Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Riker (Jonathan Frakes) must rescue Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) from a mysterious enemy.
Paramount+
Star Trek: Picard brings back The Next Generation for its third and final season. The classic cast returns for a heaping spoonful of fan service. Trekkies will undoubtedly be thrilled to see old-school favorites reunited for another galaxy-saving adventure. But past glory doesn’t make up for the issues that have plagued the series. Poor dialogue, indistinguishable settings, and contrived situations continue to be problematic. Moments of fantastic drama and action are undermined by simplistic plot structures. The mystery that drives the narrative meanders then lurches forward. Some parts are gripping while others feel forced and illogical.
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Journalists were provided with the first six of the ten-episode season. The premiere, aptly titled “The Next Generation”, begins with a dear friend under attack. Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and a colleague engage in a firefight with unknown assailants on her ship. Crusher sends a coded distress signal to the retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) on Earth. Picard and Laris (Orla Brady) are in process of packing up the château. He’s stunned to get an encrypted message from Crusher. She hasn’t spoken to him in decades.
Riker’s Novel Idea
Paramount+
Crusher warns him not to trust anyone in Starfleet. An unnerved Picard springs into immediate action. He clandestinely meets the also retired Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes). They must reach Crusher without arousing suspicion. Riker has a novel idea to use their status as legends to their advantage.
The pair take a shuttle to Riker’s former ship, the U.S.S. Titan, in space dock above Earth. Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), now Commander Annika Hansen, serves as first officer to Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), a rigid and abrasive stickler who despises surprises. He doesn’t quite buy Picard and Riker’s unannounced inspection. Meanwhile, on a seedy gambling planet, Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) has been deep undercover for months as a Starfleet Intelligence Agent. Her unknown handler has her searching for a thief. Top secret technology was somehow stolen from Starfleet’s most secure facility.
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Let’s start with what works. Picard is revered by his former officers. But they also have achieved greatness and rank. Riker, his most trusted friend, is no longer “Number One” who follows every order. The season tests their relationship in critical life-or-death scenarios. Both men believe their insights are correct. They’re not always on the same tactical page. Stewart and Frakes show what happens when the teacher and student confront each other as equals.
The U.S.S. Titan
Paramount+
The primary plot follows events on the Titan in deep space. Raffi skips through worlds on her investigation. Everywhere she goes looks exactly the same. The various criminal districts are carbon copies. It’s obviously the same set shot from different perspectives. This pulls a visual brake when accompanying scenes have the Titan fighting other ships in effects-heavy battles.
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A crucial new addition plays a major role as seismic events unfold. This character is key to whopper reveals that unmask the true enemy. The actor is quite good but the reaction by Picard and everyone else to their presence is unbelievable. They understand this person’s importance but fail to realistically address why. Picard, Riker, and Crusher are some of the greatest officers in Star Trek lore. They dance around a complication instead of dealing with it.
The writing struggles at times to tie all the threads together. The characters, especially Raffi, habitually summarize the plot to keep the audience up to speed. I noticed this early on as a narrative crutch. It’s a clunky delivery of important details.
Desired Nostalgia
Star Trek: Picard’s flaws are evident, but season three definitely warrants viewing. It’s better than the disappointing second season. The Next Generation’s characters bring skin into the game. They have evolved, are well-acted despite the material’s shortcomings, and invoke desired nostalgia. You’re happy to see them again. There is a positive tipping point. You’ll be fully engaged once the diabolical adversaries step out of the shadows.
Star Trek: Picard is a production of CBS Studios, Secret Hideout, Weed Road Pictures, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Season three premieres February 16th exclusively on Paramount+.
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