Star Trek: Prodigy may be billed as a children’s show, but this is a show that is sure to please both the kids and the adults in the room. The pilot for Prodigy, “Lost & Found,” has something for everyone. Let’s hit the highlights and blast off with the Protostar for the first season of Star Trek: Prodigy.
Introductions
Our new crew of ragamuffins got quite the introduction in this episode. Even in just brief scenes, we get a good taste for each of their personalities. It will be fun to watch them grow this season. While it would be easy to highlight their quirks, what I think is more interesting is the interpersonal dynamics. Dal (Brett Gray) can be a steamroller and run roughshod over the rest of the crew, but especially Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui). Jankom Pog’s (Jason Mantzoukas) contrarian ways can be frustrating after a while. Murf is the most adorable blob I’ve ever seen, but I’m quite sure no one wants to be oozed on. But Gwyn! Gwyn (Ella Purnell) is the real question mark in this series. The conflict she feels about potentially betraying her father, The Diviner, and her moral conflict about the slave labor camp he runs make for complex storytelling, especially in a children’s show. Watching that play out will be a fascinating journey.
Harrowing Villains
When you hire John Noble to be your villain, you’ve got a really great story coming up, especially when he’s back in the role of Evil Daddy. (See also Denethor in The Lord of the Rings). Even with just the small glimpse of The Diviner, we know we’ve got an intimidating villain. Not even to mention Jimmi Simpson as Drednok, the sinister robot minion in service to The Diviner. Simpson is probably best known in recent memory for his role as William in Westworld. Drednok is frickin’ scary. He’s intimidating enough when he appears bipedal. But when he drops the cloak faster than that Anastasia meme, he becomes this evil robot scorpion-type creature. I am not too proud to admit that I gasped at that reveal.
With villains like these, our young crew is going to have a real hard time on their hands. I’m so eager to see what will go down with these guys this season.
Captain on the Bridge!
If you’ve read any of my other Star Trek writings, then you know that Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) is my Captain. Even if she’s only in hologram form for Prodigy, I’m super hype to have her back on the bridge again. Janeway has always been a great mentor figure–pushing her crew to be better than they think they can be. She’s also been known to take some wildcard characters underwing and help shape them into top-tier Starfleet officers. (I’m looking at you, Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres). With this ragtag bunch of misfits, she’s going to have her holographic hands full.
Real talk though–when Janeway appeared, I got choked up. Oh Captain, my Captain!
Are you ready for some new Star Trek adventures in the Delta Quadrant? I know I am! What are your thoughts on this pilot? Leave me a comment and let’s talk Trek.
The next episode of Star Trek: Prodigy will air on November 4, 2021, on Paramount+.
