The lovable blob Murf has been a fan-favorite character even before the debut of Star Trek: Prodigy. The hype around the “metamurfosis” evolution of the character began earlier this year, but was finally revealed in last week’s episode “Crossroads.” Now voice actor Dee Bradley Baker is revealing more of what to expect from the alien recently identified as a Mellanoid slime worm.
Murf gets an upgrade
The big change for Murf as he emerged from his cocoon was the development of arms and legs. In an interview with startrek.com, Dee Bradley Baker explained how this change impacts his performance:
Murf wasn’t really human in any aspect of its appearance other than eyes and a mouth, apparently. But now that it can move around, it’s a bit of a linguistic upgrade as well. There’s an evolving that’s happening. There’s a revealing of a metamorphosis, or metamurfosis… It’s interesting to see that, as with a child, with the growth and the expansion and the development of limbs, the body, the head, the feet, and the ambulatory abilities, comes an upgrade with language and an upgrade and a change in the capacity to problem-solve and to engage and communicate.
The original Murf from episode 7
Baker previewed some of what is to come from him and Murf:
I bend the vocals and evolve the vocals as the writers and the directors develop the unfolding of what Murf is to be. That’s clearly something that’s going to be playing out.
The new Murf arrived in episode 14
The voice actor also offered some insight into what he puts into Murf’s vocalizations:
He’s almost like a puppy or this happy little child that is always optimistic and open in an improvisational way. Clearly, Murf’s aware and engaged with what they’re dealing with because he’s often helping to solve the matter at hand, although it seems like he’s just kind of oblivious and just kind of babbling in a happy way. There’s actually more involved here, and he seems to be more connected.
Preview of Murf in action from episode 15
Murf science
Paramount+ also released a new video featuring science advisor Dr. Erin MacDonald talking about the real science behind metamorphosis.
New episodes of Prodigy debut on Thursdays exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., and on Fridays in Latin America, Australia, and the U.K. The series will air later in the year in South Korea, Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Switzerland.
Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
Murf has ALWAYS looked ridiculous. I’m not sure why people are acting like this is something new.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from this show, it’s, “Trust the writers.” They know what they’re doing, and it’s clear they have a plan for their characters’ development.
Agreed, 100%. I find the writing on this show to be tight, controlled and full of that ‘Trek” feel. So surprised – when I first read of this ‘kid’s’ show coming out I pretty much wrote it off. It’s turned out to be perhaps my favorite from Nu-Trek, neck-and-neck with SNW.
“It’s turned out to be perhaps my favorite from Nu-Trek, neck-and-neck with SNW.”
YEAH. same here! great show(s)!
I’m thinking of it the same way.
Trust the writers, but also whoever is giving the EPs guidance on child development in their target age group.
School age and middle school kids are confronted with a great deal of change in their own bodies, as well as the looming transformation of adolescence. They are curious about growth and development of animals (which is why Monarch butterfly caterpillars through metamorphosis and release is a universal classroom science project in the schools where we are).
But change is also discomforting, especially for kids in uncertain environments or who are neurodivergent. It’s a reasonable thing to take on.
Murf clearly is at an intermediate stage, it will be interesting to see where he ends up. I’m glad that he’s not just a simple reprise of the gelid character on the Orville.
This is one disappointing thing about “Season 2” — they had a truly alien character that animation could give us, now he conveniently looks humanoid. WHY ?????
In short, this is a dumbass, head-scratching, unnecessary move — this is like Lower Decks-level fan service at it’s worst. Hopefully this will be minor thing as this show has been making great decisions to date, and I’m really hoping it doesn’t dive into the fan service deep end like Lower Decks has done.
Can you explain how this is fan service?
It’s not. That’s not what fan service is, as you so rightfully imply. :)
It’s when the writer’s decide, “hey, the fans and our new audience of kids like this character so much, let’s make it more human like to please them”
And is shows a lack of respect for child fans of the show…it assumes that they need the character to be more humanlike for them to relate to. I think children these days are generally smarter than that…my opinion.
You’re making a lot of assumptions and will not be vindicated by the results.
Dude, you just predicted a certainty for the future, so me having a few assumptions seem like a minor thing compared to your Nostradamus impersonation here today. Lol
It’s season one, not season two.
Meh, I liked him better before
Me too! Now he’s just ANOTHER humanoid…just head scratching and unnecessary? No reason for it other than fan service.
What’s next, an English speaking Horta with cute arms and legs?
That’s not what fan service is. I also get the impression that a lot of people prefer the original blobby Murf, so going away from that would not be pleasing the fans.
Dude, this show is targeted at building a children’s audience for Star Trek. And someone’s decided this alien character needs to look more cutely humanoid because that’s what the new kid fans want to see. So they have derived a character change based on what they think will please the fans. Yeah, that’s fan service.
I was hoping for tentacles.
There’s some s–t grammar going on, too.
Murf was clearly Trek’s attempt to do “Baby Yoda”. It should have worked too, because the design was cute and colourful, but I don’t think enough people watch this show, or Trek, especially compared with Star Wars.
Well I don’t think anyone expected it to be on par with the Mandalorian lol. Just for the character himself to be a break out hit with the people who are watching. Baby Yoda was a huge hit mostly because it was already based on a famous 40 years old species we know so little about. Murf is it’s own new creation, so it wouldn’t have the same pull in the fanbase, just mostly for kids to like.
Bruh, bro, broheim, bruh, massive spoliers, bruh. Alert for real.