The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Star Trek: Picard Season 1

I apologize to my handful of faithful readers. Life in a pandemic has become challenging for me. As a teacher who loves being in the classroom, it was hard to be at the computer all day long, and writing a blog just was not in the cards for me. So, I hope to get a few posts in this summer, and we'll see if we can get back into a routine of some sort. 

Star Trek: Picard has finished its debut season, and it was quite the ride. Lots of surprises, familiar faces, and new favorite characters. We have seen our beloved Captain Jean-Luc Picard take a great voyage into his own psyche and the quote "to boldly go where no one has gone before" became truly an inward journey. As always, there is a lot to take in, so let's begin the breakdown. Just a heads up, the Good will focus on stuff that I really liked, while the Bad will be a mix of stuff that I wished had been done differently, aspects that hurt the show in my opinion, and even one or two things that I thought were good for the show, but showed how bad things had become. As for the Ugly, well, we'll wait until we get there.

The Good

• The Right Dose of Nostalgia - Anytime we take a look at where a beloved character from the past has ended up, it is always a temptation to go into full nostalgia mode. If overdone, it can lead to the audience wondering why make a new show if we are just going to rehash old stories, plot lines, and characters. If we leave it out, we risk creating a foreign product that can distance itself from the core fan base. Season 1 found an excellent balance, giving us some Easter Eggs here and there that make us excited for what was while not keeping us stuck in the past. From the banner of Captain Picard Day in the museum archives, to Mr. Mot's Hair Emporium and Quark's Bar being seen in Stardust City, there was just enough of the familiar to help us be excited for what we both had and were receiving. 

• Great New Characters - Star Trek has always benefited from having intriguing characters that allow fans to really invest in the show. In this season, there were some definite standouts for me. In particular, I loved Laris and Zhaban, Picard's Romulan house keepers. They seemed to truly have a strong connection with Picard, and I would love to see their relationship with the good Captain explored further in the future, including the origin. Other new favorites for me included Elnor (more on him in a moment), Soji, and Doctor Altan Inigo Soong, the latest member of the Soong family to be played by Brent Spiner. Each one brought something special to the show, and it will be interesting to see how they each progress. And, in case you are wondering, Number One has now become my favorite animal character (sorry Porthos and Spot).

• Evan Evagora - there wasn't a single new actor that was a substantial part of the cast that didn't impress me, but one that stands out from the rest is the young Evan Evagora. He played Elnor, who quickly became my favorite Romulan of all time (sorry Tomalak). What really has Evan stand out for me is how he interacted with the fans over social media, to the point where I felt like he was one of us and enjoying the ride with us. He had a special energy and charm, and sometimes he was a bit cheeky with us, but that is what endeared himself to me. He reminded my of how Johnathan Frakes would be at conventions, always thinking of ways to make the fans feel a part of the experience. When some fans started making comparisons between Elnor and Elrond of the Lord of the Rings, he embraced it. 

• The Rikers, a Case Study in Bringing Back Familiar Faces - Both Will Riker and Deanna Troi were used perfectly in the show. Both seemed to have retired from Starfleet (although Will is still on the reserve list), and have settled down with their daughter Kestra on a beautiful planet. They were a highlight of the season, and if the plan is to eventually bring back the rest of the crew and other characters, this is how they should do it. Make the characters more equals to Picard (wasn't it cool to see Deanna dress down her former captain?), make their appearance more than a glorified cameo, and weave them into the story with purpose other than fan service. In fact, that is the best way to do fan service. With Guinan being confirmed for Season 2 and others like Geordi La Forge and Voyager's EMH being rumored, it is my hope that we will see all of them back in the fold.

• Patrick Stewart's Acting (sometimes) - Patrick Steward is an excellent actor, and while I am not always a fan of his projects and some of his roles, his acting ability is often polished and powerful. There were many times when he was on superb in this show. In particular, his interview scene in the pilot episode is likely going to have me re-rank my Top Ten list of Picard's Best Speeches. He showed such emotion and conviction in that scene that I wish the Emmys treated acting in Trek more seriously. However, I cannot say that his acting was consistent, but that is for another category.

