Star Trek: Picard – S3 E1 – "The Next Generation"
February 16, 2023
'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 Episode 1 Recap: 'The Next Generation' Is Back (in Many Ways)
'The Next Generation' reunites in the final season of 'Star Trek: Picard.'
After two exhilarating seasons, Star Trek: Picard is finally winding down with Season 3, and yet the premiere jettisons audiences right back into the action. It’s hard to believe that this is the beginning of the end when the stakes are so high and the storytelling is this exciting—especially for audiences that have been longing to see Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) reteam with the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
With Episode 1, which is aptly entitled “The Next Generation,” there is a very distinct and palpable tonal shift when compared to the previous season. While Season 1 and Season 2 delivered anxiety-riddled drama and new fan-favorite characters (I’m looking at you Rios) there is something to be said about seeing the cast of a beloved franchise come together and embark on one more journey together. And of course, when that story is being helmed by someone like Terry Matalas, who has such deep respect and understanding for The Next Generation, it makes the adventure that much sweeter.
The premiere’s cold open is one that I think Star Trek fans will find themselves poring over time and time again as Season 3 unfolds. As The Ink Spots’ haunting tune “I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire” plays in the background, a tracking shot guides the audience down a walk through memory lane and even on the edges of Federation space, Jean-Luc Picard’s presence is felt. In an old Captain’s Log that is playing, Picard discusses an encounter that the Enterprise had with the Borg; there’s a plaque that commemorates a Medical Away Team as Honorary Citizens on Cor Coroli V, which is a planet from an episode that dealt with Picard being replaced by a replica; there’s an old piece of cargo that bears the name of Jack R. Crusher, who was Dr. Crusher’s husband and one of Picard’s best friends; and finally, there’s Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) who is rudely awoken by a warning that her ship has been breached. At odds with The Ink Spots’ ominous crooning, it seems that someone does indeed want to set Dr. Crusher’s world on fire.
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I REALLY enjoyed this one. As far as I'm concerned, this should have been the show right from the beginning.
A few quick nuggets...
We got to see Picard's flute from the TNG episode "The Inner Light".
Seven of Nine is now in Starfleet. I'm not sure how much time has passed since the last season, but it was obviously enough for that to happen. She blames Picard and Janeway for talking her into joining.
We meet Geordie's daughter, Ensign Sidney "Crash" La Forge.
The Red Lady was a statue of Rachel Garrett, the captain of the Enterprise-C from the TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise".
We're introduced to a new ship, the USS Titan, NCC 80102-A. It's a refit of Riker's former ship, and is designated post-refit as a Neo-Constitution Class starship.
Here's a bunch of screenshots I took of the new Titan...
And here's the bridge. I really wish they would stop with the cold, hard, dark interiors. I miss the warm, bright, carpeted interiors from TNG, DS9 and VOY. I mean, if I was living in space on one of these ships for any amount of time, I'd definitely want the warm and bright stuff. Also, aside from the uncomfortable and uninviting look, everything is just so damn hard to see.
It's nice to see LCARS displays again, though.
Here's the alien ship pulling up on Crusher's vessel at the end of the episode. Very ominous!
And here's a nice final touch – the episode was dedicated to Annie Wersching, who played the Borg Queen last season, but unfortunately passed away just a few weeks ago at the age of 45.
Wonder how many people caught that the guy taking care of Beverly on her ship at the end of the episode, when asked who he was, stated her son. Beverly had a second child? I did not see that coming. Also wonder how and if that ties into son # 1 Wesley?
Yeah, looks like Wesley has a half-brother. If it happened after Nemesis, which was the last time we saw Beverly Crusher, then he should be around 20 or 21 years old. Strange, because the actor playing him, Ed Speleers, is 34 years old.
But if she had him during the second season of TNG when she was absent and replaced by Dr. Pulaski, then the actors age would be about right, since that was 14 years before Nemesis (in real world time at least). No idea how she would have kept him secret all that time.
I wonder if this will turn out to be Picard's son.
"No idea how she would have kept him secret all that time."
24th century version of HIPAA privacy rules.
That occurred to me as well. It wouldn't surprise me if the writers decided to go that way. They were always shown as having feelings for each other on TNG.
I thought the same, but it's just not like Beverly to not have her son with her on the Enterprise all those years.
But if he is Picard's son, there would certainly have been reason to conceal him.
A very promising beginning to the season.
I'm not sure Starfleet ever would have been a good fit for Seven. She would have found the networking and politics required to rise through the ranks to be "inefficient".
I'm not crazy about the Constitution-class refit. It's too retro for my tastes. I prefer the esthetic of the Enterprise-D era. And, as Dig said, brighter, more inviting interiors. Long-term missions would likely result in depression.
