In the end, the season arc for Picard was not up to snuff. The resolution felt rushed. (How are they replacing all the dead older Starfleet members? Did the transporter Borg tech impact anyone who used them on a ship and returned planet-side? Is there still a command structure in Starfleet? Did the young Borg officers shoot to stun and not kill?) It’s a bit convenient that all it took was Jack seeing that his missing father was willing to die with him to suddenly make him do a 180 and believe he isn’t alone – when he’s had his mother’s unconditional love for literally ever. I’m still mad that Shaw was killed because any sort of legacy series with the new Enterprise G crew (and with that Q tag at the end of the series, you can bet such a series – even a limited one or a film – is absolutely on the table at Paramount right now) would be more interesting with him at the conn. But you know what? You give me Patrick Stewart quoting Shakespeare as Jean-Luc Picard toasts his beloved crew and family (that would be Brutus’ Tides of Man speech from Julius Ceasar, for those wondering), and it can right any number of wrongs.
Because, in the end, these final two episodes of Picard were far more about spending a couple of final hours with our friends than in telling a compelling and complex story. And in that, they were excellent. We were treated to so many lovely moments – so many fine bits of dialogue, character beats, relationships rekindled and deepened from our years of watching the characters interact. Seeing how both Worf and Data are now full of jokes (that threesome comment had me cackling and Data’s aborted joke had me yelling “Data!” along with the rest of the gang), the easy, deep chemistry that exists between Riker and Troi now (seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes – who is, without a doubt, the MVP of this entire season of television –more in tune than in these past few episodes), the poise of Geordi, and the trust and care between Beverly and Jean-Luc made me recall all the nights spent with my family, as a child, watching the crew of the Enterprise take on that week’s foe. The nostalgia was dripping off the walls of the Enterprise D throughout the episode, and really, what’s wrong with that?
We knew Starfleet, somehow, would win. And, as with the past moments of heroism discussed previously in the season, once again the Enterprise crew found a way out of a situation that was, however unintentionally, of their own making (Shaw was right – so many of these moments of great victory also come from moments that wouldn’t have happened at that crew not been at the heart of the problem to begin with). And hey! Tuvok is alive and well! And promoting Seven to captain. If we didn’t end up getting that Janeway cameo we all hoped for, I guess Tuvok promoting Seven was a really lovely touch. I’m not sure how I feel about another Q situation in the future – although this more antagonistic version of him was always more interesting to me, and Q is among my top five all-time Star Trek characters – and I’m still not sold on Jack as a character either (he was more of a means to an end this series – the ultimate weapon who didn’t get much actual character development outside of being angry at the universe for awhile), but I would be interested to watch what the new Enterprise crew got up to, assuming it’s not just another Q adventure. But we already have one Enterprise show, so perhaps the adventures of the G are best left up to our imaginations at least for the foreseeable future?
Either way, I’m thrilled that so much of this final season of Picard was able to wash away the disappointments of the previous two seasons. Sure, it didn’t stick the landing from a narrative perspective, but it delivered where many of us were hoping it would – providing a fitting send off for some of the best sci-fi characters ever created. Getting a final chance to see our friends work together, mend relationships, tell jokes, and just bounce off one another over the course of a ten-episode season was ultimately a joy to behold. And it was also great to see characters – and actors – who were often relegated to the background more often than not get a chance to really step to the forefront and show just how great they are. I never thought Crusher – or Gates McFadden – would be strong enough to hold a story arc like this one, but boy was I glad to be wrong. McFadden was sensational. I loved seeing the new and more complex Deanna Troi save the day in the end. This new Data – and Brent Spiner, who is always excellent – was so fun. Geordi has grown into such a wonderful character, and Levar Burton was clearly having a great time and doing great work. Frakes carried so much of the season on his shoulders and made a strong argument that he continues to belong in front of the camera despite being such a great director now. Michael Dorn was clearly having a blast playing Worf this time around. And Stewart was absolutely at home, both in this character and among his friends. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a cast working this well together, floating through complex dialogue and never losing sight of the most important piece of acting: conveying the humanity within a character despite the sometimes insane situation surrounding them.
So, was Picard’s final season a complete success? No. But was it worth every minute spent with our friends, old and new, to take the Enterprise D crew on one final adventure? Absolutely. I would go on this uneven journey again just for another chance to see the crew that was such a key element of my childhood work side-by-side, fighting old foes, and saving the galaxy once more time. Sometimes, the destination is the most important. But, more often than not, it’s the journey. And this one was worth it.
-
Acting
-
Writing
-
Direction
