Whatever do you mean? It was great seeing Hugh and Ro and Icheb and Shelby livin' large.
1.04 "Absolute Candor" 
out of 5
There's a lot I liked about this episode. If I remember correctly (bearing in mind it has been six years) I was largely bored by the Romulan planet stuff. But this time I didn't feel that, and if you pay attention there's a lot going on in the story here.
Seeing Picard say he'll find a home for Elnor then fast forward and "I thought you'd find a place for Elnor"... yeah we've all had that boss. And actually I did think quite about a lot of this in a work context.
I've always found the Number One/Captain relationship interesting. I'd totally want to be a first officer ant not a captain if I were in that world. And seeing Picard abandon so many people, drop so many balls... is it because he's more about ideas rather than execution? TNG was about the crew, the team, the ensemble. Without that support structure, is Picard just less effective?
Or is it just that the synth attack derailed him. It's still not 100% clear to me how this trigger point led to 14 years of him doing what seems to be sod all. Perhaps it'll become clearer.
But there are interesting dynamics to mine here, and supporting my theory that Picard is maybe just not that good without a team around him to carry out the execution of plans perhaps that's why his first instinct is to build a team. He's a leader, that's what he does. He needs people to lead. He doesn't have the long term patience to sit and work on a project.
I like Elnor. The Japanese samurai Romulan vibe is always a bit of an odd one, but he's likeable. And at the risk of making me look thirsty for Romulans he's very hot too.
I liked that Picard told him off for killing the guy, and that at least at the moment life is still precious and Picard will still say so.
There's some nice banter amongst the crew. I did laugh at Raffi saying "Man can't even take a guilt trip without using a starship.". The JL was moderated to "just" three". Swearing twice, still not needed.
Although naughty Jurati. "I watered your plants. You're welcome." I hate people when people say "you're welcome". And don't touch people's plants! I've become quite the houseplant fan and don't like when people touch them. This is big plot stuff I need to address here.
The Romulan story with Rizzo turning up... I feel they want to do a scene with her to keep that story alive but they could have left it out of the episode. Nothing really was added beyond what we knew. It's fine to leave a story unseen in the background for an episode or two.
Then what an ending! Seven of Nine! I remember being very excited about her inclusion, the marriage of Voyager and TNG. Her appearance is short, but boom what an entrance.
Not a ton happens in this episode in some ways. But it inches the story along in a measured way and I think it belies its character building that's going on. I enjoyed it a lot.
out of 5There's a lot I liked about this episode. If I remember correctly (bearing in mind it has been six years) I was largely bored by the Romulan planet stuff. But this time I didn't feel that, and if you pay attention there's a lot going on in the story here.
Seeing Picard say he'll find a home for Elnor then fast forward and "I thought you'd find a place for Elnor"... yeah we've all had that boss. And actually I did think quite about a lot of this in a work context.
I've always found the Number One/Captain relationship interesting. I'd totally want to be a first officer ant not a captain if I were in that world. And seeing Picard abandon so many people, drop so many balls... is it because he's more about ideas rather than execution? TNG was about the crew, the team, the ensemble. Without that support structure, is Picard just less effective?
Or is it just that the synth attack derailed him. It's still not 100% clear to me how this trigger point led to 14 years of him doing what seems to be sod all. Perhaps it'll become clearer.
But there are interesting dynamics to mine here, and supporting my theory that Picard is maybe just not that good without a team around him to carry out the execution of plans perhaps that's why his first instinct is to build a team. He's a leader, that's what he does. He needs people to lead. He doesn't have the long term patience to sit and work on a project.
I like Elnor. The Japanese samurai Romulan vibe is always a bit of an odd one, but he's likeable. And at the risk of making me look thirsty for Romulans he's very hot too.
I liked that Picard told him off for killing the guy, and that at least at the moment life is still precious and Picard will still say so.
There's some nice banter amongst the crew. I did laugh at Raffi saying "Man can't even take a guilt trip without using a starship.". The JL was moderated to "just" three". Swearing twice, still not needed.
Although naughty Jurati. "I watered your plants. You're welcome." I hate people when people say "you're welcome". And don't touch people's plants! I've become quite the houseplant fan and don't like when people touch them. This is big plot stuff I need to address here.
The Romulan story with Rizzo turning up... I feel they want to do a scene with her to keep that story alive but they could have left it out of the episode. Nothing really was added beyond what we knew. It's fine to leave a story unseen in the background for an episode or two.
Then what an ending! Seven of Nine! I remember being very excited about her inclusion, the marriage of Voyager and TNG. Her appearance is short, but boom what an entrance.
