Spoilers Star Trek: Prodigy 1x09 - "A Moral Star, Part 1"

The Federation of this era (Picard spoilers)

Spoiler

let Riker's son die when they could have just harvested B4 for a synth-generated cure. They let the son of the hero who saved the Fed from the Borg die over rigid adherence to a synth ban

I don't think they're suddenly going to be buying the "think of the children" issue on this alone.

 

Not sure why so many are saying the episode ended too abruptly. It ended on a typical cliffhanger because this is just part 1. We've had lots of Star Trek two part episodes where part 1 ends on a cliffhanger.

 

That was a rather lousy decision... but it had more to do with the synth ban which HALTED all research into synth technology - which happened quite some time prior to Riker's son dying.
Also, the synth ban was lifted once the Federation discovered who was really at fault... but also one such mishap shouldn't have created the ban in the first place if you ask me.

Furthermore, Prodigy takes place BEFORE the synth ban happened if I'm not mistaken... plus, there is no evidence to support the idea that Starfleet abandoned its ideals in totality while the synth ban was in force.
Only things related to the synth ban were affected... other humanitarian crisies were probably still handled as they usually would have been - and as we saw in the 32nd century, Vance was adamant that the Federation stuck to its principles and ideas despite the Burn - so we do know that even major disasters that struck the Federation don't diminish its willingness to do the right thing and help if it can.

In the case of Picard series, the evacuation fleet for Romulans was decimated... I suppose Starfleet could have sent existing SF ships to assist with the evacuation, but its possible they already have and were maxed out... hence why they needed 10 000 more ships to transport all those people.
The fact the UFP was able to make 10 000 ships in such a short time frame only proves further that its capable of making humongous amount of ships relatively quickly... but I suspect that by the time the fleet was decimated by the reprogrammed synths, UFP effectively ran out of time and couldn't really do more... Picard's issue with Starleet was that it seemingly gave up too quickly.

 

The fact that Janeway didn’t suggest this strikes me as enough of a plot hole that I hope there’s an explanation. To date, Dal’s fear of the Federation seems to be the main reason for lack of comms. That shouldn’t apply here.

EDIT: or they did send a message, didn’t mention it, there will be a Starfleet ex machina, and I’ll forgive it because kids shows are allowed to cheat on drama sometimes.

 

It certainly wouldn't be the first time Trek did something off-screen and we were left speculating on certain things.
Such as VOY expending shuttles... even though they have the technology to make more (either manually, or just replicating smaller pieces from existing replicators or just fashioning more from salvaged old ones)... and in the case of the torpedoes... casings should be easy enough to make/replicate... the trick would be finding antimatter for those casings, and VOY could have traded with other species for antimatter or found other sources of omicron particles which allowed them to enrich their antimatter reserves off screen (never mentioned).

So, yes, its possible that a message was sent to Starfleet by Dal, but he didn't inform anyone as a last ditch effort and a 'trump card' of sorts... besides, the Federation option was a long shot in terms of sending a response or managing to send help.

I was actually surprised that this wasn't covered seeing how Prodigy was more attentive to detail than most live action series... but 'cheating' as you said would be excusable... and its a kids show.

 

Is that a Roger Rabbit reference? Do you mean Dip?

 

My only criticism of the episode was the abrupt ending. I think closing on the Protostar warping away would have been better although perhaps a bit too similar to Basics.

A thought I had is that it's interesting that the show where the producers don't feel the need to constantly tell us, "We're huge fans and this will all connect to canon!" is the one that best embodies the spirit of Star Trek.

 

Another really fun and interesting episode. 8/10

Excited to see where this all goes! I liked the new (cadet?) uniforms. Revised Holo Janeway would fit in nicely in the mirror universe.

 

Evil Holo-Janeway is goth.

 

My nephew had the day off school today, so we watched the episode together (my second viewing, his first), and ‪‪I enjoyed it as much or more than ‪‪I did the first time around, and he loved it.

We “awwww”ed in unison when Gwyn and Rok-Tahk shared a cup of coffee with Janeway and Rok giggled. On top of just being a great kids show, pure Trek, and just an excellent show in general, it’s been an especially earnest, and cute show.

It’s rare for kids programming to be simultaneously both this sweet, and refraining from talking down to the target audience. The Hagemans and the entire team they put together for the show have done just that, and with great skill. They’re at the top of their field, and following the tradition of The Animated Series, I think Prodigy is Emmy worthy.

 

Again a good episode. So far my favorite of the new Trek shows

 

He seemed to be in trouble when he got stuck between stuff while the Protostar crashed on the evil vine planet. Somehow he couldn't get out and trilled like he's in distress, and then Gwyn saved him, IIRC.

It would be interesting to see if parts of Murf stay alive and can perhaps even form their own heads when split off. If that's the case, you'd have to wear a living creature as armor XD
But if you can 'harvest' armor goo from him that doesn't have its own mind, and if he can regenerate whatever he loses, you could cover entire ships with that stuff

 

I think Murf is probably one of a kind with no specific planet or race attached to him.

So instead of trying to identify him as a specific type of creature, we might want to try and find a specific character or an instance in which a similar being was created.

And it seems that it's most likely from the Trek Novel universe.

 

That's what got me into MLP. It was a show made for all ages but focused on kids/teens, and they didn't talk down in the stories. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for, and I love it when writers are aware of that. Prodigy does have that same vibe working for it, and I hope that continues.

 

Murf's body might have a limit on his "Malleability", ergo he can get stuck.

But things penetrating him don't seem to hurt or kill him given he's made out of a Goo like substance.

It wouldn't be the first time that I've seen living Armor / Weapon as a concept.

Although, how slimey will you be after you take off the armor is another question.

::shudders::

That's assuming it doesn't biodegrade over a short period of time.

Since he's a living creature, I'm betting it'll degrade over time.

But Murf's physical characteristics are amazing given that the vast majority of attacks comes in the form of "Directed Energy, Radiation, or Explosive Pressure Waves with some amounts of energy".

That's the vast majority of threats in a ST World.

I can easily figure out how to stop Bullet / Blades / Physical Projectiles using modern day armor, much less 24th century equivalents.

 

Now I wanna see Murf split into 20 in a scene, and then all these little Murfs squeaking at each other like Mogwai

 

Murf very much reminds me of "Gloop & Gleep the Formless Fearless Wonders" from "The Herculoids".

 

Murf's tendency to swallow anything and everything without ill effect reminds me of A.L.F.

 

Starfleet only gave up because half of the member world's threatened to leave the Federation

 

Yeah, the Synth ban goes into effect after the attack on Mars in 2385. PRO is currently in 2383.