|
| “ | I know it sounds like nonsense. But every language is a window into a new culture. It's hard to believe how many are out there. | „ |
| ~ Gwyndala. |
| “ | Diviner: My Progeny, you're alive. Gwyn: You chose the ship. Diviner: I had no choice. If you want to save your friends, surrender the ship. You're going to do the right thing... aren't you, Gwyn? Gwyn: You're right. I am. Computer, engage protostar. Diviner: Progeny... Gwyn... Gwyn! Gwyn: You made your choice, Father. Now I've made mine. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn betrays her father and helps her new friends escape him aboard the Protostar. |
| “ | Diviner: Do you have any idea what that uniform represents? Gwyn: A commitment to strive for a better future. Diviner: Lies and hypocrisy. Gwyn: You'd know all about that. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn confronting her father and the two exchange their differing opinions of the meaning of the Starfleet uniform. |
| “ | Because in the infinite of space, everyone needs to know there is a place out there willing to accept us all, no matter how different we think we are. Without Starfleet, the Federation crumbles. And that dream dies with it. If they've ever helped you as they've helped us, then hear my words. Allies, civilians, outsiders, anyone, Starfleet needs you now...Or it will not survive. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn asking for help from all possible species to save Starfleet from destruction. |
Gwyndala or more commonly known as Gwyn is the deuteragonist of the 2021 animated series serving as the tenth series of the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Prodigy.
She is a young Vau N'Akat female originally living on the Tars Lamora penal colony in the Delta Quadrant as a lieutenant to her father, The Diviner, until she is taken hostage by a gang of young prisoners. strip of the Protostar ship. At first, she tried to return to her father until the latter reluctantly abandoned her in favor of the Protostar to complete his secret plans. Heartbroken, Gwyn abandons her old life and joins her new friends on their journey to reach the United Federation of Planets and join Starfleet.
She is voiced by Ella Purnell who also played a young Maleficent in Maleficent, Lucy MacLean in Fallout and Jinx in Arcane.
Physical appearance[]
| “ | There is no barrier we cannot overcome. For we are Vau N'Akat. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn. |
As a member of the Vau N'Akat species, Gwyn has gray skin and light red markings on her nose and ears. His face is facially similar to a human except that her cheeks have two downward-sloping features. Her hair is long and wavy while being held in pigtails by rings, the roots sharing the same color as the skin while the tips are dark grey/dark blue. Her eyebrows and eyelids are brown, her eyes are olive green, and her lips are a darker shade of gray than her skin. In terms of height, Gwyn is slightly smaller than Janeway but is bigger than Dal by a head but arms and shoulders leaner in comparison.
Her normal clothing mainly consists of a light blue sleeveless top underneath a kind of dark blue breastplate, an epaulette on the right shoulder and a thick bronze collar. She also tackles a brown belt from a big pocket and a long fabric on the right thigh, blue pants and stylish knee high boots. On her arms, she wears mittens as well as her Heirloom on her right arm and an additional gauntlet on her left forearm. As the Diviner's lieutenant, Gwyn wore a hooded cape. During missions or encounters with other species, she wears a Starfleet uniform. After joining the Federation, Gwyn wears a new Starfleet uniform with Vau N'Akat features while retaining her mittens but now wearing the Heirloom on the lapel of her right hand. After becoming the captain of the USS Prodigy, Gwyn wears a red uniform with gray and black parts.
Skills & Abilities[]
| “ | My father had me study languages to pit species against each other. Instead, I can bring them together. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn. |
Gwyn is an accomplished multilingual due to the intense training her father gave her from birth, allowing her to read or speak foreign languages with ease. She also manages to assimilate the basics of a non-corporeal species using communication based on sound instead of words. At the same time, her language learning allowed her to learn many alien cultures most notably Klingon, Tellerite, Caitian, and Brikar (to name a few).
