The finale of Star Trek: Picard. Never saw the first two seasons.
But when my brother mentioned the TNG cast were returning together, as being a TNG fan and reinvigorated by Lower Decks, I felt obligated.
Earlier in April 2023, Star Trek: Picard came to a close. was brought into the final season via my brother. Where he showed me in a preview trailer, the whole TNG crew was returning. Newly resurfaced fan that I was, and TNG being my Trek, I felt I had to see it through.
What started out slow, eventually became the fate of the whole Federation!
The Borg returned, the Enterprise-D the last ship to stand against them. And with heroics from all the main cast, Picard rescues his son Jack, and after 35 years, the Borg are finally vanquished forever. No joke!
After all was said and done, I felt great pride the TNG did the impossible and saved all.
"Captain's log, Stardate… shall we say one. The first of a new day for friends both old and young. Starfleet had implemented a fleet-wide transporter solution to purge our young officers of the Borg infection. A world-saving effort developed by our new head of Starfleet Medical Branch – Admiral Crusher, who also managed to spearhead technology that privately scans for other irregularities. In constant need for information, Our changeling adversaries kept yet did not kill many of their targets. From the lowest of ranks to the very highest." - Riker
This finale had and did it all. Eliminated the Borg threat once and for all, my favorite character Data returns for good,
Seven of Nine is made captain, of what was once the Titan-A, now christened the Enterprise-G. I couldn't think of a better continuation for the legendary name. Raffi and Jack are senior crew on the G, so the ship is in good hands.
From tropes there is bittersweet: The Borg/Changeling conspiracy damaged Starfleet badly, with countless ships and personnel lost in their rampage, and possibly millions of young Starfleet personnel deeply traumatized by assimilation. However, Picard and his team triumphed over the Borg one last time, purging the universe of their threat once and for all. As well, a new generation of officers and an Enterprise(-G) set out to boldly go where no one has gone before.
but I'm sure the human spirit will recover, with aid from old and young. The unity of us all.
but this series has indeed EARNED ITS HAPPY ENDING (from tropes)
Picard started the series alone in bitter, self-imposed exile from Starfleet and the rest of the world. Picard now exits it and the franchise having gained a family, reunited his closest friends for the first time in two decades (along with resurrecting Data and, in a way, the Enterprise-D too), and having triumphed once and for all over his oldest, most personal enemy.
Raffi likewises started the series just as broken as Picard. The collapse of the Romulan Evacuation and her relationship with the Admiral also took down Raffi's career, her familial relationships, and her sobriety. But Picard's investigation into Soji Asha and Zhat Vash conspiracy slowly began pulling her out of the wreckage of her professional and personal lives. Raffi exits the series still struggling with her personal conflicts, but in much better shape now thanks to her relationships with Picard, Elnor, Seven, and now Worf. Having helped saved the Federation from utter annihilation, the recognition has allowed Raffi to not only begun reconciling with her son Gabe, but to also be offered one of the plum postings in all of Starfleet: The Federation Flagship's XO.
Similarly to Raffi, Seven started the series just as broken by the death of her surrogate son Icheb and Starfleet's Fantastic Racism that prevented the ex-Borg from joining her friends from Voyager (and in spite of Janeway's fierce lobbying). Hooking up with Team Picard and her tumultuous romance with Raffi allowed Seven to slowly begin healing and living again. Seven exits the series having helped end the Borg for good and becoming Captain of the Federation Flagship (and while no longer romantically involved with Raffi, remaining close friends).
Geordi and Sidney start the season estranged. Then just as Geordi begins to better understand and bond with Sidney, he loses her (and Alandra) to Borg assimilation. He's so desperate to save his girls that he's initially ready to rush out to their rescue without thinking things through. Thankfully, Data gets Geordi to see that they need a plan to save his girls. And it works. Seeing Sidney and Alandra, freed, safe, and happy, alongside Seven and Raffi, brings out a well-earned smile from Geordi.