• Data's Story - I am one of the fans that enjoyed Star Trek: Nemesis, but I get why many fans were disappointed in it. One of the reasons behind the dissatisfaction was the abrupt death of Data, and the seemingly lack of closure. While I had held out hope that B4 would somehow become the reboot of Data (I couldn't resist that term), they at least addressed the fate of B4 and gave Data a far more appropriate send off. The hard thing about a character that has the potential to be immortal is that the actor ages, and I just cannot see anyone other than Brent Spiner playing that role. While I miss Data, I think it was time that his character was laid to rest for good, and the way that it was done gave Picard (and us) some much needed closure. 

The Bad

• Bad Starfleet - Oh Starfleet, how far you have fallen. From being the peacekeepers of the galaxy, defeating the likes of the Borg and the Dominion by forming unlikely alliances, to see you become isolationist and thick with prejudice saddens me. This is one of the "bad" aspects that I think fit well within the show, but I just felt so bad that the producers went in this direction. I get it, and I don't disagree with it, but it does upset me to see a noble organization be a shell of its former glory. Star Trek has always held up a mirror to ourselves and our society, and I feel that with where Starfleet is currently the reflection is rightfully uncomfortable.

• Patrick Stewart's Acting (sometimes) - OK, this one is going to pain me a lot, but I have to be fair in my opinion. While there were some times where Sir Patrick Stewart knocked this out of the proverbial ballpark, there were a handful of times where he struck out. There were a couple episodes where I thought that he was just going through some motions, and there were a couple of times that I think he made some poor choices. I remember many years ago where Patrick Stewart was asked why he didn't try to do a French accent for Picard, and he responded along the lines of not wanting to make the character too comical and stereotypical. Yet, in the episode Stardust City Rag, that is exactly what he does. He goes over the top with the "evil Frenchman" trope that I just couldn't help but cringe over it. Still, I will stand by the overwhelming excellence in Stewart's performances. I just had to be honest with some of his choices in a few scenes and/or episodes.

• xBs, a.k.a. the New Red Shirts - I loved how the former Borg were being featured prominently in Picard, from the return of Hugh to seeing that there were many who were being rehabilitated, it was a great new angle on one of Trek's most intriguing adversary species. Yet as the season progressed, they were the sacrificial lambs again and again on the altar of the story. First it was Icheb (which depressed me too much), then many dozens on the cube that the Romulans were occupying, and finally Hugh. I had a hard time with Hugh being killed off, and here is where I believe that the Powers That Be made a mistake. Dozens of xBs being killed by the Romulans was enough to make Seven mad enough to kill Narissa, and I think Hugh could have had a great story himself in the show moving forward. Let's hope that Mezoti and the other former Borg children from Voyager are not brought back into the story if this is going to be typical of their fate.

• Seven and Another Forced Relationship - At the end of the last episode, when the ship La Sirena is preparing to warp away, we see various members of its crew engaged in a variety of activities. Seven and Raffi are seen playing kal-toh, and their hands are definitely showing us that there is more than the game at play here. Now, before you break out the pitchforks and torches and hunt down another homophobe, let me be clear. I have no problem with Seven's or Raffi's sexual orientation. That is not what has placed this on the Bad list. Instead, I see it as yet another example of forcing a relationship onto Seven's character that just did not get enough build-up in my opinion. There was very little interaction between the two characters, and yet all of a sudden they are actively flirting with each other in a very familiar way. We saw Seven thrust into a relationship with Chakotay near the end of Voyager, and it just didn't feel authentic. As I researched this, I learned that actors of the two character and the writers requested this, to build upon something that was supposedly established in a moment on Stardust City Rag, but it really felt like it was tossed in last minute with hardly anything more than an afterthought to the story. Sorry, but I like relationships to build, not be tossed in on a spur of the moment. My hopes for this relationship is that it is either ends quickly the way it started, or that it is given a good deal of explanation (possibly in a flashback).

