Spoilers Star Trek: Picard 3x09 - "Võx"

[Cortez]

Eugh where to start where to start.

FANKWANKERY! Look it's nice to see Shelby again, but it's in a general puking of nostalgia. The USS Sulu. And the USS Excalibur. And the USS Drexler. And USS Okuda. And USS Ross (Admiral Ross?). Poor Shelby after all these decades is lost in the mix. Launch her on the Enterprise F for added distraction amongst literal fireworks.

Also this does for some reason strike a very Earth-centric nerve for me. Shelby talked about how Starfleet started with Archer's Enterprise. Did it though? That was an earth ship. It got humans into space and we may have been the catalyst for the Federation - but it's not the birth of Starfleet. Similarly every ship name is all Earth-related. Why do the other cultures not get a say in this?

I kept thinking the most obvious thing was that Picard gave Borg sperm to Jack. I was hoping that wasn't the case. Of course it's the Borg again. Of course Jack is with queen Borg within 5 minutes because well who knows because.

Shaw is dying. "He'll call her Seven," I say to my cat. Of course he does. Of course he does. They don't have a modicum of subtlety in their bones.

Enterprise D. Of course. One man has fixed an entire smashed up saucer section. Why does he have it? Who knows. How did he fix a saucer smashed into a planet? Don't ask. Why did he retro-grade the bridge from Generations.. well nostalgia probably. He hated the uniform he had to wear in Generations and was never seen so he hates that bridge as it triggers him. We want flashy lights back. But not season one red panels, don't go too far Geordi.

Star drive? Oh just found an odd nacelle or two and bolted it on. Sure, sure...

And now the Galactica and Adama... sorry Enterprise and Picard can go deal with the Cylons... sorry Borg. Or is it Changelings?

A Changeling/Borg story is fan fiction fodder, or one of those novels that just was never seen again by a nobody author as it's just shit story telling.

A modern way of assimilation I think is actually quite compelling. They have to evolve. The whole cybernetic implants may be as we looked at trepanning once, and the Borg will modernise. Here they have a nugget of something interesting. Then they ruin it by arbitrary bullshit like... "Unless you're over 25. Every race, you suddenly stop being Borgable because.. erm.. something about brains."

But seriously, rewriting you if you transport if you want to do dark shit that's a treasure trove.

Look, I'm a TNG fan boy. Did my loins stir a bit when I saw the Enterprise-D? Of course they did. Did hearing Majel Barret again make me slightly tearful, yes it did. But it still doesn't mean that it's not delivered on a shovel of shit.

I also think it undermines Generations. I love Generations, but hardly the most beloved film. But it had a story of loss. When I watched it at 19ish, it was just a fun film and didn't resonate. Now having lost my parents, having no children... god the story makes so much sense. But from the loss of the D to René, it was about moving on.

"Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe than time is a companion who goes with us on the journey, and reminds us to cherish every moment because they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important how we lived."

But GOTCHA.... The D is back. Picard is dead, but GOTCHA he's been replaced by a robot with a copy of his brain. He doesn't have offspring but oh GOTCHA all is okay he has a son. Why not have René pop out of a Jefferies tube, it wasn't a fire it was just a slight burn and he's alright now.

Generations while fun and a favourite of mine will never be considered writing greatness. But it's amazing how Picard can shit even over all that and all its messages in every way and. Just. Not. Get. It.

Right back at you regarding Generations. Up to and including the battle with the Duras sisters and Picard leaving the Nexus, I'd argue that it's the best TNG movie of them all. You're on a bad road once you involve time travel, which doesn't work in the vast majority of films, but it has beautiful peaks of emotion and has always resonated with me..... just like another film that people hate.... The Final Frontier. It's really silly and daft, but has some wonderful, heartfelt moments. There's a purity to it, however silly it may seem. This Picard on the other hand....

. Really poor stuff, don't care how the landing goes at this stage.

 

[captainjellico]

I thought 'Vox' was a thoroughly enjoyable episode. I was misty eyed when the Enterprise D was unveiled and watching all of the TNG crew together on that Bridge was incredibly gratifying. It was something I never expected to see again.

I couldn't quite believe that Shelby was back after all these years. I screamed at the TV when she turned up, as I hadn't read any of the spoilers. Her appearance did seem rushed though and it would have been far more gratifying if she'd actually had some interaction with Picard or Riker. I really hope they haven't killed her off, although I don't see how she could possibly survive two phaser blasts at close range. It was interesting how Elizabeth Dennehy skirted around the issue in the Ready Room. She mentioned that she could be Borg now. Do you think we'll find out in the finale?

