Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Trek: Prodigy is an American animated science fiction television series created by brothers Kevin and Dan Hageman for Paramount+ and Nickelodeon.[1] The series centers on a diverse crew of young aliens who hijack the abandoned USS Protostar, a Starfleet vessel, and embark on interstellar adventures while learning the values of teamwork, exploration, and heroism under the guidance of a holographic Captain Kathryn Janeway.[2] It premiered on Paramount+ on October 28, 2021, as the franchise's first animated series targeted at younger audiences since Star Trek: The Animated Series in the 1970s.[3] The main protagonists include Dal R'El (voiced by Brett Gray), a scrappy leader of unknown origin; Gwyn (Ella Purnell), daughter of a mysterious overseer; Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui), a Brikar orphan; Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas), a Tellarite engineer; Zero (John Noble), a sentient energy being; and Murf (Dee Bradley Baker), a shape-shifting blob, all supported by the emergency training hologram of Janeway (Kate Mulgrew).[4] Produced by Secret Hideout, Roddenberry Entertainment, and Nickelodeon Animation Studio, the show blends high-stakes action with educational themes drawn from Star Trek lore, set primarily in the Delta Quadrant.[4] Season 1, consisting of 20 episodes, explores the crew's escape from a mining colony and their encounters with Starfleet ideals, airing in two parts on Paramount+ from 2021 to 2023.[5] Following its cancellation by Paramount+ in June 2023, the completed second season of another 20 episodes was acquired by Netflix and released in full on July 1, 2024, continuing the story with the crew joining the USS Voyager-A to resolve a time paradox and personal quests. In 2025, Netflix passed on a third season, with Season 2 labeled as the final one, and the series began leaving the platform, Season 1 on June 24 and Season 2 on December 31; it remains available for purchase on digital platforms and physical media.[6][7][8] The series has been praised for its accessible entry point to the Star Trek universe, appealing to both new viewers and longtime fans through its optimistic tone and canonical ties to Star Trek: Voyager.[9]Overview
Premise
Star Trek: Prodigy is an animated science fiction series set in the 24th century of the Star Trek universe, specifically in the aftermath of the U.S.S. Voyager's return from the Delta Quadrant. The story centers on a diverse group of young alien outcasts who discover the abandoned experimental Starfleet vessel U.S.S. Protostar on the prison mining colony of Tars Lamora in the Delta Quadrant. These inexperienced youths, having escaped their oppressive circumstances, commandeer the ship and embark on a perilous journey through uncharted space, facing various challenges that test their resolve and ingenuity.[2] Guiding the crew is a holographic emergency training program in the likeness of Captain Kathryn Janeway, who serves as their mentor, imparting knowledge of Starfleet protocols, navigation, and ethical decision-making. As the protagonists navigate first contacts with alien species and moral quandaries, they gradually learn core Federation principles, including the Prime Directive, which prohibits interference in the natural development of less advanced civilizations. The hologram's tutelage emphasizes practical lessons in leadership and cooperation, transforming the ragtag group into a cohesive team.[2] The series explores themes of exploration, friendship, and personal growth, tailored for younger audiences with educational undertones on ethics, teamwork, and the value of diversity. Set against the vast, mysterious backdrop of the Delta Quadrant, the narrative highlights the wonder of discovery while addressing dilemmas rooted in Starfleet's idealistic yet complex values. Returning elements from Star Trek: Voyager, such as Admiral Kathryn Janeway's ongoing concern for the crew, underscore the continuity of the franchise's legacy.[10]Cast and characters
