So I haven't seen the Perfect Mate episode in a while and watched it the other night. It hit me that they didn't show Picard leaving Kamala's room the night before her wedding. Did Picard sleep with Kamala?
Perfect Mate - Did Picard and Kamala..?
- Thread starter Looking Glass
- Start date
I'm guessing, "no".
No, Picard takes his diplomatic responsibilties seriously.
This isn't a random thief/slut he met on Risa.
This isn't a random thief/slut he met on Risa.
Everyone has characters or episodes they don't like.I've always found the premise of "The Perfect Mate" a little silly because the way they described Kamala's bonding sounded to me like the way a duckling imprints. Ducklings are genetically designed to imprint themselves on any moving object that just happens to be around within fifteen hours of birth. During this critical period, they will become attached to and follow anything fitting that general description. Basically, Picard is in the right place, at the right time, and has the right appendage.
It has been awhile since I've seen this episode but my guess is that Picard did not sleep with Kamala.
Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie
I thought so as well, but then the Ambassador asked Picard at the end "how could you resist her" and Picard just says "have a safe trip home." They stare at each other for a little while, the Ambassador beams out, Picard does one of his long deep-in-thought stares, and the episode ends.
Maybe Picard slipped up on this rare occasion...
According to Larry Nemeck's ST:TNG Companion:
"The only writing pseduonym requested during [Michael] Pillar's tenure turned up here: 'Percante' was actually his friend Reuben Leder, who disliked the rewrite done on his draft. The script included an unused optional fantasy scene in which
Picard just before the actual ceremony, daydreamed that he spoke out at the wedding to claim Kamala as his own." (Source: ST: TNG Companion, Pocket Books 1992, 1995, p.200)
Whether the deed was done is an open question based on the episode as filmed - and I must say I actually like that uncertainty/ambiguity, primarily because it's a fairly rare commodity in ST.
Canonwise, all we know for sure is that Picard and Kamala are very much affected by each other. And in the end, Kamala willingly does her "duty" (his or hers or by that stage both of theirs) by marrying that Face-ache of Valt, while telling Picard as he's about to lead her into the ceremony that she will always consider herself bonded to him.
My personal view is that he did not leave her quarters the night before her wedding.
Jean-Luc Picard: Under the circumstances, I thought that it would help if I... if I learned more about you.
Kamala: But you know me better than you realise. I am independent, forceful, brilliant and adventurous. Exactly as you would
have me be, Captain.
"The only writing pseduonym requested during [Michael] Pillar's tenure turned up here: 'Percante' was actually his friend Reuben Leder, who disliked the rewrite done on his draft. The script included an unused optional fantasy scene in which
Picard just before the actual ceremony, daydreamed that he spoke out at the wedding to claim Kamala as his own." (Source: ST: TNG Companion, Pocket Books 1992, 1995, p.200)
Whether the deed was done is an open question based on the episode as filmed - and I must say I actually like that uncertainty/ambiguity, primarily because it's a fairly rare commodity in ST.
Canonwise, all we know for sure is that Picard and Kamala are very much affected by each other. And in the end, Kamala willingly does her "duty" (his or hers or by that stage both of theirs) by marrying that Face-ache of Valt, while telling Picard as he's about to lead her into the ceremony that she will always consider herself bonded to him.
My personal view is that he did not leave her quarters the night before her wedding.
Jean-Luc Picard: Under the circumstances, I thought that it would help if I... if I learned more about you.
Kamala: But you know me better than you realise. I am independent, forceful, brilliant and adventurous. Exactly as you would
have me be, Captain.
I thought this was pretty obviously just a case of Picard being amused at someone else's weakness (in this case, inability to hold back from expressing and feeling very burdened by attraction to a woman), which Picard can be condescending about since he is extremely disciplined. I'll admit that whether or not he got intimate with Kamala is left rather open-ended, but personally I'm sure he had no trouble restraining himself.
That's part of what's so admirable about Picard as a character...his exceptional restraint. It helps explain why in all the years of Q messing with him, he never attacked the guy, while Sisko had to sock him the first time he met him.
If there is only one Human male, in the entire Star Trek universe, with the capacity to restrain every ounce of his sexual physiology, & repress all emotional vulnerabilities, my latinum is on Captain Jean-Luc Picard
When Spock calls somebody "Vulcan-like" he ain't blowing smoke up your wazoo. I like to think he didn't, because if the episode isn't about Picard proving to be the singular exception to the rule, (As usual) then what's the point of it? Although, it was smart of them to leave doubt, for a change
When Spock calls somebody "Vulcan-like" he ain't blowing smoke up your wazoo. I like to think he didn't, because if the episode isn't about Picard proving to be the singular exception to the rule, (As usual) then what's the point of it? Although, it was smart of them to leave doubt, for a change
Guys - and I'm looking at you GreeShirt in particular, shame on you - but you aren't the only one to totally misread what I actually concluded, which was:
My personal view is that he did not leave her quarters the night before her wedding.
This does not mean that they had sex, although it is obviously what you thought I meant.
Wrong.
"Wishing for a thing does not make it so." J-L Picard
My personal view is that he did not leave her quarters the night before her wedding.
This does not mean that they had sex, although it is obviously what you thought I meant.
Wrong.
"Wishing for a thing does not make it so." J-L Picard
I'd like to think that Picard's primal urges got the best him. Picard shagged her 3 or 4 times in her quarters then took her to the holodeck where he recreated a medieval dungeon.
Spock's description of Picard being "Vulcan-like" likely meant Vulcans before the teachings of Surak.
Spock's description of Picard being "Vulcan-like" likely meant Vulcans before the teachings of Surak.
Him having sex with her would have sort of ruined the ending, though, don't you think? I believe it was meant to be kind of bittersweet with the idea that there was a really deep connection between she and Picard that they'd never been able to consummate as Picard has to give her away to a guy clearly portrayed to be a bit of a douche totally unworthy of such a magnificent woman.
I guess if they'd had sex it would still be a melancholy ending because he still has to let her go even after they'd got close physically, but I feel it would cheapen things a bit. The fact that there was a strong bond between them and he could not act on it at all (with physical intimacy or by keeping her from going through with the wedding) is what makes the ending so powerful, in my opinion.
I guess if they'd had sex it would still be a melancholy ending because he still has to let her go even after they'd got close physically, but I feel it would cheapen things a bit. The fact that there was a strong bond between them and he could not act on it at all (with physical intimacy or by keeping her from going through with the wedding) is what makes the ending so powerful, in my opinion.
A
Amaris
Guest
I always saw Picard's answer at the end less of a "I'm not telling you I slept with her", but instead more of a "She did get to me, more than you know". I don't believe he slept with her, but I believe he wanted to, very badly, because she was everything that was perfect, and still he said no, and I think his answer was a wistful one, one filled with painful regret about "what might have been".
No, he just read her some Shakespeare.
I was quoting and responding to what Looking Glass posted, not anything you concluded --so where does your indignation come from??
Not.Wrong.
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