10 Star Trek Moments That Always Make You Smile
3. In Your Own Way, You Are As Stubborn As Another Captain Of The Enterprise I Once Knew
Star Trek: Prodigy’s first few episodes, like every Trek beforehand, were tasked with settling the tone of the show. It was clearly for a younger audience, but it never spoke down to its viewers. It respected those watching, understanding that some were pre-existing Trekkies, while some were not.
Kobayashi would seem like a knowing nod to the parents in the audience who were watching along, but it is actually so much more. Dal, challenging as he was, enters the Kobayashi Maru simulation, determined to prove that he is the best person to control. Instead, he finds a lesson in humility, and we the audience get a journey through Trek’s history.
Uhura is there. Odo is there. Scotty is there. Crusher is there - with Gates McFadden returning to record new dialogue *before* she returned in Star Trek: Picard.
Spock is also there and it is to him that we direct our attention now. As first officer, he is there to offer the cadet some advice. When Dal refuses to accept the no win scenario, archived dialogue reminds us of the conversation that Spock had with Jean-Luc Picard in the early 90s.
In your own way, you are as stubborn as another Captain of the Enterprise I once knew
The association to Kirk is not simply a heart tug, but a reminder to us all - Dal may be different from what we’re used to, but he is just as much a part of this universe as anyone else. Is he a bit arrogant? Sure. But consider Pine’s Kirk - and see where he ended up.
Arrogance is the beginning of the journey, not the end.