Not a ton happens in this episode in some ways. But it inches the story along in a measured way and I think it belies its character building that's going on. I enjoyed it a lot.
Lots of good threads from season 1 that were discarded. I agree with this one.
1.05 "Stardust City Rag" 
out of 5
I set out to try and find a positive side to things and in the last episodes even with grumbles I've managed it. Then.. this comes along.
Let's start at the start: the grotesque, disgusting, revolting opening scene with Icheb. It's kind of hard to describe how bad this scene is on so many levels.
1) The thing I alluded to before that they are taking Trek and going "No, this is adult now..." and denying younger geneations the chance to continue to enjoy Star Trek.
2) The needless violence and gratuity of how it was done. Star Trek has no need for it.
3) That they wrote out a young guy, an innocent character introduced years before... just so they can justify Seven being pissed off and getting guns out as it may excite young men perhaps.
4) And on that note, they're using Seven like they used her before for titillation, but now with Added Lesbian Overtones™. Because LGBT representation has been poor in the past in Star Trek, and they fix that by using it as character excitement rather than a real character development (I know she has something with Raffi later, but I'll judge that on its merits when I get there).
I like how they had to repeat the torture scenes 20 minutes later in case the lazy brained TV viewer didn't get why she was pissed off.
You also need "Mot's Hair Emporium" as he was on TNG and he ain't got hair. Funny innit? Oh and Quark of Ferenginar. And dabo tables. You get it viewer. They watched Star Trek! See eh? Aren't they clever. Maybe mention earl grey tea some more.
And indeed after the excitement of Seven appearing in the last episode, this episode is largely just a vengeance device for her. It sits apart from their main story (despite their attempt to shoehorn Maddox into it) and if you took it out it doesn't really change the overall narrative arc.
Then the stupid 'heist' plot. First the stupid 'ads' appearing on the ship. Then Rios is fucking ridiculous in that outfit. Then Picard is fucking ridiculous with the eye patch and French accent.
The irony that a French man is going undercover by having a French access is a particularly chef's kiss of absurdity. I know there's some likely "nudge nudge, wink wink" here as Picard is French but sounds English... but it does not land well.
I have no evidence for this but it feels like something done to amuse Patrick Stewart than any logical story progress for Picard himself.
The Jurati ending was shocking and surprising. I *think* he is around for more episodes so he'll be saved, but I may be wrong.
Some people say that Trek is entertainment it doesn't owe anything to Gene Roddenberry. But I disagree, and he'd be spinning in his grave with this one. It's just pretty damn awful. Grotesque and stupid within one episode jutting up against each other. And a story that really doesn't change much of anything in the arc that Picard is carrying out. It felt like a filler episode in what is a short season. It should be grateful I gave it half a star and not zero - perhaps just for the digital effects, can't fault them.
out of 5I set out to try and find a positive side to things and in the last episodes even with grumbles I've managed it. Then.. this comes along.
Let's start at the start: the grotesque, disgusting, revolting opening scene with Icheb. It's kind of hard to describe how bad this scene is on so many levels.
1) The thing I alluded to before that they are taking Trek and going "No, this is adult now..." and denying younger geneations the chance to continue to enjoy Star Trek.
2) The needless violence and gratuity of how it was done. Star Trek has no need for it.
3) That they wrote out a young guy, an innocent character introduced years before... just so they can justify Seven being pissed off and getting guns out as it may excite young men perhaps.
4) And on that note, they're using Seven like they used her before for titillation, but now with Added Lesbian Overtones™. Because LGBT representation has been poor in the past in Star Trek, and they fix that by using it as character excitement rather than a real character development (I know she has something with Raffi later, but I'll judge that on its merits when I get there).
I like how they had to repeat the torture scenes 20 minutes later in case the lazy brained TV viewer didn't get why she was pissed off.
You also need "Mot's Hair Emporium" as he was on TNG and he ain't got hair. Funny innit? Oh and Quark of Ferenginar. And dabo tables. You get it viewer. They watched Star Trek! See eh? Aren't they clever. Maybe mention earl grey tea some more.
And indeed after the excitement of Seven appearing in the last episode, this episode is largely just a vengeance device for her. It sits apart from their main story (despite their attempt to shoehorn Maddox into it) and if you took it out it doesn't really change the overall narrative arc.
Then the stupid 'heist' plot. First the stupid 'ads' appearing on the ship. Then Rios is fucking ridiculous in that outfit. Then Picard is fucking ridiculous with the eye patch and French accent.
The irony that a French man is going undercover by having a French access is a particularly chef's kiss of absurdity. I know there's some likely "nudge nudge, wink wink" here as Picard is French but sounds English... but it does not land well.
