That Crazy Era When They Charged $15 for a Single “Star Trek” Episode

I thought I’d share a bit of nostalgia on what is dubbed as #StarTrekDay (the original show debuted on Sept. 8, 1966)… 

The past month, Bridget and I have been helping my dad clean out his home to prepare for sale as he downsizes and simplifies his life. 

As you might imagine, we have gone through all sorts of random items in boxes, stored away long ago in dusty nooks and crannies. 

Among the items I found were some of my old “Star Trek” (the original series) episodes that I purchased on VHS many moons ago. 

That might seem like a commonplace activity in 2020, but in the 1980s home video was a different beast. 

The idea of “owning” a “complete season” of any TV show seemed sort of insane back then. 

Most TV series never saw the light of day on home video during the VHS/Betamax era. Every so often you’d see a studio release a pilot episode or two-hour episode on VHS and market it as a “movie” (as MCA did with the pilot episode of “Miami Vice” and the season 2 premiere episode as “Miami Vice II: The Prodigal Son”).

If you wanted to have a complete series on home video, you recorded it during a broadcast (generally in EP or SLP mode so you could fit the most episodes on a tape). 

I recorded many episodes of the 1960s-era “Star Trek” on our Panasonic VCR during the 1980s. It aired Sunday nights at 11 p.m. on KMTV in Omaha. The quality resulting from recording episodes on VHS was so-so, but it was all we had at the time.  

I was 12 when we purchased our first VCR (1985), and I wasn’t allowed to stay up and pause recording during the commercial breaks. 

Not only that, KMTV didn’t always broadcast the episodes in order, and certain episodes were rarely broadcast. 

In February 1985, Paramount Home Video tried to remedy that situation when they released the first slate of “Star Trek” episodes on VHS and Beta. 

I really wanted to purchase those episodes. I recall that our local Applause Video chain had them in stock the day they released. 

Unfortunately, the episodes retailed for $14.95 each. That meant you’d spend around $1,200 if you wanted all 79 episodes of “Star Trek” — and that price wouldn’t even include sales tax. 

When I started earning my own money (from a paper route I had), I purchased a dozen episodes of “Star Trek” on VHS. The price point meant I had to “pick and choose” the episodes I liked the best. 

One of the episodes in the photo above — “The Trouble With Tribbles” — debuted at #20 on Billboard’s list of “Top Videocassette Sales” for the week ending Nov. 29, 1986. By all accounts, the episodes sold well. 

I purchased my episodes at Musicland at Crossroads Mall. They had a couple shelves that housed all the episodes. We lived two blocks from the mall, so I was a frequent visitor. 

The VHS episodes didn’t have any special features. They were uncut (episodes broadcast in syndication are trimmed to accommodate extra commercials) and they included the original broadcast spot for the next episode. 

A few years ago, Bridget bought me “Star Trek — The Original Series” on Blu-ray during Prime Day on Amazon. It includes all 79 episodes (the original broadcast versions are there, along with remastered versions that have enhanced visual effects). In addition, the 20-disc set includes a variety of bonus materials strewn throughout. 

If I recall correctly, the entire series was sold on Blu-ray for $59.99. That’s a far cry from the $1,200+ you would have spent collecting individual episodes on VHS. 

It’s fascinating to see how TV on home video has evolved, and how much easier it is to access content. It’s also interesting to note that the “archival” qualities of VHS weren’t particularly robust (or long lasting). 

You can stream all three seasons of the original “Star Trek” on various VOD platforms (such as Netflix, Prime Video, CBS All Access, and Hulu). 

It is all so much more convenient than the 1980s… and much more affordable. 

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Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 10 (CBS All Access Series)

“To say you have no choice is a failure of imagination.” 

Jean-Luc Picard in “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2” 

SPOILERS AHEAD (You know the drill...)

Finally. The last episode of the first season of “Star Trek: Picard” has aired (is it even proper to say that “streaming-only” shows “aired” when they really don’t?).

The episode was titled “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2” and continued where the ninth episode left off. 

This 10-episode season had a slow build. There were times when you wished the folks involved could put the narrative in a higher gear. 

The season finale was entertaining. I just wished that there had been a “bigger” payoff as it regarded the much foreshadowed showdown between the outlawed synthetic beings on Ghulion IV and the Romulan forces led by the sinister Starfleet officer Commodore Oh (played by Tamlyn Tomita… who also played Ralph Macchio’s love interest in the 1986 movie “The Karate Kid Part II”). 

