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Yeah i know what the end of the season holds now. No reason to binge the whole thing. This whole thing could easily have been done in two hours. We did get one saving grace. Old man Picard didn't kiss laris. Thankfully. I don't think anyone wanted a guy that old kissing someone that young. His time for that type of thing is past.
That was the most annoying part of the episode to me. Q teaching Picard to lower his guard and love someone was the reason why we had this entire season, and they don't even kiss at the end. I guess it makes sense if he doesn't tell her about his journey, but why wouldn't he?
The El-Aurians seem way too feeble to mount any sort of resistance to the Q, much less wage an equal war with them.
The Travelers however--that I can believe can stand toe to toe with the Q. Maybe Wesley and the Travelers are responsible for killing the Q, using some sort of interdimensional starvation or something.
Cochrane's age was only explained as such in licensed but non-canon works like Star Trek Encyclopedia I think. From the canon itself we just have to assume he looks like a very old 30 something.
I don't think Q actually died.
I think They just moved onto another plane of existence in which They will no longer be able to interact within the Universe.
The unexplainable energy fracture/pulse at the end was Them discharging Their energy as They left.
I mean how discovering a microbe could be the POD. Guinan explains Teresa's son uses it as an adult to fix the environment, as opposed to the Confederation, which uses Soong's shields to paste over the issue.
So Earth fixing the environment stopped it from becoming a xenophobic totalitarian nightmare. Butterflies I guess, but it doesn't seem to work thematically.
Something we found OUT THERE saved our world. Space reignited our hope for the future and we turned to it with open arms and thankful hearts.
Without it, we retreated beneath a barely functional shelter and learned to live in constant fear of the natural order. That only human ingenuity and might could rescue us from all the things in the universe that WERE out to destroy us.
That was the most annoying part of the episode to me. Q teaching Picard to lower his guard and love someone was the reason why we had this entire season, and they don't even kiss at the end. I guess it makes sense if he doesn't tell her about his journey, but why wouldn't he?
I'm not sure that Picard and Q should kiss. That has nothing to do with orientation but consent. All of Q's encounters with Picard were nonconsensual. Q should not get rewarded for what is essentially interdimensional stalking, and that's not even getting into the massive power imbalance.
I joked earlier in this thread that Picard should ask Wesley for a restraining order against Q, but in all seriousness that's not actually far off the mark--Picard probably should do such a thing.
I'm not sure that Picard and Q should kiss. That has nothing to do with orientation but consent. All of Q's encounters with Picard were nonconsensual. Q should not get rewarded for what is essentially interdimensional stalking, and that's not even getting into the massive power imbalance.
I joked earlier in this thread that Picard should ask Wesley for a restraining order against Q, but in all seriousness that's not actually far off the mark--Picard probably should do such a thing.
Something we found OUT THERE saved our world. Space reignited our hope for the future and we turned to it with open arms and thankful hearts.
Without it, we retreated beneath a barely functional shelter and learned to live in constant fear of the natural order. That only human ingenuity and might could rescue us from all the things in the universe that WERE out to destroy us.
I would have been fine with it, because kissing is simply one more way to show affection, but yeah, the hug is better here because it is a sign of letting someone in, of embracing them and accepting them as they are, that you love them as they are. It's a wonderful little moment.
I haven't read the thread here - and many know I don't really consider myself a TNG fan (I'm an old school TOS fan watching first run since TOS S3 in 1969 - I was 6 - and AFTER this post, I'm going to watch the premiere episode of what I REALLY wished TNG had rather been in 1987 - and that's Star Trek Strange New Worlds...) but yeah, while many here have probably already cried "Small Universe Syndrome™" - this is probably the first 10 I've given a TNG based episode since the TNG S3 finale - "Best Of Both Worlds I".
But yes, this one gets a 10.
And IDK if word got out (I sure as hell was shocked) beforehand - but I LOVED both that he agreed, and that they gave Wil Wheaton a cameo AS a 'Traveler' - that he mentioned he was Wesley Crusher at one point in time; and that they tied him into the TOS S2 - "Assignment Earth" mythos (effectively making Tau Alpha C the homeworld of the aliens watching over Earth (and now Time...Itself... ) <---- And personally I don't mind because it makes as much sense as anything else WRT the Traveler stuff from TNG S! and S7 -- but if anything it does show the Production Team knows Trek to a VERY nerdy level, and love it or hate it, that's one aspect no one can deny.
