Kevin C. Wong

Star Trek: Prodigy s1 (2021) [+]

Star Trek: Prodigy is an animated teens series set in the current Star Trek Universe. A group of teens enslaved and working at an asteroid mine find a starship, USS Protostar. Using the Protostar they manage to escape and with the aid of the ship's hologram, a replica of Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), they make their way from the Delta Quadrant towards Federation space.

Dar R'El (Brett Gray) - back-talking and clever "leader" of the group. He has to do some growing up to actually earn the leadership.

Gwyndala (Ella Purnell) - her father was the one who imprisoned the others. She knows it was wrong and her loyalties are torn between her new friends and her father.

Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas) - Tellarite 3rd class assistant engineer and the group's mechanic.

Zero (Angus Imrie) - a Medusan in a workbot. Her very appearance would drive almost any sentient mad. Not sure there have been any Medusans in canon Trek since that one TOS episode.

Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui) - a Brikar (a race introduced in Star Trek: New Frontier novels and this is the first time in canon). She is this big rock monster but still a little girl and doesn't want to be pigeon-holed into the security role.

Murf (Dee Bradley Baker) - a blob sort of pet who gets a more anthropomorphic body in the second half of the season and a bit more intelligence to go along with it.

In the first 10 episodes they're trying to flee the Diviner (John Noble), Gwyndala's father, whilst the Janeway hologram teaches them how to be Starfleet Cadets. In the second 10 episodes the real Janeway on board USS Dauntless is after the Protostar and the thieves who stole her. But the kids can't let her catch them because there's a virus on board that will bring about the Federation's destruction.

I think the episodes are good. The teens are not annoying as is often the case in stories. It's still trying to be Star Trek with Federation ideals. Certainly better than I expected considering it was cancelled after one season, though Netflix picked it up and season two is in production. I like the spirit of the show and it's a show that can be watched by an audience not familiar with Star Trek.