The main cast of Star Trek: Prodigy features a diverse ensemble of young alien protagonists forming the crew of the USS Protostar, voiced by emerging talents who bring energy and nuance to their roles. Recurring characters, including legacy figures from Star Trek: Voyager, provide mentorship and antagonism, with voice performances emphasizing emotional depth and moral complexity. The series highlights character-driven storytelling, where the protagonists evolve from outcasts into a unified team aspiring to Starfleet ideals.[11] Dal R'El, voiced by Brett Gray, is the 17-year-old self-appointed captain of the Protostar, a maverick orphan of initially unknown origin who escaped the Tars Lamora prison colony in the Delta Quadrant. His background as a hybrid incorporating genetic traits from 26 Federation species, including Augment ancestry tracing back to Khan Noonien Singh, fuels his quest for identity and belonging amid prejudice. Dal's arc centers on his growth from impulsive dreamer to responsible leader, learning command through trial and error under Hologram Janeway's guidance, ultimately embracing his multifaceted heritage as a strength for captaining the crew. Gray, known for On My Block, was selected for his youthful charisma that captures Dal's hopeful defiance.[11][12][13] Gwyndala (Gwyn), voiced by Ella Purnell, is a 17-year-old member of the newly introduced Vau N'Akat species, raised on the harsh mining colony by her father, The Diviner, where she served as an overseer. Her motivation stems from a suppressed longing for exploration beyond her isolated world, leading her to join the Protostar crew despite initial conflicts of loyalty. Throughout the series, Gwyn grapples with her cultural heritage and the ethical dilemmas of her upbringing, evolving into a principled mediator who champions diplomacy and self-discovery. Purnell, with roles in Army of the Dead, lends a poised intensity to Gwyn's introspective journey.[11][14][13] Zero, voiced by Angus Imrie, is a genderless, non-corporeal Medusan—an energy-based lifeform whose true form induces madness in humanoids—confined to a makeshift containment suit for safety. Rescued from experimentation at Tars Lamora, Zero's curiosity about corporeal existence drives their role as the crew's ethical compass and science officer, often providing insightful, if detached, perspectives on humanity. Their development involves building trust with the team while confronting the vulnerabilities of their suit, fostering a deeper sense of connection. Imrie, from The Crown, infuses Zero with a whimsical yet profound alien viewpoint.[11][15][13] Jankom Pog, voiced by Jason Mantzoukas, is a 16-year-old Tellarite engineer known for his argumentative nature and devil's advocate approach, which stems from his species' cultural affinity for debate. Sole survivor of a generational ship malfunction that left him isolated, Jankom joins the crew seeking purpose through tinkering and repair. His arc explores overcoming cynicism via collaboration, maturing into a reliable problem-solver who values the crew's diverse input. Mantzoukas, recognized from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, delivers Jankom's combative humor with sharp timing.[11][14][13] Rok-Tahk, voiced by Rylee Alazraqui, is an 8-year-old Brikar—a rocky, stone-skinned species—unusually intelligent and empathetic despite her young age and shy demeanor. Mistaken for a monster at Tars Lamora due to her appearance, she aspires to a security role, channeling her passion for animals into protective instincts. Rok's growth involves gaining confidence in her strength and intellect, transitioning from outsider to the crew's heart, with natural aging planned across seasons. Alazraqui, from Summer Camp Island, voices Rok's wide-eyed wonder authentically.[11][15][13] Murf, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, is an indestructible, amorphous blob of unknown species and age, characterized by insatiable curiosity and a penchant for consuming ship components. Joining the crew serendipitously, Murf's chaotic energy belies a loyal, intuitive support role, often resolving crises through unexpected resilience. Baker, a veteran of Star Wars animation, provides Murf's vocalizations with playful expressiveness.[11][14] Kathryn Janeway appears in dual forms: as the Emergency Training Hologram, voiced by Kate Mulgrew, who serves as the Protostar's AI mentor programmed with Starfleet protocols to train the inexperienced crew in ethics and operations. In season 2, Mulgrew also portrays the real Vice Admiral Janeway, a determined Starfleet officer leading a rescue mission for the protagonists, reflecting her post-Voyager career. Mulgrew's reprise emphasizes Janeway's authoritative yet nurturing guidance, drawing from her iconic role to inspire the young cast's development into officers.