‘Star Trek: Picard’ Recap – ‘Imposters’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 305 of ‘Star Trek: Picard’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the final season of Star Trek: Picard, on Paramount+, is putting on a masterclass in tension themed storytelling. Simply because from the moment we started this new season… the story has done a wonderful job of building tension through supremely high stakes that are growing by the minute, and through fascinating reveals that leave us hungry for more and nervous to learn… when the tension is going to start spilling over into something far greater and potentially terrifying. Simply because the threat of the Changelings is quite real and their penchant for cruelty, as evidenced during the Dominion War, knows no bounds.
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Well as it turns out, this was the week for the some of the ugly that awaits us to start to spill over. For ‘Imposters’ offered up some chilling reveals about the Changeling infestation and offered up new dangers for the crew of the Titan, and it accomplished that feat… by having the ship return to Federation territory. Wherein the oft by-the-book Captain Liam Shaw returned to the Conn as skipper of his vessel and quickly contacted Starfleet about their situation. In fact, he was so eager for rules and accountability… that he contacted San Francisco before the ship was returned to his capable hands, and Starfleet was eager to talk. So much in fact, that the U.S.S. Intrepid arrived in record time to have their top officer on the matter discuss what happened on the fringe of Federation territory. 

Which brought forth… a powerful reunion for certain. Because it turned out that officer, was Commander Ro Laren. Yes, you read that right, this episode featured the return of a TNG favorite and that allowed, for an incredible follow-up storyline to take place. After all, the last time we saw Ro Laren was in the penultimate episode of The Next Generation, where she opted to join the Maquis and spurn then Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s orders to be loyal to the delta over anything else. And well… that reunion between the Admiral and the now Commander was quite tense. Since Jean-Luc wanted to understand how a ‘traitor’ could return to Starfleet after committing what was treason in his eyes, and of course… he was deeply hurt by that spurning.

That in turn brought forth… a powerful dialogue between the two of them. One where Ro explained herself and why she made that choice and of course… Jean-Luc explained his hurt as best he could, since we know now that Jean-Luc is not exactly a man that is emotionally open, and he of course… did so with reservation since he was not fully certain, that the person he was opening up to wasn’t a Changeling morphed into Ro Laren to make him vulnerable. But an honest and earnest, and secure moment in the Holodeck between the two, revealed it was Ro, and at last the two made peace, and the horrifying revelations about the Changeling threat came to light through their dialogue and Dr. Crusher’s discoveries about their morphology.

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In that… these Changelings figured out how to replicate organs and look as humanoid as can be. To the point where they would appear humanoid on the imaging scanners and pass a blood test no problem. Plus, this would also explain their new ‘meatier’ look when they turn into their more gelatinous selves. Making them damn near impossible to detect and Ro was of course… deeply concerned about the data in front of her. Since there were aberrations in orders and odd movements and that led her to believe that the Changelings had infiltrated the highest levels of Starfleet Command, and it was her hope that sharing this information would provide her with a powerful ally in Jean-Luc. One who could work in combination with her other assets on the ground. 
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Who of course, turned out to be Raffi and Worf, and they made progress in this tale by chasing after a rogue and wily Vulcan that found logical peace by sowing trouble as a gangster, and of course… he was the true mastermind of the break in at Daystrom. Which brought forth an uncomfortable and violent and wily meeting between the trio, one that saw our heroes victorious since they obtained the means to access the institute and they will need to use it quickly. Because there was mention of escalation, and that came about when Commander Laren left the Titan. For her Changeling escorts became aware of the fact that she knew more than she should about the situation and well… that prompted them to make an attempt on Ro’s life.

Which in turn, allowed for her to offer one final heroic act. Wherein she warned the crew of the Titan of the trouble ahead before slamming her shuttlecraft into the port nacelle of the Intrepid. Making it seem as though Picard and company were now the enemy. Giving them the freedom to operate on their own with a small contingent of officers aboard, at great cost of course. Since Starfleet and the intelligence division lost an amazing officer, and this one hurt the fans for sure. Because Ro Laren truly was a fan favorite through and through, and it was amazing to see her return for one last heroic hurrah. One that truly revealed that horrors are ahead. For it is supremely disturbing that Starfleet’s highest ranks may have become that which the Federation feared during the Dominion War, and this does set the stage for a tense back half of the season, one filled with incredibly high stakes.

But while we wait to see what the crew does with this information, with Worf on their side, and what comes out of the revelations put forth here about Jack and his strange, sleeper agent ways, we can celebrate an episode that truly continued this masterclass of tension-themed storytelling. Because it was thick in this tale as we tried to figure out if Ro was friend or foe, and its unsettling reveals only added to that and of course… this episode gave us just enough once again regarding the plot and our concerns about the threat hanging over the Federation, and well… that makes this another brilliant chapter in an already brilliant season. For we are still hooked, and we must know how Picard and his merry crew will foil the Changelings, and that means… we will be waiting with bated breath for next week’s incredible tale. Until then.  

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