I mean, it was cool when Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) led a fleet of Federation ships to do battle with the Romulans. The issue is that there really wasn’t much of a battle. 

In that regard, the climactic point in the story felt sort of anti-climactic. It felt like the Romulan zealots threw in the towel too easily. 

The entire narrative this season was basically building to a point where Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) dies, and his “soul” (via mind transfer) is put into an android golem. What we have is a reconstituted Picard who has the subtlety and nuance that android sisters Dahj and Soji Asha (Isa Briones) exhibited throughout the season. 

This potentially opens up some intriguing possibilities moving forward. Moreover, Picard can act as a surrogate parent for Soji as both learn about who they are and find their place in the universe. 

The question is whether future seasons are going to be focused on the conflict between organic and synthetic lifeforms (assuming their is still a conflict). Honestly, I don’t know how many times you want to try and tap that well.

While I know Data was a popular character in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” he wasn’t my favorite. He was good in a supporting role, but I never felt the character could have (or should have) carried a “Star Trek” series on own. 

The first season of “Star Trek: Picard” felt like an elongated movie when you consider the narrative underpinnings of the show. While I enjoyed the serialized nature of the season, I also think the storyline could have been stronger. 

There’s been considerable debate online regarding this season. My opinion is largely mixed. I liked seeing Jean-Luc Picard back in action. In the past, part of that character’s appeal was buoyed by “Star Trek: The Next Generation’s” talented supporting cast. 

I found the supporting players in “Star Trek: Picard” to be somewhat lacking this season (the exception being Isa Briones’s Soji Asha). Ultimately, I think that fact hurt Jean-Luc Picard in this current incarnation of the franchise. 

As I wind down this review, my mind contrasts the “Picard" season finale with that of “The Mandalorian” (another streaming series I reviewed episode-by-episode). 

“The Mandalorian’s” finale left me wanting more, looking forward to delving into additional adventures with the cast of characters and mythology established. I thoroughly enjoyed doing individual blog posts for each episode of that series. 

Overall, I’m torn as it regards “Star Trek: Picard.” 

Had I not made a commitment to review it on the blog each week, I’m not sure I would have stuck with it. There were some episodes that were pretty underwhelming. 

That said, I’m glad I had the motivation to see it through. There were some nice moments along the way (in particular, I enjoyed the episode titled “Nepenthe”).

My hope is that the current crew of “Star Trek” writers (as they create more content for CBS All Access) can find the authentic spark that made “Trek” what it was decades ago. 

I’m not talking about style or structure. Rather, I’m talking about the intangible je ne sais quoi that embodies the best the franchise has to offer. 

Jon Favreau tapped into the “Star Wars”-equivalent of that in “The Mandalorian.” 

Let’s hope the “Picard” showrunners can find that spark in the second season — the thing that makes the whole feel greater than the sum of its parts.  

Data suggests in the closing moments of the finale, “a butterfly that lives forever is really not a butterfly at all.”

A “Star Trek” series that feels forced and manufactured isn’t as compelling as something more genuine and organic.  

As I said earlier, there were some nice moments throughout the season, and I think there are possibilities for some nice adventures down the road. 

Read all my episode reviews of “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1:

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 1

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 2

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 3

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 4

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 5

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 6

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 7

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 8

> Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 9

Previous post: Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 9 

Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 9 (CBS All Access Series)

“Maybe all rationales for killing just boil down to fear.” 

Soji Asha in “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1” 

The penultimate episode of the first season of “Star Trek: Picard” is titled “Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1.” 

The title is a reference to a 17th century oil painting by Nicolas Poussin. Translated, it means, “Even in Arcadia, there I am.” The “I” refers to death. “Arcadia” refers to a utopian land. 

My translation: Even in a utopia, death is a reality. 

What’s significant — as it regards this particular episode — is that Poussin painted two (2) paintings under the title “Et in Arcadia Ego.”  

That is important because this episode finds Picard & Co. “finally” reaching Coppelius — the remote “nest” planet that is the home of android twins Soji and Dahj Asha (Isa Briones). 

The Romulan spy Narek (Harry Treadaway) followed the La Sirena on its journey to Coppelius. (Soji was able to lead her companions 25 light years in 15 minutes via the Borg transwarp conduit network.)

