Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2

Dal R’El (Brett Gray) learned a lesson in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 that I wish Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) did in Star Trek Into Darkness. Dal was the self-styled Captain of the USS Protostar. Initially knowing nothing about Starfleet or how to command a starship, Dal made many mistakes, but his instincts and innate compassion forged loyalty with his friends. Together, the young heroes saved Starfleet at the end of Star Trek: Prodigy season 1, and they upped the ante by saving every Star Trek timeline in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2.

I never minded how Captain James T. Kirk rocketed to the center seat of the USS Enterprise in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009). In fact, I enjoy it. Originally not even assigned to the flagship of the United Federation of Planets, Cadet Kirk stowed away on the Enterprise but ended Star Trek (2009) as her Captain, thanks to his heroism in saving Earth from the Romulan time-traveler Nero (Eric Bana). In Star Trek Into Darkness, however, Kirk was demoted for violating the Prime Directive, but he regained his Captaincy as he led the Starship Enterprise on a revenge mission against Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch).

Star Trek: Prodigy’s Dal Learned A Lesson Captain Kirk Didn’t In Star Trek Into Darkness

Dal is willing to wait to become the Captain he’s meant to be.

Dal R’El has many admirable qualities, and one of his best came to light in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2’s finale when he realized it wasn’t the right time for him to be Captain of the new Protostar Class USS Prodigy. Instead, Dal made the mature decision to be the First Officer to Prodigy’s new Captain, Gwyndala (Ella Purnell). I was moved by how Dal was haunted by the fact that he wasn’t ready to be a Starfleet Captain throughout Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, and admitting, “That chair never belonged to me,” shows how much Dal has grown in such a short time – and what a worthy Captain he will be one day.

In contrast to Dal R’El, I think Captain James T. Kirk is infuriating in Star Trek Into Darkness. Kirk brazenly violated the Prime Directive to rescue Spock (Zachary Quinto), and while he did it to save his friend, Jim refused to see how his immaturity was a detriment to the USS Enterprise and its crew. Although Kirk did the right thing and did not spark a war with the Klingons to kill Khan, it was glaring how James was out of his depth in Star Trek Into Darkness. Kirk even admitted, “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do. I only know what I can do.” At the end of Star Trek Into Darkness, Kirk didn’t really deserve to remain Captain of the Enterprise, and he never learned Dal’s lesson, “That chair never belonged to me.”

Why Kirk Stayed As Captain Of USS Enterprise Even If He Didn’t Deserve It

Kirk has to be Captain of the Enterprise.

When Star Trek Into Darkness is over, Captain Kirk doesn’t instill confidence that all will be well as the USS Enterprise embarks on a five-year mission under his command. But, of course, I realized that there was no way Kirk wouldn’t be Captain of the Enterprise. From a commercial standpoint, Kirk has to be Captain because that’s what audiences know him as, even though his behavior in Star Trek Into Darkness made him unworthy of the center seat. Kirk did very little to show me he deserved to be Captain of the Enterprise in Star Trek Into Darkness, but it’s also unthinkable that Kirk and Spock would switch places as First Officer and Captain the way Dal R’El and Gwyndala did in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2.

However, I was glad to see Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk behave more maturely in Star Trek Beyond. Kirk was still a risk-taker and action hero, but Pine’s performance hewed much closer to William Shatner’s Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series. I was hopeful that the USS Enterprise-A would be in good hands with Captain Kirk if there’s a Star Trek 4 because by that point, Kirk had grown enough to be fit as Captain of the Enterprise. But Kirk would have benefited by making the mature decision Dal R’El made in Star Trek: Prodigy to give up the Captain’s chair until he properly earned it.