The Star Trek: Prodigy season premiere introduced us to the new and young crew of the USS Protostar. They are a rag tag group consisting of various alien species and the one thing they share is a strong desire to escape the mining asteroid of Tars Lamora. Though none of them have any experience piloting a ship, a holographic AI of Captain Janeway appears to help them out, which they’ll need since they are being pursued by the villain, the Diviner, and his enforcer, Drednok.
In “Starstruck,” Dal and the gang become more acquainted with their ship and determine where they should set their course now that they are free. Gwyn is also placed in the brig since no one is sure what to do with her yet. As they set out to forge their own path, they are quickly put to the test when they are caught in the gravity field of a white dwarf. Meanwhile, the Diviner is hot on their heels to not only rescue his daughter but more importantly, capture the Protostar.
Having a more involved Captain Janeway in this episode helps set the stage for our young heroes’ spiritual journey in Star Trek: Prodigy. Even though she isn’t technically real, the character serves as a stern mentor to Dal, Zero, Jankom Pog, Rok-Tahk, and Murf. She provides all the necessary help and answers they ask for, but allows them figure stuff out on their own and learn from their experiences. From the looks of things, there will probably be many more lessons in the future. But it does seem as a cop out moving forward that the Protostar is the most advanced ship in Starfleet so it can practically do anything.
Gwyn continues to be one of the more interesting characters. We discussed in the premiere about her complicated allegiances and the show is allowing her to build more intimate connections with the crew. Her interactions with Rok-Tahk seem to be building their relationship however the young Brikar still holds Gwyn accountable for past inactions on the asteroid. It’s definitely something the Diviner’s daughter still wrestles with and haunts her, which is a good first step into her inevitable redemption arc.
Despite the interesting aspects of this week’s Star Trek: Prodigy, it does become bogged down by typical children’s show behavior. The show is supposed to cater to younger audiences but as an adult, watching the crew struggle while trying to escape the gravity field and their actions only making things worse can be annoying. Dal in particular is intolerable like he’s the member of a group project who does no work but has the arrogance during the presentation to take all the credit.
“Starstruck” brings in a franchise fan favorite character to help guide our young heroes but their bumbling around while in crisis can test the patience and nerves of older viewers.
New episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy are released Thursdays on Paramount+.
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