Star Trek: Picard Season One, Episodes 1-5 – Review from Jim King

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It’s been 18 years since we last saw Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). What’s more, it’s been 18 years since there was a Star Trek show that moved the timeline forward. Since 2002 there have been a total of 127 episodes and three movies set in the Trek universe but each one served as a prequel (or alternate version of events we’d already seen), which meant for the longest time it seemed that Picard walking down a corridor with a slight smile would be the last we’d ever see of the 24^th century. Thankfully that proved not to be the case and spurred on by the success of Star Trek: Discovery, it was announced that our beloved Captain would return.

At the time of writing Star Trek: Picard is at the halfway mark of its ten-episode run and has at once been everything fans may have expected, and a somewhat radical departure. The opening moments of the premiere go out of their way to assure you that this is the Trek you remember, the music playing is a reprise of a song sung by Data in Nemesis, and the android himself makes an appearance. There’s even a shot of the Enterprise, looking just how she always did with Picard playing poker and drinking earl grey. Of course, it’s only a dream and instead, we find Picard a broken man, retired from Starfleet and living in isolation. It’s a bold move to re-introduce such an iconic character in circumstances that are so different from when we last saw him, but it’s one that pays dividends as the series goes on.

Like Discovery before it, Picard is setting out to tell one ongoing story which gives far more time for character development and Patrick Stewart is peerless here. His new take on Picard is of a man haunted by mistakes yet still imbued of confidence, bordering on arrogance, that leads to him, sometimes heartbreakingly, being reminded of his new status quo. Stripped of his rank and the supportive environment of the Enterprise, this Picard has to fight for his victories that much harder, in a galaxy that is less receptive to his ideals. Every moment of the struggle is written on Stewart’s face and despite some questionable acts in the years he’s been gone, he never loses our sympathy. The supporting cast is also excellent with the crew gradually introduced over the first half of the season.

The show has so far done a more thorough job of building up its supporting players then Discovery, no doubt a lesson learned on the part of the producers. In a similar vein, the fourth and fifth episode expertly balance telling an ongoing story with delivering an accessible hour of TV. Neither of these stories would feel overwhelming to a first time viewer yet play an important part in the ongoing narrative. It’s not an easy balancing act but its one that Picard is, so far, managing well.

 The next batch of episodes promises even more with answers to our questions, Romulans, Borg and a visit to the Riker’s yet to come. And that’s before we get to the already announced second season. It seems the voyages of ‘JL’ are far from done.

With Picard, Trek is once again reflecting our times by showing us a world where a good man doing the right thing is not always welcomed. However, he may be needed more now than ever.

Picard returns to screens after 18 years

Star Trek: Picard

Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centres on Jean-Luc Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) in the next chapter of his life.

Jim King is a lifelong geek who enjoys talking about anything and everything out of the ordinary. He co-hosts a Star Trek podcast and is pretty good at Street Fighter 2.

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Source: blazingminds.co.uk