Episodes watched: 6 out of 10
Following the excitement of the The Next Generation (TNG) themed announcement back on First Contact Day last year – and the subsequent release of the first trailer – fans have long been looking forward to the gang coming back together in the third and final season of spinoff series, Star Trek: Picard. It’s incredible to think TNG first premiered over 35 years ago, with the highly anticipated reunion of the Enterprise-D crew thankfully handled with reverence and care, for a thrilling curtain call which certainly leaves you wanting more from the gang.
Star Trek: Picard centres on the legendary former captain-come-admiral as he receives a frantic distress signal from long-lost friend Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Consequently, Jean-Luc Picard enlists the help of allies William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and USS Titan commander Seven (Jeri Ryan) on a rescue mission which isn’t quite as it appears – leading him on a collision course with several new and old faces (and foes) alike.
Following a rather mixed response from critics and fans to the first two seasons of the Star Trek spinoff series, Picard brings the old crew back together for its final hurrah – and it’s the one we’ve all been waiting for. With showrunner Terry Matalas on board, the third season finally finds its gear with an incredibly gripping (and action-packed) serialised narrative which spans legacies and generations. The scope of the series is also certainly large-scale, interweaving threads from not just The Next Generation, but also Voyager and Deep Space Nine throughout – bringing old and new fans together for the last voyage.
Along with an intriguing character-driven premise, there’s also plenty of expansive and gripping space battles, some fun team ups (and great lines!) and a number of fantastic reveals along the way. The pacing is also nicely measured this time around in comparison to the often frenetic feel of season two, with Matalas cleverly laying the foundations for a slow-burn adventure with all new discoveries to unveil, puzzles to solve and familiar faces and foes to contend with. It genuinely feels like the best Next Gen movie that we never got to see. And yes, there’s plenty of references and easter eggs – but rather than merely relying on nostalgia to fuel the show, this is a genuine love letter to the iconic characters and their legacy, continuing their stories in a respectful and fitting way.
What works so well is how the writers bring the old gang back together, cleverly interweaving appearances into the main threads of the mission in an organic – and incredibly Star Trek-y – way. Following a distress signal from Crusher, Picard calls upon those closest to him to try and help rescue her, while Worf and Raffi investigate a connecting thread which also threatens the Federation, with a linked villain who in turn draws the attention of the high ranking Geordie. These connecting threads help delve under the skin of these revered (and often idolised) characters – exploring their flaws as well as their humanity. Thankfully they still feel like the same characters, but they’re now humans who have actually lived, who have made mistakes and who have baggage – and it’s all the more interesting for it.
The returning legacy cast slot together like TNG never ended – lead by the ever charismatic double act of Stewart and Frakes. Their wonderful dynamic is effortlessly endearing as they attempt to commandeer the USS Titan, but thanks to certain machinations, an interesting evolution and surprising conflict blooms. Jeri Ryan also returns as Seven and continues to be a standout with a brilliantly dry sense of humour, while Michael Dorn and Michelle Hurd also get to flex their funny bones in a particularly scene stealing partnership filled with entertaining remarks. It’s also hilarious to see LeVar Burton’s Geordi La Forge (an often under-utilised TNG character) chide his previous captain and second in command!
And while there’s plenty of reverence, fun and humour abound, there’s also a surprising amount of emotional weight and depth explored thanks in part to the new additions to the cast. Taking place predominantly aboard USS Titan, Todd Stashwick certainly sparkles as the often prickly new captain Liam Shaw, whose hilarious early antics involving Picard and Riker make way for a surprising connection and heroic turn. Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut is another standout from the new cast as Ensign Sidney LaForge, sharing a warm dynamic with Seven and an interesting generational parallel with her on-screen father. Furthermore, aside from being incredibly British darling, Newcomer Ed Speeler does a brilliant job of sustaining an element of mystery while forming intriguing connections throughout.
Along with the brilliant performances, the (rather expensive looking) production is also excellent, wholeheartedly embracing the love and admiration for TNG throughout – complete with a whole raft of musical cues, display graphics, cameos, archival footage and sound effects. The first few episodes primarily take place on the USS Titan bridge and the detailing of the costumes and ship elements really do immerse you in the universe, certainly rivalling the bridge of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. As previously mentioned, there are also plenty of easter eggs for long-term fans to eagerly discover, especially in the end credits (although pierced together, they can somewhat stray into spoiler territory).
Verdict
Weaving together a fantastic culmination of years of storytelling, with a brilliant mix of beloved legacy cast & fantastic new additions, Star Trek: Picard will certainly unite both old and new Trek fans with a gripping final frontier fully embracing the love and reverence of the icon show and characters. What a triumph!
