Spoilers Star Trek: Picard 2x06 - "Two of One"

[Timofnine]

You found those elements terrible? And the second one hasn't even happened yet.



Show tune???? It's a pop song by Pat Benatar with an orchestral score.
What gave you that impression? The only things in Jurati's mind were the conversations with the Queen. The tropes used in this episode are pretty common in Fiction and in Science Fiction. Not sure how anyone who regularly consumes either could be confused by the episode.

I don’t really watch any other fiction or Science Fiction, I don’t even have a TV. I just watch a tonne of Star Trek and a bit of Doctor Who… I know the odd bit about other shows from this board and pop culture conversations in general but that’s about it.

 

[fireproof78]

I’m still a fan so I’ll keep watching all iterations of the franchise. I’m not seeking your understanding.

That's fine. But, don't be surprised if people are confused and maybe ask a question or two.

 

[brandnewfan]

That's fine. But, don't be surprised if people are confused and maybe ask a question or two.

I’m fine with questions.

That’s not what was happening here though.

 

[fireproof78]

I’m fine with questions.

That’s not what was happening here though.

Or statements about not watching it. Because watching something you enjoy and not watching what you don't strikes me as reasonable.

 

[captainkirk]

*Sigh* Is next week really going to be a trip into the main character's memories to resolve a trauma? This trope has been done to death, especially in Star Trek.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

*Sigh* Is next week really going to be a trip into the main character's memories to resolve a trauma? This trope has been done to death, especially in Star Trek.

I keep picturing really bad levels from computer games.

 

[ThreeEdgedSword]

I keep picturing NotLaris walking the corridors of a haunted house... finally opening a door to reveal The Real Memories.

The fact that Akiva took over for the second half of the season does not fill me with confidence. But I think the inner landscape thing *could* be done well... presumably... hopefully.

 

[cooleddie74]

If it's done like Bashir and O'Brien going into Sloan's mind in DS9 it could work and very well. If not...buckle up.

 

[Sebine_91]

Caught up and didn't think it was a strong episode. My main issue was with how unbelievable the Renée Picard stuff seemed to me - she seems too young and unstable to be an astronaut and given her issues in the simulator and the heavy drinking, I'm surprised her superiors haven't replaced her by now. There's also the fact that someone who's just a random old guy to her can give her a motivational speech to snap her out of everything is a bit credulity-stretching as anyone who's suffered from depression knows it doesn't work like that.

I also found it rather contrived how it hinged on this gala as it just seemed to be an excuse for the cast to play dress up. It was also mighty convenient that the layout of this place involved going through an open area where Soong Jr. could easily try and run Renée over. It's also surprising how Picard (other than blowing up the defibrillator) seemed perfectly normal to the doctor. The fact that the Watcher conveniently carries around a device that enables her to go into Picard's head seems rather contrived as well.

It also featured two of my pet hates - the invisible character who no one else can see (Farscape and Battlestar already did this to death) and characters being randomly brilliant at doing things. I actually think Discovery did a really novel twist on the whole 'character in head' thing by having giving Gray a physical body a plot point and all the other characters knowing about Gray. It's sad to see Picard just going the standard sci-fi cliche route. Jurati being a great singer came out of nowhere - it's never been established that she had any musical talent as far as I can remember, unlike, say Riker's trombone playing or Data's violin playing. I mean, in Back to the Future it's established at the beginning that Marty's a guitar player so it's less random when he ends up on stage unlike Jurati's musical number.

Onto the positives though - how amazing is Brent Spiner? The dialogue is hardly that naturalistic but he's just utterly superb with his delivery. Also feel Annie Wersching is perfect as the Borg Queen and captures the character brilliantly.

Curious to see how it ends in spite of my criticisms though and looking forward to the big cast reunion next season.

 

[Nerys Myk]

aught up and didn't think it was a strong episode. My main issue was with how unbelievable the Renée Picard stuff seemed to me - she seems too young and unstable to be an astronaut and given her issues in the simulator and the heavy drinking,

The average age of an astronaut is 34, the lower end being 26. Renee is 28
I think if "heavy drinking" was a disqualifier, we might have lost most of our astronaut corps before Mercury lifted off.
If the Right Stuff is accurate, not all of those guys were in perfect mental health.

Jurati being a great singer came out of nowhere - it's never been established that she had any musical talent as far as I can remember, unlike, say Riker's trombone playing or Data's violin playing.

So, Riker could play the trombone, before we knew he could play the trombone???

It was also mighty convenient that the layout of this place involved going through an open area where Soong Jr. could easily try and run Renée over.

Most places have roads, parking structures, and other areas for wheeled vehicles. One often has to cross them to get from point A to point B in a facility.

 

[Trekker4747]

:cold open:
Okay.. What's going on?

"34 minutes earlier."

Oh, so it's one of these.

