Picard (series) did Elnor and Laris dirty!

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Season 1: The season ended with our 7 protagonists aboard the La Sirena ready for new adventures. This included Picard, Rios, Raffi, Jurrati, Seven, Elnor, and Soji.
Season 2: Everyone returns for Season 2. Soji just makes a cameo in the first episode, but the actress got to play a new Soong daughter (Kore) for the rest of the season. Elnor is written out in the third episode, but he has cameos sprinkled throughout the season with a fun though brief role in the 9th episode. Rios, Jurrati, and Kore Soong got various send-offs. Also, Laris who had a small role in the opening episodes of S1 bookends S2 as a romantic interest for Picard (her husband died off screen), and spends most of S2 as Tallinn, a Laris look-alike.
Season 3: Picard, Seven, and Raffi return. Where is Elnor? Why is Laris not in the finale?

I love the show, but is it me, or did Elnor and Laris get the shaft? I feel like both were "put on a bus" and forgotten.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I think introducing the TNG cast to the show was mostly a positive change, but the biggest negative was that they had to throw out most of the old characters to afford them. In fact, it seems like they had to throw out Elnor a whole season early, possibly because they didn't have a clue what to do with him.

Poor Elnor was a pretty superfluous character right from the start, though that only became obvious in retrospect. It really seemed like they were going to eventually do something with the guy, they spent a whole 10% of the season introducing him, but nah. I'm really not surprised he was entirely absent for the last year; he was only there to cut heads off and be the comic relief, so Worf joining the cast made him even more redundant than he already was.

Laris turned out to be a more interesting character than the writers might have expected, though I'm sure they knew the fans were fond of her when they started writing season 2 and 3. Why else would they have killed off her husband and introduced a 21st century doppelganger to give her actor more screen time? So I was surprised she didn't at least make a cameo in the last episode. It seems like they didn't want to pin down whether Picard settled down with Laris or Beverly Crusher, because either way some fans would be mad, so they left it open.

It's a shame really, as Picard was one of the few Trek series to make an effort to flesh out the Romulans a bit and if Michael Chabon had stayed aboard that might have continued. Unfortunately the show got bored of them and went in another direction instead.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I think introducing the TNG cast to the show was mostly a positive change, but the biggest negative was that they had to throw out most of the old characters to afford them. In fact, it seems like they had to throw out Elnor a whole season early, possibly because they didn't have a clue what to do with him.

Poor Elnor was a pretty superfluous character right from the start, though that only became obvious in retrospect. It really seemed like they were going to eventually do something with the guy, they spent a whole 10% of the season introducing him, but nah. I'm really not surprised he was entirely absent for the last year; he was only there to cut heads off and be the comic relief, so Worf joining the cast made him even more redundant than he already was.

Laris turned out to be a more interesting character than the writers might have expected, though I'm sure they knew the fans were fond of her when they started writing season 2 and 3. Why else would they have killed off her husband and introduced a 21st century doppelganger to give her actor more screen time? So I was surprised she didn't at least make a cameo in the last episode. It seems like they didn't want to pin down whether Picard settled down with Laris or Beverly Crusher, because either way some fans would be mad, so they left it open.

It's a shame really, as Picard was one of the few Trek series to make an effort to flesh out the Romulans a bit and if Michael Chabon had stayed aboard that might have continued. Unfortunately the show got bored of them and went in another direction instead.

I didn't mind shifting from the S1-2 cast to a TNG reunion for S3. I just felt like this did the S1-2 cast dirty, they didn't get to come back for the final season of their own show, ya know? To me, it was "These Are the Voyages..." stretched out to an entire season. ENT cast became guest stars in their own finale. Half the Picard cast don't even get to be in their own final season.

Elnor was one of my favorite parts of S1. He had a small role in the S2 premiere, front and center in the 2nd and 3rd episodes, and then... forgotten, really. We get a few cameos, but his only real substantial role was his hologram self in the 9th episode. His role in the 10th episode amounts to, "Look, he's alive!" What I hated about S2: When Picard died in S1, Elnor cried like he lost a grandpa. When Elnor died, not one tear from Picard. WTF?