Her intensive training also includes astrophysics and starship mechanics, which allowed her to operate the Protostar the very first time she boarded and reprogram Janeway easily and later give her upgrades to her holographic program. Gwyn also possesses martial arts skills and is an agile fighter, On the genetic side, Gwyn has the ability to thoughtfully manipulate a golden substance that she calls her Heirloom, thus being able to transform it into melee weapons, a shield or various objects. Naturally, Gwyn has a higher healing ability than a human. She is also immune to most telepathy, a Medusan cannot read her thoughts.
Personality[]
| “ | I've learned never to fear the truth. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn. |
Gwyn has a deep fascination with foreign cultures, especially fluency in languages and would become enthusiastic about learning about new cultures and languages. She particularly appreciates speaking the standard language rather than the Vau N'Akat language.
Initially, Gwyn was not really a warm person.
In her early days, Gwyn turned out to be a serious person, sometimes cold, strategic, cultured and loyal to her father, even if she did not approve of his cruel methods of ruling the colony and did not like to serve a purpose she does not know the meaning. She also showed a softer side towards a Caitian child, reassuring her and taking care of her for a time. Moreover, she purposely threatened the Kazon bringing the slaves to send himr to dig in the mines if he brought back another young child.
She has a mutual dislike of the crueler Drednok, easily sickened by his vicious methods. Due to growing up in Tars Lamora, Gwyn has long considered most of the Unwanted to be just common criminals, though she was softer towards them, such as when she asked Dal about Zero in more civilized and gentle ways than Drednok. Although Gwyn is naturally less cold than her father, she is capable of being intimidating and threatening when questioning someone, as she did with Dal when his sarcasm began to irritate her after she mispronounced a metaphor and she refused to let someone like him make fun of her, showing some arrogance similar to her father. When Dal offered her a place with his friends to go with them, Gwyn pragmatically refused and later engaged the gang in battle.
As a hostage on the Protostar, Gwyn showed a more irritable side, quickly becoming angry when the gang ridiculed her or kept her locked up. Despite her situation, she remained convinced that her father will come to retrieve her, calling Dal a fool for believing he can escape the Diviner. Although she briefly softened after the compassionate Rok-Tahk brought her food and scolded her for believing the Unwanted were just criminals, Gwyn continued to try to reach her father but failed, didn't want to go on the offensive against an upset Rok, even cowardly trying to reason with her that she was only obeying her father. Back in jail, Gwyn grew more bitter, going on sardonics with Dal to recall the time he thought they could have been friends. During her second escape, Gwyn would not hesitate to abandon the gang on the planet Murder if it meant going back to her father.
Following her second failed escape and being forced to cooperate with the gang despite Dal's more than once coldness towards her, Gwyn slowly befriended them after saving them from a planet murderer attack. She would eventually bond with Dal due to their shared appreciation for the stars and the feeling of not really having a loving family. When Drednok intercepts the tape, Gwyn steps in to stop the robot from harming them. After her father abandons her to get the Protostar and her new friends save her, Gwyn is heartbroken and ultimately rejects the Diviner when he attempts to bring her back to his side.
| “ | When he took all of you, I stood by and did nothing. I need to make it right | „ |
| ~ Gwyn's new sense of morality. |
Having friends made Gwyn a better person.
Gwyn subsequently fell into a state of depression and sadness as she no longer felt like she belonged anywhere until Zero made her realize that she belonged among her friends. Once past the stage, Gwyn became more emotionally open than she had been, behaving as playful and cheerful as her traveling companions while exhibiting a new sense of morality worthy of Starfleet ideals, not wanting not let the Unwanted suffer at the hands of her father. She also seemed to have bonded immensely with Dal, managing to convince him to return to Tars Lamora to save the Unwanted by reminding him that he is not alone. Upon learning of her father's true mission to wipe out Starfleet to prevent their people from ever becoming extinct, Gwyn refused to trade one genocide for another and attempted to stop Diviner when he refused to listen to reason.
