Star Trek: Picard – First Cut

Right we’re three episodes in and I think it’s time to start talking about Picard. I probably have to apologize from the start though as I didn’t really believe that Jean Luc had it in him. I mean considering everything he’d done since The Next Generation ended, from Logan to the X-Men and others, I really believed that Star Trek was something he’d not only not want to do, but couldn’t do.

Remembrance (Episode 1)

I’m happy to say that one episode in I am definitely wrong. Unlike Star Trek Discovery this episode and show so far are extremely enjoyable. Star Trek Discovery season 2 is definitely better than season 1, but Picard did a good job from episode 1. It could be simply because of the familiarity of the character or perhaps it’s because they are continuing the storyline from a point that I remember instead of giving me prequels that actually are never mentioned in the main universe.

In Picard, we learn quite early on that there has been a tragedy after the Romulan supernova which was mentioned in the movie. This time it is Data’s counterparts the synthetics that have actually caused a tragedy. I’m hoping that as the series progresses we learn that they were incorrectly blamed for this but at the same time, I hope that this doesn’t happen as 20 years of hatred will not disappear overnight regardless of what Picard discovers.

I know I’ve been skating around it a little bit but in a nutshell, we learn the synthetics supposedly attacked Mars while the Romulan rescue fleet is located in close proximity. This attack ends up destroying the fleet millions of Romulans and thousands of Federations scientists and soldiers. That’s not the worst though, according to reports Mars has been burning for 20 years and shows no signs of slowing down.

As the episode progresses, we are introduced to Data’s daughter who is basically a super soldier in disguise but she, unfortunately, does not make it through the episode. Fortunately, as we discover she is part of a pair & her counterpart is located on a Borg cube in Romulan space. I don’t think you could have asked for a better start to a show and it only makes me look forward to episode 2.

Maps and Legends (Episode 2)

Here’s the quote for the series that will stick with me for a while.

I never cared for Science Fiction I guess I just never got it.

– Jean Luc Picard

Ha Ha Ha

Okay, talk about a slow burn that seems to be the pace this show is thinking about. We get a little bit more insight into what’s going on on the Borg cube but very little with Picard himself and the next steps.

There’s a little bit more about the disaster on Mars from 14 years ago. As I suspected it wasn’t a revolt by the synthetics but more like they were being I wear it very much looks like the Androids war being controlled to act in a certain fashion. Possibly buy this secret faction of the Romulans. I’m sure that question will be answered as the series progresses however I do not foresee the Androids coming back into favour unless something drastic changes.

Perhaps if we’re just thinking about what might be that drastic change is Data’s daughter somehow stopping a new Borg incursion or something along those lines? There are obviously some questions that need answering as well with regards to why the Commodore in charge of security within Starfleet is actually working with the Romulans.

In terms of favourite characters, Picard is obviously still up there but I definitely love his assistants both the husband and the wife. There’s really no other way to say it they are amazing. They might perhaps be too amazing and end up being super deep-cover moles or something like that but right now they seem to definitely be on his side and as such on ours.

It looks like a card will finally be getting off-planet next episode so let’s see where that takes us and how some of the things that I did find interesting though or that from what they are showing at least the Romulan Empire now is no longer the monolithic place it once was. It seems very much to be a lot like the Federation. There are many different species working together towards a common goal and there does not seem to be any antagonism or alienism showing towards any specific species. I’m curious about whether that is the state of all of the different empires in this era or are these changes due to what happened to the Romulans?

I guess it’s a question of wait and see!

The End is the Beginning (Episode 3)

Here’s where the peddle starts to finally hit the road. It’s still a little bit slow as I mentioned in the previous episode. While we get a bit more of a flashback, this time specifically about Picard’s resignation from Starfleet, we’re still waiting to leave Earth.

There is a bit more action with the Romulan undercover crew attacking Picard once more. There is also a cryptic announcement about Data’s daughter located on the Borg cube, but we’re still left with unsolved mysteries.

Perhaps the only area that we really cover at all is Soji and her experiences on the cube. Here we get to see Hugh who appeared in the original TNG but he’s obviously matured significantly. Hugh takes Soji in to meet some Romulan drones that have been disconnected from the Collective. Here she is branded “The Destroyer” by one of the drones. Soji also learns that her sister is no longer alive. When she tries to speak to her “mom” about this, she is lulled to sleep by words as her mom tells her that her sister is still alive.

Somewhat odd that both the Zhat Vash operative and drone both brand Soji as the destroyer. Also obviously her mom is not really her mom, or there is something weird going on with her. Perhaps she’s actually the Doctor that Picard is trying to find as she “activated” Dahj in episode 1 and had her approach Picard.

Anyways, the episode finally ends with Picard and Dr Jurati onboard Rios’ ship (La Sirena) where they find Raffi there waiting for them. We finally leave Earth on our journey to find Bruce Maddox.