Spoilers Star Trek: Picard General Discussion Thread

I just remembered an interview with Sir Patrick from a little while ago where he basically said that, over the course of the three seasons, they “lost” quite a few of the actresses/actors they originally started out with. (As in “they were written out of the show”). I’m guessing he was referring to what seems to be happening now.

 

Yeah, something along the lines of being sad to see their little "family" break up.

 

It’s just very disappointing to lose so many characters so quickly.

 

Raffi is still in Season 3.

 

Yeah that was it! Phew, I’m glad I didn’t misremember (okay, not likely, I may forget what I just had for lunch or where I put my keys and I constantly look for my TV remote but anything Sir Patrick I tend to remember sharply and clearly, lol). It was something about the “family” breaking up.

As to why - according to Terry Matalas, season 3 will be completely different from seasons 1 and 2, and I guess part of that difference is the fact that quite a few of the established PIC characters no longer fit to the plot, and this show generally puts the plot before the characters.

If the plot says “we don’t need you anymore to advance JLP’s story”, the character is out. Drastic, and I totally get why this approach angers those fans who feel their PIC faves deserved better. I’d be FURIOUS if they did this to Jean-Luc.

 

With such unsatisfying endings for most, plus the impression that they were swept aside to make room for the old TNG cast returning. I'm hoping the writers won't end things on such a sour note (Rios lost, Agnes effectively dead, Elnor literally dead, Soji just vanished off-sides), but who knows?

 

This. If season three doesn't need them, why not just let them be elsewhere, like Soji has been this season? It's a big galaxy, after all. This season is meant to be all about the triumph of hope and trust over fear and suspicion, which is a lovely, optimistic theme that would be horribly undermined if we end the season with three of the main cast effectively killed off.

I really, really just want them all to get to fly off into their futures, whether they stay on the show or not. It didn't seem like so much to ask, just a few weeks ago. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed, but the way things have gone, I don't want to get my hopes up.

Much to its detriment. I still enjoy the show, I honestly do, but it saddens me to imagine how much stronger it would be if it put more effort into the character stories.

 

Yeah. And it may not be as bleak as all that - Rios could have a happy family life, Agnes could go off with the Borg cooperative to acclimate them to this timeline, Soji could still be doing the diplomat thing, Elnor could either be hard at work at the Academy (or feel free to seek his path elsewhere if Raffi confesses), and they could mostly be free for later use. But my trust is riding a bit low at the moment.

 

Gates McFadden really likes S3:

https://twitter.com/gates_mcfadden/status/1521187594872049664

 

That early season 3 cast announcement left a bad taste in my mouth the day the news broke. This just further solidifies that feeling. Fan-service at the expense of everything else.

 

I’m not really holding out hope at this point. I like Seven and Raffi but I think Rios and Jurati are far more interesting.

 

Gates McFadden just tweeted she is currently doing ADR (dubbing) for the first six episodes of season 3 and she says she's super impressed.

 

That’s the problem when you center a show around one character and even name it after that character - everyone else is expendable and/or just basically there to advance said main character’s plot.

I mean I almost get why they seem to be dropping so many characters - the show would have a massive cast for season 3 if everyone stayed on. The rumored son of Jean-Luc’s who’s gonna show up, the whole TNG crew, the new villain they’ve already teased, AND then all the previous PIC characters? It’s not sustainable, especially since the TNG cast isn’t there for just cameos.

 

I hear you. I like all the characters, but I would set the others on fire to get Hugh and Elnor back. I am seriously not on the same wavelength as this writers room.

 

I must have missed that. They teased the S3 villain? What villain?

 

IIRC they said it’s the best Trek villain ever (the usual promotion hyperbole). They didn’t go into details, they just said that there’s gonna be a villain.

 

I totally get the disappointment of not all the original Picard cast being part of season 3 BUT the show is Star Trek Picard at the end of the day it's about his journey.

I actually didn't like Jurati in season 1, but loved her in season 2. But I actually like how her story appears to be ending. It's very Star Trek and goes along with Roddenberry's idea that yesterday's enemy can be today's friend.

 

I know, but there are ways and ways. It is entirely possible to have a show centred around one character and also give the supporting cast meaningful development that is personal to them, and to write them out when necessary in respectful ways that don't leave viewers wondering why they bothered to engage with the story at all. It just leaves a really bad taste in the mouth. So I really, really hope it doesn't go down the way it looks as if it will.

I'm pretty sure that if Rios does end up staying in 2024, it will be presented as a happy ending, but I just can't see it that way. He'd be leaving behind the career he seemed in 2.01 so happy to have reclaimed to stay in a place where he literally has nothing, in a time teetering on the brink of World War III. From the point of view of his friends in 2401, he'd be dead. It's not a happy ending, despite the love interest and cute kid, and it cuts off any potential of using the character again in future projects, which seems really short-sighted.

I just want them all to live - and to end up in the timeline and time period where they belong. *sigh*

Bah. Enough moaning. I will go back to keeping my fingers crossed for a few more days.

 

So, they are bringing Khan back? LOL.

 

Kurtzman is the villain for season 3?