Since her father's defeat, her memories restored and the discovery of the Living Construct on the Protostar, Gwyn put her dream of joining Starfleet on hold so as not to risk involuntarily harming the Federation, but has not given up helping those that she and her friends can always help. She often shows more open-mindedness and kind-heartedness than her friends, not wanting to leave the sentient or non-sentient living beings to their fate and preferring to see beneficial opportunities on the whole. Gwyn's greatest talent is undoubtedly her ability to empathize, as she allowed Zero to break free from the Borg Collective by encouraging the Medusan to forgive himself and reassuring Dal that he is not a lab failed experiment. She was ultimately able to forgive her father after he was tempted to save her from Asencia's clutches at the cost of his life and tearfully promised him that she would go see Solum one day but she was unsure of realizing his hope that she would unite their people though the Diviner remained convinced of this as he died. After coming to terms with her grief, she was able to calm her friends on her own and then managed to convince the Klingons, the fiercest and cantankerous species to help them to stop the destruction of Starfleet, putting all her heart and ideals into it, while also successfully managing to gain the trust, friendship, and respect of Trij, one of the Klingon captains who arrived and helped them.
Like the rest of her friends, Gwyn had become attached to the Protostar and was sad to have to part with it forever to save the Starfleet armada, not hiding her emotions either when the spaceship exploded. She had also become attached to the Janeway hologram and was even sadder at Janeway's permanent demise. After proving her innocence in Federation court, Gwyn made the difficult choice not to join her friends at Starfleet Academy just yet, believing she had a duty to save the Vau N'Akat first. At the same period, Gwyn and Dal became more intimate to the point of having feelings for each other, sharing a mutual kiss and promising to see each other again, concluding with a hug.
Quotes[]
Season One[]
| “ | Gwyn: You tried to fly a class-D loader into space. Really? Dal: Truthfully, I didn't think that far ahead, but I would've figured it out. I saw my chance, so I took it. Gwyn: So it was just chance you escaped at the very moment Fugitive Zero sabotaged the manacle antenna? Dal: Whoa, now, hold up. Is this what this is about? You think I'd hitch my fate to some rebel fighter? Gwyn: I know you'd do anything to get out of here. Fess up. You two are in cat boots. [Dal laugh] What's so funny? Dal: "Cat boots"? You mean "cahoots." Gwyn: I refuse to be mocked by someone of your reputation. Dal: And, uh, what reputation is that? Gwyn: Tell me where to find Fugitive Zero, and Our Diviner will set you free! Dal: Gwyn, Gwyn, Gwyn. You're a chump to think he'll let anyone off this rock, even you. Gwyn: At least I know what I am. Dal: You want Fugitive Zero? Tell you what: get me a ticket outta here on that Kazon ship, and I'll tell you everything I know about him. Gwyn: Fugitive Zero isn't a "him" or a "her." Medusans are non-corporeal. They don't have a body. Dal: A Medusan? A telepath... Gwyn: You know nothing. I tried to help you, but you can't even help yourself. Dal: Wait, wait, wait, I did talk to Fugitive Zero! Gwyn: Sure you did. Dal: In my cell. Someone was in my head, asking all sorts of questions. I swear to you. I can find Fugitive Zero. Gwyn: You have until the end of tomorrow to locate the fugitive. If you don't, I can no longer protect you from Drednok. Dal: You know what he'll do to me. Gwyn: Then for your own sake, I hope you come through. Fugitive Zero was last seen in the Northwest Crevasse. I suggest you start there. Dal: That's deep core mining! How is a guy my size supposed to get down there? Gwyn: You're crafty. Figure it out. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn questions Dal about Zero. |
| “ | Gwyn: So you did know Fugitive Zero. Dal: How did you find me? The surge on the surface. That was you. Gwyn: I knew you were in cat boots. Dal: Well, I wasn't, but then I was. But then I wasn't again. Gwyn: What is all of this? Dal: Our ticket out of here. To a better life. Join us. You always wanted to see the stars. Gwyn: I tried to save you. Dal: And now we can save each other. Gwyn: Dal. It's too late. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn after tracking Dal to Zero, shortly before Drednok ambushed the gang. |
| “ | Let me guess: you haven't thought that far ahead. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn mocks Dal. |
