An insidious plan, deviously schemed by a future threat, comes to fruition with catastrophic consequences. Star Trek: Prodigy’s penultimate season one episode, “Supernova – Part One”, has Asencia (Jameela Jamil) achieving the Vau N’Akat survivors goal of saving Solum by destroying Starfleet in the past. The Living Construct propels the infected USS Protostar into the center of the Federation armada. Dal (Brett Gray) and Gwyn (Ella Purnell) rally their ragtag crew, but sadly discover that sometimes the odds are just too great to overcome.
Spoiler WarningSupernova – Part One begins with a frustrated Vice Admiral Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) locked in the brig under Order 104, Section C. She has been deemed medically unfit for command after Dal’s erratic behavior when they switched minds. She begs the brig officer to release her. A hostile signal from the Protostar will destroy their ships if they accept any communication.
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On the Protostar, the crew stares nervously at the Starfleet ships surrounding them. Hologram Janeway (Mulgrew) realizes this is exactly where the Living Construct wanted to be. They must stop any signal from getting out. Rok (Rylee Alazraqui) and Jankum Pog (Jason Mantzoukas) think that Vice Admiral Janeway will never allow that to happen. Dal sheepishly admits that he may have tarnished Janeway’s reputation, and she might be unable to help.
On the Dauntless, Admiral Jellico (Ronnie Cox) at Starfleet Command doubts the Andorian first officer’s assessment of Janeway’s mental state. She had briefed him on a horrific weapon aboard the Protostar. Asencia slyly convinces him to allow a boarding party by disrupting their shields. The Dauntless opens targeted fire on the Protostar.
Dal refuses to be a sitting duck in space. They can’t jump with the core still down. He orders all available power to boost shields while they engage in evasive maneuvers. The Protostar zips through the laser barrage. Rok almost tells Dal that Starfleet won’t accept genetically engineered augments, but Gwyn stops her.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Janeway continues to implore the brig officer to release her. It turns out the officer was a refugee rescued as a young girl by the USS Voyager in Devore space. She releases Janeway and gives back her communications badge.
Dal Kisses Gwyn
Paramount+
The Protostar bobs and weaves, but shields start to fail. Gwyn knows they will be boarded. She goes to the weapons locker. Dal kisses Gwyn in the heat of the moment. She sadly admits that he won’t be allowed into Starfleet Academy. The shield grid fails. A heartbroken but resolute Dal grabs his rifle and rallies the crew.
On the Dauntless, Asencia reveals her true Vau N’Akat form. She, the Diviner (John Noble), and fearsome Drednok robot knock out the transporter officers as they beam over to the Protostar. Dal seals the bridge then orders Gwyn to stay behind. It’s a firefight as he, Jankum Pog, Rok, and Zero (Angus Imrie) face the Drednok. Asencia overrides the Janeway hologram with her Starfleet access code upon entering the bridge.
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The Drednok pins Dal and the others to the floor with a gravity mine. On the bridge, the Diviner goes below deck to examine the Living Construct. Gwyn locks him out and attacks Asencia. A wicked duel ensues as their gold fretwork blades clash. Asencia underestimates Gwyn and pays the price with a slashed face.
Outside the bridge, the indestructible Murf (Dee Bradley Baker) takes on the Drednok but is frozen solid. Gwyn fought bravely but can’t defeat Asencia, who curses her as a traitor to their species. She’s about to kill Gwyn when the Diviner enters. He won’t let his daughter be harmed. He tries to distract Asencia, then throws his blade. But she deflects it into his abdomen with a fatal blow. Gwyn races to her dying father. A triumphant Asencia opens a channel to broadcast on all Federation frequencies.
Starfleet’s Destruction is Our Salvation
Nickelodeon/Paramount+
The Dauntless accepts the hail before Vice Admiral Janeway can stop them. The Living Construct instantly infects every vessel. Janeway takes command of the armada. Asencia cackles with glee as “Starfleet’s destruction is our salvation.” The Federation ships open fire on each other.
The Protostar crew, still trapped, watch the carnage in horror. Rok uses Jankum Pog’s torch to free Zero, who then releases the others. They run to the bridge to capture Asencie. She snickers as the Drednok transforms into a ship. It envelopes her and smashes through the bridge into space.
Emergency shields block the vacuum. The Diviner apologizes to Gwyn as he fades in her arms. He brands her the “Unifier” before dying, his body evaporating into energy she absorbs. The crew reactivated Hologram Janeway and retake control of the Protostar. But the Living Construct has disabled the universal translator. They can’t understand each other.
The Dauntless reels from heavy damage. Vice Admiral Janeway gives the abandon ship order. On the Protostar, Gwyn can speak all of their languages. She readies the crew and hails Janeway. Dal has an idea. Call every Ally in the sector without Starfleet signatures for help. Dar gives Gwyn command. She opens a distress call to all non-Federation ships.
The Federation Will Not Survive Without Help
A Klingon Bird of Prey is first to respond. Gwyn begs for their assistance. When they ask ‘why?’ She delivers an impassioned plea of Federation ideals. The galaxy will descend into chaos without Starfleet. The Federation will not survive without help.
Just as the Dauntless is about to be destroyed. The Bird of Prey arrives to block the incoming torpedoes with their shields. They beam off the survivors. All kinds of vessels warp in to aid the crumbling Starfleet armada. Hologram Janeway fixes the universal translator.
Their jubilation is short-lived. More Federation ships appear and are infected. Starfleet defense protocols automatically emit an SOS when in trouble. All Starfleet ships will eventually fall into the trip. There aren’t enough allies to stop the fierce bombardment. Everyone watches in disbelief as the ships tear each other apart.
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Star Trek: Prodigy brought the Protostar crew together over the course of the season. They overcame differences, embraced Federation values, and learned to work together as a team. However, they’re not seasoned Starfleet officers with years of battle experience. Dal, Gwyn, Zero, Rok, Murf, and Jankum Pog have survived brilliantly on spunky intuition. The teens finally hit a brick wall, but their darkest moment presents the greatest opportunity. Asencia escaped. Starfleet appears to be in ruins.
I continue to be amazed by how much thrilling narrative is jam-packed into lean twenty-four-minute episodes. Supernova – Part One could have been a movie unto itself. Asencia’s rise as a formidable villain was one of the best television twists of the year. She murders the Diviner, but gives Gwyn the purpose her father desperately wanted. The Unifier can save the Vau N’Akat from extinction. That’s if she survives the current hellish dilemma. Will this ragtag crew of misfits rise to the occasion and achieve the extraordinary? Tune in next week for the awesome season finale of Star Trek: Prodigy.
Star Trek: Prodigy is a production of Secret Hideout, Roddenberry Entertainment, Brothers Hageman Productions, Nickelodeon Animation Studio, and CBS Eye Animation Productions. The season one finale premieres December 29th on Paramount+.
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