• The Fleet of Boring Ships - I like Trek ships. Each design is bold, signatory, and is identifiable. We have the Galaxy-class Federation ship like the Enterprise-D on TNG, the USS Defiant on DS9, and Voyager's own Interpid-class vessel. True Trek fans know the difference between a Bird of Prey and a Vorcha cruiser. The Romulan warbird, the Cardassian Galor vessel, and the ominous Borg Cube all bring up familiar pictures. Lately, with the exception of the USS Discovery is Star Trek: Discovery, the ships are not really being given a chance to shine. I am not sure if it is the angle that is being used, the lighting, or just if the ships are becoming too generic, but I have been severely underwhelmed by ship design in Picard. Nothing in Picard, except for the familiar designs, made me go wow. In each show so far, the main ship has become an integral part of the show, but PIC just seems to put minimal effort into ship building.

The Ugly

• Cursed Hubris - If I could change one thing in how Star Trek has been portrayed in Picard, and only one thing, I would take out the use of the f-word. I know some people are going to ridicule me or argue with me, but so be it. I get that with on-demand TV that censorship of language is a thing of the past, but that does not mean that I agree with the idea that all bets are off. Many have argued that if it wasn't for censorship in the 60s, 80s, and 90s, that all of Trek would have f-bombs dropped all over the place. Well, that may be true, but I will tell you that if that had been the case, I likely would not have been allowed to watch it as a child and would be less likely to be as big of a fan today. Star Trek, to me, has always been something that I could watch with both my parents and with my children. Plus, to be honest, the way that word was used reminded me of young children when they first start to use the word. They look for little places to drop it in that make no logical sense. Never was there a single scene where it was used where I said "Wow! The scene was so much better with that profanity!" Instead, it always left me going "Why did they put that in there? It served no purpose." While I get that some people will disagree with me on this, I respect that this is the way it is (for now, at least), but I hope those that disagree will at least respect my opinion as I respect theirs. Oh, and for those who would argue that my children will hear that type of language at school, I know that. I also know that as long as we live in as city they will be exposed to air pollution. That does not mean that I make them put their mouths over the exhaust pipe when I turn the car on.

• Icheb's Torturous Demise - Again, here is an example of Trek pushing an envelope that really doesn't need to be pushed. Icheb being killed off was bad enough, and it does explain Seven's character development, but the level of gore that they showed was unnecessary and could have been equally as powerful if done differently. I can't help but wonder if this point and the previous one connect to the success of some shows like Game of Thrones, who absolutely do not shy away from gore and profanity. I would hope that Trek is not doing a "everyone else is doing it so we should too in order to be relevant" approach, but I cannot help but wonder. I would like to think that Trek can be great without resorting to such scenes, but then we did have the TNG episode "Conspiracy" where a character's head explodes. Let's just hope that unlike the f-bombs, the writers use this trope far more sparingly.

• Here a Troll, There a Troll, Everywhere a Troll Troll - If you have read my GB&U for the two season of Discovery, this should come as no surprise. Once again, in the age of social media, there is no shortage of people who are so triggered by a new show that they must take every possible chance to tell everyone how much they hate it, and then denigrate anyone who has the opposite opinion. I will confess that there are some things that have been talked about happening that if they come to pass, I may leave the fan-train. I think that after fifty years there is enough of Trek to keep all kinds of good people happy without having to impede upon anyone's enjoyment. Let's say that the f-bombs and gore are both ramped up and joined by hardcore nudity, giving us truly R-rated Trek. Some will love that. I will not, and that is where I will draw my line and stick with that which makes me happy. I will not, however, demand that others join me, nor will I try to spread false rumors that "Trek is dead" or "Abrams and/or Kurtzman want to kill Trek". So, until these "fans" truly allow IDIC in the fan base and allow people to enjoy what they enjoy, Trolls will likely be a permanent fixture of my GB&U series. 

Now, all things considered, Season 1 of Picard was...OK. Some was outstanding, and some left me disappointed. As we look forward to Season 2, I hope for more of the good, less of the bad, and the trolls to leave for good. Well, two out of three are possible.

More Detailed Thoughts on Star Trek: Picard (SPOILERS ALERT!)

I recently posted my initial thoughts on the first PIC episode "Remembrance" and intentionally kept them spoiler free. Now, with episode 2 released, I thought I would give some more detailed thoughts, and in order to do that, I have to talk about what actually happened, so a spoiler alert is in effect for the rest of this article.

I find myself ever impressed with this episode and the start it gave to the series. Within 48 hours of it being released I watched the episode four times, which is a first for me. So much to take in, and I think there are many details that I might have missed, but I will talk about how the show went for me, what stood out, what might have been improved, and what the future may hold.