| “ | You're an imbecile. My father will come for me. No matter how far you try to run, he'll hunt you down and make all of you pay for taking his daughter. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn threatening Dal for taking her prisoner. |
| “ | Rok: There you are. I don't wanna hurt you. Gwyn: Listen to me. We're all going to die if we don't get out of here. Rok: Why should I listen to you? You never helped us! You're a bad lady! [Rok attack] Gwyn: You're angry. I get that. But I was only doing what I was told. Just like you're doing now. Rok: Get back here! [Rok ends up weightless unable to catch Gwyn] Gwyn: For what it's worth, I'm sorry. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn confronted by Rok as she tries to escape the Protostar. |
| “ | Whatever happened to "under different circumstances, we could've been friends?" | „ |
| ~ Gwyn sardonically referencing the time Dal thought they might have been friends. |
| “ | Gwyn: You don't have to hurt them. The ship is close. We can leave them here. Drednok: Step aside, young Progeny. I will not warn you again. Gwyn: Then you'll have to shoot me. [Dreadnok fires on Gwyn's brace and she falls belly down] Go! I'll only slow you down. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn stands up to Drednok. |
| “ | Gwyn: You came back for me. Dal: We owed you one. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn after being rescued from the roots by her now friends. |
| “ | Zero: Curious. Your tibialis anterior has already healed. You are in perfect health, aside from low serotonin. Why have you not left sickbay? Gwyn: It's because I'm sad, Zero. Zero: Since I cannot read your mind, may I borrow a phrase Janeway taught me. A penny for your thoughts? Gwyn: I don't belong here. And after what happened with my father, I don't belong anywhere. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn after turning her back on the Diviner. |
| “ | Gwyn: You gonna get rid of me, and then take the ship? Drednok II: That is against my master's wishes. He cannot see what I know to be true. You are his greatest mistake. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn to Drednok II. |
| “ | Gwyn: You're the one who wanted to be in charge. Now, when faced with a tough choice, you just run away? Are you scared? Or just selfish? Dal: You know how many times I tried to escape Tars Lamora? If we go back, we might never leave. You don't understand. You aren't like us. Gwyn: I know it's a risk. Dal: Everything we fought for... the ship, our freedom, our friends! We could lose all of it! If it was just me, sure. In a heartbeat. But I can't risk losing... us. Don't look at me like that. I meant all of us. Th... the crew. Gwyn: Of course. Dal: You want us to go into hostile territory, outnumbered 100 to one, to make a trade with someone we can't even trust. And if we're lucky enough to survive that, we still need to escape with all the miners without a ship. Gwyn: When you put it that way... yes. Dal: This is a no-win scenario, Gwyn. This is our Kobayashi Maru. Gwyn: So what are you saying? Dal: It can't be one of my half-baked plans. Not with all of our lives on the line. Gwyn: Don't forget, you're not alone. We're in cat boots now. Let's plan together. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn to Dal. |
| “ | Diviner: Just as the Federation ignited our civil war, when the Protostar comes into contact with a Starfleet vessel, our weapon will release a signal that will corrupt their systems, turning their ships against each other until the entire alliance is reduced to nothing! Gwyn: Our ship will destroy Starfleet? Diviner: This ship is part of our destiny. Starfleet will welcome its return with open arms. And it will tear itself apart from within! In time, you will understand. Once Starfleet falls to ruin, we can return to Solum where we belong. Gwyn: Our dreams of going to Starfleet. If we go, we... We'll... Diviner: Destroy them, yes. Gwyn: We can't go. We can never go. You can't trade one tragedy for another! You need to talk to Starfleet, not destroy them! Diviner: The time for talk is over. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn tries to convince her father to stop his genocidal vendetta against Starfleet, in vain. |
| “ | I remember everything. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn regains her memories from before the accident with Zero's true form. |