I have no evidence for this but it feels like something done to amuse Patrick Stewart than any logical story progress for Picard himself.
The Jurati ending was shocking and surprising. I *think* he is around for more episodes so he'll be saved, but I may be wrong.
Some people say that Trek is entertainment it doesn't owe anything to Gene Roddenberry. But I disagree, and he'd be spinning in his grave with this one. It's just pretty damn awful. Grotesque and stupid within one episode jutting up against each other. And a story that really doesn't change much of anything in the arc that Picard is carrying out. It felt like a filler episode in what is a short season. It should be grateful I gave it half a star and not zero - perhaps just for the digital effects, can't fault them.
For a little while I was actually DMing with the actor who'd originally played Icheb (or at least, someone who claimed to be). There's some implication that his character was punished in reaction to RL comments he'd made. When I spoke with him he seemed to regret what he'd said, IIRC.
But, that's kind of like keeping Kim an Eternal Ensign as a way of punishing Garrett Wang; it doesn't make a ton of sense.
Regardless, there were certainly ways to kill Icheb (if he had to be killed) that would have been a bit more tasteful and tonally consistent (though perhaps this is consistent with the tone PIC ultimately set for itself?).
Does this episode also mark the beginning of the annoying trend of bringing back franchise characters just to kill them off? At least Hugh got a few episodes; better than Ro or Icheb's cameo here.
But, that's kind of like keeping Kim an Eternal Ensign as a way of punishing Garrett Wang; it doesn't make a ton of sense.
Regardless, there were certainly ways to kill Icheb (if he had to be killed) that would have been a bit more tasteful and tonally consistent (though perhaps this is consistent with the tone PIC ultimately set for itself?).
Does this episode also mark the beginning of the annoying trend of bringing back franchise characters just to kill them off? At least Hugh got a few episodes; better than Ro or Icheb's cameo here.
I didn't realise that background with Intiraymi. I think sometimes actors get these theories but it's more likely they just needed an expendable character for Seven's story.
Then again there is precedent. In Lost they killed the two actresses in one episode who had been charged for drink driving - and called the episode "Two for the Road". I mean that's a bold statement.
But yeah I could almost cope with his character being killed, just not in the grotesque way they did. It doesn't even make sense entirely as they note they didn't even use anaesthetic. But would you want the person you're harvesting to be screaming and writhing about? It would just make sense to knock them out or even kill them.
They want you to feel so offended that you just go along with Seven's assassination at the end - that's the purpose.
Well, let me put it another way...it may be that they would have asked Intiraymi himself back if he hadn't made the comments he made, whether or not they killed Icheb in the episode.
But they way they killed Icheb off, besides being graphically violent, was pretty ignominious. If you didn't know who he was, why would you even care?
But they way they killed Icheb off, besides being graphically violent, was pretty ignominious. If you didn't know who he was, why would you even care?
1.06 "The Impossible Box" out of 5
As I was watching this it really reinforced for me that the Soji story is probably best best element of Picard. She's a fascinating character, and the actress is very compelling. And it's hard to not feel for her predicament.
It also entertains so many interesting side stories of how humans can and will treat AI. Like if you wanted it to not do something, how you could put memories into it to control its behaviour. Want a robot to stay underground mining? Well plant a memory of a nuclear winter above ground, or sun that'll kill you.
Or make it believe it's an adult so you can fuck it, which of course is going on here and gives me echoes one of the vilest movies ever "Poor Things." Neelix had nothing on this where at least that was natural progression for the Ocampa.
It's all rather chilling and they convey it well with Soji. It also then is once again nice to see Picard really investing his time to save her. This is the Picard I know.
Narek seems to understand what will trigger Soji, then goes and does it wholescale. And does a James Bond-style death rather than just shooting her so she can escape. Perhaps it's deliberate? But I suspect it's more about drama. The same drama that allows Hugh to go into a secret room but not shut the door after him.
Talking of Hugh, the reunion was nice and this is one of those stories where time has passed but they still share to much. It's well done and restrained in its execution.
Rizzo continues to be Rizzo, although shaking things up from her calling her brother "brother" he calls her "sister" twice this time. Really keeping the variety going.
Not a lot of Jurati in this one, and I think we can deduce murder makes one horny. It does seem Maddox is dead... odd, as in my memory I thought he was in various episodes.
Raffi... eugh. This is the sad bit of the episode for me. She said she was clean in the last episode (despite doing drugs in a previous episode and again now) and I hate that they even need the vernacular in the future. That she can be off her face drunk and say she's going to "drink herself to death" and it elicits little response. That the admiral can call her "lit" which I assume is also a drugs reference.
