Summary
Star Trek: Prodigymight look like it beamed in from a Nickelodeon lunchbox, butStar Trek:The Next Generation’sWil Wheatonis here to tell everyone — it’s not just for kids. According to the actor behind Wesley Crusher, the animated spinoff did something no otherTrekseries managed to do in nearly four decades: they finally got Wesley Crusher right. And he’s not letting that milestone go unnoticed.
In a now-viralReddit AMA, Wheaton dropped some warp-core-hot takes aboutStar Trek: Prodigy.This underrated (and nearly canceled) animated series managed to blend franchise lore, emotional storytelling, and colorful visuals in a way that landed with fans of all ages — even if not everyone realizes that yet. “It’s not a kiddie show,” Wheaton insists, comparing it to Pixar-level storytelling. And he’s right.Prodigyis as much about legacy, identity, and redemption as any live-action series that came before it. If an irreverentanimated Star Trek series likeLower Deckscan catch on, why can’tProdigycapture a grown-up audience?
TheStar Trek: ProdigyPR Problem
When Wheaton callsStar Trek: Prodigya spiritual cousin to Pixar movies, he’s not exaggerating.Much likeUporInside Out,Prodigydoesn’t condescend to its audience. It presents complex themes through an accessible lens, such as rogue AIs, interstellar politics, and the burdens of legacy. Not to mention, the show was loved by critics and holds a whopping 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
“I have tried and tried and tried to change the perception that you need to be a kid, or watch it with kids, to enjoy it,”Wheaton wrote, before citing a greatTNGdeep cut:“That’s been about as easy as putting the isolinear optical chips that drunk Shinoda yanked out, without Data’s help.”
In other words,Prodigyisn’t a babysitter. It’s storytelling with stakes, smarts, and yes, some good old Starfleet nostalgia. Yet, unfortunately,Prodigyinitially launched on Nickelodeon, targeted at a broader younger age range. That decision likely hurt its reputation among adult Trekkies. Despite being packed with canon connections and emotional arcs, it gotpigeonholed as “the one for kids.“Fans who gave it a fair chance, though, discovered something profound beneath the glossy 3D animation.
WhyStar Trek: ProdigyIs a Grown-Up Story Too
What makesProdigyspecial isn’t just its animation or its accessibility, but the way it tackles its themes of maturity, identity, and growth via a stellar ensemble. After all, it’s not uncommon for coming-of-age stories to be enjoyed by adults looking back on their youth. These characters don’t start out in Starfleet; they don’t even know what the Federation is. Butby the end of Season 1, they’ve earned a place in its future. That evolution isn’t just moving — it’s peakTrek.
Dal R’El, the self-appointed leader voiced by Brett Gray, starts off brash and insecure, trying to prove he’s in control. But his growth into someone who puts the needs of the crew above his own is honest and emotionally satisfying. Gwyn (Ella Purnell), the daughter of the show’s villain, evolves from spy to rebel to diplomat, grappling with her father’s legacy and choosing her own. Her scenes with the real Admiral Janeway (voiced by Kate Mulgrew) in Season 2 are some of the most emotionally resonant in the series.
The other stars shine too. Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui), the young Brikar, is introduced as the muscle, but discovers a passion for science and xenobiology. Jankom Pog (Jason Mantzoukas), a Tellarite engineer, is loud, cranky, and lovable, bringing comic relief with real technical know-how. Zero (Angus Imrie), a genderless Medusan, offers some of the show’s most introspective and Trek-ish cerebral moments. And then there’s Murf (voiced by the legendary Dee Bradley Baker), who starts as a gooey pet and ends up a phaser-proof, adorable action hero.
Mulgrew’s dual performance as both Hologram Janeway and Admiral Janeway is a triumph. The hologram acts as a mentor, teacher, and maternal figure, helping the crew internalize Federation values. When the real Janeway finally steps in, she’s not there to take over; she’s there to challenge them and believe in them.
