‘Star Trek: Picard’ Recap – ‘The Star Gazer’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘Star Trek: Picard’. To revisit the season one finale, click here.
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There are few things in this world that we cherish more than love and it makes sense as to why. For love does something quite special to us since it gives us unfettered confidence and joy and of course, it provides us with peace and a connection we never knew was possible, and it has become so important to us… that we are quite curious as to what prevents someone from finding it, when we encounter an individual that has been single for some time. For we want them to enjoy the same wonder we’ve found in another person and well, it turns out that there are a great many reasons for folks to avoid love… some justified, some not, and the ones of concern are of note today, because they were one of the many focal themes present in the season two premiere of Star Trek: Picard.
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Which might seem like an odd theme to find embedded within a science fiction show about a trek through the stars but seeing as to how life in the now 25th Century is quite peaceful for Jean-Luc Picard and his new friends… this being a focus fit the mold perfectly. For it is only when we find peace, do we ponder upon the roads not taken and the opportunities we’ve denied ourselves and since there is peace in ‘The Star Gazer’, that’s exactly what Jean-Luc Picard did. For while his old friends were out and about amongst the stars, he was able to reflect upon this new phase in his life and the old one left behind and a wild admission from Laris, one that informed him that she adored him to no end… put panic into his heart and rejection into hers, leaving him to wonder why on earth he had never opened up his heart to anyone.

In fact, it bothered him so much, that he took the time to swing by 10 Forward Street in Los Angeles to visit with an old friend and even Guinan and her infinite wisdom and understanding of an old and dear friend… couldn’t get the Admiral to open up about his romantic issues and of course, his new role as Commandant of Starfleet Academy, also kept him busy enough to not have to worry about such matters. But there were down moments that allowed for the audience to become privy to what really has compelled Jean-Luc to traverse the stars and choose duty over anything else, and the reveal of what is holding him back was powerful for certain. Since we came to learn that domestic abuse was part of his upbringing and well… watching his mother suffer in that manner had a profound impact upon him.

One that clearly motivated him to close off his heart, not because he believed that people were inherently cruel, but because he never wanted to be that vulnerable or see or experience that kind of pain again. For love would require emotional availability and a level of trust that had the potential to be broken, and rather than take a chance on love and its wonder and risk the potential of having someone he loved violate that as his father did to his mother… it was safer to give that love to Starfleet and crew members and greater causes and this… was an incredible exploration. Since we don’t talk about the lasting impact of domestic abuse on children or victims or domestic abuse in general, and respect is due to both Patrick Stewart and the show for introducing this conversation into the show’s structure and for allowing us to watch Jean-Luc tackle his trauma.

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Which will of course, come at a later time. Because while Jean-Luc was pondering upon matters of the heart, we needed to see what the other members of the crew of La Sirena were up to in the 25th Century. And we came to learn that Seven of Nine, was on her own again and trying to do her best to help others in need and Agnes and Soji have been touring the galaxy on a goodwill mission now that the ban on synthetics is over. Plus, we also came to learn that Raffi returned to Starfleet as a Commander and was training cadets such as Elnor aboard the U.S.S. Excelsior, and Rios has returned to duty as well and has been given command of the newly commissioned U.S.S. Stargazer. But it doesn’t take long for some galactic surprises to reunite this motley crew aboard the Stargazer. 
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For a strange rip in the fabric of space and time, brought about quite the stunning revelation. In that, it carried with it a distress call, one directed at Admiral Picard and one that quietly asked for admission into the United Federation of Planets and once Jean-Luc joined everyone aboard the new iteration of his first command… another blast from the past presented itself to the Admiral. For the Borg were the ones that sent this distress call, and they were eager to come aboard and make demands of Picard through a reformed and transformed Borg Queen and well, this went about as well as one might expect. Since it led to fighting and what appeared to be the eventual doom of all-hands aboard when Jean-Luc ordered the ship to self-destruct.

But as is oft the case in Star Trek, sometimes death is temporary and when Jean-Luc saw the bright light of a warp core breach fade, he found himself back home, or at least… what appeared to be home. For this Château Picard lacked the warmth we are accustomed to since it was full of weapons and haunting visages, and the sky wasn’t quite right and there was good reason for that. For this was clearly an alternate timeline or world, one that the ancient and omnipotent Q has dragged Picard to for reasons we don’t know quite yet. We just know that it relates to the ongoing trial Q referred to at the end of ‘All Good Things…’ and well, it will be quite interesting to see what the ever mischievous Q is up to and why when the show returns come next week.

But while we wait to learn more about the return of two of Picard’s greatest foes, and the new situation he is surrounded within, we can bask in the wonder of one stunning season premiere. For this was simply brilliant through and through and featured everything we love about Star Trek. For it had depth and commentary on the human condition, easter eggs and cameos galore and of course… action and shock courtesy of the Borg and Q and well, it is definitely safe to say that season two of Star Trek: Picard is off to a stellar start and has set the stage for an incredible ride. One that will take us across space and time and through the souls of characters we love and this writer, will be outright counting down the minutes until next week’s adventure, to enjoy another journey through the stars with the legendary Admiral and his incredible friends. Until next time.

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