Spoilers Star Trek: Picard 1x03 - "The End is the Beginning"

Random tie-in to E03: I actually purchased the "Tragic Sense Of Life" by Miguel de Unamuno and have started to read it. Anyone else feel compelled to do this too?

 

The EMH was British and the ENH was Irish. One was for medical and one was for navigation. We may see other Emergency Holograms as the story progresses. I only knew this (EMH/ENH) because I watched it with closed captioning and it identified the accent being attempted for both. Hope this helps!

 

I finally watched CHILDREN OF MARS. Interesting backstory to PICARD (and the A500 attack). I already posted that FREECLOUD was the focus of Bowie's "The Wild Eyes Boy from Freecloud" a gazillion pages back. C.O.M. featured a great rendition of "Heroes" (The Tunnel Song for "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" fans). Someone behind all this is a Bowie fan for sure. Or at least it seems that way.

 

And Riker and Troi are watching it on the Enterprise-D

I'm sure the show-runners are taping the scene, in case things don't work out as planned, like in 'Enterprise.'

 

"Why did you really quit starfleet? Tell us!"

 

The End is the Beginning
The third episode. Picard gets his crew together, and more ocurrs at the reclaimation facility (including the revelation that Hugh is involved.) The background between Picard and Raffi as established was well done. (And it would be just like Picard to do what he did, resign rather than be part of a Starfleet that was withdrawing from the evacuation effort.) No doubt, more will be told about how Raffi ended up the way she did. There's more to it than that Picard hadn't been in contact...
At the reclaimation facility, Soji has drawn Hugh's interest. Especially so when she requests to interview a Romulan who was aboard the last ship the Cube assimilated. (The mythology/socially important narrative angle is interesting, but I'm not sure where they are going with that.) Soji as the Destroyer? Her realising that she didn't know how she came by the knowledge about that ship that was assimilated, was done rather well. But whether it will lead to her figuring out her nature by herself?
Narek is still engratiating himself into Soji's life, and it seems Rizzo has quit her undercover job in Starfleet. (Maybe?) Certainly there are more developments there. Commodore Oh confronts Jurati at the Daystrom Institute. Certainly there is more to the situation than Jurati would let on at Chateau Picard. That the Zhat Vash would attack there, is believable. Clearly, Picard and the housekeepers are prepared for such an attack. Jurati coming in straight afterwards, saying that she had spilled the beans to Oh, certainly pushes Picard to go straight away.
Risso and La Sirena. Certainly an interesting character. A former Starfleet Commander who is recovering from a past trauma. (Certainly has that in common with Raffi, and Picard himself). The two Emergency Holograms were also well done. Overall a good episode, even if a little heavy on the exposition, and an effective conclusion to the pilot trilogy. 8.8/10.


Pilot Trilogy Overall review
Overall, the Pilot Triology was a rather good beginning to this series, introducing the main themes, and most of the characters who will be involved. Picard finding a new sense of purpose after fifteen years of 'waiting to die' as he put it. The Synthetic attack on Mars and the Zhat Vash. The legacy of Data and what Bruce Maddox has to do with it. The effect of the supernova on the Romulans. A Borg Cube that the Romulans (and others) are 'reclaiming'. Possibily a conspiracy within Starfleet, allowing the Zhat Vash to operate within the Federation.
Picard being pushed out of his fugue by Dahj seeking his help was rather well done, as was his reaction to her death. That he has a new sense of purpose after he realises (with Jurati's help) that she has a sister was quite well written. His willingness to overcome obstacles set by his age and Starfleet, and the Zhat Vash was very well realised. What the Zhat Vash has to do with the Synths attacking Mars isn't clear, other than their dislike of artificial life. The storyline involving Soji has barely begun in comparison to Picard's.
The Synth storyline too is going somewhere, but there are only hints so far. Is Jurati who she appears to be? Given her encounter with Commodore Oh, she might turn on Picard. Is Maddox actually on Freecloud? Is he responsible for Dahj and Soji, or someone else? Juliana (having discovered the truth about herself?) Clearly F8 and the other Synths were hacked. (More on that below.) There would be more going on with the partially reclaimed Cube than meets the eye (and what Hugh would be aware of.)
Most of the scenes at the Cube were done well, effectively setting up the mystery there. But Soji as the Destroyer? I'm not sure where that is leading. If the Synths were hacked, it was most likely the Zhat Vash who are responsible. If there is a conspiracy within Starfleet, it isn't likely that Admiral Clancy would be involved. Commodore Oh certainly is. Overall, a very good start to the series. 9/10.


Pilot Episode Comparison
Emissary
Picard Pilot Trilogy (Remembering Legends in the Beginning?)
Caretaker
Where No Man Has Gone Before
Beyond the Furthest Star
The Vulcan Hello/Battle at the Binary Stars
Encounter at Farpoint
The Cage
Broken Bow

A third option for where the Riker's are: An arctic region of Betazed that is geologically similar to Alaska.

 

Now that we know things we didn't know about the La Sirena after Episode Four,
(holodeck Chateau Picard Study/Den)

I'm leaning more towards it being Betazed as well.

 

I'm thinking the Riker's all live on a holodeck somewhere, probably spend their time still reenacting the mid 22nd century.

 

With 'Minuet'?

I'm sure Deanna would just LUV that!
(not)

 

Absolutely not.

 

Pretty close to my choices with the exception of switching out "Beyond The Furthest Star" and "The Cage", which I consider to be a classic.

Also, while I acknowledge that it is technically the first episode of a Star Trek series, I don't really consider BTFS a "pilot". It feels like business as usual, a defacto season 4. YMMV, of course.

Also, Discovery had what was effectively a three part pilot as well given that it wasn't until the third episode that show's premise was unveiled and the supporting cast (outside of Saru and technically Tyler) was introduced. It certainly felt like a pilot more than "The Vulcan Hello" or "Battle at the Binary Stars" does. They feel like the final episode of the Georgiou/Burnham/Saru Trek series that we'll never get to see (and I would liked to have seen it). Perhaps you should include "Context is For Kings" when you rank the pilots. CiFK also has the benefit of being a damn fine hour of television.

 

LOL! It's pretty darned depressing! That much is certain...

 

Well, if you manage to get through, maybe you can give us a summation.

 

That's a mighty big if! Ha!

 

Here's the observations article for the third episode. Picard's journey aboard the USS Enterprise-E ended above Italy and his journey aboard La Sirena began, also above Italy... :-)

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/observations/pic_theendisthebeginning.htm

Feedback, additions and corrections always welcome.

 

Why does Picard have multiple guns hidden under his furniture? Is his chateau on the bad side of town? Is he a paranoid NRA member? Do you think he had a phaser hidden under his desk in his ready room the entire time on TNG? Doesn't Picard seem like he would be a responsible gun owner and have them locked up? Did I miss a line of dialogue where the Tal Shiars said, "We're hiding guns in case the Zhat Vash show up for a surprise attack."

After the Zhat Vash do attack, why does Picard stand directly in front of the captured guy when we know they are really good at biting deadly acid capsules and spitting it on people? Maybe he hit his head too hard in the earlier explosion and forgot.

 

because his Romulan roomies are ex-Tal Shiar and paranoid

 

They are a couple of preppers, which is fair enough.

Plus its not paranoia when they are really out to get you.

 

I suppose that's plausible. Wouldn't want your servants to feel unsafe. Maybe Picard said, "I want you to move in with me and take care of me and my dog and if it makes you feel safer, you can strap weapons under all my furniture." I guess that sounds like something Picard would do.

 

I don't think Picard was aware of the weapons stash.