Picard – The Star Gazer Review

I was less than enthused with season one of Picard, despite being a huge fan of the titular character (as well as of Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine). It was a season of television that started off asking an interesting question – what regrets befall even the greatest among us when we are left alone to ponder on our humanity – and ended up essentially tossing that out the window in favor of a season arc that felt overstuffed with story and underwritten when it came to character. I was ready to ignore season two of the series until word started leaking about who was returning to their old Next Generation roles this time around.

Now, I was a Trekkie growing up. I’ve watched nearly every episode of Star Trek ever made (sorry, Enterprise). But out of the many characters I loved watching week in and week out, two of my absolutely favorites were Q and Guinan. So, just when I thought I was out, Picard pulled me back in. Although, after “The Star Gazer,” I have to say a lot of my issues with the first season of the series were back in full force.

Before I get into the problems I had with the episode, I want to highlight the positives – lest there aren’t many positives down the line as I continue these weekly reviews, I can at least look back at the premiere and say there were things I was excited about. First, naturally, the appearance of both Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg, reprising her wonderful character with such joy) and Q (John de Lancie, who retains the complexities with the omnipotent trickster all these years later) were just great. The relationship each of these characters has with Picard – so different, yet just as deep – helps to elevate him as well.* I could see Patrick Stewart relaxing as he worked with Goldberg – that was genuine affection there – and I could see the spark come back in his eyes at the thought of getting to spar with someone as great at it as de Lancie. I’m sad to think that we won’t get to spend the entire season watching these relationships deepen, even though I know there will be much more Q and probably some more Guinan if we’re lucky.

*In fact, the ease at which Stewart slipped back into his chemistry with both highlighted how little he has with the rest of the show’s cast. Yes, it takes time to build up relationships, but Picard only interacted with Q in eight episodes (ten if you count the pilot and finale as two parts each) – he’s had that much time with his new crew and doesn’t have nearly the connection with them. And I can’t just chalk it up to de Lancie’s acting ability – there are some strong actors in the Picard cast, they just aren’t gelling with Stewart the way he has with these old friends.

The other highlight of the episode was that the series seems to want to give Orla Brady’s Laris more to do this time around. Sure, I’m less thrilled it’s setting up Picard on a path to determine he needs to listen to his heart and give into their attraction, but she was one of the brightest elements of season one – a confident for Picard, outside of Starfleet and the command structure, who isn’t afraid to tell him when he’s got his head up his ass. And really, he definitely needs someone like that in his life. I hope she becomes some sort of touchpoint for him as he journeys through time this season – he needs that kick in the rear that his crew won’t provide.

Now, for the less than great. First up, I understand that a season premiere in a serialized series needs to tee up the season arc, but my god, was that dialogue drowning in exposition. Exposition is a necessary evil of storytelling, but there are far better ways to let us know what we need to know without such awful writing. I mean, sure, there are people watching this series who haven’t watched Voyager (and I suppose people who haven’t watched Next Generation, but why in the world they would be interested is beyond me – and I suspect they’re really lost now), but having Seven remind the audience that the Borg killed her parents? I think there are plenty of good reasons for Seven to hate the Borg and (rightly) not trust their overtures – their assimilating her parents is probably just one number on a very long list. Trotting it out felt like a bright neon sign making sure we remember just that – she lost her parents – rather than providing us with a real reason for her distrust of the villain who stole her childhood and tried to kill her and her colleagues time and time again on Voyager. (So, don’t be shocked if Chekhov’s dead parents show up at some point down the line.)

Speaking of the Borg, must we do this dance again? I get that the series is trying to set Seven and Picard on parallel paths this season (their past relationship with the Borg, their inability to let others into their life, their inability to open their hearts and become vulnerable, etc.) but could we do it without another Borg run-in? For the love of all things that are holy, there had to be a better way. And Picard trusting them for a second? Please. That’s troubling in a whole other way – perhaps that mental deterioration has increased?

I suspect that Q’s plan (at least initially – who knows if he’ll change his tune) is to see if Picard can once again prove humanity’s worth. But what of the other characters in the series? Well, it strains the bounds of belief if Q managed to magically select the series regulars to go on their own mission, but I can’t see any other way for that to happen. I mean, if he somehow snags Soji and sends her into this brave new world, I have no idea why that would happen. So, the writers better have some good explanations as to why this particular set of characters gets drawn into Q’s continued trial. But darn it if I’m not already on board with this series just for the chance to see what Q has come up with this time around. And hopefully it means more de Lancie-Stewart showdowns throughout the season. Because I suspect the series will soar when they are together but chafe when they are apart.