If she is dead, it's a disservice to a beloved character and a cheap way of killing off another strong female. At least Ro's death (which I'm still reeling from!) made good, dramatic sense and had a note of heroism.

I'd echo other peoples' comments that the reveal of the Borg was underwhelming. I was loving the idea of the Pah-wraiths or Species 8472 being involved. The Borg really lost their teeth in Voyager for me and I find them far less menacing as a result. At least we have the inimitable Alice Krige back (even if just in vocal form), who towers over Susanna Thompson and Annie Wersching's portrayals of the Queen. It's good that this is the Borg proper and not the Jurati nonsense from season two.

I was really beginning to root for Captain Shaw, so was obviously disappointed by his demise. Whilst I recognise the dramatic necessity of a redemption arc for the character, I felt like he had a lot more to give. I'm very curious to see how he features in a spin-off (please don't let it be a hologram). My money is on his consciousness being transferred to some sort of artificial body courtesy of Borg technology, which would be ironic given his hatred for the species.

I'm concerned by the very real prospect of all senior members of Starfleet being decimated by the Borg. The dramatic implications of this are huge. How will the younger officers live with themselves if they revert back? Can Jack Crusher ever be redeemed, as flying to the Borg cube was the catalyst that began this chain of events. Terry Malalas did promise something seismic, along the lines of The Undiscovered Country.

On another note (if you pardon the pun), the music of this season continues to enthral me. The throwbacks to Horner and Goldsmith are wonderful, but with new themes and motifs, which will definitely stand the test of time. The Titan theme is my favourite Trek music in many, many years. Plaudits to Stephen Barton and co. for acknowledging the rich musical history of Trek's past. Jeff Russo always seemed to be afraid to do that and I think his scores suffer as a result.

I am *so* ready for this week's finale, but will be quite bereft once this season is over, as it's genuinely one of the highlights of my week. The feelings of anticipation remind me of how I felt as a kid during the 90s heyday of TNG. I really hope that Jonathan Frakes' comment about none of the TNG cast dying is true. Every week I'm on the edge of the seat worrying that one of my beloved crew will perish.

 

[AntonyF]

Wow. Never heard Generations' message so ardently defended as being a good thing. This fandom is the most fascinating when it finds values and feels they are "shit upon." Fascinating.

Well I didn't so much "FIND THOSE VALUES"™ until I had two parents die in three years, with an aunt in between for shits and giggles and have no siblings and no children and will never have those either. Unless the magic Star Trek machine brings my parents back to life as robots.

I will always defend Generations because, as I said in my post, I'm a fan boy of it. I love it. But I didn't get the story really until older and I'd been through that.

So #ThisFandom went through the death of his last remaining family, so yeah buddy I #FoundValues. Let's hope you don't have to as well.

 

[jaime]

Generations handles it better. Wow. Can’t believe I said that.

I think we won’t know til the end. It is a different spin as well, as this is also very much a ‘we were the future once’ story in a way that Generations isn’t, except on a fairly meta level.

 

[Campe]

I think we won’t know til the end. It is a different spin as well, as this is also very much a ‘we were the future once’ story in a way that Generations isn’t, except on a fairly meta level.

Yeah, not holding my breath on this being better.

 

[Farscape One]

Well I didn't so much "FIND THOSE VALUES"™ until I had two parents die in three years, with an aunt in between for shits and giggles and have no siblings and no children and will never have those either. Unless the magic Star Trek machine brings my parents back to life as robots.

I will always defend Generations because, as I said in my post, I'm a fan boy of it. I love it. But I didn't get the story really until older and I'd been through that.

So #ThisFandom went through the death of his last remaining family, so yeah buddy I #FoundValues. Let's hope you don't have to as well.

GENERATIONS is a better movie than most people give it credit for. The themes are there, and you defend them well.

I do agree that the themes and message within that movie resonates better when you get older. I have a similar feeling about it as you.

It's also the same with episodes... I'll watch something now and get a much different feeling than when I was a kid, or even in my 20s and rewatching. We are different people at different points of our life.

 

[Cortez]

Yeah, not holding my breath on this being better.

This is my problem. What are we holding our breath for? What are we looking forward to in this last episode?

 

[fireproof78]

Let's hope you don't have to as well.

Unfortunately, I know I will. That is my the choice that my family and I have made for my wife's grandmother is to be there through the end of her life.

I respect your opinion and you present it well.

 

[Campe]

This is my problem. What are we holding our breath for? What are we looking forward to in this last episode?

Resolution. Decent, sensical resolution.

 

[Tosk]

If she is dead, it's a disservice to a beloved character and a cheap way of killing off another strong female.

