Dal and his friends encounter genetically modified tribbles (and the Klingon scientist who created them), skip into alternate realities including the Mirror Universe, and witness the terrifying rise of Ascencia.

After two significant two-parters, season 2 of the animated Star Trek show for younger viewers takes a brief respite from the main plot with two enjoyable standalones that focus on popular franchise mainstays of Tribbles and the Mirror Universe.

In a run of twenty episodes there’s time and opportunity to take steps like this off the main path, and while the Tribble drama is expectedly light and fluffy (and purrs!) the Mirror Universe half-hour is packed with a number of ‘What if…’ scenarios and welcome alternative versions of the popular characters.

But really we’re here for the main story, and that comes to life as Solum’s Ascencia lives up to her names and begins the first sorties of her attack on Starfleet. Exciting stuff – and this is just the first wave.

Verdict: Another quartet of engaging episodes that demonstrate the breadth of the Star Trek sandbox that Prodigy plays in. 8/10

Nick Joy