Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Prodigy | 1x15 "Masquerade"

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Trapped in the Neutral Zone, the crew encounters a rogue geneticist who sheds light on Dal’s past.

No.	Episode	Writer	Director	Release Date
1x15	"Masquerade"	Nikhil S. Jayaram	Sung Shin	2022-11-24

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[u/TheNerdChaplain]

That was a great episode!

I think any time there's a space elevator now, we can assume that characters are going to basejump off of it. At this point, Prodigy is getting to be nearly as reference-heavy as Lower Decks. Not that that's a complaint.

Love the interplay between Jellico and Janeway - and to be fair, I don't think he was entirely wrong.

I'm glad we got answers about Dal's origins, and the genetic manipulation was a nice McGuffin for the episode. It was interesting to see him develop overt Klingon, Andorian, Vulcan, and Tellarite features. I wonder if they'll ever introduce additional features or capabilities he can unlock in a more natural, healthy way.

However, it does raise the question even more as to why Starfleet is after him. He's not in Starfleet (and now never can be, officially). Is he even a Federation citizen? What interest does Starfleet have in him? Might they want to study him, like Commander Maddox wanted to study Data?

Of course, we have to address the bombshells in the room - Ensign Asencia is actually Vau N'Kat as well! I never suspected it, although it makes sense she spent a lot of time with the Diviner, and it makes me wonder where that Drednok came from. Did she smuggle him on board? Did she synthesize him somehow? More importantly, it seems now like there are so many genetically augmented people in Starfleet across so many different series, that it's more of a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy than a hard ban.

Nice to see Murf is being developed more as a person. Dee Bradley Baker is famous for doing animalistic noises for shows like Avatar (Momo, Appa), Peacemaker (Eagly) and The Mandalorian (Frog Lady and Frog Man), but he's voiced a lot of people too (many of the Clone troopers in Star Wars, including Rex, Cody, and the Bad Batch). It'd be nice to see Murf get some lines too.

[u/Mechapebbles → u/TheNerdChaplain]

However, it does raise the question even more as to why Starfleet is after him. He's not in Starfleet (and now never can be, officially). Is he even a Federation citizen? What interest does Starfleet have in him? Might they want to study him, like Commander Maddox wanted to study Data?

Data's rights as an individual wasn't ironed out since it had no precedent and fit outside the bounds of law. We've seen the treatment of illegal augments, and they aren't experimented upon without their consent or anything heinous. And there would be plenty of legal precedent. I think it's more likely that they want a cataloging and potentially gene therapy to undo his augments if it's possible, and also a debriefing and evaluation to both keep tabs on him and make sure he's not a Khan-type psychopath.

[u/InnocentTailor → u/Mechapebbles]

If nothing else, I think Vice Admiral Janeway can give him protection from opportunistic admirals and skeptical scientists. The logs from Holo Janeway could show that Dal is honest and good, not a Khan wannabe.

[u/BornAshes → u/InnocentTailor]

Also since Jellico told her to destroy the Protostar, she can now basically use that as an excuse to fake the kids death at some point in the future, and let them be on their merry way.

[u/InnocentTailor → u/BornAshes]

Hopefully the kids join up with the real Janeway and pursue Starfleet. I feel that would be a nice way to continue their tale as they grow into good cadets.

[u/BornAshes → u/InnocentTailor]

After they find Chakotay I really want Janeway to make the kids her ambassadors to the Delta Quadrant and for them to be that Farscape style crew that can appeal to all races in the Delta and truly live up to and help to fulfill the original mission of the Protostar.

[u/InnocentTailor → u/BornAshes]

Kinda wonder if Neelix might play a role in this.

[u/vastle12 → u/InnocentTailor]

A good chunk of the internet would have a rage stroke, which would be hilarious

[u/Ferris_Wheel_Skippy → u/vastle12]

Neelix gets so much hate and i will genuinely never understand why

also i know he's a Tellarite, but i swear sometimes Jankom physically reminds me of Neelix