In addition, “7 of 9” (Jeri Ryan) “piloted” the Borg cube in pursuit. (Listen for an orchestral nod to the theme from “Star Trek: Voyager” when “7 of 9” appears in the downed vessel on the planet surface.) 

Coppelius has an interesting planetary defense system — giant space orchids that are capable of disabling and commandeering spacecraft. I’m not exactly sure how they disable ships... or Borg cubes. 

Anyhow, the reason the pair of 17th century paintings by Poussin is significant (as it regards the episode’s title) is that we discover the synthetic life forms on Coppelius were manufactured in pairs. 

The androids in “Synthville” (as Raffi refers to it) are living a seemingly idyllic life under the supervision of Dr. Altan Inigo Soong (Brent Spiner). He is the son of Dr. Noonien Soong.

Altan worked with Bruce Maddox on his synthetic endeavors. 

Many of the androids have sparkling skin and yellow eyes (like Lt. Commander Data). The synth named Sutra (also played by Isa Briones) has this look about her. Sutra is the sister of Jana — the synth referenced by Captain Rios (Santiago Cabrera) in Episode 8 (“Broken Pieces”).

It turns out that Sutra isn’t quite what she seems. As the episode progresses, we learn she likes Vulcan culture. She has apparently taught herself how to do the Vulcan mind meld. 

This is the first time I recall a “mind meld” happening without a Vulcan as a participant. 

The sequence yielded some interesting information for the audience: the idea that organic life’s pursuit of perfection ultimately leads to synthetic life… which ultimately leads to a desire to destroy it.

That said, Sutra’s ability to learn the technique seemed pretty convenient from a narrative perspective. 

There is a creepy vibe to the android community. The mysterious feel shrouding Coppelius harkens back to “Star Trek” episodes of yore when various crews came upon remote, utopian-like settlements. 

“I’m not sure how much I really trust them,” Rios confides in Jurati (Alison Pill) during the latter half of the episode. 

We see a somewhat nefarious side of Sutra when she frees Narek (who was captured after landing on the planet).  

I guess I should have mentioned (before now) how the first season of “Star Trek: Picard” draws a lot of inspiration regarding the ethical dilemmas posed by synthetic life forms in movies like “Blade Runner,” “Blade Runner 2049” (read my review), and “Aliens” (the android Bishop).  

Overall, it was a pretty solid episode. But because there was such a long buildup to this episode, the impact of Soji Asha returning home was a tad bit anti-climactic. 

This episode did, however, set up things for what will hopefully be an interesting season finale. 

“Apparently, there are some sort of higher synthetic beings out there, watching us,” says Dr. Altan Soong to Picard at the end of the episode. 

This nugget is based on information Sutra claims she gleaned from Jurati when she mind melded with her. At this point, we don’t know if Sutra is being truthful, or if she’s manipulating the situation for her own gain. 

Her rhetoric at the end of the episode suggests that “all” organic life is a threat to synthetics. As a result, she might become the leader of what is a self-fulfilling prophecy — where synthetics become the prophesied “Destroyer.” 

I’m curious to see how they'll conclude the first season. I think there have been some strong points to the first season. I also think there are aspects of the narrative structure that need to be tweaked going forward. 

CBS ALL ACCESS PROMOTION

Patrick Stewart tweeted yesterday that “Star Trek: Picard” will return for a second season on CBS All Access. 

In addition, Stewart announced that CBS All Access has made the service FREE (without a paid subscription) until April 23, 2020 — using promo code GIFT in the U.S. 

If you haven’t watched the first season of “Star Trek: Picard,” you might want to take advantage of the offer and check it out. 

Stay tuned for my review of “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 9. 

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Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 8 (CBS All Access Series)

“Am I a person?”

— Soji Asha in “Broken Pieces”

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Here we are, eight episodes into the first season of “Star Trek: Picard,” and I have to ask myself this question: “Have we gotten anywhere yet?” 

We’re several hours into this thing, and it’s definitely been a slow burn. We do learn new details along the way that move the overall narrative, but they typically come in dribs and drabs. 

And, new information is often presented in the form of info dumps — using the principle of “tell” instead of “show.” 

Some interesting background info is gleaned in Episode 8 (titled “Broken Pieces”). Most of it is presented in conversations on La Sirena.

