Spoilers Star Trek: Prodigy General Discussion Thread

[Christopher]

Remember, S2 is basically complete. All the new network needs to do is pay for the rights, then put the show up. Continuing it is far more involved. While I would love to be proven wrong, I get the sense that two seasons is what we're getting.

I doubt a network would bother to pick up Prodigy if they weren't at least hoping it would do well enough to last more than one year. Yes, it's an easy investment to pick up a completed season, but the reason for making that investment is the hope of a longer-term payoff. Of course it's not guaranteed, but getting any show made or renewed is always an uphill battle. That's just par for the course.

 

[mattman8907]

why don't they just put it on Nickelodeon like they did with Prodigy Season 1 or hell give it to Cartoon Network and put it on their adult swim.

 

[The Wormhole]

why don't they just put it on Nickelodeon like they did with Prodigy Season 1 or hell give it to Cartoon Network and put it on their adult swim.

Why Adult Swim? Prodigy is not remotely an adult show at all and it's very tonally different than the other Adult Swim shows. Lower Decks would be more suited to Adult Swim than Prodigy.

Which is another thing, even ignoring the ages of the target audience, Adult Swim shows are usually sitcoms. Which Prodigy isn't.

 

[Christopher]

Why Adult Swim? Prodigy is not remotely an adult show at all and it's very tonally different than the other Adult Swim shows. Lower Decks would be more suited to Adult Swim than Prodigy.

My Adventures with Superman is on Adult Swim despite being a young-skewing show. I admit it's different from AS's traditional content, but they seem to be broadening their definitions.

 

[Wouter]

That suggests that Harry Kim won't be there either. Given that he supposedly "belonged" to Prodigy, they might have planned on bringing him aboard in S3, which probably won't happen.

As Christopher said, there may be an S3 yet. I'm hoping here on the pre-existing band between the Hagemans and Netflix, as they have produced shows for Netflix before. But it is admittedly significantly less likely than a pickup of the completed S2.

It also depends on what the Hagemans consider to be a pretty major character. Out of the main cast, Kim was probably about the least important in terms of being the focus of storylines and episodes. Maybe that leaves wiggle room. In later interviews (when the situation regarding renewal was probably well known to the Hagemans, and thus the need for promotion even higher than before) they stressed even more that there would be a number of legacy characters. But given the long lead times of producing Prodigy episodes (that have to be scripted well in advance, for the production pipeline to do its thing), those "extra" legacy characters are probably generally less well known characters, a bit like Okona in S1. Maybe we will see Naomi Wildman, for example.

 

[drt]

Given that B'Elanna was a pretty major character on Voyager, I think the earlier statements of the Hagemans (paraphrasing: "one pretty major character each from two different series") and the presence of the Doctor probably exclude her, and likely Paris as well.

The presence of schools - be it for children or rather for Starfleet students/cadets/hopefuls - points to the ship not being taken trought the timey-wimey wormhole, as that would be awfully risky. Maybe better suited for a shuttle, or a smaller vessel.

I'd think that the Doctor will likely end up as the Voy-A CMO, which probably eliminates Bashir. This leaves really only Worf, LaForge, Ezri and O'Brien as viable Starfleet characters (I suppose you could also include Nog, if they're willing to recast, and maybe the "pretty" caveat of "pretty major" could include Barclay). Of all of those, maybe the only one you'd eliminate for being too busy is Colm Meany. Dorn, Burton and Schultz all do a lot of animated voice work, so I'd lean towards it being one of them.

 

[Wouter]

I'd think that the Doctor will likely end up as the Voy-A CMO, which probably eliminates Bashir. This leaves really only Worf, LaForge, Ezri and O'Brien as viable Starfleet characters (I suppose you could also include Nog, if they're willing to recast, and maybe the "pretty" caveat of "pretty major" could include Barclay). Of all of those, maybe the only one you'd eliminate for being too busy is Colm Meany. Dorn, Burton and Schultz all do a lot of animated voice work, so I'd lean towards it being one of them.

That's certainly possible, but we don't know the context of this second "major" legacy character. He or she may not be part of Janeway's group, but come into play during missions or in another context (like Gwyn's separate storyline). Someone like Bashir could be part of a storyline that relates to Dal's origins and/or rights as as augment, for example. Ezri Dax could be a counselor on the Voyager-A, or be part of a team that keeps an eye on Gwyn for Starfleet. Some character may appear as captain of another ship. There are many options.

 

[Wouter]

Update from Aaron Waltke (also see the follow up tweets, where he seems to promise a number of 2-parters for this season): https://twitter.com/GoodAaron/status/1689318487381196805

 

[Christopher]

Dorn, Burton and Schultz all do a lot of animated voice work, so I'd lean towards it being one of them.

Indeed, Worf aside, Michael Dorn's voice acting credits substantially outnumber his live-action credits.

 

[Oddish]

Dorn, Burton and Schultz all do a lot of animated voice work, so I'd lean towards it being one of them

Any would be welcome... and of course, I want to see at least a voice cameo by Jonathan Frakes. Just so he can be associated with all five of the current gen Trek shows!

Indeed, Worf aside, Michael Dorn's voice acting credits substantially outnumber his live-action credits.

With that distinctive bass of his, I'm not surprised.

 

[Wouter]

Interview with Aaron Waltke, by screenrant (it's an actual interview, not merely a collection of quotes from elsewhere): https://screenrant.com/star-trek-pr...tribution&utm_source=SR-TW&utm_campaign=SR-TW

Some interesting quotes from Waltke:

And that sort of adjustment is something we thought everybody could relate to, especially in a coming-of-age story. That graduation from middle school or high school. Suddenly, not a big fish in a little pond, but suddenly being thrust out into the ocean, sort of a thing.

