Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1, Episode 18 - "Mindwalk"Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) proved Starfleet's most important virtue in Star Trek: Prodigy episode 18. Janeway was in hot pursuit of the teenage crew who commandeered the USS Protostar, and she believed reacquiring the Protostar would bring answers to what happened to Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran). But the Admiral learned that the kids flying the Protostar are not dangerous criminals; rather, they are former child slaves dubbed "the Unwanted" who stole the Starfleet ship to escape Tars Lamora and secure their own freedom.
Admiral Janeway could little suspect that she would find herself in the absurd circumstances of Star Trek: Prodigy episode 18, "Mindwalk." The Protostar's teenage heroes decided to risk Dal R'El (Brett Gray) using the latent telepathy he has via his genetically engineered hybrid Vulcan DNA to reach out to Janeway's mind. But a bizarre accident led to Janeway's mind inhabiting Dal's body while the young Augment ended up in the Admiral's body aboard the USS Dauntless. Janeway quickly asserted herself in spite of being in Dal's body, and she earned the other kids' trust. The same can't be said for Dal, who inadvertently ruined Janeway's reputation on the Dauntless so that the Admiral was thrown in the brig before they switched back their minds.
Janeway Remembering Starfleet's Virtues Is Why She's A Great Admiral
Admiral Janeway coming face-to-face with the Protostar's kids and reaffirming the highest qualities of Starfleet showed why she's a great Admiral. After Kathryn heard the teen rebels' truth that they were trying to keep the Living Construct the Diviner (John Noble) installed on the Protostar from destroying Starfleet, Janeway realized her assessment of the kids was all wrong, The Admiral told Gwyn (Ella Purnell) and the others, "When I was a cadet, I learned a good officer keeps an open mind. I made quite a few assumptions about you, and they were all wrong."
Gwyn, Dal, and their young friends all dream about joining Starfleet, and so the fact that the Admiral heard them out and decided she was wrong and that they were worthy of her help meant everything to them. It also proved to the Protostar kids that what Hologram Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) told them about Starfleet was true. Starfleet is fundamentally about seeking out new life and new civilizations, and that requires keeping an open mind and embracing possibilities. After being pursued by the USS Dauntless, it was a relief that Janeway shed her own misconceptions and the Admiral accepted the Protostar's young crew in true Starfleet fashion.
How Admiral Janeway Can Help The Protostar's Young Crew
Admiral Janeway choosing to side with and help Dal, Gwyn, and the others is great news for them. Janeway is a powerful ally, and her influence can go a long way to helping the Protostar kids realize their dream of joining Starfleet Academy. However, Janeway had to deliver the disheartening news that Dal won't be accepted into Starfleet because he's an Augment, and genetically engineered people are banned by the United Federation of Planets. But that's a hurdle for another time. The issue at hand is dealing with the Living Construct before it can make contact with and destroy Starfleet.
Of course, Star Trek: Prodigy can't make things so easy. Vau N'Akat agents the Diviner, Ensign Asencia (Jameela Jamal), and Drednok (Jimmi Simpson) are aboard the Dauntless seeking to activate the Living Construct. Meanwhile, Dal and Janeway may have reverted to their proper bodies, but the Admiral found herself in the brig because of how Dal suspiciously behaved while posing as Janeway. Star Trek: Prodigy set up a season 1 finale where anything can happen, but the lesson that no matter what, a good Starfleet Officer keeps an open mind, was learned and could help the Protostar teens save Starfleet in the end.
Star Trek: Prodigy season 1 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.