| “ | Gwyn: Dal? Rok? Is anyone there? Janeway: They've all been captured. You don't have long until the Borg assimilate them. It's up to you, Gwyn. Gwyn: No, I have to get to Zero. Zero can tell them to let us go. Janeway: Remember what I told you. If you're not a threat, they will ignore you. Lay down your weapon. Gwyn: How will I defend myself? Janeway: Gwyn, trust me. Stand down. Gwyn: Nice tip, Janeway. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn in Borg territory. |
| “ | Gwyn: Fight the collective, Zero. Borg Zero: There is no Zero. Zero hurt you. Endangered you. Now Zero is Borg. Gwyn: Well, the Borg are making you hurt us, and that is not the Zero I know. Borg Zero: We will not hurt others anymore. Dal: Good, good, good. It's working. Borg Zero: We will assimilate you into the collective. Dal: No, no, no! Rok: Bad Zero, bad Zero! Gwyn: We all get hurt, Zero. It's the risk we take for revealing pieces of ourselves to each other, but what you did, trying to protect me, was an act of love, and you should never feel ashamed for that. If there's any part still listening, protect us again, Zero. Break free from their hold. Resistance is not futile. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn to a Borg assimilated Zero, encouraging him to break free from their control and not blame himself for the holodeck incident anymore. |
| “ | Jankom: Okay, Pog's heard enough. Adventure's over. Back to the ship we go. [Gwyn grabs Jankom's neckband] Gwyn: We're not going anywhere. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn stops Jankom from running away. |
| “ | Gwyn: We just need a ship that can get us to the nearest Federation starbase. Okona: A lady doth need transport? Captain Okona at your service. Tell me, colorful gang, what goods do you have to trade for passage? Dal: [Scoffs] We can do better than this guy. [Dal starts walking away until Gwyn grabs him by the shoulder] Gwyn: Hold on. How fast is that thing? |
„ |
| ~ The gang meets Okona. |
| “ | Dal: All this time...I'm just some failed experiment. Gwyn: That doesn't change the way we see you. You're more than that. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn comforts Dal after he finds out he is an Augment. |
| “ | Gwyn: You feeling better? Dal: The best. Why do you ask? Gwyn: Oh, I don't know. Maybe that bombshell dropped by Dr. Jago? Dal: Ah, that was disappointing. But the upside is that it made me a more perspicacious person. Gwyn: Perspicacious? Wow, I've never heard you use such big words. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn notices Dal's change in behavior. |
| “ | Just don't touch anything. And stop mutating. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn has a Dal mutating more and more. |
| “ | Dal: I'm sorry. I really messed things up. I didn't wanna be a mistake. I just wanted you to look...at me like you look at Okona. Gwyn: You're not a mistake. But you'll never be as good as Okona. You're better. He left us. You didn't. Rok: Now let's make you better. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn reassures Dal that he is fine the way he is. |
| “ | I'd like to slap my father for all he's put me through, with my hand. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn in an apparent drunken state. |
| “ | Gwyn: My father put the fate of our world on my shoulders, without ever asking. Barman Diviner: Sounds like despite your pop's intentions, you gotta find your own way. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn to a holographic version of her father. |
| “ | Kathryn Janeway: This is why you haven't answered our hails. To protect us. Gwyn: All we want is to return the ship. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn to Kathryn Janeway in Dal's body. |
| “ | Gwyn: Thanks for giving us a chance. If we're lucky enough to get in to Starfleet, maybe we'll see you around. I know Dal would love it more than anyone. What is it? Kathryn Janeway: Ugh. Gwyn, Dal's an augment. Starfleet outlawed augments after the Eugenics Wars. He'll never be allowed in. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn thanking Kathryn Janeway for her trust but is shocked to learn that Dal will not be able to join Starfleet as he dreamed. |
| “ | Good to have you back, Dal. | „ |
| ~ Gwyn to Dal back in his body. |
| “ | Dal: If we cross that line, you can forget Starfleet Academy. We can still talk to them. Gwyn: My father won't try to talk. Dal, listen. If anything happens, I want you to hear this from me. [Dal kisses her] Whoa, what are you doing? Dal : I'm so... I'm so sorry. I thought that was a moment and we felt the same. [Chuckles weakly] What is it I needed to hear? Gwyn: Starfleet won't allow Augments. Dal: What? Gwyn: When the Admiral was on board, she told us. I'm sorry. You deserve the truth. Dal, what are you doing? Dal: We all deserve to belong somewhere. But if I can't join Starfleet, I'll make sure you guys can. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn reveals the truth to Dal, after the unexpected kiss. |
