Prodigy: Temporal Mechanics 101

I close out a week full of Star Trek with a few more thoughts on Prodigy season 2 -- picking up with episode four, "Temporal Mechanics 101."

Gwyn's existence is destabilizing due to changes in the time stream, and Voyager is too far away to arrive in time. But help is close at hand; Dal and the shuttle team are there on the same planet, albeit decades in the future. If they can just figure out how to travel back in time to the present, perhaps there is something they can do to save Gwyn.

As opposed to the previous episode of Prodigy, which leaned heavily into the adventure and action, this episode changes pace to be a bit more thoughtful. Perhaps this means it doesn't work as well for the younger audience it's aimed at, but I really liked the different tone. Prodigy has really been successful at building characters you can care about (despite their understandably cartoonish qualities), and an episode like this really takes advantage of that audience connection.

Here, the episode is essentially about getting the whole band back together in one place. I've enjoyed Gwyn's separate mission so far -- the alien environment, the elevated themes within her story, and the more adult tone of it -- but I'm also very glad that she's not going to be siloed off in her own narrative for much of the season. Just 20% into the story, and it's time to gather everyone in one place. I appreciate the writers not stretching the taffy too far here.

But what I really appreciate is the way they're using John Noble as Ilthuran this season. Season one presented both actor and character in full villain mode (real "Denethor eating tomatoes" vibes), but now season two shows that both have another gear. It's great to have Ilthuran acting as a caring father to Gwyn, and I'm interested to see what his role in the story will be in episodes to come.

Of course, the episode wasn't all seriousness. There were good laughs throughout, including the return of Jankom Pog's "percussive maintenance" and getting to see the much-talked-about "Temporal Mechanics 101" book (narrated/hosted by Star Trek's actual science advisor, Erin MacDonald). The broader plot also expanded, as Murf interacted with a mysterious helper -- who gives off "Future Guy from Enterprise" vibes that I hope wind up going in a very different direction than that sooner rather than later.

In all, I think the season continues to be entertaining. "Temporal Mechanics 101" is another solid B+ in my book.