We learn that Rios (Santiago Cabrera) and his fellow Starfleet crew members — when he served aboard the U.S.S. ibn Majid — came upon a starship of unknown design carrying two passengers on a diplomatic mission. 

With Starfleet’s permission, the passengers were beamed aboard the ibn Majid. One was an ambassador named Beautiful Flower. The other was his young protege named Jana. 

The captain that Rios served under — Alonzo Vandermeer — killed both of the visitors with “two quick pops of a phaser.” It was a black flag directive from Starfleet Security. Vandermeer told Rios that if he disobeyed, the ibn Majid would be destroyed, along with everyone on board. 

Vandermeer committed suicide after performing the heinous act, and Rios covered the whole thing up. 

Jana (the girl who was killed) looked just like android sisters Dahj and Soji Asha (Isa Briones) — a resemblance which proved distressing to Rios when Picard and Soji arrived on La Sirena.  

Of all the things Picard & Co. discuss during “Broken Pieces,” this was the most significant. 

Obviously, Rios has been distraught over the acts that took place during his Starfleet service, and was diagnosed with post-traumatic dysphoria as a result. The entire affair led him to where he is now. 

While Rios’s past on the U.S.S. ibn Majid proved to be a fascinating revelation, it just feels a little “too coincidental and convenient” that the character suddenly has a connection to the events taking place this season. 

I mean, what are the odds?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m interested in figuring out why the Romulan Zhat Vash (and their operatives in Starfleet) want synthetic life forms destroyed... and why they consider Soji to be the “Destroyer” called Sen Cheneb. 

Apparently, the Destroyer first appeared thousands of years before the events chronicled in “Star Trek: Picard.” 

That “mystery” is what keeps me going. That said, the fact remains that the story really hasn’t moved a whole lot since the sixth episode — and that’s a couple hours worth of narrative stuck in neutral. 

Despite the fact that I loved the seventh episode of “Star Trek: Picard” featuring Riker and Troi (read my review), the writers really haven’t moved the needle. I’m just hoping the payoff at the end of the season proves to be worthwhile. 

Stay tuned for my review of “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 9. 

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Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 7 (CBS All Access Series)

“They seem to be carrying more baggage than all of you ever did.” 

Jean-Luc Picard to Will Riker in “Nepenthe” 

The seventh episode of “Star Trek: Picard” (titled “Nepenthe”) manages to nurse the first season back to a healthy path. 

Sometimes a dose of familiar faces from the past is the best remedy in these situations. 

This episode sees Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Soji (Isa Briones) transporting to the planet of Nepenthe — the current residence of William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). The two characters tied the knot in the 2002 film “Star Trek: Nemesis” and were part of Picard’s venerable crew on the U.S.S. Enterprise.  

Riker and Troi have a precocious pre-teen daughter named Kestra (Lulu Wilson). She greets Picard and Soji as they are traversing the wilderness toward the family home. She is wearing a tribal-looking costume and is brandishing a bow and arrow when she surprises the pair as they beam in.

Bridget commented on how much she liked the Kestra character as the episode progressed. 

I also liked the character and thought the entire family dynamic was nice. I think their interaction benefits from how well drawn Riker and Troi were in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” 

Their presence is (in my opinion) why this episode is so successful. Honorable characters, well drawn, are so much more interesting than edgy characters who are merely there to serve the plot. 

All too often, edgy becomes synonymous with “compelling drama” in the 21st century (or the 24th century, for that matter). 

Part of the reason I’ve shifted back-and-forth with my feelings regarding “Star Trek: Picard” is that the “textured” nature of the new characters sometimes feels overly manufactured — a plot device designed to appeal to modern tastes. 

While I understand the desire to stay on par with your contemporaries, I also know that “Star Trek” hasn’t enjoyed popularity over 50-plus years for following the herd. 

In addition to the storyline involving Riker’s brood, we learn that Romulan warrior Elnor did indeed survive recent events on the Artifact (which took place at the end of the sixth episode).

We also learn more about Dr. Jurati’s (Alison Pill) conversation with Commodore Oh (Tamlyn Tomita) at the Daystrom Institute (which was teased in the third episode). 

Despite the fact that those threads were also going on, the core of the “Nepenthe” episode was Picard and Soji’s interactions with Troi, Riker, and Kestra.

There’s something oddly comforting about watching William Riker make wood-fired pizza (topped with Antarean basil, fresh tomatoes, and bunnicorn sausage) in an outdoor oven.  

