‘Star Trek: Picard’ Recap – ‘The Next Generation’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Three Premiere of ‘Star Trek: Picard’. To revisit the season two finale, click here.

September 28, 1987 was quite the important day in science fiction history. For this is the day that Star Trek: The Next Generation made its television debut and well… so much changed for science fiction and the Star Trek franchise on that day. For not only did TNG bring to life the expansion of the Star Trek Universe, something that would continue well after it left the airwaves in 1994… but it marked the beginning of a powerhouse thirty-six-year journey. One that would see a successful seven year run on television for the cast and their characters, a four-picture movie franchise and now… a grand farewell tour for the cast and characters as well. For yesterday marked the debut of the third season of Star Trek: Picard, one that will bring the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D and NCC-1701-E together one more time for one last adventure and well… that has left us all wondering… what is that going to look like?
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Because this is a crew that has already undergone several epic farewells. Since the series finale of The Next Generation is widely regarded as one of the finest finales to ever grace our television screens, and while there are a number of fans that do not care for Star Trek: Nemesis and its angry and visceral ending to the crew’s time aboard the Enterprise… it is an epic ending none the less. So how then… does one top either of those finales and for that matter… how does one bring back together a crew that’s been scattered to the solar winds of the galaxy for decades on end? Well as it turns out… by offering up a supremely different season of this series. Because ‘The Next Generation’ wasted little time in informing us, that the farewell tour for the crew of the Enterprise, will be unconventional, cinematic, and grand and elegant in nature. 

For proof… just look at the structure of this premiere. Because the prior two premieres in Picard, were bombastic and epic in nature. With the series premiere introducing us to a bitter end to the 24th Century and a retired Admiral waking up from his failures to try and inspire the galaxy with hope once again. And of course, the second season premiere bringing Q back into the mix and showing us a potential future for mankind if we let darkness win, was pretty darn amazing. Not to mention… these two episodes were rife with incredible commentary on our world and life in general, and well… all of that was basically put on hold in this particular premiere. Which isn’t a bad thing by any means because it allowed for us… to quickly grow comfortable with a return to this universe and it allowed for the characters to just live and thrive in a manner truly reminiscent of The Next Generation.

Since we came to learn that Jean-Luc was preparing to enter another new phase in his life, one full of peace and love with Laris, far from Earth. Plus, the reintroduction of Doctor Beverly Crusher and Captain Will Riker informed us that their lives have taken fascinating paths, since it was revealed that Beverly left Starfleet and went off to live quite the risqué life, and the good captain was still on active duty and dealing with marital and family problems. Not to mention, we also came to learn here that Seven of Nine, was in Starfleet at last and serving as the first officer of the newly commissioned U.S.S. Titan NCC-80102-A and that Raffi was working undercover with Starfleet Intelligence to recover some stolen weapons on a faraway world that tested her sobriety. 

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All of which, felt so traditional and was so engaging, we didn’t need commentary in this tale. We were just… able to kick back and enjoy returning to this universe and spending time with characters that we love and well… going that route allowed for this story to gently nudge us toward trouble and a bigger conflict brewing. One that will undoubtedly bring forth the commentary in question that Trek is known for, and the deeper moments we crave. Making it clear that this really is a grand and sweeping cinematic journey that hits all the right notes with beautiful Easter Eggs and throw backs and call backs to every corner of the franchise and of course… builds toward that bigger conflict in a smooth and engaging manner for certain. 
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All by revealing to us… that Beverly Crusher is in deep trouble in this tale. To the point where she reaches out to Jean-Luc following that twenty-year absence, and the sheer panic in her voice and the injuries she’s sustained, prompts Picard to work with Will to basically manipulate Captain Shaw of the Titan to take them to Beverly’s last known location. A move that almost fails because of the fact that Shaw is a hardcore, by-the-book skipper. But thanks to an assist from Seven, these magnificent heroes not only find Beverly and an intense young man whose identity we will speculate upon later, but they also find grave trouble. Courtesy of a massive vessel that appears to rival the size and ferocity of Shinzon’s Scimitar. Setting the stage for an epic conflict, one that is likely underway without Picard and Riker’s knowledge.

Because Raffi eventually figured out the codewords she learned about a forthcoming operation against Starfleet and that led… to quite the stunning finale to her journey. Wherein a Starfleet building was leveled by a stolen weapon. Making the intentions of an enemy clear; that they intend to make Starfleet suffer. And well… that’s about as good as it gets when it comes to a cliffhanger and that is a wonderful way to set up the season ahead. Because that informs us, the stakes are high, the danger is real and that our heroes are going to be tested once again, and that… is what you want from a farewell tour for a crew that so many of us spent our youth watching on television. Because they deserve a grand and satisfying end to their trek through the stars and it is just so wonderful to know we are going to enjoy just that.

If anything, this was just… a perfect series premiere. One that truly blends the wonder of cinema and television together and grabs from you the get-go and never lets you go. Thanks to some of the fine work from this cast and through a beautiful story that is fully prepared to take us on a hell of a journey. One that is going to be filled with big moments and the right balance of nostalgia and surprise. Plus, it also gets credit for not immediately making the entire reunion happen, so that we get to savor the arrival of crew members to come and well, in the end… it is definitely safe to say, that we are all hooked and eager to learn who or what this intrepid crew is up against as we settle in to enjoy the final mission of one of the finest crews to ever serve aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. Until next time.       

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