Spoilers Star Trek: Picard 1x04 - "Absolute Candor"

[Bad Thoughts]

I'm intrigued by the implications of Picard recreating his study on La Sirena. While I am sure that there are savings to be had by returning to the same set, they are probably peanuts when compared to the series' overall budget. Traveling with one's home in tow may seem strange, but I suspect that some people wouldn't mind doing so. There's something comforting to know that familiar surrounding are awaiting someone at the end of the day after encountering completely unfamiliar worlds. Rather than just being a fantasy machine, holographic technology might help someone remain grounded in what is familiar. On the other hand, it may also prevent someone from engaging fully in one's surroundings. One is always maintaining one's distance from the world outside. Recreating the study was, of course, Zhaban's recommendation, but I am curious to know what it is going to mean to Picard himself, whether it will help Picard deal with the psychological demands of his mission or he will use it to keep the universe at arm's length. Will he every truly leave the château?

 

[Lord Garth]

What have I done? I started the outrage of the week one thread too early...and it was clearly in jest.

Allow me to express my mock outrage at your jest.

 

[Gov Kodos]

What have I done? I started the outrage of the week one thread too early...and it was clearly in jest.

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[DarthPipes]

Really enjoyed this episode and I agree that things are definitely picked it up.

Enjoyed the story they are building up here. I LOVE the planetary design. Today's FX is so far ahead of what the 80s and 90s Star Trek had to work with when it came to designing planets and it enhances the experience of watching.

I also enjoyed the Elnor character and his interaction with Picard. I also thought this was the first episode where I felt like Stewart WAS Picard instead of just playing Picard. Especially the scene where he chewed out Elnor for killing the Romulan senator. I know I shouldn't have been surprised by her appearance as she has been advertised for months but wasn't expecting Seven of NIne there.

The world-building might be a little forced for Star Trek but it's definitely getting interesting.

Not really impressed with the Romulan villains although Peyton List was a little more interesting. I'm mixed on Picard's crew other than Elnor. Raffi is still annoying. Rios character is still ripping pages out of the BSG bible to develop his character and I'd like to slap that cigar out of his mouth. Not an anti-smoking thing but because it REEKS of TV cliche. I was liking Allison but find her character to be another annoying manic pixie girl.

I have a hard time buying Picard becoming a neutered recluse that he's been since Starfleet told him no. It's the same problem as Luke in The Last Jedi.

 

[Gyakuto]

I couldn't quite put my finger on why JLP seems...different from TNG, besides the obvious advanced age. Then I realised all he’s done so far is plead for help from various quarters. He is constantly on the back foot, needing others to fulfil his goals whereas in TNG he was generally the broker of assistance at the very least. He now appears vulnerable whereas he used to be powerful albeit intellectual and diplomatic....he generally discussed and debated to achieve his aims and was a cerebral personality (in sharp contrast to the rather more physical Kirk) and this was backed up by the crew and a formidable starship but those are no longer available to him (up until this point, anyway). He we see a naked Picard, stripped of his armour and in peril.

I find his current persona a little unsettling but that shows the clever writing and portrayal of the character.....tension produced by potential of disaster rather than it u folding right in front of ones eyes. It’s refreshing after the flash, bang wallop of STD and casts that series in a slightly less flattering light.

 

[AlanC9]

I think that's pretty much the intent of the show, yeah. And more importantly, it's the only reason the show exists. Stewart had no interest in returning if he was just going to play the same Picard the same way. Instead we get a Picard who is... shaped by defeat rather than by victory? Is that a sensible description?

 

[AlanC9]

I have a hard time buying Picard becoming a neutered recluse that he's been since Starfleet told him no. It's the same problem as Luke in The Last Jedi.

I'd bet money that there is a strong correlation between reactions to Picard and reactions to TLJ.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Instead we get a Picard who is... shaped by defeat rather than by victory? Is that a sensible description?

I like it.

 

[fireproof78]

I think that's pretty much the intent of the show, yeah. And more importantly, it's the only reason the show exists. Stewart had no interest in returning if he was just going to play the same Picard the same way. Instead we get a Picard who is... shaped by defeat rather than by victory? Is that a sensible description?

