This post is full of spoilers and commentary about the Star Trek: Picard final season. If you have not already seen all the episodes of the show (except the final episode) and want to avoid spoilers, please close this tab and move along. There are also spoilers in this post about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ first season. I’m not out to ruin the experience for anyone. My goal, in fact, is to express my feelings about the universe and connect with other fans who also have feelings to share about it.
Spoilers Below…
Season 3 Key Art art of the Paramount+ original series STAR TREK: PICARD. Photo Cr: Joe Pugliese/Paramount+. © 2022 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Star Trek: Picard | S3 E1
The farewell journey of a generation begins. Star Trek: Picard’s final season is now streaming on Paramount+.
– Paramount+ on YouTube
It was an adjustment for me when Star Trek: Picard first premiered as a show. Picard, now a retired admiral, was no longer the captain I’d fallen in love with as a hero of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was older, more cynical, and without the spark of hope that made him the explorer I revered as a child and young adult.
Star Trek: Picard seasons 1 & 2 were an interesting exploration of a changed Picard and a Starfleet that had lost it’s way in a seemly un-Roddenberry way. Star Trek was always about a hopeful future and this version of it (along with other Alex Kurtzman Trek like Star Trek: Discovery or Star Trek: Into Darkness) changed the successful future human utopia based ideal into something darker and much more sinister. It was still Star Trek, but it’s wasn’t the flavor I had loved as a child and young adult.
The best thing to come out of those Kurtzman Trek shows was Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. That hopeful spark for the future of humanity and the episodic nature of the show has proven to be a real winner with the fan base. While I’m critical of the early introduction of Kirk I’m hopeful seasons 2 & 3 will keep the main focus on Pike and Spoke with Kirk as a minor player. But, I digress.
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Now Streaming
Star Trek: Picard seasons 1 & 2 make it clear that The Next Generation crew have all moved on to other paths and adventures of their own apart from one another. Yes, a few of the originals make appearances, but the focus is on Picard’s path. A path that is very much separate from the Enterprise-D crew of old. It feels cold and forced at times, but has some very tender moments too. Moments like saying goodbye to Q, explain what happened to Wesley Crusher, and providing a story continuation for Riker and Troy.
The story of Star Trek: Picard season 3 seems organic and not forced like moments of the series’ previous seasons. Beverly’s desperate call for help. Picard and Rider lying their way on board a ship and Seven’s loyalty on display in moments of trouble with both Captain Shaw and with Picard. The jokes, gags, side-comments and hints at other adventures make this third season seem even more expansive that it’s 10 episodes have been able to display.
This Season on Star Trek: Picard
When I say that I’m not ready for Star Trek: Picard to end this week I’m not kidding. I’ve literally cried while watching at least 1/2 of the episodes this season. I’ve spent over 3/4 of my life following the adventures of this crew and I really don’t want it to end.
I’m attached to these Star Trek characters that I’ve watched on TV and in movies since I was six years old. My hour long therapy session yesterday was all about it. And I also fully plan on using next week’s session to decompress the Star Trek: Picard finale that “airs” this Thursday.
This has been a journey I’ve enjoyed immensely thanks to the amazing work of Terry Matalas and the whole cast and crew working on this.
Here’s a Petition You Should Sign If You Want To See More
There is a movement online (and buy in from many actors/crew) to continue these stories in a new show called Star Trek: Legacy. This Change.org petition tells you more about it, but in the end enough people need to subscribe to Paramount+ and stream the show in order to make it happen.
What do you think? Have you enjoyed the season as much as I have? Are you ready for it to end? Let me know in the comments or on social.