On top of that, there are a lot of dangling threads from the end of season 1. The biggest one is the aftermath of what they learned about Solum. Asencia is still out there. And specifically, Gwen now has this burden of knowing that unless she does something, she can't prevent the disaster that will befall her civilization. So she's going to try to find a way. And the complications that come from that.

About the episode that he earlier said would encompass 52 years (or something like that) of Star Trek:

What I will say is there are elements every single Star Trek show [that] sort of thread together and elements of shows that we are actively collaborating with. Maybe even Starfleet Academy. There's elements of every other show, dancing around some very interesting storylines. And both some great, great performances by your own cast and maybe some familiar faces.

 

[Wouter]

Interview with the Hagemans, talking about the prospects of the show: https://blog.trekcore.com/2023/08/interview-star-trek-prodigy-hagemans-stlv-2023/

All the noise they’re making out there is fantastic. I don’t think that telling Paramount+ to pick us back up again is going to happen; I think they’ve made their choice. Now it’s about telling Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, or whoever that “Hey, here’s a great freaking show!”

 

[tomalak301]

Interview with the Hagemans, talking about the prospects of the show: https://blog.trekcore.com/2023/08/interview-star-trek-prodigy-hagemans-stlv-2023/

I'd rather them go to Apple TV+ (With the rest of the franchise) but I guess I will pick up any streamer that picks it up.

 

[Wouter]

Another interview, this time on Trekmovie, with the Hagemans and Waltke: https://trekmovie.com/2023/08/18/st...ason-2-legacy-connections-and-season-3-hopes/

Some interesting quotes:

Dan Hageman: I can tell you that everything has been set up in season 1 where Gwyn is going to Solum to try to be an ambassador. And then at the same time you have the rest of the crew with Admiral Janeway It’s investigating a wormhole, but let’s just say it may be more than just investigating.

Another confirmation that Janeway will of course launch a mission to retrieve Chakotay and co.

But these kids now are in the adult world. They’re not even full ensigns or anything. They’re at the bottom of the ladder. They don’t have their own ship. They’re not on their own adventures. And so there’s a little bit of almost like a Goonies yearning for that adventure of season 1 that they used to have, and how do they find that within this world of adults?

My best guess: they find it in a somewhat illegal/secret mission, at the behest of Janeway, into and through the wormhole.

Aaron Waltke: And there may be some hints of what’s to come in other Star Trek shows that may or may not have already aired.

Probably talking about Mars among other things, though it gives me a little bit of hope for an element of Lower Decks in the show. Waltke also says "There’s going to be some new faces and you’re going to see plenty more familiar faces and legacy characters that I think you’ll be very excited to see".
He also claims they would like to visit DS9, though by the wording that probably isn't something for S2, and thus a very long shot at this point.

It does seem they are really stressing the ties to other ST shows now, and the marketing shifts away somewhat from the original teen/child characters. I hope the show itself doesn't go to far in the nostalgia direction, as Picard S3 did IMO.

Dan Hageman: I want to add, at the end of season 1 it really helps set up what’s going on in season 2. The same thing is at the end of season 2, it really sets up a new story going into season 3. I remember I was so excited for fans to watch episode 20 from season 1, and I’m even more excited about you guys to see episode 40.

Prodigy was clearly not planned to stop after season 2, as is sometimes claimed online. Kevin Hageman would even like to see animated movies following season 3...

 

[Kzinti]

Another confirmation that Janeway will of course launch a mission to retrieve Chakotay and co.

meh chakotay isn't worth retrieving

 

[Turtletrekker]

meh chakotay isn't worth retrieving

And Robert Beltran is a scab. They should recast the character for season 2 and then forget he ever existed just like Doctor Who has done with Captain Jack.

 

[Oddish]

Another interview, this time on Trekmovie, with the Hagemans and Waltke: https://trekmovie.com/2023/08/18/st...ason-2-legacy-connections-and-season-3-hopes/

Some good stuff there... it looks like they had a three-year plan, which would have been a good enough port of entry for young future Trekkies. Though I have my doubts about an S3, it's good to know that knowledgeable people are confident that S2 will be released eventually.

meh chakotay isn't worth retrieving

The creation of his character was definitely not Trek's finest hour...

And Robert Beltran is a scab. They should recast the character for season 2 and then forget he ever existed just like Doctor Who has done with Captain Jack.

I think he's already recorded his lines, so not much point unless there's an S3 and Chakotay is in it. And I'm sure the actor's guild or whoever is leading the strike will deal with his scabbiness.

 

[AnimationAdmiral]

I think he's already recorded his lines, so not much point unless there's an S3 and Chakotay is in it. And I'm sure the actor's guild or whoever is leading the strike will deal with his scabbiness.

They said they already have everything recorded and are almost done animating with over half the season locked.

It’s too late to change season 2, but season 3 they could write him out or change actors.

 

[Turtletrekker]

They can change actors for season 2. It's a simple matter to re-record lines.

 

[Oddish]

It sounded to me like S2 resolves the storyline with his character. And there are lots more Voyager characters that PRO can focus on in S3, if PRO's new home proves amenable to making it.

QUOTE: They can change actors for season 2. It's a simple matter to re-record lines.

Getting a different actor to replicate the same cadence as the original (so that the speaking animation matches) can be difficult. I remember it was reportedly a challenge when they swapped out Peter Dinklage for Nolan North in "Destiny", and their character in the game didn't even have a mouth.

Also, not sure they want to open a "which Chakotay is better" can of worms. It took quite a while for Dinklage's advocates to fall silent.

And besides, Beltran's done the work and he's already been paid. So, not much point in replacing him now.