“Soji,” says Riker as he is serving the pizza for dinner. “Welcome to our home. Guests get two (slices).” 

Riker and Troi planted roots on Nepenthe because their late son Thad was suffering from a silicone-based ailment, and the soil on the planet was known for its regenerative properties. 

(We also learn that an “active positronic matrix” could have helped cure the disease, but due to the ban on synthetic life, there wasn’t one available. This tidbit in the script felt a tad bit forced and convenient under the circumstances, but I’ll let it pass in this instance.)

It was neat to see the family living a rural life away from the futuristic cacophony of starships and uniform jumpsuits. I particularly liked how their son had a creative bent during his life and developed numerous pretend languages (among them, Viveen) and a fantasy home world (Ardani). 

To be honest, I would watch a show called “Star Trek: Riker.” Think about how interesting a series could have been where Riker & Co. scoured the galaxy looking for an android to help cure his son’s life-threatening illness. 

Bridget agreed. She mused: “Why couldn’t the show have been this from the beginning?” 

Why, indeed. 

Obviously, the side trip to Nepenthe was a moment of fan service, but it was a worthwhile one. It reminds you that the success of TNG was built on the “ensemble chemistry” the cast developed over seven seasons. 

It also reminds you that few new characters on “Picard” (other than Soji and Dahj Asha) are particularly compelling at this point in the show’s development. 

If nothing else, the episode illustrates that the kinder and gentler elements “Star Trek” has embued for decades can still make for compelling drama in the year 2020. 

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Read my review of “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 8! 

Previous post: Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 6 (CBS All Access Series) 

Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 6 (CBS All Access Series)

“I believe she’s close to discovering who she really is...”

Jean-Luc Picard in “The Impossible Box”

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Here we are… the sixth episode. We’re on the downward slide of the first season of “Star Trek: Picard.” 

The episode is titled “The Impossible Box.” 

In this episode, we start to see the narrative move forward a bit. Not a lot, but a bit. 

Soji Asha (Isa Briones) learns she isn’t real. The initial clue is that she makes phone calls to her mother each night that last exactly 70 seconds. Digging further, she soon starts analyzing all her family photos, childhood drawings, etc. 

All of those items are exactly 37 months old, suggesting her life is a fabrication. 

This episode also sees her betrayed by Romulan love interest Narek (Harry Treadaway). He has been working undercover since the first episode to figure out her origin (Spoiler: she comes from a planet with two red moons that has electrical storms.)

Picard (Patrick Stewart) finally arrives at the Artifact and meets up with former Borg Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco). We get a little exposition (early in the episode) about Picard’s past experiences with the Borg (including his assimilation).

An unexpected moment in the episode finds Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill) and Captain Cristobal Rios (Santiago Cabrera) kissing (apparently they’ve become romantically inclined since the last episode). 

I don’t see them as a potential couple at all, and I’m not sure why the writers decided to have a romantic interlude. Whatever the outcome, this story arc feels rushed. 

We apparently spent a significant chunk of episode 4 convincing the warrior Elnor (Evan Evangora) to come along on Picard’s mission just so he could sacrifice himself at the end of episode 6. 

We might see him again, but he (apparently) makes the ultimate sacrifice so Picard and Soji can escape from the clutches of the Tal Shiar on the Artifact.

If this is the end, it seems like an unceremonious exit. 

I feel like all of this is leading to a point where we discover that the android Data (Brent Spiner) is still alive. If so, it feels like we’ve invested a lot of time and money to make what is essentially a sequel to 2002’s “Star Trek: Nemesis.” 

I was listening to “The John Campea Show” a few days ago, and Robert Meyer Burnett had some thoughts on “Star Trek: Picard.” 

Burnett edited, wrote, and produced all the special features for the Blu-ray release of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” series boxed set. 

Burnett has been tepid regarding “Star Trek: Picard,” and questions whether it is the forward-thinking vision the franchise needs.  

“It’s so steeped in ‘Star Trek’ lore… I mean, you’ve got ‘7 of 9,’ and you’ve got the Borg, and you’ve got Hugh,” said Burnett. “If you’ve never watched ‘Star Trek’ before, ‘Picard’ is not a great place for you to jump on — because it’s so locked into what’s come before.” 

I tend to agree. 

