Star Trek: Picard: The Next Generation

February 16, 2023 4:14 AM - Season 3, Episode 1

Jean-Luc gets some updates from old friends, only to find that what they have to tell him isn't all good things.

Memory Alpha is really helpful:

• M'Talas Prime is presumably named after Terry Matalas, PIC producer and showrunner for seasons 2 & 3, ENT writer, and former assistant to Brannon Braga.
• Cor Caroli V, seen mentioned on Beverly's ship, was the planet Jean-Luc namedropped to Mitena Haro in order to expose her deception in TNG: "Allegiance" (FF previously).
• Chaltok IV, mentioned here as the site of a bar Laris knows, was first mentioned in VOY: "Time and Again" (FF previously) as the site of a disaster that led to the Polaric Test Ban Treaty of 2268.
• Rigel VII, mentioned in dialogue between Picard and Riker, appeared in Trek's first episode (TOS: "The Cage"), but no Enterprise-D missions involving the planet were referenced during the run of TNG.
• Shaw actor Todd Stashwick starred as Deacon in the TV version of 12 Monkeys, and previously appeared in Trek as Talok in ENT: "Kir'Shara" (FF previously).
• The Gratitude Festival, seen during Raffi's research, is a Bajoran holiday mentioned several times on DS9 and seen in DS9: "Fascination" (FF previously).
• Rachel Garrett, seen here in statue form, appeared in TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise" (FF previously). She captained the Enterprise-C and perished at the Battle of Narendra III, paving the way for peace with the Klingons.
• Visible in Jean-Luc's home are his Ressikan flute, the Kurlan nyskos gifted to him by Professor Galen, and…was that Spock's lute?!
• The U.S.S. Pioneer, seen during the end credits, is a previously noncanon vessel from Star Trek Online (Memory *Beta* link).


"Computer, do you hear that alert?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"Unable to determine location."
"Thanks for your help."
- Jean-Luc and his home computer

"When I was a Ranger, things were much...simpler."
- Cmdr. Annika Hansen

"What the hell is going on?!"
- Cpt. Riker


Poster's Log:
Jesus, you guys, quit insulting your computers—don't you know they're emotionally unstable? (Wouldn't that be a hilariously timely twist, if this season really is about computer entities striking back. I guess that might explain the two returning villains we already know about… Might also explain the bird stuff, if one remembers a certain bird-heavy TNG ep… Shit…)

Anyway, first off: my guess is the young guy is Jean-Luc's kid. Has to be, really. (A) This writer's room would never just forget about the Beverly-Jean-Luc "All Good Things..." relationship, and would feel the need to somehow acknowledge it; (B) this episode was SO LOADED with ST II-III references—the credits, the music, Shaw being basically a modern Styles, the refit Titan's saucer being pretty much exactly Connie/Reliant from the front—that they would not be able to resist the narrative temptation to give JL a David Marcus-style "attack by my son who I don't know is my son yet" scene; (C) the additional narrative weight of JL and Beverly's complex relationship (her loss of Jack, and then her loss of Wes); (D) a dispute about making a family together is a very plausible reason for Beverly to cut ties, with JL at least; (E) the British accent, which is so heavy-handed here it almost makes me doubt my prediction—I mean, what, is it genetic?; and (F) the episode's title.

Maybe this means a late-season surprise appearance by Wil Wheaton and Isa Briones!

Beverly's ship looks very STO, sort of Steamrunner-y in shape and scale. The "Neo-Constitution" is much too straightforwardly retro for my tastes—pretty sure I prefer the OG (fan-designed!) Titan—but I'll never complain about a flyby, unless it's like twenty minutes long. Titan's bridge, OTOH, looks great, albeit more dark and smoky than seems operationally advisable—which fits Shaw's mood but not at all his command style.

Speaking of, Riker's first look at Shaw is so great. Subtle enough about immediately hating his guts that it's noticeable only by those of us who watched him for seven years. I wish Frakes acted more.

Oh, and just to head off this tangent, we have to assume Shaw was being metaphorical about "pay grade."

In a prior PIC thread, user Nelson said "I'm really not optimistic about season three of Picard. It's hard to see how it'll be anything but the most tedious fan service." So far, it's hard to argue against that—the biggest surprise of the ep had to be the ST II-III focus of that fanservice, IMO especially that primary hull—but then, this is very much a table-setting episode. I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm cautiously optimistic, but definitely "open to persuasion"; I still like PIC season 1 a great deal.

Poster's Log, Supplemental:
Additional guess: Raffi's handler is Worf. Just because of the "warrior" line.

