Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2” wraps up an exciting two-parter. Our crew has a real conundrum to solve. Let’s talk about how they figure it out and learn an important lesson along the way. Grip those “Hold Onto Your Butts” grab handles for my review of Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2.”
For the Kids
Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2” allows our young crew to be heroic. Not only do we get fun things like more Murf “Pew Pew,” but this also marks one of the only times Murf speaks Federation Standard. We also see our young crew come into their own. Maj’el shows good growth here, noting that “The only logical choice is to abandon logic!” and thus, she succeeds. Maj’el also shows courage, telling Zero to lock the temporal missile onto her ship. She accepts that for some reason that she can’t logically understand, she is supposed to support the crew she used to call, “Never Squadron” and “Janeway’s Misfits.” She now calls them friends. This is the point of Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2” where I got a little teary. Acts of courage are always moving for me.
Zero’s courage in Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2” is incredibly compelling as well. The sacrifice that they are willing to perform in order to save the ship is incredible. They know their body is in decline and they will certainly decline entirely trying to defuse the bomb, and they do it anyway! “Even if I lose this form, I must try,” they say. Again, cue the waterworks.
As a kid, I remember watching shows where characters would show self-sacrificial courage like this. It taught me to protect the others in my care. It showed me how to act for the good of other people, not just myself. Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2” shows the kids in the audience how to do just the same.
For the Adults
Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2” adds a few fun nods for the adults in the room as well. I found myself quoting Beckett Mariner from Star Trek: Lower Decks saying, “What up, Binars?” when I noticed the pair of Binars running to Shuttlebay 3 with Tysess. It’s been a bit since we’ve seen Binars properly in Star Trek and it was a nice touch.
Additionally, it took me aback when I heard Ascencia say, “You talk too much, Mr. Crusher.” That is a much more polite “Shut up, Wesley!” I know a lot of folks like to bag on Wil Wheaton/Wesley Crusher, but I’m not one of them. Still, I could hear Captain Picard shouting, “Shut up, Wesley!” in my head when she said that line. That’s definitely a callback for the adults in the room.
Final Thoughts
Janeway says that the victory belongs to everyone today. There are, “…many small acts of bravery” in Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2.” It is easy to be wowed and take notice when someone does one big act of bravery. It’s the smaller acts of bravery that may go unnoticed. Not everyone will do big things, but everyone can do something, even if that act of bravery is simply getting up and showing up in the morning. Those acts of bravery add up and they make all the difference. If we take one thing away from Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2,” let it be this. I look forward to seeing many more acts of bravery over the rest of the season.
What did you think of Star Trek: Prodigy 2×16 “Ascension, Part 2”? Leave me a comment, and let’s talk Trek.
All episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 are streaming now on Netflix.