What a bleak view of the future that in hundreds of years time we can't help people with addiction. That we can build starships and huge buildings yet addiction is something that's not only solved but seems to be accepted with a bit of a shrug.
Perhaps we could argue that's the case now - we build our rockets and our skyscrapers and people die from addiction. But that's now. The future was meant to be better, right?
I also find there's a slightly dangerous portrayal here... and that's the balancing of those negative traits with brilliance. I appreciate people are complex. You do get in history you get some people that are troubled and brilliant at the same time. But the risk is to glamourise it.
I also find it quite lazy storytelling. I love BSG - one of my favourites - but it did suffer from the "if they're troubled we'll make them a drunk" and "if they're troubled we'll show you what about with memory flashbacks". Picard does both here with aplomb.
Overall it was a good episode. The Soji story is driving it forward right now. The Raffi stuff I could do without. I know I spent half of this post on the addiction thing, but beyond that the episode is decent.
out of 5As I was watching this it really reinforced for me that the Soji story is probably best best element of Picard. She's a fascinating character, and the actress is very compelling. And it's hard to not feel for her predicament.
It also entertains so many interesting side stories of how humans can and will treat AI. Like if you wanted it to not do something, how you could put memories into it to control its behaviour. Want a robot to stay underground mining? Well plant a memory of a nuclear winter above ground, or sun that'll kill you.
Or make it believe it's an adult so you can fuck it, which of course is going on here and gives me echoes one of the vilest movies ever "Poor Things." Neelix had nothing on this where at least that was natural progression for the Ocampa.
It's all rather chilling and they convey it well with Soji. It also then is once again nice to see Picard really investing his time to save her. This is the Picard I know.
Narek seems to understand what will trigger Soji, then goes and does it wholescale. And does a James Bond-style death rather than just shooting her so she can escape. Perhaps it's deliberate? But I suspect it's more about drama. The same drama that allows Hugh to go into a secret room but not shut the door after him.
Talking of Hugh, the reunion was nice and this is one of those stories where time has passed but they still share to much. It's well done and restrained in its execution.
Rizzo continues to be Rizzo, although shaking things up from her calling her brother "brother" he calls her "sister" twice this time. Really keeping the variety going.
Not a lot of Jurati in this one, and I think we can deduce murder makes one horny. It does seem Maddox is dead... odd, as in my memory I thought he was in various episodes.
Raffi... eugh. This is the sad bit of the episode for me. She said she was clean in the last episode (despite doing drugs in a previous episode and again now) and I hate that they even need the vernacular in the future. That she can be off her face drunk and say she's going to "drink herself to death" and it elicits little response. That the admiral can call her "lit" which I assume is also a drugs reference.
What a bleak view of the future that in hundreds of years time we can't help people with addiction. That we can build starships and huge buildings yet addiction is something that's not only solved but seems to be accepted with a bit of a shrug.
Perhaps we could argue that's the case now - we build our rockets and our skyscrapers and people die from addiction. But that's now. The future was meant to be better, right?
I also find there's a slightly dangerous portrayal here... and that's the balancing of those negative traits with brilliance. I appreciate people are complex. You do get in history you get some people that are troubled and brilliant at the same time. But the risk is to glamourise it.
I also find it quite lazy storytelling. I love BSG - one of my favourites - but it did suffer from the "if they're troubled we'll make them a drunk" and "if they're troubled we'll show you what about with memory flashbacks". Picard does both here with aplomb.
Overall it was a good episode. The Soji story is driving it forward right now. The Raffi stuff I could do without. I know I spent half of this post on the addiction thing, but beyond that the episode is decent.
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I have to agree with you again here. Okay I wouldn't rate it so harshly, there are some moments I liked, but this is a contender for my least favourite episode of Picard. It's a very childish variety of 'dark and edgy', ending with Seven taking her badass revenge by walking out in the open shooting everything with a rifle in each hand. It's the kind of thing DS9 would do in its Mirror Universe episodes, even though people were eventually wishing that they'd stop.1.05 "Stardust City Rag"
I set out to try and find a positive side to things and in the last episodes even with grumbles I've managed it. Then.. this comes along.
Impossible Box was also on the lower end of my rankings, partly because of all the Raffi and Rizzo stuff you didn't like either, but it was nice to see Picard reunited with Hugh. It's also nice that it pushes the story forwards in a big way, finally getting Soji off the Borg Cube. Though I feel like we could've gotten to this point faster.1.06 "The Impossible Box"
Yeah... it's probably not 3.5 in retrospect. I sometimes do tweak scores next day when I've reflected some more and internally ranked them! This may be tweaked down a bit.
