type of commanding officer. Despite her relaxed approach to education, Ake is considered too smart and experienced to make an exception to rules. She shares many of the attributes of previous commanding officers and has shown enough promise throughout the first season of the school-set spin-off to be considered for the Federation's top table. Ake's relationship with her boss, Admiral Charles Vance, and her ability to navigate crises with children are also noted. Despite occasional missteps, Ake has been praised for her discipline and ability to keep students at a safe distance.