First off, let's talk about the fan service. There was a lot, and if you paid attention there were goldmines all over the place. Starting with the opening scene where you hear Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" (which Data sang at Troi and Riker's wedding in Star Trek: Nemesis), and then see the Enterprise D come into view. We zoom in on Ten-Forward and see Picard and Data engaged in a friendly game of poker. From there we are given so many great moments, ranging from the classic uniforms to using production photos of Picard in the introduction to his interview, it gives us healthy doses of familiarity to help us feel at home. We see Jean-Luc at his family vinyard, with his faithful dog, named "Number One". A special treat was when Picard went into the Federation archives. There we are treated to so many blasts from the past, ranging from a batleth (one can only assume it to have been Worf's), a model of the USS Stargazer, another model of the Captain's Yacht from the Enterprise E, and (my favorite) the banner from Captain Picard Day seen in the TNG episode "The Pegasus". There is reference to the events of 2009's movie "Star Trek" with the destruction of Romulus, and we see the disassembled B4. Bruce Maddox, who was seen in "The Measure of a Man" and mentioned in "Data's Day" is mentioned again, and there is a good chance that he will be seen or mentioned again. So much good stuff to look fondly back on, but thankfully it was not overwhelming or distracting from the main story. I hope that in future episodes these throwbacks will still be there, but I think they should be used with much less frequency. For the pilot episode it is good, but too much can weaken the show. Nostalgia is great, but it should not be the theme for a new series.

The acting was outstanding. Patrick Stewart, as almost always, was at his best. What struck me this time was I could see how easy it was to slip back into being Picard, as if he hadn't missed a beat. When recounting his reasons for leaving Starfleet I was mesmerized by the small nuances Stewart added, giving us a distinctly different Picard than we had previously known. He has been through so much in the last couple decades that I wanted to learn all I could about that time period. He made a familiar character fresh again. I also want to give kudos to Isa Briones, who stars as Data's daughters Dahj and Soji. While we see Dahj the most, Isa does a great job at playing up both characters, giving each of them some subtle differences. We see such range and depth in Dahj that it was shocking to see that character's fate. Brent Spiner also returns for what might be the last time as Data (albeit in dream sequences), and he is perfect. 

Dahj is one of the several new characters we are introduced to, and we truly get to care for her, especially after it is revealed that she is Data's "daughter". To have her killed so early in the series was a jaw-dropper, but in the final moments we are introduced to her twin sister Soji. We also meet Narek in that scene. He is a Romulan who has also suffered loss. It will be interesting to see how his character develops. Orla Brady and Jamie McShane are excellent as the Romulan refugees Laris and Zhaban who reside with Picard in his chateau. Finally, we meet Agnes Jurati, played by Alison Pill. She's an energetic scientist who specializes in AI and cybernetics. I look forward to what she will offer the show in upcoming episodes. 

The story is compelling. The pacing to bring us up to speed is well balanced and gives us time to digest what has happened and pay attention to what is currently transpiring. We learn that an attack by synthetics (which I believe were androids) destroyed the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards, which not only stopped the evacuation of Romulus but outlawed all synthetic lifeforms. This brings us to Dahj, who is initially unaware of her true nature. She is attacked by some unknowns who activate her suppressed programming. As she seeks out Picard, the two are sent on a journey where Picard discerns her true nature. The big surprise comes that moments after Picard discovers that she is the "daughter" of his lost friend Data, the two are ambushed again. Dahj fends them off, but is killed in the process. Picard, grief-stricken, heads to the Daystrom Institute where he not only gains more evidence to confirm his suspicions of Dahj being an android, but he learns that she has a twin sister. So much to absorb in the first episode, but it leaves us with lots of anticipation. It will be interesting to see this whole tale unravel.