The attacking ship is reminiscent of the Romulan mining ship in the 2009 reboot.
No doubt. I'm wondering why now? Didn't she say in an earlier season that she tried to join right when Voyager got back, but that they wouldn't accept her because of her Borg implants or something? What's changed?
It's retro for sure, but I think I kind of like it. I dunno. I'm just glad they've gotten away from flattening starships out too much like they were doing for a while back in the 90s.
And now that you mention it, that other ship does look like it could be Romulan. I suppose we'll find out pretty soon.
That's a freaky weapon they apparently stole. If it's the same aliens, that is. I'm not actually sure yet.
And there I thought it was just someone playing Portal....
I almost forgot, did you notice that the uniforms on the Titan are reminiscent of Voyager's? I like that. I think they look great.
Yes. She said something about Janeway going to bat for her, but Starfleet didn't listen.
I'm not even speculating about who the aliens are. I'm sort of hoping for the introduction of a new species.
I like them, too. I wasn't a fan of the uniforms in the earlier series. They made me think of track suits.
And getting back to the politics of Starfleet - how did Shaw ever get to the rank of captain, being such a dick?
I imagine Shaw gets good marks from superiors for running a tight ship, but that's about all he seems to have going for him. We've only seen him this one time so far, but I can't stand that guy.
Instant hate the second he didn't wait to start dinner until his guests arrived. How rude!
You have to hand it to actors who can make you hate them after just a few scenes. The last Star Trek actor who did that for me was Louise Fletcher playing Vedek Winn in the first season finale of DS9. She eventually redeemed herself in the last season, but boy did I loathe that character in between.
Louise Fletcher.
Martha Hackett - Seska from Voyager.
And now this guy.
All good actors whom I want to slap.
I didn't like Seska at all, but she didn't make me want to throw things at the TV like Winn did. Still Martha Hackett was a good actor. I actually liked her as the Romulan in DS9's "The Search" parts 1 and 2.
One thing about Shaw – he doesn't seem to be a very good in-the-moment tactician. When Picard and Riker were making that unauthorized shuttle launch, and Shaw came on the Bridge, I was fully expecting him to say "tractor beam!" like any other captain would have, but he just stood there seething while the shuttle flew away from the ship. So, either the writers meant for that to be a bit of deus ex machina allowing Picard and Riker to get away (hoping no one would notice), or they're letting us know that Shaw isn't very good in a crisis.
Maybe we're being told that he's a rigid thinker. Which also makes me wonder how he rose to the rank of captain.
Unless there's a deeper plot, and Starfleet knows what Picard and Riker are up to, and he was acting on orders.
Yeah, if they want us to dislike him, the writers did an excellent job. He has the personality of an internet troll.
Hmm. But if that were the case would he have denied their original request to change course?
And a captain's power of command, unfortunately for his crew.
If Starfleet doesn't want them to know they know
Lol. That reminds me of Phoebe on Friends, "But they don't know that we know they know."
I guess anything's possible this early on.
I had the same scene in mind while I was typing!
Haha! I love Friends. I still watch it.
Finally got around to watching this episode last night. I ran into officers like Shaw during my 20 years of Naval service. Total dirt bags with family and political connections and flaunted them. I learned how to work around them and get by. Looks like Seven may have done the same.
Here's a website that has reviews from all the shows. I have Direct TV for free on my apartment house cable, not able to access these later series.
I am able to download ST-TNG currently off of BBC American, which I think has the broadcast rights for most of the series. Been able over the last few years to watch every episode of TNG, DS-9, and Voyager. Never tire of rewatching them.
Jammer's review of the new episode makes an interesting observation that I missed...
I forgot all about Borg Jurati taking Rios's ship last season. I just assumed Raffi was on La Sirena, but that can't be right. Now I'm going to have to figure out what the deal is.
***
Hey Greg, Paramount Plus starts at just $4.99 per month (with commercials I assume), and you can cancel anytime (like after the show is done airing). They have all the Star Trek shows and movies, a ton of regular CBS content, and some other stuff as well. If you wanted to, you could get it for a few months, binge all the Star Trek you can handle (including the upcoming new season of Strange New Worlds), and then cancel it.
You can even install it on your computer and watch it on your monitor if you don't want to get a streaming device for your TV (like a Roku or a Firestick). It's not hard to install on a computer. You just have to sign up and then download the Paramount app. You could probably be watching Picard in 10 or 15 minutes.