I didn't expect much from Laris in the S3 finale. Either show that Picard ends up with Laris, or at least give her a cameo, something, anything. Can't do all of that S2 and S3 premiere build up to.... nothing.

This is likely the last time we see Picard. Pair him with Laris or Beverly, I don't give a flying F*** if the fans get mad. That's just bullshit cowardly writing. Give the character and the audience an ending.

I didn't mind the show moving on from the Romulans after S1. Each season tells a different story. I just felt S3 was too focused on ignoring S1-2 and too focused on trying to win over the fans. No one cares. Just tell a good story.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I'm with you, he should've ended up with Laris. The writers killed off the character's husband and spent a whole season giving Picard therapy so he could commit to a relationship with her, so to end the show without even a hint of a resolution is ridiculous.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I'm with you, he should've ended up with Laris. The writers killed off the character's husband and spent a whole season giving Picard therapy so he could commit to a relationship with her, so to end the show without even a hint of a resolution is ridiculous.

I like Patrick Stewart's idea that the final shot of the show should have been Picard back home in France, a woman calls him to dinner, and he goes inside, camera pans out, fade to black. However, his idea was to be vague and leave who up to the audience. I can see that, but I'd much rather reveal the wife to be either Laris or Beverly. Pick one.

EDIT: I feel like Terry Metallas was less interested in Picard S3 and more TNG S8. What do you think?

 

[The Gatekeeper]

Laris was never intended to be a large role to begin with, they only brought her back in the second season because of how popular her and Zhaban were with fans when the first season aired. The actor who played Zhaban was on another show and thus unavailable when S2 was filmed, which is why he got killed off camera.

Elnor ultimately was just a character they didn't seem to know how to write for.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Laris was never intended to be a large role to begin with, they only brought her back in the second season because of how popular her and Zhaban were with fans when the first season aired. The actor who played Zhaban was on another show and thus unavailable when S2 was filmed, which is why he got killed off camera.

Elnor ultimately was just a character they didn't seem to know how to write for.

They didn't have a problem with Elnor in S1, so why S2? I would be fine with him not being in S3 if they'd given him an actual send-off, but as it is he got put on a bus... I mean a starship.

If Laris was simply there at the start of S1 and bookended S2, no prob. However, they spent all of S2 suggesting that Picard might finally be ready for love and that Laris is who he'd finally end up with. This even carried into the S3 premiere. I wasn't expecting her to have a role in S3 beyond the premiere, except that she should have been in the finale. One scene would have been enough.

 

[Paul Weaver]

. I can see that, but I'd much rather reveal the wife to be either Laris or Beverly. Pick one

Or both. It's the future.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Or both. It's the future.

Polygamy is a step backwards, not forwards, and not in character.

 

[Paul Weaver]

Not for Denobulans. Or Bolians.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

Not for Denobulans. Or Bolians.

Picard is human.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

Picard is human.

No, he's a synth.

And yes, I'm pretty sure Laris got shoved out of season 3 because of Crusher's return. I don't like Jean-Luc with either Laris or Crusher but I do think Laris deserved better than the whole "I'll hold a seat for you on some planet" thingy she said. For all the fuss Orla Brady was (probably forced into) making about whether Laris would be in season 3 or not, it all left a lot to be desired. She at least deserved an appearance in the final episode.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

No, he's a synth.

Human, meaning not Denobulan or Bolian.

And yes, I'm pretty sure Laris got shoved out of season 3 because of Crusher's return. I don't like Jean-Luc with either Laris or Crusher but I do think Laris deserved better than the whole "I'll hold a seat for you on some planet" thingy she said. For all the fuss Orla Brady was (probably forced into) making about whether Laris would be in season 3 or not, it all left a lot to be desired. She at least deserved an appearance in the final episode.

I don't mind Picard not ending up with Laris given Crusher's return, but he should have ended up with one or the other. A few reasons:

#1 The show only ran for three 10-episode seasons. The second of which had a character arc that Jean-Luc finally healed from a childhood injury (death of his mother), finally forgave himself, and was finally ready to risk falling in love - for real. That's 1/3 of the series.

#2 The S2 finale suggests Picard and Laris end up together.

#3 The S3 premiere features the return of Crusher with Jack who's revealed to be Picard's son. Now, Laris knows what Beverly meant to him, so when she calls for help, Laris is like, you gotta go, Jean-Luc.