1.07 "Nepenthe" out of 5
And it's my first five out of five moons! That's not to say it's perfection, but it was very good and the best so far for me. I don't recall having such a positive feeling the first time around so definitely the context is different for me this time.
I felt overall this episode walked deftly and it was warm without being maudlin.
Firstly, Riker and Troi! Of course it'd be those two, it's always those two. Frakes I've always thought is just one of the most consistent Star Trek actors in his delivery and just making Riker feel very real. Troi was also good to see again, even if her face had clearly been to a few Federation clinics.
The introduction of their daughter was well done and I could see her being their offspring. I particularly enjoyed how she did the exposition dump on Data. Told through a child hearing stories at the dinner table of the days with Data (and Picard) just seemed very believable. And hearing second hand those impressions makes it carry more weight and not sound like exposition.
Riker kind of echoed what I said previously. "You get to make the decisions about who gets to take the chances and who doesn't, and who's in the loop, and who's out of the loop, and naturally, it always ends up with you. That's fine, on the bridge of your starship, Captain, but now you're dealing with a teenager, more or less." I said about how Picard is a leader, but without that support structure you start to see the flaws.
The shoehorning of Riker and Troi's son's death into some android narrative felt a step too far in trying to tie the story strands together. Not everything has to be interconnected.
It was touching seeing Elnor look after Hugh... even if the end result was sadly not successful. I don't feel Hugh's death made a huge amount of sense or feel very necessary other than I feel the writers felt they'd used him and his story was done. How it's dealt with by Picard will be telling, as right now his death feels detached from the person who would care most.
Rizzo is still Rizzo. She was hysterical that so much work had been lost by Soji going but that doesn't really ring true. They have the info they want, surely one rogue synth is not going to be of massive consequence? Similarly for years of work they went their entry into Dahj's life sure lacked any subtlety that the situation seemed to warrant. I continue to feel she is overall very poorly executed as a character. Her "I'm not going to kill you because of a treaty" rings entirely not true to the character she's meant to be portraying. Also, has no one noticed she's not in Starfleet right now?
There were some nice humour moments. Picard saying to aim for his head as his heart is duritanium. That's a nod to the past and funny without beating you over the head with continuity. Equally I just found Rios going "is that blood?" and Raffi going "red velvet" a nicer touch than her drinking herself to death and proof I can do humour in Star Trek, it just need to be less on the nose than Picard in an eyepatch.
Her quote "But I'm more like the wreckage of a good person. In an emergency, you can slap together a temporary good person out of the pieces" was sad, but quite well written. A line I also identify with, so perhaps some of the time I don't like Raffi because perhaps it just feels a bit to familiar.
It's now also becoming more apparent with Jurati did what she did - and the parallels between Soji and her both effectively manipulated from what was put into their mind is interesting. One by technology, one organically.
Overall a well executed episode, warm moments everywhere, and aside form the death of Hugh which felt a bit unnecessary there's little to find fault with. You can also see this setting the scene for the season three reunion that Stewart said he didn't want, as the genuine affection between the TNG cast is apparent.
out of 5And it's my first five out of five moons! That's not to say it's perfection, but it was very good and the best so far for me. I don't recall having such a positive feeling the first time around so definitely the context is different for me this time.
I felt overall this episode walked deftly and it was warm without being maudlin.
Firstly, Riker and Troi! Of course it'd be those two, it's always those two. Frakes I've always thought is just one of the most consistent Star Trek actors in his delivery and just making Riker feel very real. Troi was also good to see again, even if her face had clearly been to a few Federation clinics.
The introduction of their daughter was well done and I could see her being their offspring. I particularly enjoyed how she did the exposition dump on Data. Told through a child hearing stories at the dinner table of the days with Data (and Picard) just seemed very believable. And hearing second hand those impressions makes it carry more weight and not sound like exposition.
Riker kind of echoed what I said previously. "You get to make the decisions about who gets to take the chances and who doesn't, and who's in the loop, and who's out of the loop, and naturally, it always ends up with you. That's fine, on the bridge of your starship, Captain, but now you're dealing with a teenager, more or less." I said about how Picard is a leader, but without that support structure you start to see the flaws.
The shoehorning of Riker and Troi's son's death into some android narrative felt a step too far in trying to tie the story strands together. Not everything has to be interconnected.