So who do we suppose District Seven named after? Gary? Of Nine? A heretofore undisclosed Costanza child who went on to influence Human history far beyond expectations?

posted by CheesesOfBrazil (70 comments total)

I keep thinking about a post I saw on Twitter a little bit back about how appropriate it would be if Picard finally got good in season 3

Gotta say I’m feeling kind of optimistic in maybe the exact same way as I did at the beginning of season 2, but also that typography feels a whole lot more “here is the thing you have wanted from the start” than ever before
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:05 AM on February 16, 2023

Someone on Twitter joked that they had found Shaw’s parents - Katherine Pulaski and Edward Jellico.

I found that interesting because Shaw does remind me of Jellico a bit - especially his insistence that Seven use her human name Annika Hansen (remember when Jellico ordered Troi to start wearing a standard duty uniform in “Chain of Command”)?
posted by Roger Pittman at 5:05 AM on February 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

also I agree with complete certainty that Worf is the handler and that that’s Picard’s son
posted by DoctorFedora at 5:10 AM on February 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

How watchable is this if you didn't really watch the first two season (but did generally follow along with the Fanfare threads)?
posted by thecaddy at 6:47 AM on February 16, 2023

I miss the old PIC opening sequence/theme, but I loved the musical stings from earlier series. Did I hear a sting from Star Trek (2009) in there as well, just before the Titan went to warp?

If you're gonna call the ep "The Next Generation", we need more than just Riker and Crusher.

Ugh, Michelle Hurd is SO GOOD on this show.
posted by hanov3r at 8:16 AM on February 16, 2023

Did that woman at the bar call the Enterprise D “fat”? 😮
posted by Roger Pittman at 8:28 AM on February 16, 2023

She did but, to be honest, Galaxy class ships ARE kinda fat.
posted by hanov3r at 9:22 AM on February 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Well, things are off to a brisk start, certainly. Since we haven't met the big bad yet, and may not even quite know who it is (a returning TNG character that's already been spoiled by teasers may not actually be the big bad), we get Shaw, who may actually be worse than Jellico and Styles put together. (I mean, you like what you like musically, but sticking Jean-Luc and Will in bunks? That's just purely dickish.) Loved the head-fake with Raffi; not sure if the service record showing the court-martial is real or just part of her cover. (And I also wonder what's the real status of her and Seven, of course.) It would be super-interesting if Worf were in fact her handler; I wouldn't associate him with that sort of covert ops skulduggery, but he did go undercover a couple of times on DS9. And I'm kind of on the fence with Wesley's half-brother being JL's son; they kind of went to that well a couple of times in the TNG series and movies (a few if you count Nemesis, sort of), and that's getting a little too much into the TWOK groove IMO.

How watchable is this if you didn't really watch the first two season (but did generally follow along with the Fanfare threads)?

You might want to get caught up on the unfamiliar characters; not sure how much Laris and Seven will be in the season, but Raffi looks to be.

Galaxy class ships ARE kinda fat.

Please. In the twenty-first century... we say T H I C C.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:29 AM on February 16, 2023 [6 favorites]

but I loved the musical stings from earlier series.

When the adversary ship looms out of the nebula, is that a V’Ger bwommp we hear?

And while Picard and Riker are first boarding Beverly’s ship:

RIKER: Kill shot, straight down. Cool, efficient. Doesn’t sound like the Beverly I know.

Bitchy Riker might be the best Riker.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:34 AM on February 16, 2023 [4 favorites]

There’s also a little graphic in the credits that has the fleet museum at Athan Prime housing the Discovery, the Enterprise-A, the Excelsior, and the previously STO-only Pioneer.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:40 AM on February 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh, also, did anyone else hear "I Don't Want to Set the World On Fire" and immediately think of Fallout 3?
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:51 AM on February 16, 2023 [14 favorites]

I think it’s cute that Picard made Beverly a mix tape. I think it’s less cute that the show thinks it’s whimsical and cute for Riker and Picard to *try to hijack a capital ship,* and for Seven to actually do it. Seriously, shouldn’t all of these characters be visibly *terrified* by what they’re doing? It should be one of the biggest scandals in Starfleet’s history!

Also, I’m amused by Shaw telling Seven that her career is over. Yeah, buddy, you’re not wrong - but you were so disengaged from your command responsibilities that your crew was steering your ship in the wrong direction for *hours*, and you never noticed. And either your crew was complicit, or *they* didn’t notice. That’s a degree of command failure and carelessness I can’t even wrap my brain around.
posted by Mr. Excellent at 10:59 AM on February 16, 2023 [13 favorites]

T H I C C - 1 7 0 1 D
posted by infinitewindow at 11:46 AM on February 16, 2023 [22 favorites]

What a fucking mess.