^^^
But yeah, I was actually happy to see them give Wil Wheaton and Wesley Crusher a part and a place in the Star Trek Universe. And I will give Wil Wheaton credit for being able to expertly keep the secret because I had no clue, and the way he reacted to the announcement of "The Gang" getting back together for PIC S3; and him NOT being included in that (although yeah, who knows as now they MAY have him show up in PIC s3 in some way - even if it's in a corner somewhere waving to Beverly Crusher ) - but he gave ZERO indication he was involved in any way - and yeah, I had no clue. (It is sad how (IMO) they effectively wasted Isa Barones tis season. Yes Kore did ensure Soong's plan was thwarted, and IDK in that she will probably not return in S3 either.)
As for other parts the episode: In the end it all wrapped in a nice little 'bow' (even Guinan) and left a 'bone' for a future story with the massive Transwarp Gate that even the new 'friendlier' Borg don't know much about. Nice mix of predictable with also some unpredictable aspects <--- Which is actually new for TNG in my experience as in the past the majority of TNG was way TOO predictable in what it did and how the episodes wrapped up.
Yep, this was a TNG based episode I liked; and given how they did treat Wil Wheaton, I am actually somewhat intrigued and looking forward to PIC S3 - which has already wrapped filming and we'll see sometime next year.
(Now off to watch Episode 1 of Star Trek Strange New Worlds)
They shouldn't have detailed Rios' death honestly. They should have left an opening for him to come back. Jurati could have come back for him and frozen him until the 25th century maybe.
Not a problem. It wasn't information from an omniscient narrator in a card in the end — but in words from Guinan, who could very easily have said what she thought Picard wanted to hear. The happy ending is preserved for the moment, but should some future story need to say that his life went in a different direction, it's as easy as Rios telling Guinan, "If you see Picard in the future, don't tell him about any of this."
It's the "It Never Rains in Southern California" option. "Tell the folks back home I nearly made it... don't tell 'em how you found me."
What think is going on here is that Laris has decided she’s leaving. Jean-Luc respects her decision because he’s not a dude who makes everything about “ME ME ME and MY feelings”. He knows he has hurt her with his earlier rejection and he’s careful to not hurt her again by pushing her into any kind of direction (hence his innocent question about where she’s off to, it’s basically him screaming LARIS DON’T GO, but yeah, that’s Jean-Luc for you, did I mention that I love him just BECAUSE he’s so complicated?). She tells him she’s off on her own adventures which is a good enough answer for him, he doesn’t push her for details. More respect for her and her wishes. All he does then, and THAT is new, he actually tells her (in his own way) that, if she wants to give him a second chance, he’s here and ready for it. He basically leaves the entire decision up to HER, which is something very Jean-Luc but also new because HE is usually the one who runs away. But not anymore. This is probably what Sir Patrick meant when he said that Jean-Luc is “now able to make commitments” he couldn’t make on TNG.
Of course, this still kinda leaves everything in the open because Laris said she was leaving. Could go either way, we could have a wedding at the beginning of season 3 (which would kinda explain the presence of the TNG crew because they would definitely be invited) or Laris is really leaving and season 3 will bring in totally new emotional challenges for Jean-Luc.
The ending to me suggested she is staying now but it is I think left a little bit vague. I mean in all honesty, it would be anti-climatic given the whole message of the season for Picard not to make amends with Laris and be open to being with her now. That being said, with Beverly coming back next season I can't imagine they are not going to explore their relationship in some manner (for me personally Bev/Picard being involved carries more weight for me just because there is over 30 years of that relationship sort of being floated about). Then again, Patrick Stewart has always seemed reluctant (something even Gates McFadden has acknowledged recently) for Crusher/Picard to get together. Regardless, I don't think the event that brings the TNG crew back together is a wedding. The photos Matalas has posted seems to show a reception aboard a starship and he's also suggested we're getting back to space very quickly in season 3.
I know I'm probably in the minority, but I fucking hated the Wesley scene. Not only was it completely pointless, Wil Weaton still can't act his way out of a paper bag.