It was touching seeing Elnor look after Hugh... even if the end result was sadly not successful. I don't feel Hugh's death made a huge amount of sense or feel very necessary other than I feel the writers felt they'd used him and his story was done. How it's dealt with by Picard will be telling, as right now his death feels detached from the person who would care most.
Rizzo is still Rizzo. She was hysterical that so much work had been lost by Soji going but that doesn't really ring true. They have the info they want, surely one rogue synth is not going to be of massive consequence? Similarly for years of work they went their entry into Dahj's life sure lacked any subtlety that the situation seemed to warrant. I continue to feel she is overall very poorly executed as a character. Her "I'm not going to kill you because of a treaty" rings entirely not true to the character she's meant to be portraying. Also, has no one noticed she's not in Starfleet right now?
There were some nice humour moments. Picard saying to aim for his head as his heart is duritanium. That's a nod to the past and funny without beating you over the head with continuity. Equally I just found Rios going "is that blood?" and Raffi going "red velvet" a nicer touch than her drinking herself to death and proof I can do humour in Star Trek, it just need to be less on the nose than Picard in an eyepatch.
Her quote "But I'm more like the wreckage of a good person. In an emergency, you can slap together a temporary good person out of the pieces" was sad, but quite well written. A line I also identify with, so perhaps some of the time I don't like Raffi because perhaps it just feels a bit to familiar.
It's now also becoming more apparent with Jurati did what she did - and the parallels between Soji and her both effectively manipulated from what was put into their mind is interesting. One by technology, one organically.
Overall a well executed episode, warm moments everywhere, and aside form the death of Hugh which felt a bit unnecessary there's little to find fault with. You can also see this setting the scene for the season three reunion that Stewart said he didn't want, as the genuine affection between the TNG cast is apparent.
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I share your opinion on pretty much everything, once again.1.06 "Nepenthe"
If Star Trek: Picard didn't want to lead to a reunion of the TNG crew then it shouldn't have made the moments with the TNG characters the best part of season 1. Plus Riker and Troi's kid is great too and it's a shame she never came back. The only bad part of the episode is the dark and edgy murder of Hugh, and perhaps the dark and edgy death of Riker's son. Though it's the contrivance that somehow android science would've saved him that bothers me more than anything.
1.08 "Broken Pieces" out of 5
And we take a dip in ratings. A jumble sale of story points not really doing much at all. Which makes it hard to know where to start...
Rizzo. Let's start with my favourite Rizzo. Why is she still on the cube? Perhaps it was explained in dialogue that I missed. But she seems to be hanging around and chasing down villains when surely she has some more pressing stuff to do? And in fact she does leave at the end, but why did she not do so last episode?
They unfold the story of the Zhat Vash which is reasonably interesting. Although it's again feeling quite over-linked... with Rizzo and the Redhead Romulan knowing each other from those days, but also being on the cube together, which also is where Soji was... and Hugh was who knew Picard who is of course interested in Soji.
Rios's story feels random. A bit of comedy using all his holograms at once feels like it would have made sense earlier in the season when you're getting to know him. Now it just feels like a fake obstacle while he's hiding. And while he's hiding of course he's drinking as he's troubled (see previous entries).
The whole story of this captain and synths and what not... again they want to link it all together. Troi and Riker's kids - it's synths. His history in Starfleet - it's synths. His captain killed himself - because of Oh who is about synths. I see why none of this back story is necessary or adds anything and to this episode. It added (correct me if I'm wrong) literally nothing to the ongoing arc. It didn't unlock anything, it just stalled.
Talking of Oh, why did she not kill off Maddox ages ago? If this synth threat is so much why let him work for what seems to be decades doing his work and then let him escape and do it some more? He would have suffered a Putin-esque window a long time ago.
Soji is now just super knowledge. She knows everything, let's not worry about the story unfolding. She just knows. Why? Because. She almost waves her hand at the camera to wave the question away from the viewer.
The scene with her discussing Data with Picard was nice, but it also felt a little redundant after we'd done the Data reminiscing last episode.
Seven is back, and it's a little blah. The scenes with her getting black eyes and the CGI Queen pipes feel like something out of a SyFy show from 20 years ago. It just feels a bit naff. And again... for what? She does all that, it's all moody and erm... oh nothing has happened (perhaps it will next episode).
And the swearing is back in force - fuck multiple times - which again sticks out, particularly when they haven't done it for episodes. Do it all the time, or do it not at all... but this feels a bit like someone trying to be edgy and distract from the story.
[Edit: and I could have done with bit less suicide. The Romulans commit suicide. The captain commits suicide. Jurati wants to commit suicide. It's a bit much.]
