We’ve finally caught our breath after last weekend’s New York Comic Con marathon, and today it’s time to bring you the first of several new interviews with the cast and crew of Star Trek: Prodigy from straight from the convention floor.

Along with a few other outlets, TrekCore had the chance to sit down with series lead Brett Gray (Dal) to talk about his experience with the Star Trek world since joining the animated series, lending his voice to the brand new Prodigy video game, and if he’d climb into Dal’s untied boots — for real.

TREKCORE: What’s been the most surprising thing that you’ve experienced since joining the Star Trek world?

BRETT GRAY: I didn’t have any Star Trek knowledge before I was cast in Prodigy, so everything, to be honest! I’ve been to two Star Trek Day events and two Comic Cons at this point, and I’m learning slowly that this is a big train that you never get off.

It’s really cool, because it feels like for the rest of my life I’ll be invited to the party — because I’m in Star Trek. That’s been the biggest thing for me; there’s so much lore around the show, there are multiple events a year, and things like that. I’ve gotten to meet other Trek cast members that have become friends of mine, and I’ve had other friends that have also become part of things.

My friend Celia Rose Gooding is on Strange New Worlds, actually; we met years ago, acting, and now we’re both in the Star Trek universe. It’s so cool that there’s, like, this family, and I feel like I learned a language, you know? I can speak it with the people who know it, but whoever doesn’t, it’s just kind of something they don’t know.

QUESTION: Where is Dal at, emotionally, when we return to the series?

GRAY: He’s really wrapped up in everything that happened in “A Moral Star.” I mean, he’s really concerned about Gwyn — and about the state of their crew, and about their journey towards Starfleet — and I think that for the first time, the pressure and responsibility of leadership is more serious for him than ever.

The stakes are the highest they’ve ever been, but at the same time, he still doesn’t even know where he comes from or what his purpose is — so there’s lots for him to think about and lots for him to learn. Self-discovery has been something that he’s been struggling with since the beginning of the series, and he’s come so far. I’m very proud of him, even though he’s a fictional character!

He’s come a very long way and he’s learned a lot about other people and how to connect to them. Now it’s about trying to learn how to connect to himself. Yeah.

QUESTION: Can you talk a little bit about how the relationship between Dal and Gwyn evolves this season?

GRAY: I imagine that they had a personal relationship for a very long time back on Tars Lamora, because she was the only person who could speak his language. So to me it’s awesome. It’s like those would-be childhood lovers who, like, they have that rivalry because they’re sort of like star-crossed in two different worlds.

But at the end of the day, they relate to each other so much in terms of not knowing fully who they are or where they come from, and the sort of imposter syndrome around each other’s origin in purpose and the universe. Gwyn’s learned that everything she knew was a lie, you know, and Dal is also learning that same lesson.

I love their little banter, and I think they need each other, you know? Him to calm her down, and to remind her that she’s still 17 and should have some fun — and her to show him how to be a leader.

TREKCORE: How is work going on Season 2? That’s another 20 episodes, coming after the next 10 air, right?

GRAY: Yes — and I’m actually still recording. I actually recorded the first season in my bathroom because of the pandemic, so I had to re-record it in studio first. Now I think I’m finally caught up to where the other cast members are at in Season 2.

QUESTION: As a young actor, how does it feel to know that some young viewers are getting their first connection to Star Trek through your work on Prodigy?

GRAY: I’m so excited that I’m on this show in particular, because I think Prodigy is gorgeous. I think the writing is smart. I think the story is both fun and engaging and entertaining, but also complex and heavy and emotional.

It’s cool! For me, I grew up on Nickelodeon watching shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, and some kids told me the other day, “You’re like my Aang!” I was like, “Oh, done. I can go now!” [laughs]

QUESTION: Was Dal’s character design shared with you before you began recording for the series?

GRAY: Yeah, and I actually got to see it for the first time at my audition. They showed us what the characters all looked like, and a little bit of the world and the terrains and the colors before we even started our auditions.

In terms of the character, though, they let us create a lot. I mean, the Hagemans have been super open to collaboration and, if there are lines where I feel like, “Oh, what if I tried it like this?,” they let me give them 10 different options to fit the scene the best.

We take lots of time to like really make sure the moments are landing, and it’s really awesome to be led by them and guided by them and Brook Chalmers, our voice director — because it’s my first time acting only with sound. So experimenting with the nuances and the intentionality around sound is something new that I’m learning about.

TREKCORE: Did you ever think one of your characters would become an action figure?

GRAY: Never! I actually got to see the Dal action figure, and premiere it at a Paramount+ licensing expo, and then they ripped it from me, and I never saw it again! I was like, “I want one so bad!”

TREKCORE: What was your experience like recording for the Star Trek: Prodigy – Supernova video game?

GRAY: Oh yeah! That was actually really quick, and it was over before I knew it. I think it was only like three or four sessions — I was filming something in New Orleans at the time, so I was doing both at the same time. I’d never done a video game before!

But again, Dal and Gwyn are sort of like back at it in the video game, and their relationship develops even deeper — it’s almost like the game is a continuation of the show, set between the first and second half of the season.

TREKCORE: The other animated Star Trek series, Lower Decks, is bringing two of its characters to live-action on Strange New Worlds next year. If you got a call about Dal…

GRAY: Oh my God, paint me purple! Let’s go! Hand me the prosthetics, I’m ready! [laughs]

I think that’d be so fun. I can only imagine, when I’m already getting so emotionally attached to Dal and the show watching it in animation… sitting on a Protostar set with Ella next to me? What would that do to me? It would be a dream!

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Star Trek: Prodigy will return with “Asylum” on Thursday, October 27 on Paramount+ in the United States, and on October 28 in Latin America, Australia, Italy and the U.K. The series is said to air “later in the year” in South Korea, Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.