Conner’s Critiques – Sneak Peek At Star Trek Prodigy

When I was a child while I suffered from terrible insomnia, I would sneak out of bed and put on The Original Series of Star Trek to help pass the time late at night. There was something awesome about the future that Star Trek promised. Something clean, yet still very dangerous, and full of adventure. As a child I couldn’t get enough. I continued my love for the series that followed, and when I saw Prodigy was coming out, I jumped at the chance to review it.

Our review only covers the first three episodes, but that should be more then enough to see if you should be invested in the series. Like normal, this critique will be based on three categories: Story, Acting, and Overall. So let’s begin.

STORY: 8/10
The show starts off in an unlikely place, the Tar’s Prison Colony, a mining facility (minErs not minOrs) filled with criminals and orphans (okay… some minors). One such orphan is the young boy Dal, trying to find his way out. With no way to communicate, no understanding of where he comes from, and a great desire to be anywhere but where he is. The facility is run by the “Diviner” with the help of his daughter Gwen. Gwen connects with Dal when they attempt to find a fugitive. However in the process a mining accident leads Dal to a fully functional Federation vessel, the “U.S.S. Protostar.”

Now a couple prisoners Rok-Tahk, Dal, Jankom Pog, Murf, with the help of Fugitive Zero, and a reluctant Gwyn they escape the prison via the vessel, which was the specific thing that the Diviner was looking for on the planet. Now they have to manage the ship with the help of a Hologram of Captain Janeway, from Voy, (it really is faster to say, and is more fun), while avoiding recapture from the Diviner and his devious droid Drednok.

For a Star Trek, it’s very light on the Federation. For people who might be upset about it, at least in the third episode you get a lot more talk about, and shared discussion about the Federation. The series clearly wants to showcase a world on the fringes of the Federation, and what it would mean if the tech fell into the wrong.. or right hands. Clearly the vessel is a prototype ship, and I can’t wait to see what hidden secrets it has!

ACTING: 10/10
The cast for this series are all very talented with their vocal skills. It’s what you need from an animated series. Without a great cast able to breath life into the forms, then the show would just feel flat. The cast here does a great job showing what they are capable of. Starting with be Brett Gray, who plays Dal, he is able to show off witty and not so witty dialog that showcases an underlying charisma. Rylee Alazraqui’s performance, however, is sweet and adorable in the character of Rok-Tahk. Rylee showcases how much a character can change when properly lit, and you can hear what they are saying, as Rok-Tahk transforms from a formidable and violent looking rock monster, to a instantly loveable multi-layered figure.

Jason Mantzoukas kills it as always, he plays the engineer with the robot shifting hand, Jankom Pog. It’s no surprise he has been in so much content as of lately, he really is amazing, and conveys chaos in every spoken word! Additionally, the gravitas of John Noble as the Diviner, and the always amazing and impressive Jimmi Simpson as his head droid Drednok bring weight and fear to the villains on their tail.

To their credit, these Star Trek shows love the canon of their universe, and Paramount is bringing back big names, like Kate Mulgrew who returns to the franchise to play the hologram of Captain Kathryn Janeway.

OVERALL: 9/10
The show is fun, and enjoyable while not just making cheap laughs. It’s more an adventure story taking place within the Star Trek universe though, so don’t expect the same style and format of the prior shows. It has the fun of some aspects of Lower Decks, without feeling like the series is Parody.

I will warn though, the first two episodes are a combined set to showcase the beginning of the show, and the setting up of the characters leading to their escape. We don’t even get Hologram Janeway until the end of the second episode.

Conner’s Final Thought(s):
While Prodigy is clearly a show aimed at younger people, with a goal to make new Trek Heads for the years to follow, being a father, I think it’s a great way for me to enjoy and share something that I loved as a child with my own children!

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