Some will take issue with where the Federation is right now. In this episode, we learn that after the attack on Mars the plans to evacuate the Romulans was abandoned. Starfleet has circled the wagons and is taking a more "look after us first" mentality. This has caused Admiral Picard to leave Starfleet. He believes that Starfleet has abandoned their morals by abandoning the Romulans and by banning synthetic lifeforms, for which Jean-Luc fought to define rights for. Yes, the Federation is in a darker place than it was when Voyager returned home and Star Trek: Nemesis was in theaters. Yes, it is different, but the world is different since then. Think about what has happened since Trek was a dominant force on the small screen. While many obstacles have been overcome, new ones have sprung up. The world is more divided. Nations and groups are putting their own not only ahead of others, but in many cases in the place of others. The "Us vs. Them" mentality is morphing into "Us or Them" perspectives. As Star Trek has always done, they address the issues of the day through their story-telling, and it could not be more apparent here. As our world sees isolationism rising, Star Trek is now holding up a mirror to show the same. 

There is an exchange between Picard and Richter, the news correspondent conducting his interview, that contains not only my favorite line, but the message that we need to remember in this divided world we find ourselves in. 

"The Federation understood there were millions of lives at stake." Picard states.

"Romulan lives," Richter adds.

"No. Lives!" Picard retorts with conviction. 

Right there. As we see those in power try to divide us and push us towards labels and camps of tribalism at its worst, Jean-Luc focuses the perspective. While the Romulans had been adversaries of the Federation for centuries, Picard still saw them as people whose lives mattered. It did not matter that he had been involved in several confrontations with the Romulans over the years, Jean-Luc saw them as living, sentient beings who deserved compassion. He taught us that all lives matter. I know, that phrase has been weaponized and politicized as of late, but take a moment and look at what it means. It means that we have a moral obligation to care for those whose lives are threatened. It means that even if we are opponents or adversaries, we cannot afford to see them as less than people. The characters in Trek have often voiced what needed to be said, and Picard does so with the fire and passion that has been consistent with his character. 

I cannot express enough how wonderful this episode was, and I cannot wait to see more. There are a couple issues I had, however, and I would be remiss in not mentioning them. During the San Francisco scene where Picard and Dahj are being chased by masked assassins it seems obvious that there is a stunt double running in place of Patrick Stewart. The guy is almost 80, and I get that, but I still found it a bit odd that they would have the character running like that. I don't think it is disrespectful to point out that the character is older, and no longer as spry and fit as he was when he was on the show and previous movies. They even had the retired Admiral using a cane in his vineyard. I also thought that they could have fleshed out some of the characters a bit more. I suppose that what I really wanted was a traditional two-hour premiere episode. They used the time that they had well, but for a show like this we should have had more.

Overall, "Remembrance" is right up there with the best of series premiere episodes, not just in Trek but in television. Great acting, an enthralling story, new characters, and some fond memories gave us a great mix to start us on Jean-Luc's next journey. I am so looking forward to seeing what comes next. As he says to Data in his first scene, "I don't want the game to end".

Star Trek: Picard - Some Initial Thoughts (Spoiler Free)

The pilot episode of Star Trek: Picard (which I will refer to as PIC) aired earlier this week. After many months of anticipation, we are finally given the first new adventure that occurs post-Nemesis. Sir Patrick Stewart steps into his iconic character, and we are taken on a grand journey. I thought I would give my own thoughts about the show, without giving away any spoilers (those will come later). Anything that I do touch on concerning the story I will limit to what has been already shown for months in the trailers.

Star Trek has evolved into a new feel as of late. It started with Discovery, and one can definitely sense a similar style in Picard. The shine that TNG had has been a bit tarnished a bit over the last few years, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. All things must change or risk becoming stagnant. What sets PIC apart from Discovery (DIS) is a sense of familiarity. One of the criticisms of DIS was that everything seemed to be different, from the uniforms to the ships to the technology to the look of the Klingons. While I get that some of those changes are going to have to happen (I would not have expected the Enterprise on DIS to look like the set from the 1960s), some of them seemed to be done merely for the sake of change. In PIC, we have the benefit of being a little over two decades after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. so some changes in look and design is to be expected. The people in charge of the look of PIC seemed to have gone to great lengths to keep the looks of everything familiar, yet updated. I hope this appeases some of the critics out there, because it looks great. 

