Star Trek: Picard - Season 3

[Micael]

A couple of episodes done, and it’s great. This seems to be shaping up to be the proper sendoff to the next generation era that it felt that we never got.

It seems like the show has been hugely improved by Terry Matalas becoming the sole showrunner. And from interviews I know that him and the TNG cast (apart from Patrick Stewart) is wanting to continue the storytelling even as Picard is ending its run, something I hope will come to pass because the potential suddenly seems huge.

Here’s the season 3 trailer:

[Craiglxviii]

Oh I do hope we get this. TNG fizzled out rather craply.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Terry Matalas was explicit on the Ready Room that his ambition is a Undiscovered Country style send-off for the Generations crew.

I’ve seen the first two episodes. I am cautiously optimistic.

I am not liking the split Picard/Raffi plots, though. It’s jarring and dusrupts the continuity of the Picard plotline.

Spoiler!

Worf rescuing Raffi was awesome, though why is Worf now Section 31? Hopefully that isn’t another fan service ruining, a la Darth Vader in Rogue one.

I am concerned about some of the overdone nostalgia bits.

Spoiler!

Picard/Beverly/Jack is too much like a rehash of Kirk/Carol/David, and we’ve already done that with Jason Vigo and Damon Bok. There’s other bits, like remaking the Star Trek III Spacedock scenes, the Neo-CONSTITUTION, etc.

The big critical reviews have all focused on overdosing on nostalgia, and Picard has pretty much discarded all the new characters except Raffi.

Some things,

Spoiler!

like the portal gun,

are neat. And Riker getting upset that nobody in Ten Forward loves 1701-Delta is hilarious and endearing.

Spoiler!

I do like how Trek has done a good job of showing his nostalgia for her, and how his other commands (HATHAWAY, EXCALIBER and TITAN) don’t have the same emotional notes as ENTERPRISE. It’s a nice bookend to how Picard feels, and reinforces that 1701-Delta was special, if a glass jaw.

Mike will be very happy to hear that 1701-Alpha is in the fleet museum. I’m not sure Rachel Garrett is anywhere near as well known in universe, because 1701-Charlie just disappeared with all hands, as far as Starfleet knows.

Also, there’s some serious temporal continuity issues going on. That’s either sloppy writing or

Spoiler!

Jack Crusher/Picard is lying.

And some other continuity issues, like

Spoiler!

seriously, your other son is an-all powerful temporal entity and he’s not looking out for you?

Though that was handled pretty humorously in the Ready Room.

I don’t like the -A for TITAN, -A/-B for VOYAGER, etc. ENTERPRISE is special. The TITAN is pretty, but much less sleek than actual CONSTITUTIONs. Starfleet tactics still suck, even after a huge series of existential crises and wars.

I look forward to Mike’s analysis of Liam Shaw. I get that we’re not supposed to like him, but

Spoiler!

I am getting distinct vibes that he doesn’t understand sitting in the Big Chair sometimes means you lead your people to their deaths. He is too much a by the book and he keeps harping on Picard, Riker and Crusher not being worth risking his ship and crew. There’s also some vety clear Borg hatred, and animosity towards Riker.

It’s a very plausible characterization, especially given Starfleet’s isolationism post-Dominion War, but still not liking him.

So I am cautiously optimistic, especially given my disappointment with Picard Season 2. At least they’re out in the universe they created in Season 1, which I really liked.

[Bernard Woolley]

Two episodes down and I'm really enjoying it. I liked 1 and 2, but I feel that Season 3 is significantly superior.

Spoiler!

In the prime universe C sacrficed herself defending the Klingon colony on Narendra III. One of the events that would lead to the Federation and Klingon Empire becoming allies.So Rachel Garrett will be well known.

[Belushi TD]

Is it intentional that several of the spoiler buttons link

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to the same spoiler?

Or is that a spoiler in its own?

Belushi TD

[Johnnie Lyle]

Is it intentional that several of the spoiler buttons link

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to the same spoiler?

Or is that a spoiler in its own?

Belushi TD

It does seem to be an issue if you use the spoiler button more than once in a post.

@Admin!

[Johnnie Lyle]

Two episodes down and I'm really enjoying it. I liked 1 and 2, but I feel that Season 3 is significantly superior.

Spoiler!

In the prime universe C sacrficed herself defending the Klingon colony on Narendra III. One of the events that would lead to the Federation and Klingon Empire becoming allies.So Rachel Garrett will be well known.

I dunno.

Starfleet doesn’t seem that impressed. Picard dismisses Narendra III as a one-liner in Redemption II, and Starfleet wouldn’t commission another ENTERPRISE for twenty years (unlike the few months that were usual for 1701-A, 1701-B, and 1701-E). I suspect that it was something of a diplomatic embarrassment, much like the fights between Soviet air defenses and US reconnaissance planes that were hushed up during the Cold War.

Thus, by 2404, she’s overdue for recognition, but still a poorly known figure.

[MikeKozlowski]

....Now.

About Captain Shaw.

Here's the problem as I see it - when ST:P S3 takes place, we can reasonably assume that StarFleet has a total number of vessel command positions somewhere in the low-to-middle four figures.

The sheer number of COs necessary guarantee that you're going to have a bell-shaped curve of Biblical proportions in terms of CO quality. There's also the issue that StarFleet ain't what it used to be - we have StarFleet officers on video flatly stating that it isn't the wild west any more, and I suspect that for at least a few decades now, the Academy (and the alternate commissioning programs that HAVE to be there simply to provide that many 0-level bodies) has been teaching just that. So. you're going to get a very few JLPs, a lot of Janeways, and a few real duds.

