‘Star Trek: Picard’ Recap – ‘Watcher’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Star Trek: Picard’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, the Star Trek Universe stays firmly within hopeful territory and understandably so. For it does envision a future where we are our best selves and have accomplished wonders by putting our pettiness and foolishness aside, and embracing all of that as the central foundation to the franchise's stories, seemingly prevents the possibility that any of the shows will reside heavily within darker themed storytelling.. And if by chance a particular show does, it should be quickly resolved through unity and cooperation and the ideals that we can be better... and that is precisely why season two of Star Trek: Picard has been such a shocking venture. 
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Simply because, this particular trek through the stars, has been quite grim in nature. Since we’ve watched humanity embrace its darkest demons via the Confederation timeline. Where humanity is eager to exert its ‘supremacy’ over the aliens of the galaxy and we’ve also watched our heroes suffer greatly for a sin they’re unaware of, and well… that makes this story quite the franchise outlier, since it would seem the darkness present in this tale is showing no signs of slowing down. For the next episode in this harrowing and quite frankly… ugly journey was filled to the brim with commentary and observations on what is perhaps one of the darkest aspects of the human condition… racism.

An examination that ‘Watcher’ brought forth, by way of two key storylines, one of which, involved Captain Rios. For shortly after his arrest, he was quickly processed by ICE and Homeland Security and dumped in a holding facility with other people that ICE deemed were of concern and well… this led to some stunning moments for certain. Since we were privy to the fear and indignity that people currently in this kind of facility are going through. Since they are treated like cattle and disregarded by a country that supposedly was to offer them comfort and opportunity and that definitely gives one pause and serves as a fine reminder that racism is alive and well in the 21st Century and it is even an institution courtesy of ICE... which allows for it to operate with impunity and the show's stunning observations on racism in our world, didn't end there.

For Jean-Luc Picard’s quest to find the mysterious Watcher operating in this timeline, led him back to ‘Ten Forward’. Wherein he met a different kind of Guinan. One that was supremely jaded regarding humanity and understandably so. After all, she never met Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise in the 19th Century, since that voyage didn’t happen in the altered future and not having the knowledge we would improve and traverse the stars in the name of exploration and unity… only gave Guinan a glimpse of the world we live in right now. One where racists are allowed to operate in the open without fear of reprisal anymore and where America is taking steps backward in the incredible progress it once made. A reality that had her ready to leave Earth and abandon humanity and well… make no mistake about it, what she had to say about us... was spot on and powerful.

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But while those are sobering observations about our world for certain… they beg some important questions when it comes to the story. Specifically… why? Why feature this and remind us of the sour nature of a world we currently reside within in a hopeless and frank manner? Well, the answer to those questions is simple. In that, this is the kind of uncomfortable commentary that is designed to serve as a wakeup call. The kind that informs us of the fact that we stand at the precipice. One where if we let that kind of darkness continue to persist and grow, we may step off its ledge and be plunged into the abyss. Which means… we have to take action and we have to be vigilant. For the fight to deny it oxygen will not be easy and that understanding, is what brought about a sliver of hope in this particular tale.
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For Seven and Raffi were not good with a good man being shipped off to a no man’s land to be dumped about like garbage and left to fend for himself. And rather than just say ‘there’s nothing we can do’, they stole a police cruiser and broke into the ICE database to find Rios’ location in order to save him, and while they don’t come face to face with him in this tale, the fact that they are ready to risk to all to bust into that bus and save him… serves as an allegory. One that informs us just how difficult the fight is going to be and how hard it is going to be to teach others that this isn’t the way and that we have to better, and that’s a move that undoubtedly lifted the spirits of folks watching. Since this duo were and are representative of the people out there who want to go the extra mile to end this kind of thinking and what’s wild is that Jean-Luc’s storyline is what spoke to how we get those folks to stand up and take action.

In that, we need leaders and voices of hope that point out the injustices of the world and inspire better in us and Jean-Luc did just that in this tale. Since he eventually opened up to Guinan and risked the timeline, not just to get answers as to the Watcher’s location, but to help his oldest and most trusted friend to trust humanity once again. Simply because Picard knew that we are indeed capable of better and can accomplish wonders when inspired and it was wonderful to hear him speak to our potential and give someone in need of hope, just a sampling of it and thankfully, his journey is what allows for this bleak tale to end on a high note. Since Jean-Luc did inspire Guinan to help him to try and save humanity and that allowed for him to meet the Watcher, and now he can talk with them at last and hopefully learn what the divergence point involves. 

However, hope or not, there are still of course, some troublesome realities awaiting the crew once that conversation is done and Rios is saved. Since the Borg Queen is continuing to try and manipulate Agnes, and while she is failing thus far… she is relentless and Dr. Jurati is exhausted. Plus, it would seem this whole mess is causing trouble for Q as well, since it would appear his powers are gone... and they are of course, racing the clock. But while we wait to see what comes of those concerning twists and the other critical plot lines in this tale, we can bask in the gravity of one powerful story. One that really held nothing back in its presentation of a very real problem plaguing humanity right now and it will be quite interesting to see exactly where this story is headed next. Since its ‘present-day’ setting has the potential to explore more uncomfortable corners in our modern world. Until next time.   

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