Another of the changes has to do with the evolution of television in itself. PIC will definitely not be TNG 2.0. There will not be classic stand-alone episodes, but like DIS there will be an over-arching story, and the pilot episode "Remembrance" starts us on a grand journey. Unlike DIS, the build-up is a bit slower, but there is enough action to keep you excited. Again, I cannot give you more information on that without giving away the details, but the story is definitely going to be interesting. The events that lead us from "Nemesis" until today are summarized for us with enough clarity to bring us all up to speed, but not overly lengthy to seem dull. There were enough surprises to keep me wanting more, which is what good television is these days. 

Jean-Luc Picard has also evolved and progressed. He is not the same man that we left at the end of Nemesis. History has affected him, and "Remembrance" does a great job at bringing us up to speed with out beloved Captain. As the back story gets fleshed out for us, we see that his past has haunted him for a long time. What has not changed about him is his sense of honor and duty. While we see him after his trauma caused him to make some big changes in his life, we see the strong moral fiber that we knew and loved for decades emerge with typical Picard passion. Kudos goes to Sir Patrick Stewart for slipping into the familiar shoes that is Jean-Luc Picard. 

Kudos also goes to the rest of the cast. A special shout-out to actress Isa Briones who shows a great depth of emotion in her Trek debut. The 21 year-old London-born actor has at a young age demonstrated great range in her role of Dahj, and the mystery around her character is as enthralling as her talent. I also want to give a nod to Brent Spiner, who briefly reprises his iconic role of Data. Again, not trying to give away important plot details, but the return of our favorite android is handled the right way, and Spiner is perfect in his performance. Everything you remember about Data is brought back with the right amount of emotional punch. 

As you watch "Remembrance", you cannot help but notice the many nods to TNG's (and Trek's, in general) past. What makes these nostalgic tips of the hat so wonderful is that each one is carefully chosen to be woven into the tapestry of the story. I can't think of a single bit of fan-service given that seemed forced, gratuitous, or superficial. It helps with the feeling of familiarity in a new Federation environment. Again, I will not touch on any of those here, but rest assured that more so than in DIS, PIC seems to want to stay true to what had come before.We'll see how this carries forward in future episodes and seasons, but for now take assurance that the Powers That Be are trying hard to get it right.

Some will complain that this is not the TNG they remember or grew up with. Well, that's a good thing. It's not supposed to be. Instead, it is telling an important story. While some feel that Trek should be about the exploration of space, I have felt that this approach was only a method of bringing us on a journey of the human soul. Trek has always been about commenting on our present-day society, and PIC does this without apology. Some may criticize the political commentary that Picard gives in this episode, but this is what Trek has always done. Look at episodes such as "Duet", "The Measure of a Man", and "Balance of Terror" all had political undertones. What may make the tone of "Remembrance" seem a bit more heavy-handed than normal may have a lot to do with the current political atmosphere that we are currently experiencing. Perhaps instead of dismissing some of the messages that Picard is trying to tell us as social-justice rhetoric, we should have a really good listen to what he is saying.

The episode was not perfect, but very close. One or two little things had me questioning what had just happened. Beyond that, it was very enjoyable. Most importantly, it left me excited for what was to come. We know from the trailers that Riker, Troi, Hugh, and Seven are going to show up. That alone is making me excited for what is to come. I hope that there will be some more familiar faces showing up. With only one episode seen, what I am about to say is pure speculation, but I don't think there will be a visit from Q anytime soon, and while a full TNG reunion would be great, I feel that the only way we will see Worf, Geordi, Beverly, and Wesley again will be if it fits the story. Guinan looks likely to be coming in the second season, and I think there are other familiar faces that could be shown. Based on the current situation of the Federation, there is room, I think, for the Doctor from Voyager to show up. A few other smaller characters from the past are being set up for a potential bigger return, and that just gets me more excited for what is to come. 

Yes, there will be those that hate the show. There always is. PIC will likely have some growing pains. Every show does. Some people have decided to hate the show without seeing a single episode. They do it out of a desire to get clicks on their articles or a blind disdain for anything that is different. Tune them out. Just move on and don't pay them any attention. If you find things that genuinely bother you about the show, you are entitled to that. You can be a Trek fan and not like PIC. You can offer honest criticism about the show and still like it. PIC has already been renewed for a second season, so it's not going anywhere soon. If you are loving what you have seen so far then enjoy the ride. If you aren't, don't try to ruin it for the rest of us. 

Until next time, may PIC live long and prosper.