Spoilers Star Trek: Prodigy General Discussion Thread

[Lord Garth]

I suspect that was a factor, as well as just overall lower viewership. I love how people praise Prodigy now, and we see articles, but when Season 1 was first released there wasn't that much chatter. When it was being shopped around, and all the fear mongering started, then the chatter increased.

Now, it is important to note: this does not mean the show isn't good, that it isn't of quality entertainment, or that people can't enjoy it. Just that the initial reception was less than stellar.

There's also less Trek now that's led to more talk about Prodigy.

In the 2021-2022 season, it was all very much about (love them or hate them) Discovery, Picard, and Strange New Worlds. And Lower Decks. Prodigy got lost in the water-cooler chatter among Trekdom. That was the only period where all five of those shows were coming out at the same time. Something was going to get lost in the shuffle.

2021-2022 for the Kurtzman Era was like 1994-1995 for the Berman Era.

 

[Tuskin38]

Voyager-A LCARS

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/w0LdQV

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/m8J9la

 

[eschaton]

Finished up the season yesterday. I'll say that it's on the whole, lovely - the best season of serialized Trek, far and away. Not to say there weren't some misteps along the way, but it's shocking to me they got away with a plot this fankwanky with such aplomb, and made freaking Chakotay into a compelling character.

One minor quibble - while I thought Zero and Maj'el were adorable together, I really, really didn't like how either the voice actress was playing her, or how she was being directed. The lines as written were fine, but the delivery was way, way too emotional.

 

[tomalak301]

One minor quibble - while I thought Zero and Maj'el were adorable together, I really, really didn't like how either the voice actress was playing her, or how she was being directed. The lines as written were fine, but the delivery was way, way too emotional.

There were times at the end of the season where i felt like she was becoming a bit repetitive. Yeah, Vulcans use logic, but they started to overdo it a little. Not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but if there is a season 3, I hope they add a little spice to the character.

 

[NCC-73515]

I suspect the cancellation was because the toys sank without a trace.

I would've bought Dal in uniform and Murf, but they only made him with his torn clothes look

 

[Lakenheath 72]

One of the successes I feel about the second season was that they developed Chakotay's character. They made him a fascinating character to care about.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Indeed. I didn’t think it possible. And a Cerritos name drop!

 

[Fateor]

I suspect the cancellation was because the toys sank without a trace.

And likely they realised it was watched by the same 40+ crowd as the rest of their Treks and not the young audience they were going for. All speculation, of course.

I suspect it was because the storyline was dangerously close to what Alex Kurtzman wants to do with Starfleet: Academy.

 

[Blackout]

I just finished season 2. This season was great! I'm really happy with it. Season 1 took me a while to push through, but this one i felt motivated all the way through and finished it in three days.

In general it felt like they found a comfortable groove with their characters. Even dal eventually ends the season a much more mature person, with a more solidified position among the cast. I think fans who might have finished season 1 thinking it wasn't their style might enjoy season 2. I came away from this finale feeling energized.

Now I'm hoping it gets a season 3! But if it doesn't, at least it went out on a high note. I'll watch more if they make it.

I enjoy how Murf has gone from cute plushie to practically Worf. Rok has been fun going hard on the sciences. Jankom is less abrasive now and more likable. Dal is starting to even out, especially now that he's accepted a first officer sort of role in the cast. And I think Gwyn is a nice choice to now explicitly be their lead. Majel was a fun addition, too. I think they did a good job with the trajectories of their original characters, just had to get over that trek first season hump.

Congrats to all the artists, cast, and crew who made a really fun season of Trek that totally blindsided me, in a good way.

 

[137th Gebirg]

I suspect it was because the storyline was dangerously close to what Alex Kurtzman wants to do with Starfleet: Academy.

Now this is actually an interesting theory. I could very easily see why they wouldn't want a similarly-themed story to compete with another in the franchise. Although, PRO has set the bar pretty high. One wonders if SFA will be able to fill that hole left behind. If true, it also likely means that Paramount will not allow Netflix to proceed with a S3.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I suspect it was because the storyline was dangerously close to what Alex Kurtzman wants to do with Starfleet: Academy.

Wasn't Kurtzman equally as involved with Prodigy as he is SFA? He runs Trek.

