Spoilers Star Trek: Prodigy 1x05 - "Terror Firma"

Ah, I remember the days when shows retconned classic literature so the show's hero replaced the hero from the original story...

 

It seems like a generic Sci-Fi show with a Trek name and a token Star Fleet ship and holo.

 

Well, that's what it is until it gets deeper. The idea is an introduction not a deep end of the pool for kids.

 

We have to do better than "Sink or Swim" to grow the franchise.

 

I don't think that the old guard wants it to grow.

 

For me, the "planet" the kids explored was just another telepathic pitcher plant creature, like the one from Bliss.

 

Time will tell.

 

Since that is the stated goal of the production team I have confidence it will happen in some measure.

 

The Protostar reveal is still really awesome. Can't wait till Wednesday Night.

 

Having a Starfleet vessel with a protostar on board, and no transporter (even a one-being fighter has a transporter in the TNG era!) seems a bit weak.

 

How do you know it doesn't have a transporter?

 

Eh? The Protostar most definitely DOES have a transporter room. We see the kids use it in at least one ep (All The World's A Stage).

 

@Mr. Laser Beam: Check the thread title.

 

Which brings up an enormous, gaping plot-hole in 1x04/1x05: why make planetfall on "Murder Planet," if you've got transporters? And why not beam the stuck crewmembers back?

 

They haven’t learned how to use them yet.

 

They didn't download the app.

 

Yes, holo-Janeway didn't trust them with the transporter yet (or hadn't come around to teaching them how to use it) and she herself apparently didn't have direct access to its functions. The nature/composition of the planet also made transporting difficult, leading to problems with the transport of the Divinir and Drednok, who got separated.

It's a decent storytelling choice, allowing the writers to not have to use the transporter to save one or more crewmembers. If a series like Star Trek would be made today from scratch, a suspense-killing device like the transporter would not be included. It was in TOS because the special effect was far cheaper than shuttles or landing the ship.

The scene of Gwyn being saved, and before that the Diviner approaching the (fake) ship, was great partially because of the absence of a fully operational transporter.

 

Also, Holo Janeway states that the planet is riddled with thorium radiation, which as we know in Star Trek interferes with transporters. So they couldn’t beam them up.