Opens with a Mass Effect 2 shootout? Okay...
Can we please have one reunion where someone isn't mysteriously estranged for no reason and they're all still friends?
Riker is on the outs from his family? Um, okay
Cool, a Starfleet captain can just order someone to deadname themselves?
Yet another galaxy cataclysm, yawn

Good lord.
posted by rhymedirective at 11:48 AM on February 16, 2023 [8 favorites]

All I could think during the attack at the end: “Now you’re thinking with portals!” 😁
posted by Mr. Excellent at 12:25 PM on February 16, 2023 [10 favorites]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking "deadnaming" when I learned how Shaw referred to Seven.
posted by the antecedent of that pronoun at 1:11 PM on February 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

This was really not good. The writing was basic, the plot’s boring… sigh.
posted by sixswitch at 1:50 PM on February 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

I'm not feeling the JL and Rikes roadtrip. Cringe.

lol portals. How even in technobabble?

Definitely deadnaming, what with the dig on Picard having once been asimilated. Not cool. Surprised Seven lasted even this long.
posted by porpoise at 5:49 PM on February 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

But the soon-to-be reveal*of JL Jr. is framed plausibly enough, I guess. Glad for McFadden that Crusher got to do some action.

I retrospect, I do appreciate it to show how much Crusher has changed as shorthand for that a lot of shit has happened. It wasn't just an empty token of giving a women actor a bit of action, which the series already has plenty of.

I did dislike the design of Crusher's energy-rifle, the 'pump action.' Though the writers redeemed themselves when double-pumping (possibly) created an "overpower" shot.

Mildly amusing is that Crusher is so much better preserved than Picard and Riker, who now has a potbelly prosperity tummy.


*or not, he could be someone else's kid and that genetic donation could be the reason that the Crushers are being hunted [ralphwiggumheartcrushed.png]
posted by porpoise at 6:00 PM on February 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've decided to "watch" this season by listening to the Bald Move recap podcast and read these threads. I liked most of S1 and though S2 was garbage. I want this season to be good, but from what I've heard and read so far, it sounds like I don't want to put myself through it. Sad. Next Gen was my first Trek. I wish I could enjoy this reunion but when the showrunner names a planet after himself, I just know the show is in bad hands.
posted by crossoverman at 7:28 PM on February 16, 2023

Shaw is on the fast-track to badmiralty, for sure. The sheer pettiness of putting Riker and Picard in bunkbeds is magnificent. He must be pretty confident that despite their titles and long and decorated histories, they don't have any ability to influence his career trajectory.

On the other hand, he may be on to something: I'm not sure how Riker went from being able to rally a huge Starfleet force at the drop of a hat near the end of S1 to being a still-active Captain with no command (which I have to assume is Starfeet's polite way of pushing someone towards retirement) by the start of S3, but he must've burned a lot of credibility and influence in a hurry.

With the retrofitted Titan being "NeoConstitution" class, I guess it's canon now that Starfleet Command also is into nostalgia and fanservice, which I imagine simplifies things a bit for the writers, at least.

I don't see any sense in which Rafi's handler (that's she's apparently never even met) is, in fact, a handler, instead of just a boss. I don't understand the writing choice to undermine any sense of believability in the operation just so you can outrageously blatantly signpost This Character's Identity Is Gonna Be A Plot Twist Later. You could give Rafi a real handler and still have somebody anonymous running the op who the handler has to check with, and it wouldn't seem so far-fetched operations-wise or so blatant that you were trying to make that person A Plot Twist.

But I'm kind of dissatisfied with the writing of the Rafi scenes altogether. I would've liked to see her character get a chance to evolve, like Seven has - Seven's still struggling, but she's grown so now she's struggling with a somewhat new and different set of issues. Rafi is back here struggling with addiction and trust issues and the giant heap of trauma the writers like piling on her, seemingly the exact same place she was in S1. Having her figure out the "red lady" (and who decided on such an awful color for that Rachel Garrett statue anyways?) just in the nick of time to show up and see the giant portal gun get used really didn't help things.

Picard, Riker and Seven's stuff was better IMO, and left me guardedly optimistic. But it was also so tonally different that it almost felt like an entirely different writing team from the Rafi scenes. We'll see.

Seriously, shouldn’t all of these characters be visibly *terrified* by what they’re doing? It should be one of the biggest scandals in Starfleet’s history!

Have we been watching the same Star Trek lo these many years? A couple of Very Famous, Very Senior Officers temporarily borrowing a ship that clearly has a light schedule from now-until-parade-time is barely even a blip on the scandal-o-meter for the Starfleet I'm familiar with. Probably not on the top 10 most scandalous things Picard or Riker have ever personally done, and if we were talking more serious mavericks like Kirk, Janeway or Sisko it might not even be top 50. Besides, it doesn't seem that Riker has a career to be worried about any more - and Picard definitely doesn't - and they were trying to keep Seven out of it.
posted by mstokes650 at 7:54 PM on February 16, 2023 [11 favorites]

If you're gonna call the ep "The Next Generation", we need more than just Riker and Crusher.