| “ | Asencia: You dare stand in the way of the Vau N'Akat? Gwyn: There must be another way. This can't be what our people want. Asencia: You're not one of us. You never were. You're just a mistake. A burden! Shouldn't even exist! |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn confronts Asencia. |
| “ | Diviner: Gwyndala... Gwyn: I'm here. Diviner: It wasn't supposed to be like this. I tried to save our world. Your world. I wanted you to see it. Gwyn: I can, Father. I will. Diviner: Maybe you can unify them... do what I never could. Gwyn: I don't know where Solum is. I don't know how to do that. Diviner: There's no barrier we cannot overcome, for you are my daughter, my spirit's song, my Gwyndala. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn reconciling with her father before he dies. |
| “ | Gwyn: First contact with Solum hasn't happened yet, but it will with someone, someday. Knowing what will happen to my people, I have to go. My father made mistakes, but he was right. I need to save the Vau N'Akat in my own way. Janeway: Starfleet has offered aid to return Gwyn to her home planet. Gwyn: Maybe hearing about the greater universe from one of their own will open them to a brighter future. |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn's new goal, unite the Vau N'Akat for a better future than the one that has already happened. |
| “ | Gwyn: Remember when you called me a chump for ever thinking I would get off that rock? Dal: [Laughs] Now, look at us. To think, the two of us would be in cat boots. Gwyn: [Laughs] You mean cahoots. Dal: How far away is Solum? Gwyn: I recognized these particular star clusters from the ones visible in the Solum holo-program. I know where my home world is now. Dal: He's still out there, isn't he? Your father. Gwyn: Crazy, huh? [Chuckles] Time travel. Dal: I don't want you to leave. Gwyn: I know. [They are kissing] Dal: Promise me, we'll see each other again. Gwyn: We got this far, didn't we? |
„ |
| ~ Gwyn and Dal share their second kiss and promise to see each other again one day. |
Season Two[]
| “ | No matter what's changed, Solum's fallen into civil war. | „ |
| ~ Gwyndala |
Trivia[]
- Ella Purnell also played the villainous character Jinx in Arcana the same year and ironically, Jinx and Gwyndala turned out to be polar opposites to each other.
- She was seventeen when she first appeared, the same age as Dal R'El but it is unknown which of the two is older. Either way, Gwyn is one of the oldest of the crew, though Zero's age is unknown. She probably turned eighteen in the second half of the first season and nineteen at the end of the second.
- Every time she speaks in her native tongue, communicates with some of her people or summons her Heirloom, the veins in her head light up.
- Among the languages that Gwyn speaks other than Vau N'Akat and Standard (English), she knows Kazon, Caitian, Klingon, Brikar and Tellarite. However, she does not understand Murf's language.
- Because of her talent for understanding languages, Gwyn could be considered the Protostar's communications officer. However, she most often acts as Dal's shrewd right-hand, giving her a commander position as well. In Supernova, Part 1, Dal calls her captain as she was about to ask the Klingons for help, presumably to imply her diplomatic skills. Towards the middle of the second season, she becomes the leader of the gang and at the end, Dal offers her the captain's seat of the USS Prodigy.
- Gwyn is the first clone or rather genetic copy of the Star Trek franchise to be a major character. By this status, Gwyn is openly despised by Drednok and Asencia, the former seeing her as nothing more than the Diviner's biggest mistake while Asencia shows more contempt, viewing Gwyn as an abomination and not a true Vau N'Akat.
- Her species has not yet come into contact with Starfleet, so Gwyn cannot be recognized by a DNA scanner.
- It is revealed in Supernova, Part 1 that Dal secretly had a crush on Gwyn, as he misinterpreted Gwyn's words as love confusion and then kissed her. Gwyn's surprised reaction to his act suggests either she never noticed it before or that she may not share the same feeling at the moment. It is later confirmed in Supernova, Part 2 that Gwyn does share the same feelings for Dal, as seen in their kiss.
