This episode is a veritable treat for Trekkers. It combines many beloved characters and themes from earlier Star Trek series with modern animation's ability to bring to life an infinite variety of new aliens and planets. But perhaps it was just a little bit too highly seasoned with memorabilia for a younger audience.
This is a CHILDREN'S series, after all. Much as we might wish it, children are not born Trekkers (or Trekkies) but have to come to it by their own path. If youngsters are offered clear storylines, a strong feeling of camaraderie, the wonder of exploration and a level of humour that they can understand, then we will take them with us into a world we can all enjoy together. If we seniors get too hung up on our own expectations and "in jokes" the grandchildren may well lose interest.
I know how disappointed many Star Trek viewers have been with the confused storylines and apparent lack of respect for its legacy that they have had served up on their screens recently but Prodigy cannot be all things to all people. Let this be my my plea to the producers and writers to allow this little gem to develop its own place in the Star Trek Universe without losing sight of its primary purpose.
Stay safe, stay kind.