Except they're very much no longer the Next Generation, they're a couple generations in the past now.

The Next Generation has to refer to their kids - GeneticAccent Picard, NotMicaBurton, and (presumably) sundry hidden-in-plain-sight cameokids
posted by coriolisdave at 8:34 PM on February 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

Seems like a decent enough start to me. Comparing Jellico to this new asshole is just mean to Jellico, though. Jellico was a hardass, but he wasn't unnecessarily dickish just because he could be.
posted by wierdo at 9:02 PM on February 16, 2023 [3 favorites]

Oh I see the discussion is already veering heavily in to snark. I'm relieved; I was feeling obligated to write here with some sort of respect and optimism. But after season 2 and the setup here and then the watch, well, I'm primed for the snark...

In a prior PIC thread, user Nelson said "I'm really not optimistic about season three of Picard. It's hard to see how it'll be anything but the most tedious fan service."

...and called out by name for it! I stand by that statement but then also I am chagrined. Because this show feels new to me. In no way is this a ST:TNG retread. It's something different. Some of it is fan-servicey crap (like all of Riker's shtick). Some of it is new. Like Raffi working undercover as a drug addict, that's genuinely interesting to me. I also like Captain Shaw, great character and painted very quickly and effectively; him starting to eat the blue meatloaf before his guests arrived was really parsimonious writing. Even the most ST:TNGish element, Crash LaForge, gives me hope that she'll be a fun character. Better than giving Seven of Nine the canonical "take her out of space dock" sequence; WTF?

I still hope this season is good but I'm also down for a solid hatewatch. I hope Sir Patrick Stewart got paid, and paid well.

Mostly I'm waiting for the retcon to explain what happened to Beverly's face. Does the Klingon Augment Virus affect humans too? Is that what's happening to Madonna?
posted by Nelson at 9:35 PM on February 16, 2023 [2 favorites]

I'm wondering if I was watching the same show as you all. I loved this and can't wait to see more. Picard and Riker aren't the same guys they were thirty years ago. They've changed, and the culture of Starfleet has changed, and this isn't the same Federation of the 1701-D's heyday. I don't want a straight TNG retread. I want to see Trek continue to evolve. I don't always agree with the directions it takes, but I'm excited to see what happens next here.

when the showrunner names a planet after himself

In his defense, he didn't name the planet after himself. The planet was named for him during Star Trek: Enterprise in the proud tradition of the staff naming planets after crew members. If I had a Trek planet named after me, I'd bring it back too if I were in charge.
posted by Servo5678 at 10:05 PM on February 16, 2023 [12 favorites]

The shootout at the beginning had me thinking it was going to be more of the same new Grimtrek we've gotten, but the Star Trek II/III fanservice just sucked me in. The typography of the titles, the musical cues, the stardock sequence... On the whole I'm cautiously optimistic because this episode was relatively simple, something that I feel was missing from S1 and S2 of Picard. I'm enjoying the broad strokes: Shaw's cartoonish strict captain personality, the let's-just-hijack-a-capital-ship ruse, the surprise secret son, and just flat out using the TNG/TMP theme for the credits.
posted by zsazsa at 10:28 PM on February 16, 2023 [3 favorites]

The U.S.S. Fanservice is a bit much, but Captain Asshole is delightful. He put all three of Our Heroes right in their place.

I was so glad to see that Orla Brady survived the cut. I hope they actually use Laris in the story this season rather than brush her off in the first couple of episodes like they've done the past two seasons. Meanwhile, we are still stuck with Raffi.

I did enjoy the episode overall, though I think it's only fair to remain skeptical of this season until they prove otherwise.
posted by briank at 5:38 AM on February 17, 2023

High point of this episode for me was when Seven says "engage", and then it momentarily focuses on JL giving a tiny approving smile.
posted by mrjohnmuller at 6:41 AM on February 17, 2023 [3 favorites]

[Shaw] starting to eat the blue meatloaf before his guests arrived

This is the moment I knew I wasn't going to like Shaw. He scrapes his fork with his teeth, and that's just... *shudder*
posted by hanov3r at 7:32 AM on February 17, 2023

One more voice for the "I liked this, actually," group. Can I find nitpicks? Sure. Overall, I really enjoyed the episode.

As someone mentioned, "Next Generation" definitely is a reference to the literal next generation of Starfleet and characters: Laforge's daughter, Seven becoming a commander, Picard's son. Yes, there's absolutely no way they're going to go with yet another clone of Picard again. His existence isn't upsetting to me, but how they treated it is because of Picard's past and his perspective on being the last of the Picard line. Beverly would know this. The man broke down in tears in Generations when he found out his nephew had been killed by a freak tornado. There has to be, must be, a very good reason for Crusher not to share with Picard that he was a father.