The Federation itself has gone through nearly half a century of conflict and societal upheaval not seen since the days of Captain Kirk with the threat of the Borg constantly in the back of everyone’s mind. The rising of the Sun over Earth dispels the long living nightmare of the last 40 years and the rise of a new century in which the Federation can recover and grow anew with a new Enterprise leading the way.
Even the Enterprise-D, in a sense, gets a happy ending. When we left it at the end of Generations, the once proud Federation Flagship whose adventures we'd followed during TNG's run had died an ignominious death, with the secondary hull destroyed by a warp core breach and the saucer had been, for all intents, left to rot on a backwater world in the middle of nowhere. But Geordi's ascendancy to the Fleet Museum Curator role gave him the cachet to salvage the old girl and begin restoring her over two decades. Not only does she get to fly again one more time, but the Enterprise helps save the Federation from annihilation and defeat the Borg once and for all. In the epilogue, the "D" exits the series and the 24th century era fully restored and now taking its rightful place in the Fleet Museum — a far more honorable and deserving final fate for the franchise's second most famous Starship Enterprise.
This also applies to the USS Syracuse, from which Geordi gained the Enterprise's new secondary hull. While the actual ship undoubtedly had a distinguished career, and likely saw action in the Dominion War, it will live on as part of the Enterprise legacy. In fact the entire Galaxy class itself will live on as part of her legacy as well.
The last minutes sealed the perfect package with the crew reminiscing at the bar. And Picard's final Shakespeare quote still gets me:
"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves or lose our ventures."
I agree with Riker's "We're grateful to have ridden the tide with you." Me and other long time fans.
As they clink their glasses, Picard adds one final note: A playing card, bringing the crew together for a few hands of poker. The series closes just as Next Generation did, with a game of poker. And the Trek theme playing in the final moments...pure bliss.
I...am...content.
Reiterating, THIS is the sendoff that this crew deserved. Blows "Nemesis" to space dust.
When the credits were playing during the poker game, I was a happy man, completely satisfied. Twenty years, I was afraid Trek lost what made it special.
Thankfully this, Strange New Worlds and of course Lower Decks have shown there are still good Trek for old comers and new fans.
This finale restored much for me and I can again, call this a proper farewell.
Apologies, but I must continue with the praising for I wish to cement the certainty from some Youtube comments:
"This is how you want to see these characters leave the stage…with hope, with love, camaraderie and laughter. Thanks for being our TV heroes for over 35 years…"
"Absolutely! Together, these people made our childhoods brighter, by serving as prime examples of what we could aspire to be. They will be missed."
"Watching Sir Patrick Stewart recite that sonnet from Julius Caesar, doing what we all know he does so passionately & masterfuly, while they look on with Love & Admiration is a truly Priceless ending <3 "
"I grew up with these characters. They were, for an awkward, lonely teenage me - a sort of family.
I will always love them, they will forever occupy a sacred place in my heart.
Thank you to these fine actors, thank you. "
"This WAS THE BEST ENDING. When the original TNG theme started playing i exploded into nostagic joy. Truly redeemable. Amazing end to an amazing saga"
"you know, the first two seasons of Picard where rough in many ways but Season 3 redeemed it all and that final scene there... that final scene is a perfect ending "
"I can't smile hard enough. This is SO PERFECT. It's perfect. It's just.............. PERFECT. I haven't felt so satisfied at the end of a season in years. I was a child when TNG aired. And now I'm an adult, seeing this crew, this family - my.. no - OUR other family together in a perfect conclusion of happiness, Shakespearean quotes by a Legend, ... and poker. "
"This Crew is the biggest LEGEND in Star Trek Historie.
Star Trek Nemesis left a wound, it felt like unfinished business.
Star Trek Picard brought us the glorious finale this crew deserved.
More satisfaction isn't possible."