#4 Picard is in his 90's and cheated death by being digitally copied into a synth body. After everything that happened across three seasons, it's time for Picard to settle down either with Beverly or Laris.

#5 If Beverly and not Laris, that's fine. I'm not by any means suggesting Laris be a big part of the series finale, but she was part of S1, and the actress was main cast in S2 playing Laris and Tallinn, and she returned for the S3 premiere. If nothing else, give her a cameo in the S3 finale. He either ends up with Laris, or he says goodbye to Laris, moving on with Beverly.

 

[Turtletrekker]

I was excited when the Elnor character was announced because we had never had a Romulan regular and I hope that would mean deeper dives into Romulan culture. We got a little of that in season 1, and I'm disappointed that we didn't get more. As for the character himself, my guess is that he was a victim of production restrictions during COVID. There is a reason why the stories were compartmentalized the way they were and the fewer actors they had to deal with, the less chance of one of them catching COVID. I noted in one scene in season 2 that had all of the characters in it that they were very randomly spaced around the room. It seemed obvious to me that they were social distancing and desperately trying to not make it seem like that were the case.

As for Laris? I'm honestly indifferent on that one as the whole development seemed shoehorned in to me in order to give Picard a motivation. I was never really invested in that relationship.

 

[Admiral Jean-Luc Picard]

I was excited when the Elnor character was announced because we had never had a Romulan regular and I hope that would mean deeper dives into Romulan culture. We got a little of that in season 1, and I'm disappointed that we didn't get more. As for the character himself, my guess is that he was a victim of production restrictions during COVID. There is a reason why the stories were compartmentalized the way they were and the fewer actors they had to deal with, the less chance of one of them catching COVID. I noted in one scene in season 2 that had all of the characters in it that they were very randomly spaced around the room. It seemed obvious to me that they were social distancing and desperately trying to not make it seem like that were the case.

As for Laris? I'm honestly indifferent on that one as the whole development seemed shoehorned in to me in order to give Picard a motivation. I was never really invested in that relationship.

I always wondered if Covid is why we got CSI: Picard.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

I always wondered if Covid is why we got CSI: Picard.

It was. That's already been well documented.

 

[Headless_Hysteria]

It all boils down to priorities, and Laris and Elnor were not priorities in the TNG reunion season, despite being a part of the PIC from the beginning.

Keep in mind that the writers were able to explain why Guinan wasn’t with the crew in the finale scene. And that there was a deleted scene filmed that joked about Troi not being able to fly the ship. If they could find time for that, writing in a couple of lines about the whereabouts of Laris and Elnor one year later should not have been difficult at all.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Elnor was originally to "explore his sexuality" in season two prior to changing showrunners and the complete change in direction for the show that followed. Then he was minimised and forgotten.

Laris was waiting for Jean-Luc to return, and then in season three episode 10 it's ONE YEAR LATER. I hope when he finally went back to the vineyard she'd fucked all the way off to another quadrant and someone who won't immediately forget her for his wishy washy will they won't they not quite ex.

Rant over.

 

[F. King Daniel]

EDIT: I feel like Terry Metallas was less interested in Picard S3 and more TNG S8. What do you think?

He actually didn't want his season to be Star Trek: Picard season 3. He wanted it to be standalone and called Star Trek: The Last Generation. They ended up using it as an episode name, IIRC.

It was fascinating and immensely frustrating to see season 3 undo so many choices made in season 1. Riker and Troi living in that forest? Turns out they hated it. Daughter, what daughter? Data wanted to die? Forget that, here's another copy that doesn't. Ignore the prior one, this is the one that matters. Most shows, when similar changes in direction and showrunner happens just kind of ignore the bits the new guy doesn't like but Picard really wanted to point out and retcon everything it could.

Rant REALLY over this time.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

He wanted it to be standalone and called Star Trek: The Last Generation. They ended up using it as an episode name, IIRC.

I thought he wanted to call it Star Trek Legacy, and when Paramount overruled him on that and told him it had to be Picard S3, he just shrugged and said "Guess we can use that for the spinoff." Which is why talk of a spinoff called Legacy is now a thing.