Concerning his accent, fwiw, we clearly get a chance to see that Picard's logs are being played aboard the ship. I think, Beverly, as a woman who had to raise a son without a father for part of the kid's childhood, definitely would want to make sure her second son would know his father as much as possible. I'm would bet we get a line in the next episode about Picard's logs being played for the son since he was born - hence him picking up his father's accent.

The Neo-Constitution class is total a nostalgia fanservice design...but I like it. It's something of a play on the next generation theme of the episode, and perhaps the series. It's the old becoming something new again. Considering how Riker makes a reference how the exploratory days of Enterprise D are gone, it would make sense that this show ends with Titan adopting a new mission of exploration (perhaps leading into a new series with Seven as the captain and our "next generation" being part of the crew).

I was not a fan of Raffi's introduction because it just felt too ludicrous. I do think her and Seven may be on the outs. There was a level of Section 31 vibes to the mystery of her handler, but as someone suggested above, I absolutely agree with them that it's Worf. Warrior was in all caps, after all.

I think we'll get some more insight into the Riker-Troi situation as we move forward, but I don't think it's necessarily "things are awful." I think it's more likely that perhaps Riker was going a little cabin feverish. That's my guess, but we'll see.

I actually like the character of Shaw because Starfleet has always had a certain level of officers like him. Officers who have frowned at how Picard, Kirk, Janeway, and Sisko, and so on, have done things. Things that pushed the boundaries or broke the boundaries Starfleet established on how to engage with the rest of the galaxy. At the same time, like Jellico, we know Shaw is going to have his chance to do something we admire and appreciate. He may still be a dick afterward, but I'm thinking the first step will be him popping in to save Picard, Riker, Crusher, and Picard's son from this alien vessel.

I'm out of time, but during the end credits, I got kind of excited seeing that Voyager was part of the Starfleet museum fleet. The question is, we will go to the museum to get Laforge or will he leave it? As someone in the middle of a Voyager rewatch, I'm a bit hopeful to see the ship again after its long journey home.
posted by Atreides at 7:34 AM on February 17, 2023 [6 favorites]

As someone in the middle of a Voyager rewatch, I'm a bit hopeful to see the ship again after its long journey home.

"Voyager? Oh, yeah, it's in that big room behind me, the one with the closed door. OK, let's go to space!"
posted by Servo5678 at 8:20 AM on February 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Comparing Jellico to this new asshole is just mean to Jellico, though. Jellico was a hardass, but he wasn't unnecessarily dickish just because he could be.

Jellico was in a tough situation, on the brink of war with deadly enemies on one side and an unfamiliar crew on the other. He did what he knew how to do.

Troi never went back to the space elf costume after he asked her to wear a standard uniform on the bridge, so at least a bit of his decision making stuck around after he was gone.
posted by StarkRoads at 9:29 AM on February 17, 2023 [3 favorites]

The writers and producers of PIC proved pretty well with the first two seasons that they can't plot, can't write dialog, and are happy to jettison whatever parts of lore they want (c.f. Robert Picard). So if you're looking for good TV, even objectively good Trek, look elsewhere.

But I'm here for the fanservice. Simply watching Beverly Crusher send a sub-space communications to Jean-Luc Picard put a smile on my face. Riker and Picard hanging out in a bar brought me joy. I literally yelled out loud when they introduced Geordie's daughter. I'm eagerly awaiting old-AF Riker try (and probably fail) a Riker Maneuver. And I'm honestly bummed that Wesley has, apparently, been cast aside.

Will I feel the same way 6 episodes in? I dunno. But I certainly intend to find out!
posted by Frayed Knot at 10:04 AM on February 17, 2023 [7 favorites]

I was watching Night Court earlier this week and Dan Larroquette pulled off the Riker Maneuver without hesitation at 75 (5 years older than Frakes - GAWD JONATHAN FRAKES IS 70?!) and just an inch taller. There's no reason other than sheer refusal for this not to happen based on Frakes physical ability presented so far.

I wouldn't count out Wesley yet unless you know something specific? He was a surprise appearance (for me at least) at the end of last season. I feel like he'll travel himself into this somewhere. It definitely feels like they're trying to pull in a lot of Trek elements for this final season and that's totally up there.
posted by Atreides at 10:32 AM on February 17, 2023 [6 favorites]

I'm also hopefully for a late-season surprise. But they've revealed everyone else, not sure why they would hold him back.
posted by Frayed Knot at 10:45 AM on February 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

The Ready Room where Wheaton keeps calling McFadden “Space Mom” is cute, but I admit that I can only watch RR in small doses, as Wheaton’s gushy tone wears thin on me after a while. His chat with Terry Matalas does nothing to dissuade me of the idea that he’ll have a role later this season.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:47 AM on February 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Wil said on his blog that he isn't going to be in Season 3, so unless he was obfuscating things, we won't see Wesley again.

