Star Trek: Prodigy’s existence is tied to the future success of the franchise

Star Trek: Prodigy's existence is tied to the future success of the franchise

As a gamer who found his love for Star Trek at the tender age of eight, back when UPN was airing Voyager, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of appreciation for the new kid on the block – Star Trek: Prodigy. It’s a beacon of hope for the future of this venerable franchise that has been part of my life for over a quarter of a century.


The Star Trek series is approaching its 60th anniversary, having first been aired in 1966. People who were children during that time are now typically in their 70s and 80s. They played a significant role in keeping the franchise alive for many decades and were a crucial audience for the revival series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, which premiered in the 1980s. Despite facing more than two decades of uncertainty, they remained loyal fans and were eventually rewarded with new installments.

Despite not being intended for them, the younger generation managed to keep the franchise alive. While “Star Trek: The Animated Series” played a role in this, it wasn’t exactly top-notch television for its time and now, considering children’s shows, it doesn’t quite fit that category anymore.

Currently, there are programs such as Star Trek: Prodigy, specifically designed and aimed towards our youthful audience members. However, the fate of this show remains uncertain. Given its current position, it would be a significant loss for the fandom if we were to part ways with it.

It’s clear now that the latest phase of Star Trek has opted for a strategy prioritizing quantity over quality, with only a handful of genuinely excellent series to engage fans. Out of these, Prodigy stands out as crucial for nurturing and sustaining the franchise for future audiences. Although shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are entertaining, they’re not designed primarily for younger viewers.

As a gamer, I can tell you that many youngsters find it tough to dive into Star Trek because of its complex dialogues and mature topics. That’s why having a show that distills the essence of Star Trek into a kid-friendly format is absolutely crucial. Over the past four decades, we’ve seen how fandoms don’t fade away with age; instead, they grow stronger and continue to flourish. Just take a look at franchises like Power Rangers and X-Men, where a large chunk of their fans are way beyond the intended audience!

The reason is that people don’t lose their fondness for something as they grow older; instead, it often serves as a comforting constant in their lives. For instance, my introduction to Star Trek was at the age of eight when UPN started airing Star Trek: Voyager in 1995. Voyager paved the way for me to become deeply invested in the series, and I’ve been a devoted fan ever since.

In simpler terms, Prodigy has the potential to achieve what the original discovery did, but on a much larger level. Instead of stumbling upon a few exceptional children with extraordinary minds, they can create a production that impacts and inspires tens of thousands of potential Star Trek fans in the future.

By capturing their interest at a young age and maintaining it for years, they are securing the longevity of the brand. It’s safe to assume that a series like Star Trek will persist as long as there are viewers who appreciate it. Once the number of fans diminishes significantly, the franchise may be put into permanent storage. This might happen eventually, but if the franchise can nurture future fans through Prodigy, the end could be delayed indefinitely.

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2024-09-20 02:23

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