What made “Star Trek: The Next Generation” compelling when it debuted in 1987 was that you didn’t need to have watched a previous episode or movie in the franchise to understand what was going on. Sure, there were nods to the original series, but it was far enough in the future that it was its own living thing. 

So far, I feel like the first season of “Star Trek: Picard” is an interesting idea that could have been executed better. From a story perspective, it seems like the entire thing could have been a two-hour movie instead of a multi-episode series. 

We’ll see what happens in the final four episodes of this season. Maybe I’ll be eating my words by the end… ;-)

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Read my review of “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 7! 

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Review: “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 5 (CBS All Access Series)

“Murder is not justice. There is no solace in revenge.” 

Jean-Luc Picard in “Stardust City Rag” 

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Welp, here we are at the midway point of the first season of “Star Trek: Picard.” 

The fifth episode is titled “Stardust City Rag” and it finds our heroes visiting a place called Freecloud as they search for scientist Bruce Maddox (John Ales) — the man behind twin android sisters Dahj and Soji Asha. 

They’ve teased Freecloud the past couple of episodes. Freecloud’s look is sort of a cross between the casino planet Canto Bight in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (read my review) and the “Oasis” in the movie “Ready Player One” (read my review). 

I enjoyed the holographic “ads” that appeared on the bridge of La Sirena when it came into orbit of Freecloud. They were kind of a fun little detail… 

We find out that “7 of 9” (Jeri Ryan) is a Fenris Ranger and that the rangers keep their money on Freecloud — so it was sort of serendipitous that they ran into her in the last episode. 

This isn’t the first time they’ve mentioned “Fenris Rangers” in “Star Trek: Picard,” so I looked them up. 

Fenris Rangers (according to the first season press kit) are “an independent group of peacekeepers who try to maintain a semblance of law and order on both sides of the former Neutral Zone.” 

In a nutshell, they are vigilantes. 

Raffi (Michelle Hurd) has been trying to make her way to Freecloud throughout the first half of the season — hence the reason she decided to hitch a ride on Picard’s mission. Her  Freecloud aspirations were wrapped in mystery until this episode. 

It turns out she wanted to reunite with her estranged son Gabriel (Mason Gooding). She finds out her son is about to have a baby with his Romulan wife.

As is the case with estranged children in TV dramas like this, Gabriel rejects his mother’s overtures and doesn’t believe she is a changed woman. Spurned and rejected, Raffi returns to La Sirena by the end of the episode. 

The whole sequence felt a bit contrived. As I mentioned, it is a fairly common narrative technique to have an estranged child reject a parent in an ambivalent manner. The technique is often employed to stir up feelings of sympathy for a character with an icy demeanor. 

Picard (Patrick Stewart), Rios (Santiago Cabrera), Elnor (Evan Evagora), Jurati (Alison Pill), Raffi, and “7 of 9” hatch a plan to snatch Bruce Maddox from the grip of a Freecloud crime boss named Bjayzl (Necar Zadegan). 

While the plan is somewhat ridiculous, there are some fun moments as our heroes try to bargain with Bjayzl to hand over Maddox (the ruse is built around a scenario involving a trade of “7 of 9” for the scientist). 

We learned in the season premiere of “Star Trek: Picard” that Agnes Jurati had a professional relationship with Dr. Maddox. 

In this episode, we find out that their relationship veered into the romantic along the way. 

That’s what makes it so puzzling when Jurati murders the rescued Maddox in the La Sirena sick bay at the end of the episode. 

As Maddox gasps his final breath, Jurati tearfully says, “I wish you knew what I know. I wish I didn’t know what I know. I wish they hadn’t shown me. I’m so sorry.”

I’ve been wondering if there was more to Dr. Jurati than meets the eye. I know people online have wondered whether she might be an android herself.

I don’t know what the answer is. I don’t think she’s an android, but there is definitely something odd going on with her. 

“Stardust City Rag” was an entertaining episode. 

It didn’t move the needle a whole lot as far as the overall narrative goes, but at least Picard learned he needs to visit “The Artifact” to find Dahj’s twin sister. Frankly, I’m glad they’re not going to spend the entire season trying to figure that out. 

I still think the show relies a bit too much on easter eggs and “fan service” moments from previous “Trek” lore. I’m hopeful the second half of the season will be able to shed the nostalgia and truly evolve into its own living, breathing thing.  

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Read my review of “Star Trek: Picard” Season 1, Episode 6! 

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