The Picard series is all into killing off existing characters, female or male. Icheb, Hugh, Q, Ro, Shelby...basically, if you're not in the main cast you're not gonna last. It rhymes, so you know it's true.

Resolution. Decent, sensical resolution.

That would be a nice change of pace.

 

[Cortez]

GENERATIONS is a better movie than most people give it credit for. The themes are there, and you defend them well.

I do agree that the themes and message within that movie resonates better when you get older. I have a similar feeling about it as you.

It's also the same with episodes... I'll watch something now and get a much different feeling than when I was a kid, or even in my 20s and rewatching. We are different people at different points of our life.

We're always ourselves, just a little more seasoned. More aware of others and how to respond to them or tell them to f£ck off. But we're always ourselves deep at heart. That's why I loved Picard being Picard once in awhile but it was nowhere near enough.

 

[Farscape One]

We're always ourselves, just a little more seasoned. More aware of others and how to respond to them or tell them to f£ck off. But we're always ourselves deep at heart. That's why I loved Picard being Picard once in awhile but it was nowhere near enough.

True. I guess what I meant by different people at different times in life is experience. For example, I was a pretty idealistic person in my early 20s. Hardly at all in my 40s now. The general douchebaggery of most people, the loss of most of your family, the endless divisions created by political entities, watching good people suffer and not being able to do anything about it... the list goes on. All that chips away at you.

And we do wear many different faces in our lives... we just learn to bring certain out for certain scenarios.

 

[fireproof78]

True. I guess what I meant by different people at different times in life is experience. For example, I was a pretty idealistic person in my early 20s. Hardly at all in my 40s now. The general douchebaggery of most people, the loss of most of your family, the endless divisions created by political entities, watching good people suffer and not being able to do anything about it... the list goes on. All that chips away at you.

And we do wear many different faces in our lives... we just learn to bring certain out for certain scenarios.

I know I do. I used to be far more positive, and outgoing and social. I'm not that way any more. I don't go out of my way to socialize nor do I find the same level of value of making that effort beyond a small group of people. I'm less concerned about if something in media is "wrong." because to me, it's usually wrong in some way. I am more easy going, a little less judgmental in my old age, but all far less likely to go out and find a reason to be angry.

In short, people change more than they think; we're just blind to the change because it happened with us, rather than in our absence.

 

[AntonyF]

The Picard series is all into killing off existing characters, female or male. Icheb, Hugh, Q, Ro, Shelby...basically, if you're not in the main cast you're not gonna last. It rhymes, so you know it's true.

I feel in this comment you've really dug into and understood a lot of the entire issue with the entire setup of the new shows.

They want that sense of drama, and danger and potential loss. And they will subject any trinkets from Trek past to get that. Ro and Shelby in particular. One being a massive loose thread, and the other being a fan favourite.

But... when it comes to your core characters, they are risk averse. The danger is cheated. As soon as Worf was allegedly dead I said to my cat "He'll come back and say she stabbed him in his third backup heart and because he's now a man of peace he could slow his heart to appear dead". When Data lost to Lore I said to my cat "He gave Lore all that it made him to be Data, so I wonder if he will in effect become Data." All so predictable. And all so incongruous as someone in the 2400s (or is it 2500s now, genuinely not sure) would resort to feeling a pulse.

As viewers we like consequence. We may scream when our favourites die but it adds reality to the universe we're watching. When they constantly cheat you by using decoys or reverse-engineering the deaths, it cheapens the drama.

 

[voyager1]

Since JF said that everyone lives, I really don’t think Picard is going to successfully pull off the sacrifice play

But he is kind of already dead when you think about it.

 

[Tuskin38]

But he is kind of already dead when you think about it.

So was Spock.

 

[thribs]

Him becoming an admiral already undermines Generations. It was the one thing Kirk told him not to do.

 

[fireproof78]

But he is kind of already dead when you think about it.

Well, we all are. Until we go in to battle and reclaim are lives.

That's the Star Trek Way!

 

[SJGardner]

Well, we all are. Until we go in to battle and reclaim are lives.

That's the Star Trek Way!

I'm very much alive and I intend to stay that way.

 

[Crewman6]

The Picard series is all into killing off existing characters, female or male. Icheb, Hugh, Q, Ro, Shelby...basically, if you're not in the main cast you're not gonna last. It rhymes, so you know it's true.


That would be a nice change of pace.

Literally every prominent guest star/recurring character (except Guinan and Wesley) has died. WTF, "Picard"???

"If you end up with that guest star cred, it's a safe bet you're gonna end up dead."