[11][16][17] The Diviner (Ilthuran), voiced by John Noble, is a Vau N'Akat antagonist and Gwyn's father, a time-displaced leader from a future where Federation contact devastates his civilization. Ruling Tars Lamora with authoritarian zeal, his motivation is to avert that timeline by isolating his people, though his methods reveal deep paternal conflict. Noble's performance conveys the character's tormented intensity.[18][14] Drednok, voiced by Jimmi Simpson, is The Diviner's robotic enforcer—a shape-shifting, spider-like android designed for unwavering loyalty and intimidation. Cold and emotionless, Drednok enforces order at the colony and pursues the crew relentlessly, embodying mechanical precision without moral qualms. Simpson's understated delivery heightens the bot's eerie menace.[18][19]Episodes
Season 1 (2021–2022)
The first season of Star Trek: Prodigy consists of 20 episodes, which originally premiered on Paramount+ starting October 28, 2021, with the first five episodes released weekly through November 18, 2021, followed by a mid-season break; episodes 6–10 aired weekly from January 6 to February 3, 2022, and the second half (episodes 11–20) ran weekly from October 27 to December 29, 2022.[20] The season follows a ragtag crew of young aliens in the Delta Quadrant who discover the abandoned Starfleet vessel U.S.S. Protostar hidden within the mines of the prison colony Tars Lamora, leading them to commandeer the ship and embark on adventures while evading pursuers.[21] The narrative centers on their growth into a cohesive team, guided by the ship's emergency holographic interface modeled after Captain Kathryn Janeway, as they navigate Starfleet protocols and face threats tied to their origins.[21] Major plot arcs revolve around the crew's initial discovery of the Protostar and their subsequent pursuit by The Diviner, a Vau N'Akat overseer seeking to reclaim the vessel to deploy a weapon that could eradicate Starfleet; this conflict expands in the second half to include chases by Admiral Janeway aboard the U.S.S. Dauntless, who aims to recover the ship and its young fugitives.[21] Encounters with the living construct Zero, a non-corporeal Medusan who joins the crew, and revelations about the Vau N'Akat species—revealed as time-displaced refugees from a future devastated by Federation contact—underscore themes of identity and destiny.[21][22] Key events include time travel elements woven into the Vau N'Akat's motivations, where The Diviner's mission originates from a dystopian future to avert first contact with Solum, culminating in a crisis involving the Protostar's hidden weapon that threatens the Federation.[22] The crew's first contacts with Starfleet occur through the holographic Janeway's training simulations, such as the Kobayashi Maru test, and later real interactions that highlight their outsider status; these experiences foster deep crew bonding, transforming the group from prisoners into aspiring officers committed to Starfleet ideals.[21] In production, the season began with an initial order of 10 episodes, which was doubled to 20 following strong early reception, allowing for an expanded two-part structure with distinct adversarial arcs in each half.[20]Season 2 (2024)
The second and final season of Star Trek: Prodigy consists of 20 episodes, all released simultaneously on Netflix on July 1, 2024, and available on the platform until December 31, 2025.[23][8][24] The season picks up after the events of the first, with the young Protostar crew—Dal R'El, Gwyn, Rok-Tahk, Zero, Jankom Pog, and Murf—reunited under Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway's command aboard the newly commissioned U.S.S. Voyager-A, a Lamarr-class starship designed for exploratory missions.[23] Assigned to rescue the stranded Captain Chakotay from a future timeline on the planet Solum and broker peace with the Vau N'Akat people, the crew must navigate Starfleet protocols while confronting the consequences of a time paradox triggered by their initial failure.[23] This arc emphasizes the protagonists' transition from rogue adventurers to aspiring Starfleet officers, integrating them into the broader Trek universe through cameos from legacy characters voiced by their live-action actors, such as Robert Picardo as The Doctor and Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher.