Star Trek: Prodigy - Kate Mulgrew Gets Animated Talking About Her YA Trek Series
By John Kirk
What makes a good teacher?
Kate Mulgrew knows.
To Star Trek fans, she’s Captain Kathryn Janeway of the USS Voyager from Star Trek: Voyager, the fourth series in the 50-year plus franchise set in the universe created by Gene Roddenberry. She gets to reprise that role as “Hologram Janeway/Vice-Admiral Janeway” in the latest addition to the franchise, Star Trek: Prodigy. And I had the chance to chat with her about it.
Star Trek: Prodigy is the story of five teens of different species and backgrounds who escape a slave colony in an abandoned Federation starship of advanced design, the USS Protostar. They discover a mutual desire to be a part of Starfleet, and with the hologram of Captain Janeway as their guide, they learn to work together to bring the Protostar back to the Federation.
This is the first time that an iteration of Star Trek has been specifically aimed at a young audience, Kate pointed out. It just makes sense that, if a generation like mine could learn valuable lessons from this franchise, then so can the youth of today.
So, what can they learn?
“You must work as a team. I’m teaching them that they can’t do it alone.” Mulgrew said.
Cooperation is a laudable learning skill and it’s something that all teachers look to instill in their students. It’s easier to learn if the rest of the group is … on board, no pun intended.
Star Trek has always had that sort of ethos though. As far back as the original series, it sought to elevate awareness of either social issues or aspects of humanity that Gene Roddenberry felt were significant. Star Trek wasn’t just about exploration of the stars, but more of an exploration of the issues that people here on Earth needed to confront and resolve.
For me, as a kid, the idea of accepting people on their merits and who they were as opposed to their race or colour was a lesson I attribute to Star Trek.
Is Janeway a good teacher though?
“First and foremost, she is a teacher to these kids.” Mulgrew said. “She has to teach them the guiding principles of Starfleet if they want to get the defunct starship they’ve found off and running. Which they will.”
The challenge in reaching a young audience is to not preach. We had to go to the students’ perspective for that. Ella Purnell, who plays Gwyndala, had some insight into this.
“Don’t talk down … don’t patronize them. Kids are so smart and I think that’s what this show does really well. The writing is sophisticated, even though it’s meant to be a kid’s show. I think if you talk down to kids, they see right through it.”
Brett Gray, who plays Dal, had this to offer.
“Showing community, friendship and sense of teamwork. Being able to love each other by utilizing each other’s strengths. These are all important. Becoming an ensemble and accepting each other no matter where you come from.”
What about reaching individual students? After all, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one, as Mr. Spock is wont to say. But, there have been times when the needs of the one were just as important.
Mulgrew had this to offer. “Janeway has a hard time with Dal, because he insists he’s going to be the Captain. He thinks he has all the answers. That is exactly not what you must know if you’re going to be a successful Starfleet officer. So, Hologram Janeway is teaching them to rely on one another which is slow going for Dal, but it’s fun to watch.”
Of course, how many teachers have said that in their careers about that “one kid” who seems to stand out and demand more attention and time?
But How does Hologram Janeway teach?
“She doesn’t give orders … she suggests. She presents what they should do.
“When Dal completely resists - goes about his own business and falls! - Hologram Janeway simply says: ‘You see? I told you so! You’re going to have to start working with them.’ With each episode, there’s learning that develops in which he must start listening to Janeway and to each of his compatriots. It’s slow going, but it’s fun to watch.”
However, the teacher herself also needs time to self-reflect on her own practice. The question had to be about not just Kathryn Janeway, but about Kate Mulgrew as well. So, I asked, what about Kate Mulgrew?
“What about Kate Mulgrew?” Kate repeated with a wary tone.
I explained that given that Mulgrew has the distinction of not just having the most Star Trek experience on the show, but also was the first female lead actress to star in one of the franchises, along with a vast array of performance credits. I had to ask if Kate Mulgrew considered herself a teacher on the show.
“No … I don’t feel like a teacher. But sometimes, I feel like a voice and I must say that’s very rewarding, John. I just came back from Europe and I met a group of people in Prague. And they seemed to be completely honoured to talk to the woman who played Kathryn Janeway, who seemed to embody everything they had been longing to express all of their lives, particularly women in STEM who have made great progress since Captain Janeway.
“I think that I’m a promising voice – a kind of beacon for some people. And it has simply been my privilege to be that.”
Star Trek: Prodigy is a unique production for multiple reasons. Its audience is primarily student-aged kids who can relate to the crew of the Protostar. It brings back a much-loved character from a previous franchise to reprise her role. And it also introduces the ideals of Star Trek specifically to that younger audience to whom this could be their first introduction to Trek.
It’s ambitious and delightful, but it can also be that teaching tool for the inspirational qualities we wish all teachers could have.
After all, what teacher wouldn’t want an advanced starship like the USS Protostar for their classroom?
The remainder of Season One of Star Trek: Prodigy drops on CTV Sci-Fi Channel and Paramount Plus Thursday, Oct. 27.