I think that's a great description. I think it highlights the appeal .

 

[ITDUDE]

I think that's pretty much the intent of the show, yeah. And more importantly, it's the only reason the show exists. Stewart had no interest in returning if he was just going to play the same Picard the same way. Instead we get a Picard who is... shaped by defeat rather than by victory? Is that a sensible description?

And the show is his arc about getting back to victorious ways. I believe he will win at the end, one last time.

 

[El Maestro]

And the show is his arc about getting back to victorious ways. I believe he will win at the end, one last time.

I hope so. If I have one criticism of PIC it's that the show continuously rubs Picard's (and our) nose in his failure. It's fine to have him fail, but it's a little repetitive right now. I do hope that he can find a way do dust himself off and emerge triumphant. That would be compelling!

 

[BillJ]

If I have one criticism of PIC it's that the show continuously rubs Picard's (and our) nose in his failure.

Turnabout is fair play, after all the times Picard has rubbed our noses in his righteousness. I've enjoyed seeing him knocked down a peg or two, especially in concert with the book.

 

[oberth]

Turnabout is fair play, after all the times Picard has rubbed our noses in his righteousness. I've enjoyed seeing him knocked down a peg or two, especially in concert with the book.

that's the book nobody but you read, right?

 

[BillJ]

that's the book nobody but you read, right?

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/sta...t-hope-by-una-mccormack-review-thread.302877/

 

[oberth]

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/sta...t-hope-by-una-mccormack-review-thread.302877/

i believe it, but in the threads i read you are the only one who ever brought it up - peace!

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Instead we get a Picard who is... shaped by defeat rather than by victory? Is that a sensible description?

Did not Churchill spend twenty five years atoning for Gallipoli?

 

[oberth]

Did not Churchill spend twenty five years atoning for Gallipoli?

should have been a lot more

 

[Gonzo]

Its all about showing us Picard when everything has gone wrong and no one will listen to him any more.

When he has had his authority, power, influence and belief in Starfleet & the Federation stripped away, what exactly is left.

An Emperor with no clothes, doubting himself and everything he has ever believed in.

After the truth has come crashing down and all is ashes.

What is he going to do about it, what can he do about it, what does he have left to give and what is he willing to lose.

 

[Hythlodeus]

Its all about showing us Picard when everything has gone wrong and no one will listen to him any more.

When he has had his authority, power, influence and belief in Starfleet & the Federation stripped away, what exactly is left.

An Emperor with no clothes, doubting himself and everything he has ever believed in.

After the truth has come crashing down and all is ashes.

What is he going to do about it, what can he do about it, what does he have left to give and what is he willing to lose.

You, sir, are not only a blue beaked Muppet, but also a true poet

 

[zenophite]

This episode was a slight improvement over the first 3. So far I like certain details but still feel like the whole is far less than the sum of its parts.
General comments:

• I didn't dislike the bene gesserit style warrior nuns idea and the Elnor character as much as I expected based on some descriptions I had heard from a couple of people.
• There wasn't as much Soji and her Romulan beau which was nice. So far this Soji/Dahj macguffin thing is pretty uninteresting.
• There was less focus on the supplemental characters of Rafi, Jurati, and, to some degree, Rios which was also good.
• So far my favorite of 'Picard's 7' is Elnor - which is surprising to me considering that I usually think the 'sword wielding sci-fi samurai bad-ass' thing is pretty silly.
• Patrick Stewart's performance has, so far, been pretty underwhelming. I'm not sure quite what it is but sometimes it almost seems like he's just about to start laughing or something.
• I was looking forward to seeing 7-of-9 - i think the entrance was a bit cheesy but a good kind of cheesy.

I wish the show was more about interesting ideas rather than 'guess-my-secret' type string-the-audience-along story lines...I guess that is a thing of the past. The writers on these shows don't seem to want to say anything interesting about the future - it's just a few half-baked 'relevance' bullet points without any real nuance or exploration.