The storytelling doesn’t hold back. The Protostar’s quantum slipstream drive is a pivotal plot device that raises ethical questions and leads to some thrilling chases. Season 2 digs even deeper intoStar Treklore, exploring the fallout of time travel, the motives of the Vau N’Akat, and even weaving in the Traveler mythology fromTNG—with Wesley Crusher himselfplaying a vital role.
It’s easy to forget, with how polished and epic Season 2 is, that the series almost didn’t make it. In 2023, Paramount+abruptly canceledProdigyand even removed it from its platform. Fans were devastated. Butafter a passionate online campaign, Netflix stepped in, acquiring the rights and giving the show a second lease on life. Season 2 premiered on Netflix in 2024, reaching an even bigger audience.
One thing is certain: poorWesley Crusher got a rough deal. Introduced inThe Next Generationas the teen prodigy aboard theEnterprise-D, the character — played by a baby-faced Wil Wheaton — was often the punchline, despite being loaded with potential. Fans were never quite sure what to make of the sweater-wearing wunderkind who often solved problems, even before seasoned Starfleet officers. Cue the eye-rolls.
Much of the criticism stemmed from how transparently Wesley was viewedas a Gene Roddenberry self-insert: an idealized, brilliant youth who regularly outperformed senior crew members. His knack for saving the day made him feel less like a relatable crewmember and more like a narrative shortcut.
ButStar Trek: Prodigypulled a 180. In the episode “Asylum” (S2, Ep3), Crusher — now acting as a Traveler — intervenes in the fate of the Prodigy crew. Instead of the awkward, overly earnest ensign of yesteryear, this Wesley is confident, enigmatic, and connected to the cosmos. He’s no longer trying to prove he belongs — he knows it. Wheaton was thrilled by his character’s second chance, saying in the AMA:
“They finally got Wesley right.”
He’s not wrong. The Traveler arc fromTNG’s later seasons finally pays off. Rather thanabandoning his storyline as past series did,Prodigyhonors it, making Wesley less of a footnote and more of a fulcrum.
Star Trek: Lower Decksvs.Prodigy: Two Animations, Two Receptions
BothStar Trek: ProdigyandStar Trek: Lower Decksexpanded the franchise into animation, but they took different routes and got different reception from fans.
So why didLower Deckscatch on so quicklywhileProdigywas left in the dust? Well, it debuted in an era of meta-saturated content, where self-aware, referential comedy dominates the cultural landscape. Titles likeDeadpoolandRick and Mortyhave conditioned audiences to expect a post-modern wink and nod.Lower Decksfits right into that ecosystem, where fandom is both the subject and the audience.
It was also marketed directly to adultStar Trekfans, not children or families. This helped it dodge the “kid show” stigma, fitting into the adult animation genre. After all,TOSpremiered in 1966, andTNGin 1987, so many OG Trekkies certainly fall into the adult demographic. Perhaps most importantly,Lower Decksgave the fandom what it wanted: endless lore refrences, obscure trivia, and characters who felt like they were in on the joke. Mariner, Boimler, and the rest of the crew don’t just live in theTrekuniverse — they know the tropes, and they love (and sometimes roast) them as much as we do.
Wheaton’s Mission to Change the Perception ofStar Trek: Prodigy
Wheaton isn’t just grateful forProdigy— he’s actively trying to reshape how it’s seen. In his AMA, theTNGactor made it clear he’s tired of the series being misunderstood or dismissed. He expressed his frustration at how hard it has been to convince people otherwise:
“It’s not a kiddie show; it’s animation that’s accessible to kids without losing the adults in the audience.”
Wheaton’s not just preaching to the choir; he’s actually calling on fans to help him shift the narrative. Whether it’s through word-of-mouth, social media discourse, or just encouraging that one reluctant friend to give it a shot, he wantsProdigyto get its due as a legitimate piece ofStarTrekstorytelling. Perhaps his — and fans' — efforts will pay off in the form of a third season.
