To clarify, Melumad does the incidental music in Prodigy, but the theme is by Michael Giacchino. He also scored, among many other things, the three Kelvin Timeline films, so he probably brings that “cinematic” feel you’re describing.

Melumad does occasionally integrate part of Giacchino’s Kelvin Timeline themes. For example, I want to say it appears toward the beginning of Prodigy 1x11.

Westlake is great, but so is Nami Melumad (who does the music for Strange New Worlds and Prodigy), so I’m absolutely not behind a call to have her fired, whether that call is meant to be tongue-in-cheek or not.

I agree it’s overused for the average episode of Trek, but if we accept that they’re doing a Section 31 movie, what’s the point of a low-stakes feature film (even a streaming film), especially one centered around Section 31?

Also worth noting that the article describes it as “Big stakes emotionally, big stakes for the characters in our story”, so the “stakes” are referring at least in part to character stakes, not necessarily universe-ending stakes. (Though I admit in practice it will probably be both.)

Great notes, as always.

In addition to the already-cited references, the Beagle could additionally be a sly reference to Archer’s pal Porthos.

Interestingly, Jolene Blalock is credited simply as “Jolene”. EDIT: Mike McMahan says this was at her request. https://bsky.app/profile/mikemcmahan.bsky.social/post/3ld3v4usznc2i

Our T’Pol also had some indirect experience with the concept of katra transference when Archer briefly carried Surak’s katra.

Nice notes, as usual.

V’Ger is the antagonist in TMP

Also it’s in the Lower Decks opening credit sequence this year.

the Cambodian word for “toilet” is bangkon, which is pronounced similarly.

Interesting catch. That didn’t occur to me, ហើយខ្ញុំចេះភាសារខ្មែរ។

Nurse Westlake is named after Chris Westlake

He’s also appeared as far back as the series premiere, though he’s rarely spoken until now, and I don’t think he’s ever said more than a couple of lines.