Not a problem. It wasn't information from an omniscient narrator in a card in the end — but in words from Guinan, who could very easily have said what she thought Picard wanted to hear. The happy ending is preserved for the moment, but should some future story need to say that his life went in a different direction, it's as easy as Rios telling Guinan, "If you see Picard in the future, don't tell him about any of this."
It's the "It Never Rains in Southern California" option. "Tell the folks back home I nearly made it... don't tell 'em how you found me."
I would get upset that Rios seems to disregard the incoming WW3 &
Second American Civil War
. And basically, decides to put Teresa and Ricardo and himself through that instead of taking them to the 25th century. But this is the guy that seemingly disregards that Teresa lives in an era where dating apps like Tinder and Bumble exist and are ubiquitous and she could find someone with ease through her phone at a moment’s notice, but still fell head over heels for her with almost zero knowledge of her. And even without those apps, Teresa does not seem like she would have any problems finding a date. And again, Rios blindly fell head over heels for her. So,
And it appears that what Teresa did in starting a medical movement was important for the 21st century. I guess like the Bell Riots, its overshadowed by the conflicts. Even though I’d imagine the 24th century would prioritize learning about people like her more than a bunch of politicians like now. So, she should have been a vaguely familiar face anyways. History doesn’t seem like its the strong suit of any of the Starfleet personnel in nuTrek, unlike in Berman Trek. Or maybe all of the lovers of history got killed during the Dominion War. Plus, Rios gets the Trip Tucker death of we don’t actually seem him die, but we’re told he’s dead.
Then there is Adam Soong, who can apparently return back to LA from France in a moments notice, but don’t seem to know what a USB is. But then digs out from his drawer and finds Project Khan, suggesting he’s good at storing things away in safe places. Also, I guess we know he really liked the final moments of the S2 finale of 24, based on what he did to Tallinn. The whole Soong thread was a gigantic mess and wasted potential.
Then there’s Raffi, who again instead of thinking to use her tricorder for the second time this season, comes up with an impractical plan with time ticking down. At least Seven and her got together…again, this time with a kiss instead of holding hands. Oh, and Elnor returns, with less screentime than Kore, Teresa & Ricardo, Borg Queen Jurati, Guinan or Wesley Crusher. After hopes to further flesh out Elnor as a character in S2, he basically gets treated as a glorified redshirt instead. Complete failure here.
And while it was great to see Wesley, this was more to tie up the fact that Kore is roaming around LA in 2024 than anything meaningful via fanservice.
Seven in the captain's chair - I think that following up on her career in Fenris Rangers would be more imaginative; every show follows those in Starfleet and following though outside of Starfleet like in PIC S1 takes more imagination to flesh out. But I'm sure that this decision will make some people happy. I’d also like to add that it really does feel that Seven progression as a character in the last couple of episodes came at the expense of Rios’s development. First Rios manages to get himself shot and subsequently teleported out of the fire fight to show that Seven smart to take cover and is a badass – even though we knew that already – and now Seven has taken his place in the captain’s chair.
Seven asking how money works – so how exactly how have you all been eating and sleeping over the past three days? Since both Kirk and Archer were well aware they needed money to function in pre-first contact Earth. And why would she not know how money works since Picard had to pay Rios for his service and she herself said the Fenris Rangers store their money on Freecloud only one. Season. Ago.
In light of the Borg joining the Federation – which fulfills something Guinan suggested would happen someday back in TNG and follows up on a scene in Lower Decks featuring Borg children being taught Federation history - I would imagine they filmed something with Alison Pill for S3, since she said she’s won’t be returning, while the Borg are observing the transwarp hub.
I admit, they wrapped up the Picard-Q story very well. John De Lancie was the highlight of this dreadful season, by far.
This was a decent finale that managed to wrap up the 2024 arc after all (let’s be honest, the writing leading up to the finale did not inspire confidence that it would), but still the worst season of the Kurtzman era (yes, even worse than DIS S1!), and one of the worst seasons of Trek ever. Even the end credits, that it was not the starry background with La Sirena flying off like when S1 concluded, but just a black screen with text like every other episode of the live action Kurtzman show, comes off as wanting to get the season over with. Like someone said elsewhere on the internet, it really does feel like the writers wrote this over a weekend and that they were more interested in getting back to social media and their yachts. There was a better, more coherent story available waiting to be told, but it wasn’t made.