[25] The season's structure unfolds across interconnected storylines, blending episodic adventures with overarching threats. Early episodes focus on the crew's adjustment to Starfleet life, including training mishaps and ethical dilemmas, before escalating into a multiverse-spanning crisis involving the Loom—an interdimensional entity that devours collapsing timelines infected by paradoxes.[26] Mid-season highlights include retrieving the damaged U.S.S. Protostar from a gaseous anomaly and encountering alternate realities via a proto-warp malfunction, teasing multiversal elements that challenge the crew's sense of identity and destiny.[23] Later arcs intensify with confrontations against the antagonistic Asencia, a Vau N'Akat leader wielding a time-manipulating weapon, culminating in a high-stakes battle to seal a temporal wormhole and prevent an invasion of the Alpha Quadrant.[23] Key events underscore themes of growth and legacy. Janeway, initially retired, is recalled to active duty and promoted to full Admiral by the season's end, logging her final entry as she entrusts the crew with a refitted Protostar-class vessel for ongoing missions.[27] The protagonists earn provisional commissions as ensigns, with Dal R'El stepping into a leadership role as acting captain during the finale, symbolizing their maturation from outcasts to committed Starfleet members.[28] Resolutions tie back to season 1 loose ends, such as Gwyn's heritage and Zero's quest for a physical form, while introducing more mature explorations of sacrifice, prejudice, and the burdens of command compared to the survival-focused escapades of the prior season.[29]| Episode | Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | Into the Breach, Part I | The crew reunites aboard the U.S.S. Voyager-A as Janeway reveals her secret mission to rescue Chakotay.[23] |
| 202 | Into the Breach, Part II | A desperate plan to reach the future goes awry, sending the crew through a rift and creating a time paradox.[23] |
| 203 | Who Saves the Saviors | Crash-landed on future Solum, the crew attempts to extract Chakotay amid rising tensions.[23] |
| 204 | Temporal Mechanics 101 | Racing against time, the crew seeks to save Gwyn and return to the present with enigmatic assistance.[23] |
| 205 | Observer's Paradox | Under scrutiny from Starfleet, the crew pursues the Protostar to resolve the paradox and interpret Murf's cryptic message.[23] |
| 206 | Imposter Syndrome | Holographic duplicates of the crew threaten their quest, forcing confrontations with deception.[23] |
| 207 | The Fast and the Curious | Taking a risky shortcut, the crew engages in a high-speed chase against a Kazon warlord.[23] |
| 208 | Is There in Beauty No Truth? | Visiting non-corporeal entities, Zero pursues a path to embodiment while the crew aids a philosophical dilemma.[23] |
| 209 | The Devourer of All Things, Part I | Discovering a hidden planet, the crew encounters an unforeseen ally amid Loom activity.[23] |
| 210 | The Devourer of All Things, Part II | The entity's aid is cut short by the Loom's assault and the Voyager-A's timely intervention.[23] |
| 211 | Last Flight of the Protostar, Part I | Locating the Protostar, the crew faces Chakotay's reluctance to abandon his post.[23] |
| 212 | Last Flight of the Protostar, Part II | Transforming the Protostar, the crew navigates a perilous gaseous ocean to escape.[23] |
| 213 | A Tribble Called Quest | Seeking exotic matter, the crew contends with a Tribble-overrun world and comedic chaos.[23] |
| 214 | Cracked Mirror | A proto-warp failure shatters Voyager into alternate realities, testing the crew's resolve.[23] |
| 215 | Ascension, Part I | Reuniting with Voyager, the crew receives warnings about Asencia's growing threat.[23] |
| 216 | Ascension, Part II | Asencia's temporal weapon endangers Voyager, prompting a desperate defense.[23] |
| 217 | Brink | Gwyn spearheads a rescue for Ilthuran, grappling with moral quandaries on Solum.[23] |
| 218 | Touch of Grey | Janeway leads a hazardous away mission to extract key personnel from danger.[23] |
| 219 | Ouroboros, Part I | The crew targets an invasion force while engineering a wormhole to avert catastrophe.[23] |
| 220 | Ouroboros, Part II | Confronting the Loom directly, the crew pilots the Protostar through a wormhole to restore the timeline.[23] |