 

[Fateor]

Now this is actually an interesting theory. I could very easily see why they wouldn't want a similarly-themed story to compete with another in the franchise. Although, PRO has set the bar pretty high. One wonders if SFA will be able to fill that hole left behind. If true, it also likely means that Paramount will not allow Netflix to proceed with a S3.

Academy literally can't fill that hole, which is the problem.

Consider for a moment that none of the Prodigy characters are human. They straight up can't replicate that with Academy for multiple reasons. And budget and realistic issues go on and on like that.

 

[Tuskin38]

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Maj’El is from the house of T’Pau

 

[NCC-73515]

Similar hairstyle?

 

[Firebird]

I suspect it was because the storyline was dangerously close to what Alex Kurtzman wants to do with Starfleet: Academy.

That makes no sense. Given how much all of the shows coordinate with each other, Kurtzman would've vetoed a storyline for one show if another one was already going to do it. And in fact, this has happened - Picard couldn't do Janeway in live action because she had her arc on Prodigy.

And besides, I'm pretty sure Prodigy was already deep into writing season 2 if not already into full on production by the time Starfleet Academy was even announced.

 

[NCC-73515]

Wheaton voiced Romulans on the Narada... maybe that was time lord Wesley all along

 

[KennyB]

Really enjoyed this season and the addition of legacy cast........even sadder not to see what they were setting up for season 3 now.

 

[Fateor]

That makes no sense. Given how much all of the shows coordinate with each other, Kurtzman would've vetoed a storyline for one show if another one was already going to do it. And in fact, this has happened - Picard couldn't do Janeway in live action because she had her arc on Prodigy.

And besides, I'm pretty sure Prodigy was already deep into writing season 2 if not already into full on production by the time Starfleet Academy was even announced.

You answered your own question.

Prodigy was already in production when they decided on Starfleet Academy, shortly after which they stopped production of Prodigy.

 

[Firebird]

You answered your own question.

Prodigy was already in production when they decided on Starfleet Academy, shortly after which they stopped production of Prodigy.

Again, you're not making any sense and also not reading what I said. Existing shows and their storylines have been given priority, which in this case is still Prodigy. Starfleet Academy's plotline was not a factor in Paramount's cancellation of Prodigy.

 

[Char Kais]

I suspect the cancellation was because the toys sank without a trace.

Not just toys. ViacomCBS even planned to make Prodigy theme park attractions.

ViacomCBS Reportedly Sees ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ As Gateway To Toys And Theme Park Attractions

ViacomCBS sees Prodigy as “critical”

“Prodigy” was viewed by many as critical to the fate of the “Trek” franchise, as it’s the first bid to engage families — a path that can lead to ancillary products such as toys and theme park rides

I love how people praise Prodigy now

That people over 30+ praising the show is the problem. The show appealed to the wrong demographic.

And likely they realised it was watched by the same 40+ crowd as the rest of their Treks and not the young audience they were going for.

That is what happened.

I remember the interviews with Alex Kurtzman and the marketing headlines.
Alex Kurtzman even compared Prodigy to Star Wars.

Prodigy is for "younger kids" (Not just "kids", "younger kids").

The contradictions in this interview are astonishing

Star Trek: Prodigy will explain the franchise to total newcomers

“We wanted a bunch of new characters that knew nothing about Star Trek just like our young audience.” They meet Janeway via hologram at the end of the first episode.

Why should a young audience that knows nothing about Star Trek be interested in meeting Janeway?

Star Trek Prodigy is a quasi Voyager spin-off. Voyager 2.0.

Janeway became the public face of the show.

And if characters from a 90s TV show (Janeway, Chakotay) weren't enough, they added characters from the 80s, like Okona and Wesley, to the show.

And then they ended the show with the Picard Short Trek and the synth attack on Mars. And we all know how kid friendly Picard season one is.

After the introduction of the Borg in season 1, Trekmovie published a large article about Borg lore and the connection of the Borg to Voyager and Picard:

Dark ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Theory About Zero Connects The Borg From ‘Voyager’ To ‘Picard’ And Beyond

Not very newcomer friendly.

And whose bright idea was it to connect a show for young kids to shows from the 80s and 90s and to a violent and gory Picard season 1?

All this may be interesting for older fans, but not for young kids.