Apart from a bit of Romulan back story and learning the Mars attack was a false flag, this episode did nothing really. It didn't push the story forward at all. It wasn't entirely awful but it was largely forgettable. Good old fashioned filler.
out of 5And we take a dip in ratings. A jumble sale of story points not really doing much at all. Which makes it hard to know where to start...
Rizzo. Let's start with my favourite Rizzo. Why is she still on the cube? Perhaps it was explained in dialogue that I missed. But she seems to be hanging around and chasing down villains when surely she has some more pressing stuff to do? And in fact she does leave at the end, but why did she not do so last episode?
They unfold the story of the Zhat Vash which is reasonably interesting. Although it's again feeling quite over-linked... with Rizzo and the Redhead Romulan knowing each other from those days, but also being on the cube together, which also is where Soji was... and Hugh was who knew Picard who is of course interested in Soji.
Rios's story feels random. A bit of comedy using all his holograms at once feels like it would have made sense earlier in the season when you're getting to know him. Now it just feels like a fake obstacle while he's hiding. And while he's hiding of course he's drinking as he's troubled (see previous entries).
The whole story of this captain and synths and what not... again they want to link it all together. Troi and Riker's kids - it's synths. His history in Starfleet - it's synths. His captain killed himself - because of Oh who is about synths. I see why none of this back story is necessary or adds anything and to this episode. It added (correct me if I'm wrong) literally nothing to the ongoing arc. It didn't unlock anything, it just stalled.
Talking of Oh, why did she not kill off Maddox ages ago? If this synth threat is so much why let him work for what seems to be decades doing his work and then let him escape and do it some more? He would have suffered a Putin-esque window a long time ago.
Soji is now just super knowledge. She knows everything, let's not worry about the story unfolding. She just knows. Why? Because. She almost waves her hand at the camera to wave the question away from the viewer.
The scene with her discussing Data with Picard was nice, but it also felt a little redundant after we'd done the Data reminiscing last episode.
Seven is back, and it's a little blah. The scenes with her getting black eyes and the CGI Queen pipes feel like something out of a SyFy show from 20 years ago. It just feels a bit naff. And again... for what? She does all that, it's all moody and erm... oh nothing has happened (perhaps it will next episode).
And the swearing is back in force - fuck multiple times - which again sticks out, particularly when they haven't done it for episodes. Do it all the time, or do it not at all... but this feels a bit like someone trying to be edgy and distract from the story.
[Edit: and I could have done with bit less suicide. The Romulans commit suicide. The captain commits suicide. Jurati wants to commit suicide. It's a bit much.]
Apart from a bit of Romulan back story and learning the Mars attack was a false flag, this episode did nothing really. It didn't push the story forward at all. It wasn't entirely awful but it was largely forgettable. Good old fashioned filler.
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I'll admit that Stardust City Rag was a little over the top, but there was so much that was established in this episode and the previous episode that I liked. The whole new status quo of the former Romulan neutral zone was one of the most story-potential filled creations of the streaming era, but these two episodes were all we got to see of it.
I loved Seven of Nine's new status quo with the Rangers -- protecting those who couldn't protect themselves, just as Janeway once protected her when she couldn't protect herself. Of course, they immediately backtracked on that and just put her back in Starfleet.
The whole new status quo with the new lawless regions and the Rangers could have been a Maquis-like recurring thread in the show, had they not just fallen back on the nostalgia train.
As for Icheb and the manner of his death, none of that really bothered me. I had no particular affection for the character and the streaming era gore levels never bothered me in Star Trek. If they had ever reached levels like, say The Walking Dead or The Punisher, then I might take issue. The gore levels in modern Star Trek are relatively mild and tame in comparison.
Also, I'll take this opportunity to say that I didn't mind the swearing in Star Trek. In Picard in particular, I always took note and appreciated the fact that it was always the new characters and not any of our established crew that were dropping f-bombs. Of course, that went out the window with Patrick Stewart's infamous ad-lib in season 3...
I loved Seven of Nine's new status quo with the Rangers -- protecting those who couldn't protect themselves, just as Janeway once protected her when she couldn't protect herself. Of course, they immediately backtracked on that and just put her back in Starfleet.
The whole new status quo with the new lawless regions and the Rangers could have been a Maquis-like recurring thread in the show, had they not just fallen back on the nostalgia train.
As for Icheb and the manner of his death, none of that really bothered me. I had no particular affection for the character and the streaming era gore levels never bothered me in Star Trek. If they had ever reached levels like, say The Walking Dead or The Punisher, then I might take issue. The gore levels in modern Star Trek are relatively mild and tame in comparison.
