Spoilers Star Trek: Picard 2x07 - "Monsters"

[StarMan]

Yup. When I watch Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul, The Expanse, aerialized shows out there, we don't know how the story will end but we can still tell whether an episode is strong or not - and even when serialized each episode does have things in it that stand on their own.

Indeed. Serialization does not excuse the majority of episodes being clunkers. While the last three or four episodes have underwhelmed, let's just wait and see how it ends before judging? Can't say I had that mindset watching the series you mentioned.

If I'm not meant to judge each episode individually, just release the whole damn season in one hit then.

 

[Jedi Marso]

It was a good but unnecessary episode. Especially with this new arrest subplot.

I liked the stuff inside Picards head and the little bits with Rios and the doc. Could have done without the rest.

Seven and Raffi have felt like totally unnecessary characters ever since they time traveled. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say Seven has been unnecessary all season. Raffi at least had a nice little mentor/mentee story with Elnor.

7/10

I haven't really liked Raffi since the start. Like MOST of the Disco characters, she is too mentally unstable to sell me as a 24th Century Starfleet Officer. As a non-fan of Voyager, Seven is a character I have no attachment to either. I thought it was a neat crossover that she showed up in Picard, but I agree that she just seems like a fifth wheel now- which is a shame, because with the Borg Queen on the loose she should be a major player. But she's not- just cheap rainbow flag waving stuff with the other unnecessary character, Raffi. It all just comes off as very contrived, and the two actresses have zero chemistry with one another. Murtagh and Riggs they are not.

I do get that opinions vary, and some people are loving the Seven-Raffi deal. That's fine. For those folks, the season is delivering.

 

[JRoss]

Exceptional. Probably one of the best episodes of Star Trek ever put to screen.

 

[fireproof78]

Serialization does not excuse the majority of episodes being clunkers.

It works for me. I dragged myself through some of Daredevil but taking it as a whole it was amazing.

But, I'm not familiar with other so called prestige series so I'm probably wrong. I'm ok with that though.

 

[gvn2fly]

It works for me. I dragged myself through some of Daredevil but taking it as a whole it was amazing.

But, I'm not familiar with other so called prestige series so I'm probably wrong. I'm ok with that though.

Each season of Daredevil was also released all at once so we can judge the season all at once and experience it more like a longer movie. Also, and you may have a different opinion on the show than I did, but while it had some slower episodes and some clunkers here with and there and there with "the hand" stuff I don't think the majority of episodes were clunkers at all.

 

[gvn2fly]

Indeed. Serialization does not excuse the majority of episodes being clunkers. While the last three or four episodes have underwhelmed, let's just wait and see how it ends before judging? Can't say I had that mindset watching the series you mentioned.

If I'm not meant to judge each episode individually, just release the whole damn season in one hit then.

Also by that logic, it's like saying the beginning of the movie was good, the middle was a slog and didn't advance the plot, but the ending scenes were good, but the movie was too long for the plot they wrote - is that an overall positive or negative? I guess ultimately it depends on the viewer.

 

[gvn2fly]

Shows a fundamental lack of understanding of trauma on the brain.

Not saying the story is strong or not. Don't know; don't care. Just that people revisiting trauma can impact people at any point in life, not just when they are young. Picard is no exception, at least if he is treated like a real human rather than an avatar of awesomeness or whatever.

Well, now that I think about it after reading your post it does also make sense in the context of the story. Seeing Renee's depression may have triggered his trauma (I think we saw a quick flashback to his youth last week while he was talking to Renee)

 

[Fateor]

Wow... People here really don't get what this season's plot is about...

Just too much stuff crammed into too little time. So Picard’s mother was actually schizophrenic or something similar and killed herself. Or disappeared. Or something. In any case a poor showing for the 24th century society and mental health professionals.

She was Bipolar.

And they very specifically mentioned in the episode that she refused treatment. Which is sadly very common with people who are bipolar.

 

[fireproof78]

Each season of Daredevil was also released all at once so we can judge the season all at once and experience it more like a longer movie. Also, and you may have a different opinion on the show than I did, but while it had some slower episodes and some clunkers here with and there and there with "the hand" stuff I don't think the majority of episodes were clunkers at all.

The middle was a slog.

That's me. That's why I think Picard Season 2 taken all at once might go, well, like Daredevil or something close to it.

 

[Oso Blanco]

Either way the chances that Tallinn is also Laris are pretty close to nil.

Tell that to the writers of this show ... at this point, nothing is impossible!

 

[Cyrus]

It was a good episode but not great. The first 2 episodes of the season were fantastic but after the time travel the show has literally come down to Earth. But this probably was the best of the year 2024 episodes. Loved The Voyage Home callbacks.

 

[jackoverfull]

I remember that the El-Aurians were scattered throughout the galaxy, not that they were assimilated. Perhaps the Borg could only destroy their planets, but not assimilate the people?

i’m almost sure she said most of them died at a certain point.