I enjoyed this very much. I refuse to believe that English accent guy is a Picard because I can't believe that Beverly would keep that from Jean-Luc. He's probably some kind of weird space clone. Or adopted. Or a synth.

Shaw is a jerk--to say no to Picard and Riker was fine, nothing wrong with being strict Starfleet--but not greeting them when they arrived, starting dinner before they joined him, and putting them in bunk beds was rude, while insisting that Seven be called by her old name and making sneering comments about former Borg collaborators was beyond the pale. He's very punchable.

I'm really looking forward to episode 2.
posted by ceejaytee at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2023 [5 favorites]

It was clumsy, contrived, and worst of all, dull.

Reviews for this season appear to universally positive, so I'll wait a bit longer, but right now I wouldn't be surprised if I quit this one in the middle the same way I did season 2.
posted by kyrademon at 1:00 PM on February 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

How watchable is this if you didn't really watch the first two season (but did generally follow along with the Fanfare threads)?

Considering the level of writing in those seasons, one might even consider it a blessing.
posted by fairmettle at 1:01 PM on February 17, 2023 [6 favorites]

I haven't been able to watch this in real time before this year, because we got P+ through my mobile plan for a while. So it's fun to be able to read the discussion.

I just love Todd Stashwick--he's so great at being a vituperative sleaze. Right off the bat you know what he's gonna be like: he insists on deadnaming Seven, starts eating before his guests arrive... Perfect assface.

It took me a while to catch up on all the Trek I've missed, and I honestly can't say I have enjoyed this series, but I do like seeing Sir PatStew on my TV again so I will keep watching. I'm missing Santiago Cabrera a lot, and I'm bummed about the lesbians not being together, but hopefully there will be something good this year.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 1:06 PM on February 17, 2023

It was clumsy, contrived, and worst of all, dull.


Agreed. The writing is just so clunky. I give it a C. It's not as horrendous as Season 2, but it's not exactly good.
posted by Fleebnork at 5:17 PM on February 17, 2023

On the one hand, I didn't mind the shout-outs to previous Treks (the ST:TMP fly-by, aging admirals/captains out for one more adventure, etc.). On the other hand, I have to agree with those who said the plotting was slow, and Picard and Riker did not seem to behave themselves intelligently when they boarded Crusher's ship. The terrorist attack, meanwhile, was a strange nullity: the script just zips by it as we get back to Picard and Riker (although I assume we'll get back to it next episode).
posted by thomas j wise at 6:21 PM on February 17, 2023

In his defense, he didn't name the planet after himself. The planet was named for him during Star Trek: Enterprise in the proud tradition of the staff naming planets after crew members.

Okay, fair enough. Bringing it back still feels pretty indulgent. In a show that seems to be strung together with references, the showrunner referencing himself is just so cringe.
posted by crossoverman at 10:30 PM on February 17, 2023

Incidentally, I totally would have been on Shaw's side if he weren't, you know, racist.

"Oh, you want to take command of my ship for reasons that are at best duplicitous and at worst idiotic? How about... no? Now, go sleep in a bunk and reflect on your choices, ADMIRAL."
posted by kyrademon at 2:59 AM on February 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

the showrunner referencing himself is just so cringe

For me it's not too cringe per se, but it was so obvious, and early in the episode, that it took me out of the show and made me start thinking about who made this thing rather than just watching it. All of the repeated references to prior Trek just kept me partially in this meta-watching space which I frankly do not enjoy at all when first watching something. I want to be able to enjoy something naively at first, even something from a franchise and with characters I know extremely well: just let the thing be itself for a little while without saturating it in its own context and history.

I think as a first episode, this was pretty OK, but holy shit if the whole season is drowning in Trek references and signposts and easter eggs and callbacks and homages of all kinds, then I will not be able to enjoy this as its own show, even if it is well made.

Most positive aspect: new composer, Stephen Barton. No more of Jeff Russo's rambling, atmospheric, ominous-tones quasi-music.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:11 AM on February 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

awful
posted by AlbertCalavicci at 9:41 AM on February 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

if the whole season is drowning in Trek references and signposts and easter eggs and callbacks and homages of all kinds...

Um, have you seen the cast?