Also, I'll take this opportunity to say that I didn't mind the swearing in Star Trek. In Picard in particular, I always took note and appreciated the fact that it was always the new characters and not any of our established crew that were dropping f-bombs. Of course, that went out the window with Patrick Stewart's infamous ad-lib in season 3...
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Oh, and Nepenthe. I enjoyed this episode more than any episode in season 3. I loved seeing Riker and Troi moving on with a life that wasn't connected to Starfleet while still maintaining those close ties. The chemistry that these actors share in real life always shines when on screen together, and the love in this episode was real. Possibly Marina Sirtis' best performance as Troi, and that's not a knock against her acting abilities, it's just that this is the strongest material they ever gave her to work with.
My issue is not swearing itself as I'm not a prude, but I think the main issue it what it stands for. It symbolises a selfishness. Trek is what so many of us grew up with. I tuned in at 9 and I feel it shaped my life. Whoopi Goldberg tuned in, saw a Black person on the bridge and was inspired to become an actor. I could find you a million other stories.
But this the writers - may of whom may even even grown up with Star Trek - are sort of going "No, this is our toy now. It's not for you" and denying an entire generation of it.
That's why I prickle most. I also do think it's a lazy crutch to look edgy. Some of the world's best TV shows and media franchises haven't needed swearing. Trek of old. Star Wars. West Wing et al.
I thought that too. There was an ease about her.
That's not unfair, but I think it's more of a reflection of simply of how the television landscape has changed and evolved. It also illustrates the difference between syndication and streaming (and network). Gene Roddenberry liked to push things as far as he could, and indeed had to be held back on some things in the early days of Next Generation (Three-breasted Betazoids? "Three-legged" Ferengi?).
I don't believe for an instant that if Gene Roddenberry had access to the modern day streaming format that, for better or worse, he would hold back in the slightest. I mean, even in the early TOS days, he had Kirk using language that was considered provocative at the time. In season 1 of TNG, Picard was stealth-swearing in French. And as for the violence and gore, is what happened to Icheb really more gory than what happened to Remmick? Even Rick Berman, who was much less of a risk-taker, when he was finally free of weekly syndication restrictions had Data swearing in Generations for comedic effect. Nicolas Meyers certainly didn't shy away from an occasional bit of salty language.
But, I get it. I guess it just comes down to personal taste.
That said, I've said my piece on the subject. I don't want to derail the thread away from the Picard rewatch.
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Don't worry about any derailment. To me this is exactly what I wanted here. Because I recognise in myself the contradictions as a Trek fan.
I get into a storm that modern Trek has defiled old Trek, gone too dark, too adult etc. But then I love DS9. Adore it. So I'm happy with the war, and KIA lists, and Nog's leg being blown off, and Jadzia being vaped? DS9 boiled the frog with me. But as I get older I see that it was creeping into TNG in the later seasons. Picard's torture for example - why do I not bat an eye lid at that being damaging to Trek?
FWIW I do think Remick was an extreme outlier. It was also cut out of broadcasts in the UK. When I saw it late one night in the mid-teens I was a little shocked to say the least that the scene went on a bit further. It's even more shocking when you think you know the episode and you don't.
But yeah I started this rewatch - and being able to type it out and say it out and discuss it helps - because I wanted to challenge myself to really sit with it. Judge it for what it is, not what I want it to be. Give it a 'fair shot' rather than going "This isn't' my Trek!" and already I think I'm seeing a lot more I like in this than the first time around.
I think what I'm saying is this thread is a bit of a counselling session.
I suspect I won't be so rosy in season two, but we have a couple more before then...
I get into a storm that modern Trek has defiled old Trek, gone too dark, too adult etc. But then I love DS9. Adore it. So I'm happy with the war, and KIA lists, and Nog's leg being blown off, and Jadzia being vaped? DS9 boiled the frog with me. But as I get older I see that it was creeping into TNG in the later seasons. Picard's torture for example - why do I not bat an eye lid at that being damaging to Trek?
FWIW I do think Remick was an extreme outlier. It was also cut out of broadcasts in the UK. When I saw it late one night in the mid-teens I was a little shocked to say the least that the scene went on a bit further.
It's even more shocking when you think you know the episode and you don't.But yeah I started this rewatch - and being able to type it out and say it out and discuss it helps - because I wanted to challenge myself to really sit with it. Judge it for what it is, not what I want it to be. Give it a 'fair shot' rather than going "This isn't' my Trek!" and already I think I'm seeing a lot more I like in this than the first time around.
I think what I'm saying is this thread is a bit of a counselling session.
I suspect I won't be so rosy in season two, but we have a couple more before then...