My feeling is that Shaw is between the Janeways and the Duds, and actually more towards the Janeway side - competent enough as long as nothing too serious goes wrong, and a terrific bench in the form of XO CDR Hansen and Helmsman LT LaForge. He knows the book - I suspect he reads it at night before he goes to sleep to remind him that there is still order amidst the chaos and fury, and that its name is SFM 1-1. He can make decisions quickly enough, and they'll be the right ones by the book, but he has no flexibility and little or no confidence in his team. Personally he is probably a moral enough fellow, but he is intensely private and doesn't really like people beings - note the fact that he's sitting in his cabin eating a meal by himself and in a darkened room when two of the most illustrious names in StarFleet walk in the door, both of whom rank him...and he doesn't even stand up. He is utterly confident in his mastery of his little corner of the galaxy, and he wants no surprises - do what you're supposed to do, no more, no less, and advancement is - if not exactly assured, much more likely.

Now, one caveat - as this is Trek, I will be seriously surprised if he doesn't get a redemption on an epic scale.

Mike

[Bernard Woolley]

I think we’re not meant to like him. But other than calling Seven by her deadname, I am beginning to warm to Shaw. A bit.

[Calder]

Asking as someone who loved TOS, STNG, and Deep Space but didn't like Picard season 1 and HATED season 2. (Why use Q as your sole marketing for the season and then only use him for maybe 5 minutes of screen time across the entire season?!?) I haven't really liked any of the paramount ST shows but I am slowly hearing better things about Picard Season 3.

Is this worth my time?

[Bernard Woolley]

Yes.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Asking as someone who loved TOS, STNG, and Deep Space but didn't like Picard season 1 and HATED season 2. (Why use Q as your sole marketing for the season and then only use him for maybe 5 minutes of screen time across the entire season?!?) I haven't really liked any of the paramount ST shows but I am slowly hearing better things about Picard Season 3.

Is this worth my time?

Yes.

So is Strange New Worlds, if you haven’t seen that one.

[Calder]

Asking as someone who loved TOS, STNG, and Deep Space but didn't like Picard season 1 and HATED season 2. (Why use Q as your sole marketing for the season and then only use him for maybe 5 minutes of screen time across the entire season?!?) I haven't really liked any of the paramount ST shows but I am slowly hearing better things about Picard Season 3.

Is this worth my time?

Yes.

So is Strange New Worlds, if you haven’t seen that one.

I did forget about Strange New Worlds. That was the one Paramount ST show I thought was decent. I stayed WAY too long waiting for a show to get better with Discovery, Lower decks, and Picard.

[Micael]

So I’ve watched episode 3. Personally I think this is better than any of the TNG movies.

[Johnnie Lyle]

So I’ve watched episode 3. Personally I think this is better than any of the TNG movies.

Terry Matalas has said that’s the point. His goal is to produce TNG’s Star Trek VI.

[Micael]

So I’ve watched episode 3. Personally I think this is better than any of the TNG movies.

Terry Matalas has said that’s the point. His goal is to produce TNG’s Star Trek VI.

Yes, and it’s starting to look like he’s done it.

[Johnnie Lyle]

So I’ve watched episode 3. Personally I think this is better than any of the TNG movies.

Terry Matalas has said that’s the point. His goal is to produce TNG’s Star Trek VI.

Yes, and it’s starting to look like he’s done it.

It’s definitely good, especially in showcasing TNG crew’s flaws and it’s also unleashing some serious conflict within the TNG crew.

Spoiler!

Beverly is pissed at everyone (they did go the Ruth Marcus route a bit), Riker seriously tore Picard a new one, and we’re seeing Troi ticked at Riker for being out while she’s home with the kiddo.

The Worf/Raffi good cop/bad cop is getting better, but the storyline shifts still feel jarring.

I wonder if Matalas is also a Portal and Mass Effect fan. I am getting a serious Collector vibe with the SHRIKE, plus the Portal references are obvious.

[Micael]

Incidentally Discovery just got cancelled, the fifth season will be the last. That opens up for a potential Picard follow up show.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Incidentally Discovery just got cancelled, the fifth season will be the last. That opens up for a potential Picard follow up show.

Can’t say I am sad. Never really got into Disco.

I’m not sure a Picard follow-on works. Picard has been terrible at developing some of new characters (such as Elnor), and has absolutely abandoned all the new characters they have developed except Raffi. There’s not much except TNG nostalgia, unless they want to build on Shaw and Sidney LaForge.

That’s what irritates me so much about how Picard handled the world and people it established in Season 1. They were effectively abandoned and hunky-doryied by diving into the past.

I’d much prefer a Fenris Rangers series, especially focusing on Icheb’s time with them. It would be absolutely heartbreaking, since we know how it ends, but there’s so much there to explore.

Especially if we get into why there are so many xBs and market for Borg nanotechnology.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Sean Ferrick gave the Trellium down to

Spoiler!

Riker ordering Picard off the bridge. Ferrick felt it was unearned. I disagree, but for different reasons. It fits, but it’s unworthy of as experienced a captain as Riker.

Picard needs to learn when to shut up, but Riker gave the order. He may have needed to tear a strip off Picard for command purposes, but he was wrong to do so.