I still have some hopes that Raffi's spy plot goes somewhere. I liked the anonymous computer handler although if it turns out to be ol' man Worf in a ghost costume and not, say, The Machine from Person of Interest I'm gonna be sad.
posted by Nelson at 10:19 AM on February 18, 2023 [2 favorites]

From the moment they boarded the Titan, it had the air of a “flogging ship” as described in the Aubrey-Maturin books: all obedience and fear with little competence and no initiative. It’s not surprising the crew wouldn’t question their superior officer changing course while the captain was sleeping.
posted by cardboard at 11:47 AM on February 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

Not that the edge of Federation Space being a Captain’s nap away isn’t a plot issue of its own.
posted by cardboard at 12:01 PM on February 18, 2023 [6 favorites]

Um, have you seen the cast?

Yes
posted by LooseFilter at 12:21 PM on February 18, 2023

Early reviews have been really good, so I'm cautiously optimistic. And I was amused by the bartender calling the big D fat.
I'm worried that the showrunner is going to bend things to tell the story he wants to tell, regardless of whether it makes sense for the characters to behave that way. Dr. Crusher said, "No Starfleet." First season Picard was galivanting around in a non-Starfleet ship just fine. Season 2, the La Sirena's gone, and her captain ends up in the past. That was an odd choice, until you realize that season had the same showrunner as this season, and all that was to get rid of Rios. (Same for Elnor joining Starfleet out of the blue.)
Seven would probably have her own ship again, as a Ranger, but we can't have that, so let's put her in Starfleet, something she's never been interested in, before.
Assuming that the Titan stuck around, I'm curious if Shaw will intervene with the alien ship, or just sit back and watch.
posted by Spike Glee at 8:00 PM on February 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

Do I have to have suffered through the second half of season 2 to dip into this? It's sounds "not as bad" as season 2 got, so far. Maybe i'll wait for a few more eps to try. I'm hopeful, as are we all, but have been burned by disco and pic while at the same time impressed by Strange New Worlds.
posted by OHenryPacey at 8:01 PM on February 18, 2023

I can barely remember what happened in the second half of season 2, so I would say you don't have to have watched it to dip into this.
posted by umber vowel at 9:39 PM on February 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

I don't think that there's anything from season 2 you need to know about this one. Just that most of the cast from season 2 isn't in this one.
posted by Spike Glee at 9:54 PM on February 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

More on the origin of M'Talas Prime, and why it's used here:

I think it was Chris Black who came up with it on Enterprise. The idea was to name the most horrible place in the galaxy after me. And when I was a young assistant on Star Trek: Enterprise, the most vile place in the galaxy was of course named “Matalas.” So on Picard when we were trying to name a place for sort of the epicenter of organized crime in the galaxy, somebody said, “Shouldn’t it be named after that vile place named for you?” And so the idea was it was supposed to be self-deprecating, hoping that fans would run to Google to find it.

More interesting stuff at the link including how Frontier Day ties back to Star Trek: Enterprise, how much fan service is too much, what's gratuitous fan service and what's Star Trek tradition, how the PC game Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force influences the weapons, and why Seven is the Titan-A's first officer.
posted by Servo5678 at 10:07 PM on February 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

the British accent, which is so heavy-handed here it almost makes me doubt my predictionor

That's a French accent but you are hearing it through the universal translator.
posted by biffa at 7:33 AM on February 19, 2023 [7 favorites]

If the fan service pixies are sweeping the internet looking for anything else to throw at this, I want Peter Kay to be a Starfleet captain and I want his instruction to go to warp to be "'Ave it".
posted by biffa at 9:05 AM on February 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Not that the edge of Federation Space being a Captain’s nap away isn’t a plot issue of its own.

They did mention they were going at Warp 9.9, which is Warp 0.1 short of being infinite velocity and simultaneously occupying all points in the universe and also potentially turning this into a much worse episode.
posted by mstokes650 at 10:00 AM on February 19, 2023 [3 favorites]

I remembered it as "warp 9.999" (oooo!) but maybe it was only 9.99. Is the whole warp 5 speed limit just not a thing at all any more?
posted by Nelson at 11:57 AM on February 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

From that interview with Matalas linked above:

There’s 57 years of stories, characters, music, world-building, starships. I don’t know how you don’t run into those things in this universe often.

Because, Terry, you get to choose what goes in an episode and what doesn't. Next Gen and DS9 were airing at the same time and they weren't constantly referencing each other. They were actually really judicious in the kind of references they made in each episode.

He references ANDOR, which absolutely avoided references and the very rare nods and connections to the saga were really satisfying because it wasn't wall to wall in-jokes.

