‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Just Aired One of the Best ‘Star Trek’ Fight Scenes, Ever

In the second episode of Paramount+’s animated Star Trek: Prodigy, titled “Starstruck”, the new crew of the USS Protostar hits their first snag as a crew in the form of a rapidly exploding star — and the inability of Brett Gray’s Dal to delegate responsibility, or listen to the helpful advice of Hologram Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). But the highlight of the episode? One of the best fight scenes in Star Trek history, thanks to a throwdown between Gwyn (Ella Purnell) and Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui).

Spoilers past this point, but in the episode, the fugitives are finding their way around their commandeered starship when Dal makes the decision to ignore Janeway’s recommendation — head towards Federation space — and instead takes them directly into the gravitational well of a dying star. As the ship slowly loses power and abilities, Gwyn, who has been thrown into the brig, is released. She’s unable to escape via pod because Dal jettisoned them to lighten up the ship (it doesn’t work). At which point, the computer suggests something unique in Star Trek history: a vehicle replicator.

Replicators have been a mainstay of Star Trek since the beginning, usually used to create pretty much any food you can imagine in order to feed the hungry Starfleet crews. But they can be used for replicating other things; from weapons, to clothing, to machine parts. However (unless there’s something I’m not aware of, which, given the wide array of Star Trek shows, movies, books and games is entirely possible), I’ve never heard of a vehicle replicator before, and it only adds to the mystery of what the Protostar is, and why it was seemingly abandoned in the Delta Quadrant.

It’s exactly what Gwyn needs, though, and the ship begins construction on a shuttlecraft for her to escape the Protostar. That’s when Rok-Tahk, the giant rock monster with a little girl’s voice and soul, finds her. Though Rok-Tahk says she doesn’t want to hurt Gwyn, she’s still pissed off that The Diviner’s (John Noble) daughter kept them imprisoned for unknown reasons.

So the two fight. But not only do they fight, as Rok-Tahk uses her immense weight and strength, and Gwyn jumps nimbly around using the strange, metal weapon that’s otherwise wrapped around her arm… They do it in the middle of the shuttlecraft as it’s being constructed. Though this sort of thing could be attempted in live action, it shows off the joys of animation as the camera swoops around the duo while beams of metal and panes of glass are fabricated around them.

The fight ends when Rok-Tahk smashes through the glass of the shuttle, Gwyn shuts down the Protostar‘s gravity, and then when the rest of the crew gets it back on, Rok-Tahk falls of top of Gwyn. But the two minute fight scene that precedes it is thrilling, and easily stands up against anything on any of the Star Trek TV shows or movies.

It’s still early goings with Prodigy, but based on the first two episodes this show is off to a fantastic start. Great characters, intriguing mysteries, and as of this episode, killer fight scenes. More, please.

Star Trek: Prodigy streams new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+.

Where to watch Star Trek: Prodigy