Seven had unencrypted the systems.

after the transporter raffi does. And even so…how did they get to La Sirena in the first place?

 

[jackoverfull]

I do get that opinions vary, and some people are loving the Seven-Raffi deal. That's fine. For those folks, the season is delivering

i doubt it: they are not really going anywhere with them.

Also by that logic, it's like saying the beginning of the movie was good, the middle was a slog and didn't advance the plot, but the ending scenes were good, but the movie was too long for the plot they wrote - is that an overall positive or negative? I guess ultimately it depends on the viewer.

Sounds like the description of a story that needed a lot of trimming.

She was Bipolar

That would have been my first guess as well.

And they very specifically mentioned in the episode that she refused treatment. Which is sadly very common with people who are bipolar.

i know that all to well, believe me. And I don’t think it makes for a good showing for 24th century society and healthcare that this still happens.

 

[Anduinel]

i know that all to well, believe me. And I don’t think it makes for a good showing for 24th century society and healthcare that this still happens.

I'm going to withhold full judgement until the whole situation gets explained, but there's a bit not sitting right with me about the whole Picard family situation. Let's accept the notion that Mama Picard refused treatment, despite it being shown that she was a danger to her children. And that danger apparently isn't reason enough to have her committed, or else the option doesn't exist within the Federation. So then Papa Picard just...keeps her locked up until she comes down from her manic state whenever she has a swing, and hopes he finds Jean-Luc in time again next time? And also allows wee Jean-Luc to stand by while his mother pounds on the door and pleads to be let out/for him to save her?

Whoof. From what we know right now, it's still a bad look for Papa Picard. He couldn't force his wife's hand, but he had a responsibility to minimize the harm, emotional and otherwise, to the kids, and it doesn't look like he did so. But we'll see how that all wraps up; sounds like there's more coming on that front.

 

[Guy Gardener]

She can't take the kids to fight cougars in the back yard if it takes her all day to cook dinner without a replicator.

Maurice is a genius.

It's a wonder that she did not poison him.

 

[Roald]

Even though I totally love this season as a whole, I do feel that it shoots itself in the foot the same way DSC S4 did: there's a great starting point and a great end point, but what it's missing is a middle point that redefines the season and creates a twist in the story. In that regard, DSC S1 worked incredibly well with 'Into The Forest I Go', which reset the season. I think episodes 6 and 7 should have been 'The Impossible Box'/ 'Nepenthe' of this season, but they aren't: the season is not shaken up. I really hope that for new seasons (of whatever ST series), the writers don't think of plotpoint A (season premiere) and plotpoint B (the season finale) and then kind of 'paint the road in between', but create a season with numberous high-stake, game-changing moments throughout the season.

That said, I'm still greatly enjoying this season, and the whole Borg Queen/Jurati-thing is beyond incredible... As this will probably become the focus of the final three episodes, I am convinced the season will be redeemed for those not feeling it right now. May 5th will be a glorious moment in Trek history, as we will witness one of the best season finales ever made for Trek, and simultaniously one of its greatest pilots (Strange New Worlds)..! Cannot wait..!

 

[hxclespaulplayer]

To the people saying Guinan summoning a Q was like letting a genie out of a bottle and being like magic... keep in mind that to us, today, sufficiently advanced tech would seem like magic. Now consider how advanced el-aurians are.

Also why do Confederation generals have slaves to clean when technology could fill that? Because it's not bad enough to do what they already do to aliens?

Which threads will you be most pissed about if they're kept loose/unresolved by the end of the season? I want Q's limitations, Soong, and how Renee caused the prime timeline to be possible/the diversion to happen. Not really worried about the queen and Laris. Or Elnor

 

[Guy Gardener]

Why is a Confederation General part timing as a vintner?

Anyone else in the UK unable to find the new episode on Amazon Prime?

I had 12 seconds of confusion looking for Picard under P, instead of Star Trek Picard under S, but I am not in the UK, sorry.

 

[unimatrix7]

Wow... People here really don't get what this season's plot is about...

it’s about why Picard hasn’t got himself a misso. Beneath that on that the brainstorming session butchers paper:

- mommy issues
- daddy issues
- heist scene
- car chase
- time travel
- parallel universe
- metaphorical monsters depicted as dark shadows
- everyone’s ancestors look the same as them
- Borg (they just fit with everything and the makeup looks cool)

Why was there not someone to ensure the initial concepts were fully developed - and discarded if need be - before they got filmed? This is how we got the bizarre spectacle of our heroes in a car chase with nobody chasing them

Sir Patrick comes back as Picard for a short time and this is what they do with it. What a waste.

 

[ananta]

I had 12 seconds of confusion looking for Picard under P, instead of Star Trek Picard under S, but I am not in the UK, sorry.

It’s on Prime now, just later than usual. I’m in bed with covid and need a fix of new Trek!