I have it installed on both a TV and a computer (which is how I get screenshots). If you decide you might want to try it and need a little help with anything, just send me a private note or contact me in the live chat thing whenever you see me on. (That goes for anyone else who wants to try it, too)
You can also add Paramount Plus as a channel via Amazon Prime, so it streams directly on most smart TVs without a streaming device, since most have the app pre-installed.
The only time I get to see Picard these days is on the X-Men movies.
Does China block streaming channels like Paramount?
Well, I don't live there and I can't get into my login. Ugh!
Oh, no! You can't sign in? I just checked it and it's working for me, so it's not down or anything.
I don't think so. We get 7 or 8 channels that show foreign movies 24/7 and usually there are 2 or 3 English language movies on them at any one time, but a lot of repetition and a lot of classics. However, I'm not sure of those in other languages, but they don't show English language movies until they are at least 3 years old. So far today I watched The Natural again - got my baseball fix.
OK we finally got back in. I really enjoyed that, even if I hated the new captain! RUDE!
Yeah, he's an asshole.
Glad you got to watch it. Did it want you log back on but you couldn't find your password? That's happened to me before. It seems like I have to sign back in to streaming channels far too often. It's annoying.
Ok, what the heck happened to Riker and Troi? Seems like there's trouble in paradise.
I caught that, too.
I figured it was just the use of a cliché.
He seemed pretty serious when he said it. Deadpan was never really Riker's style of humor, IMO.
Oh, well. Time will tell.
I concur.
I watched it again; you have a point. It was either bad acting or it was just a hair too serious to be a cliché response in passing. Not a sub-plot I care to see (if true).
I was ready to be disappointed but actually thought the premiere was pretty good, definately gonna catch episode 2 and here's hoping Seven bails on Starfleet and joins up with Riker, Picard and Crusher in whatever they're getting up to
I love watching "The Ready Room". Nice tidbits and insight, so to speak.
Me too. There's good stuff in them sometimes.
I watched the episode again and noticed a few things I either missed or forgot about in my first viewing.
This guy seemed to be spying on Picard and Riker when they met in Guinan's bar, so somebody probably knows about Crusher's transmission to Picard. Starfleet intelligence? Section 31? Something else?
It looks like there's an Orion crewmember on the Titan. If that's what she's supposed to be, then this is only the second ever shown to be in Starfleet that I'm aware of, with the other being Tendi on the animated Lower Decks.
During my first viewing I was baffled by Crusher's weapon in the opening scene, which appeared to be a pump action phaser rifle. I was like WTF? That struck me as just plain stupid. Fortunately, on the second viewing I noticed Riker asking Picard if he'd ever seen ashes like that from a phaser, referring to the spot on the floor where Crusher killed one of the aliens. Picard says no, so I guess this means it wasn't supposed to be a phaser after all. Whew! That's a relief. I totally missed that the first time.
Also, from Nerdist, here's a list of Easter Eggs in the episode, if anyone's interested...
ALL THE EASTER EGGS WE SPOTTED IN STAR TREK: PICARD SEASON 3 PREMIERE
And one last thing – they haven't revealed much about Crusher's ship yet, but according to Wikipedia, Eleos (the ship's name) was the Greek goddess of mercy, clemency, compassion and pity. Fitting for Crusher as a doctor, don't you think?
See? What was I saying? Starfleet knows, but doesn't want Riker and Picard to know they know.
Kirk (of course) got busy with one in the 2009 movie. Uhura's roommate.
Yeah, I was thinking about your idea earlier. You may be right.
I forgot about that. But I'm not sure if the JJ-verse is supposed to count as canon. Different timeline/non-prime universe thing.
Strange how the ones in Starfleet have all been female so far. The males we see are always in some kind of crime syndicate.
You know, I had forgotten about that, too, but noticed it at the time. I wonder if it was somewhere in my subconscious mind when I was suspicious of Starfleet.
I don't know anymore. I think I read somewhere that Discovery was supposed to take place in the Kelvin timeline, and I assume that would apply by extension to Strange New Worlds. I'm not sure if it applies to Picard, or how we'd know one way or the other, unless somebody explicitly mentions the existence or otherwise of Vulcan. The destruction of Romulus seems to be canon.
Temporal mechanics are a bitch.
That sent me searching. From what I found DSC and SNW are in the prime timeline, but DSC had a plot point that bridged the two...
Yet another reason to hate Discovery. lol
Damn you, Discovery!
Speaking of SNW, have you heard anything about a second season?
Yes, we have! October 2023!
Ugh! I just read the speculation about that. It still hasn't been officially announced, though.
And here I was expecting it to start right after the Picard finale, just like last year.
Finally......although I did get to stream some entertaining and educational series.
Can't wait for Reacher as well.