I'd be more inclined to enjoy this stuff if the rest of the writing was good. Characters don't make sense. Plot doesn't make sense. But Trekkies can make reference videos on YT every week because Terry loves Memory Alpha!
posted by crossoverman at 2:12 PM on February 19, 2023 [2 favorites]

I enjoyed this although I didn't have high expectations. At least they didn't spend 4 episodes getting the crew together like Season 1. I like slightly-goofy Riker being snide with Picard. Bunk bed scene was hilarious.

I liked the anonymous computer handler although if it turns out to be ol' man Worf in a ghost costume and not, say, The Machine from Person of Interest I'm gonna be sad.

My theory is that Raffi is being catfished and is actually working for the bad guys. Or maybe some random 14-year-old hacker on M'Talas Prime. Anonymous computer handler = easy to fake with no authentication.
posted by mmoncur at 5:53 AM on February 20, 2023

Maybe it was the edible or maybe it was the nostalgia, but I thought this episode was a scream. The absolute nope nope nope of utterly disregarding the first two seasons to dive headlong into fan service was just so cynical, it struck me as hilarious.

So sure, let's get the old band together and we'll wallow in the early 90's of it all. It doesn't have to make sense as long as it pushes the right emotional buttons. "Sure, why not?" is a vibe, let's do it.
posted by Space Kitty at 11:01 AM on February 20, 2023 [5 favorites]

I remembered it as "warp 9.999" (oooo!) but maybe it was only 9.99. Is the whole warp 5 speed limit just not a thing at all any more?

They handwaved over this in TNG before it ended, essentially stating that warp in excess of Warp 5 is okay in important/special situations (I think they even had an admiral give the permission.). Then after that, never even mentioned it again.

Which is to say, don't worry about it ever, ever, ever, ever, again.
posted by Atreides at 12:19 PM on February 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

Then after that, never even mentioned it again.

The Voyager tech manual explains that the reason why its warp nacelles swing into position before going to warp is that doing so negates the damage to subspace, and that the tech would soon be adapted into other Federation starships in a non-swinging configuration with the tech made available freely to any other species/empire/whatever that wanted it. So, an off-screen explanation that handwaves the whole thing away. Carry on.
posted by Servo5678 at 12:48 PM on February 20, 2023 [11 favorites]

When writers realize "warp 5!" just isn't as cool as "take us warp 9!" And yet, also realizing there has to be a cap so we don't end up with "make it warp 28 ensign!"
posted by Atreides at 7:11 AM on February 21, 2023

The absolute nope nope nope of utterly disregarding the first two seasons to dive headlong into fan service was just so cynical, it struck me as hilarious.

Huh. That’s the same move the fourth season of Enterprise made, and I enjoyed that. So I guess I’m in.
posted by thecaddy at 4:38 AM on February 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

Late to the party, but wow, tough crowd. :)

I enjoyed it. Also, it was just the first episode. Let's see what happens.

I agree that Crusher Jr. seems to be set up as J-L's love child, but my only hesitance is that Ed Speleers (Jimmy from Downton Abbey!) is 34 years old (he was born during TNG's second season). It's possible that he's playing a 20-year-old, but that seems like a stretch.

I love Old Man Riker. Frakes is so comfortable in this role, and it's just a delight to watch him.
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 6:51 AM on March 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

A sad note from the Memory Alpha Production notes section:

The end credits show a dedication, "For Annie", for Annie Wersching who passed away on January 29, 2023. Wersching played the Borg Queen during the second season of Picard and had made her television acting debut 20 years earlier on the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Oasis".

posted by hangashore at 9:31 AM on April 20, 2023 [1 favorite]

it's meh, jim, but not as we know it.
posted by lalochezia at 8:24 PM on April 29, 2023

Coming in much later, and of course you all know what's going on by now. But I don't think Crusher Jr. is Picard's son. (God, I hope not.)

For one thing, I can't figure out why various baddies would be furiously hunting Beverly across the far reaches of deep space just to get Picard's kid unless there was more to him than that. They're clearly after him because the first thing Beverly does when the baddies board her ship is lock him up in a closet. But to use the metadata, if that's not cheating, the prevalence of DNA-related material in the closing credit sequence suggests to me that he's important because of something in his genetic makeup. He may not even be Beverly's son in the traditional sense, but... someone she made? (You're all laughing at me with your knowledge of the rest of the show, aren't you?)

But I have to agree I liked this a lot more than previous seasons of Picard. You can focus on the details and mock them as fan service. But looking at the forest instead of the trees, this felt a lot more like Star Trek, with your old friends back for one more ride, and I guess I was ready for that.

I also agree with some nits. The pump action phaser rifle is just dumb. But then Trek has a long history of stupid looking phaser rifles. They really just need to stick with the hand weapons. And yes, I take issue with the idea that you can go from Earth to the very edge of Federation space in the time it takes Captain Shaw to have a nice nap.
posted by Naberius at 7:54 AM on August 8, 2023