: opening credits:

:scene in the "now":

"24 minutes earlier"

Okay, this is going to get old.

 

[Timofnine]

:cold open:
Okay.. What's going on?

"34 minutes earlier."

Oh, so it's one of these.

pening credits:

:scene in the "now":

"24 minutes earlier"

Okay, this is going to get old.

The special effects budget was blown changing the ‘48 minutes earlier’ graphic to ‘34 minutes earlier’ to reflect the shorter episode length this week.

 

[BillJ]

I keep picturing NotLaris walking the corridors of a haunted house... finally opening a door to reveal The Real Memories.

The fact that Akiva took over for the second half of the season does not fill me with confidence. But I think the inner landscape thing *could* be done well... presumably... hopefully.

All we have is hope until we see the product.

 

[Sebine_91]

Next week looks interesting. A dud episode (IMO anyway) can happen and it's not like all of Trek has been unadulterated greatness. Looking forward to seeing Agnes/the Queen on the prowl and the Watcher delving into Picard's memories could be fun. I think given the recent cast announcement for next season, the rest of this season is probably going to feel a bit incidental but curious to see how they resolve the whole timeline issue.

Seems we get to see some of Guinan's powers in action as well.

 

[Timofnine]

Next week looks interesting. A dud episode (IMO anyway) can happen and it's not like all of Trek has been unadulterated greatness. Looking forward to seeing Agnes/the Queen on the prowl and the Watcher delving into Picard's memories could be fun. I think given the recent cast announcement for next season, the rest of this season is probably going to feel a bit incidental but curious to see how they resolve the whole timeline issue.

Seems we get to see some of Guinan's powers in action as well.

Young Guinan is my favourite legacy so far from this season of Picard… I’m glad that she is coming back in the next episode after being told to go away and scampering off a few episodes ago.

Hopefully she will get to star in a spin-off series with Seven of Nine.

 

[Sebine_91]

The average age of an astronaut is 34, the lower end being 26. Renee is 28
I think if "heavy drinking" was a disqualifier, we might have lost most of our astronaut corps before Mercury lifted off.
If the Right Stuff is accurate, not all of those guys were in perfect mental health.
So, Riker could play the trombone, before we knew he could play the trombone???

Most places have roads, parking structures, and other areas for wheeled vehicles. One often has to cross them to get from point A to point B in a facility.

I thought Renee was supposed to be 23 but maybe I misheard. She's supposed to be undergoing psych. evaluations if I remember correctly. Sure, she could be lying through her teeth but some of her behaviour (getting freaked in the simulator, the heavy drinking in public) would raise eyebrows. There's also the fact that Q has apparently really messed with her mental health but one pep talk from a complete stranger sets her straight.

Riker wasn't introduced as being able to play the trombone by wowing a crowd at an event whilst playing with a professional jazz band. Jurati's song came out of nowhere (someone I was watching with was really surprised by it). It'd be like if in Back to the Future Marty wasn't established as a guitar player but just went on to tear it up at the show randomly.

Fair point about the layout but it still seemed pretty contrived to me.

It was evidently the showrunners finding an excuse to do a Mission Impossible style episode. Glad it worked for others but it didn't work for me. The flashback nature of the episode didn't help either really. I'm also not someone who's been overly critical of recent Trek shows and this was the first episode of Picard that I felt missed the mark.

 

[Tuskin38]

Saw this 'nitpick' on reddit, and had a good laugh

When Jurati finally got free and put the usb into the computer, she put it in on the first try. Every one knows it only works on the third try. Is this some new Borg superpower, or a massive plot hole?

 

[Nerys Myk]

I thought Renee was supposed to be 23 but maybe I misheard. She's supposed to be undergoing psych. evaluations if I remember correctly. Sure, she could be lying through her teeth but some of her behaviour (getting freaked in the simulator, the heavy drinking in public) would raise eyebrows. There's also the fact that Q has apparently really messed with her mental health but one pep talk from a complete stranger sets her straight.

Riker wasn't introduced as being able to play the trombone by wowing a crowd at an event whilst playing with a professional jazz band. Jurati's song came out of nowhere (someone I was watching with was really surprised by it). It'd be like if in Back to the Future Marty wasn't established as a guitar player but just went on to tear it up at the show randomly.

Fair point about the layout but it still seemed pretty contrived to me.

I think surprised is the intended reaction. Both from the viewing audience and the crowd at the gala. Not every talent needs "set up". Most of Spock's talents come from out of the blue. We usually don't know what a character can do until they do it. And in Jurati's case, the Queen is a factor and Queenie is in the drivers seat.

 

[GNDN18]

If it's done like Bashir and O'Brien going into Sloan's mind in DS9 it could work and very well. If not...buckle up.

I can only hope that it’s as good as “A Trip Through the Robot”.

It must be all this talk about Robot Picard that made me think of this.

 

[Nerys Myk]