Why wait so long for the rest of Season 1?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Memory Alpha says that Prodigy's remaining Season 1 episodes won't drop until December 31. Why are they waiting so long?

And why still call it Season 1? On other shows there have been gaps shorter than this which result in a completely new season.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

That's probably just a placeholder date as we don't know when it's airing, and I've noticed other cartoons splitting their seasons across two years as well. Some people have theorised that it's a sneaky trick to get around paying people their contractual raise every year. In reality we're getting two 10 episode seasons but on paper it's all one 20 episode season, and that's what counts for contracts. Perhaps.

 

[C.E. Evans]

One thing I've noticed is that episodes of PROD are only now showing up in some Nick On Demand services. For some, the first season has just started...

 

[The Wormhole]

December 31st is just a placeholder. Take a look at Memory Alpha's pages for Lower Decks, Picard and SNW. The forthcoming seasons of those shows are all listed as December 31st, though in the case of Picard and SNW it's December 31st of 2023 instead of 2022 like Lower Decks and Prodigy are listed.

Indeed, assuming Lower Decks returns in August, then I find it likely Prodigy will be back in October after Lower Decks finishes its season.

 

[Markonian]

The other animated show of a major franchise, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous releases its seasons quicker, IIRC.

 

[Deks]

Memory Alpha says that Prodigy's remaining Season 1 episodes won't drop until December 31. Why are they waiting so long?

And why still call it Season 1? On other shows there have been gaps shorter than this which result in a completely new season.

Part of the reason for the long waiting periods is likely because they have to expend a LOT of time setting up 3d animations, then rendering stuff, post production, etc.

 

[F. King Daniel]

It's season 2 even if they don't call it season 2.

 

[Vger23]

It's too bad there's such a gap. They had built some good momentum with PRO. My kids ask me constantly when it's coming back on.

 

[shapeshifter]

One thing I've noticed is that episodes of PROD are only now showing up in some Nick On Demand services. For some, the first season has just started...

I just searched and all of season 1 first half episodes are available on nick or nicktoons, and free On Demand on my services.

I suspect reruns are still driving views and/or ad revenue so they are waiting for all interested parties to catch up, or the gravy train dries up before moving on.

 

[Species517]

I agree. Let's call it for what it is:
"Second half of season one" = "Season 2" in reality

 

[Deks]

It's season 2 even if they don't call it season 2.

It's not though.
The show makers decided to split season 1 into two blocks, with each block containing 10 episodes.
Considering this is a full blown 3D animated series (which takes a long time to create, animate, render and then follow it up with post production), it makes sense they decided to do things this way.

While I understand that newer Trek series follow a shorter episodes per season format, this 3D animated series does not... it seems to follow the older format of having about 20 epsidoes per season.

 

[The Wormhole]

Considering this is a full blown 3D animated series (which takes a long time to create, animate, render and then follow it up with post production), it makes sense they decided to do things this way.

There are other 3D animated shows which get twenty episode seasons done a lot quicker. Star Wars, for example.

 

[Deks]

There are other 3D animated shows which get twenty episode seasons done a lot quicker. Star Wars, for example.

And how big of a budget did SW 3d animated series have in comparison to Prodigy?
How many people worked on SW vs how many people work on Prodigy?
How many render farms is each show using?
Also, the complexity of the 3D animation in Prodigy (including the lighting, reflections, etc.) is arguably higher than in SW given the kind of environments had to be made, etc.

 

[Lord Garth]

And how big of a budget did SW 3d animated series have in comparison to Prodigy?
How many people worked on SW vs how many people work on Prodigy?
How many render farms is each show using?
Also, the complexity of the 3D animation in Prodigy (including the lighting, reflections, etc.) is arguably higher than in SW given the kind of environments had to be made, etc.

We as adults understand this. The kids, to who this is targeted to, don't. They should've just run the 20 episodes straight through. Or, if they all weren't ready, they should've waited until they were.

We perceive time differently as well. A year is nothing to us. A year for a six-year-old is 1/6 of their life. A year seems much longer to them than it does to us.

The super-long gaps are also what effectively killed the Kelvin Films.

 

[brandnewfan]

We as adults understand this. The kids, to who this is targeted to, don't. They should've just run the 20 episodes straight through. Or, if they all weren't ready, they should've waited until they were.

We perceive time differently as well. A year is nothing to us. A year for a six-year-old is 1/6 of their life. A year seems much longer to them than it does to us.

The super-long gaps are also what effectively killed the Kelvin Films.

All of this. The wait has been too long, and they should have waited to air any of the show until all 20 were ready.

 

[Markonian]

Just rewatched the entire season (so far). Still no release date for the rest.
At that rate, the video game will be released before season 1 will be out in full.

 

[fireproof78]

At that rate, the video game will be released before season 1 will be out in full.

Perfect.

 

[Deks]

Just rewatched the entire season (so far). Still no release date for the rest.
At that rate, the video game will be released before season 1 will be out in full.

Ah, just take it in strides.
I'm looking forward to both.
I can wait.


One thing I'd prefer is given the nature of streaming today, they should just release the whole second part of Season 1 (and other Trek series that are streaming) so it can be binge watched.
I see no use in sticking to weekly releases at this point since the season would basically be released after its fully completed anyway.

 

[The Wormhole]

Weekly releases help a show "live" longer. That is the show stays in the public eye for a minimum of however many weeks it takes to show each episode. As opposed to episodes that release everything at once, at most they might stay in the spotlight for two or three weeks and then end up forgotten.

 

[lawman]

I'm also puzzled by the "second half of season 1" branding, regardless of when it releases. The first batch of episodes told a complete, coherent story arc. Whatever comes next will presumably offer a new arc. For most stream shows these days, that's what defines a "season."