“I’m not in the habit of consulting lawyers before I do what needs to be done.”
Jean-Luc Picard in “The End is the Beginning”
SPOILERS AHEAD!
The third episode of “Star Trek: Picard” answers some questions and poses more questions for viewers of the new series.
The episode is titled “The End is the Beginning.”
First of all, we get a flashback sequence at the beginning of the episode that explains a bit of the relationship between Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Raffi Mussiker (Michelle Hurd) — 14 years before the events of “Picard.” She was Picard’s first officer when he was working on saving the Romulan race from a supernova.
Some fans have found it off-putting that Raffi refers to Picard as “JL” in this sequence. It didn’t bother me.
We learn more about Picard resigning from Starfleet during this flashback (although we don’t see it happen on screen). As a result of his resignation, Raffi loses her security clearance and job.
A video on the ScreenCrush YouTube channel brought up a number of interesting points about contradictions being introduced in “Star Trek: Picard” that are antithetical to the universe that has been established.
For example, why does Raffi express disdain for Picard’s chateau lifestyle when the Federation is supposedly a utopian-type world where people no longer work for money?
Also, why are so many people smoking during “Star Trek: Picard’s” third episode? Was it done to create an edgier vibe for the show?
Something Bridget commented on were the F-bombs dropped during the second episode (a colorful expletive also heard in the CBS All Access series “Star Trek: Discovery”).
None of these things are a big deal on their own, but it brings into question whether a “Star Trek” series should take the prequel/sequel approach within existing properties, or if reboots like J.J. Abrams’s “Star Trek” movies are the better way to go.
While I’m well aware the Leonard Nimoy appeared as Spock 2009’s “Star Trek,” I also know that Abrams did something that felt fresh and unique. His movies didn’t feel hindered by the things that came before.
Anyhow, the third episode manages to get things back on track as far as the narrative goes in “Star Trek: Picard.”
Despite long-standing bitterness, Raffi helps Picard with his request to find an off-the-books pilot with an unregistered starship. The pilot is Cristobal Rios (Santiago Cabrera), the former XO of a heavy cruiser called the ibn Majid — a ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs (just kidding!)
Rios is sort of a roguish Han Solo-type. His ship is called La Sirena. Initial impressions are that I like the character and look forward to seeing more of him in action.
The plot thread involving Soji Asha (Isa Briones) on the Artifact (the former Borg Cube) continues to develop. We learn the former Borg, Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco), is running operations with the Borg Artifact Research Institute.
Bringing back the character Hugh was another tie-in to “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Picard and the crew of the Enterprise first met Hugh (referred to as Third of Five) in an episode titled “I, Borg.” Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge gave him the name Hugh.
In “I, Borg,” Hugh was a teenage Borg drone — one that exhibited individualistic traits.
The character also appears in the two-part episode of TNG called “Descent” (that covered the sixth season finale and the seventh season premiere).
I remember the character, but it’s been ages since I’ve seen those episodes.
The good news for viewers is that “Star Trek: The Next Generation” is available to stream on CBS All Access, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu. You can go back and check out these episodes.
Back to “Picard”… Hugh lets Soji interview a Romulan (who had previously been assimilated by the Borg) named Ramdha (Rebecca Wisocky) who is part of a group of Romulans referred to as “this disordered.”
Ramdha is an enigma wrapped in a mystery, and when Soji visits with her she is moving a series of triangular pixmit cards (a sort of Romulan version of tarot cards) on a table top.
The cards provide clues into the Romulan assimilation by the Borg…I think. Everything involving the Romulans is pretty vague at this point.
Ramdha tells Soji, “I remember you from tomorrow.” She refers to Soji as “Seb-Cheneb — The Destroyer.”
We’ll have to stay tuned to find out what exactly all that means since Soji replies that they’ve never met before.
Back at the vineyard, as Picard readies himself for departure, a group of Romulan Zhat Vash assassins show up.
Shortly behind is Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill).
Jurati decided to visit Picard again after she was approached by Commodore Oh (Tamlyn Tomita), the Chief of Starfleet Security. Oh, a Vulcan, visited Jurati at the Daystrom Institute to inquire about Picard’s visit (which happened in the first episode).
Commodore Oh seems to be part of a grand conspiracy going on within Starfleet that is intertwined with whatever plot the Romulans have hatched.
By the way... there was a bit of backlash on the interwebs regarding the pair of sunglasses Oh sports in the episode. I dunno why. I'm sure ocular melanoma is still a concern in the 24th century.
By the way... there was a bit of backlash on the interwebs regarding the pair of sunglasses Oh sports in the episode. I dunno why. I'm sure ocular melanoma is still a concern in the 24th century.
Dr. Jurati decides to join Picard on his mission to find Dahj Asha’s sister, arguing she can help since she’s “the Earth’s leading expert on synthetic life.”
In addition, Raffi decides to come along. At the end of the episode, we see Picard & Co. departing Earth on Rios’s ship.
Overall, I thought the third episode was stronger than the second.
As I mentioned in my last post, the sequences involving Picard are the show’s most compelling.
Based on his past exploits, it’s awfully hard to draw the character as anything other than the “moral compass” in the series. That’s what viewers admired about him during “Star Trek: The Next Generation’s” initial run, and that’s where he stands in the new series.
I’m still having a difficult time getting into the Romulan/Borg/Soji storyline, but that should get better as the episodes wear along (I had similar feelings about the Klingon storyline in the first season of “Star Trek: Discovery”).
Based on his past exploits, it’s awfully hard to draw the character as anything other than the “moral compass” in the series. That’s what viewers admired about him during “Star Trek: The Next Generation’s” initial run, and that’s where he stands in the new series.
I’m still having a difficult time getting into the Romulan/Borg/Soji storyline, but that should get better as the episodes wear along (I had similar feelings about the Klingon storyline in the first season of “Star Trek: Discovery”).
One thing I will say is that the narrative in “Star Trek: Picard” has been relatively unpredictable. It doesn’t have any major twists or turns thus far, but it does manage to keep things interesting. I think that bodes well for this first season.
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