"This was the perfect way to send the series off. Picard's demons are finally laid to rest, the galaxy is free of the Borg, the restored Enterprise-D is once again at rest, and the gang stayed reunited. "
"I think it's safe to say that this was the greatest season/series finale episode since the final episode of Voyager. After the way Nemesis ended, we all felt that the TNG cast was robbed of an official happy ending. But now, this is how the TNG cast will be remembered: good times, laughter, and a good game of poker. This was truly a story of redemption that needed to happen. To the TNG crew: "Live Long and Prosper"!!! "
PATRICK STEWART
JOHNATHAN FRAKES
LEVAR BURTON
GATES McFADDEN
MIRITA SIRTIS
MICHAEL DORN
BRENT SPINER
and to all other cast and crew.
Very proud to be a fan...always. Nice to see them one last time.
I will treasure this all my life.
Proud to have my Trek fan heart healed, restored and content.
But when my brother mentioned the TNG cast were returning together, as being a TNG fan and reinvigorated by Lower Decks, I felt obligated.
Earlier in April 2023, Star Trek: Picard came to a close. was brought into the final season via my brother. Where he showed me in a preview trailer, the whole TNG crew was returning. Newly resurfaced fan that I was, and TNG being my Trek, I felt I had to see it through.
What started out slow, eventually became the fate of the whole Federation!
The Borg returned, the Enterprise-D the last ship to stand against them. And with heroics from all the main cast, Picard rescues his son Jack, and after 35 years, the Borg are finally vanquished forever. No joke!
After all was said and done, I felt great pride the TNG did the impossible and saved all.
"Captain's log, Stardate… shall we say one. The first of a new day for friends both old and young. Starfleet had implemented a fleet-wide transporter solution to purge our young officers of the Borg infection. A world-saving effort developed by our new head of Starfleet Medical Branch – Admiral Crusher, who also managed to spearhead technology that privately scans for other irregularities. In constant need for information, Our changeling adversaries kept yet did not kill many of their targets. From the lowest of ranks to the very highest." - Riker
This finale had and did it all. Eliminated the Borg threat once and for all, my favorite character Data returns for good,
Seven of Nine is made captain, of what was once the Titan-A, now christened the Enterprise-G. I couldn't think of a better continuation for the legendary name. Raffi and Jack are senior crew on the G, so the ship is in good hands.
From tropes there is bittersweet: The Borg/Changeling conspiracy damaged Starfleet badly, with countless ships and personnel lost in their rampage, and possibly millions of young Starfleet personnel deeply traumatized by assimilation. However, Picard and his team triumphed over the Borg one last time, purging the universe of their threat once and for all. As well, a new generation of officers and an Enterprise(-G) set out to boldly go where no one has gone before.
but I'm sure the human spirit will recover, with aid from old and young. The unity of us all.
but this series has indeed EARNED ITS HAPPY ENDING (from tropes)
Picard started the series alone in bitter, self-imposed exile from Starfleet and the rest of the world. Picard now exits it and the franchise having gained a family, reunited his closest friends for the first time in two decades (along with resurrecting Data and, in a way, the Enterprise-D too), and having triumphed once and for all over his oldest, most personal enemy.
Raffi likewises started the series just as broken as Picard. The collapse of the Romulan Evacuation and her relationship with the Admiral also took down Raffi's career, her familial relationships, and her sobriety. But Picard's investigation into Soji Asha and Zhat Vash conspiracy slowly began pulling her out of the wreckage of her professional and personal lives. Raffi exits the series still struggling with her personal conflicts, but in much better shape now thanks to her relationships with Picard, Elnor, Seven, and now Worf. Having helped saved the Federation from utter annihilation, the recognition has allowed Raffi to not only begun reconciling with her son Gabe, but to also be offered one of the plum postings in all of Starfleet: The Federation Flagship's XO.
Similarly to Raffi, Seven started the series just as broken by the death of her surrogate son Icheb and Starfleet's Fantastic Racism that prevented the ex-Borg from joining her friends from Voyager (and in spite of Janeway's fierce lobbying). Hooking up with Team Picard and her tumultuous romance with Raffi allowed Seven to slowly begin healing and living again. Seven exits the series having helped end the Borg for good and becoming Captain of the Federation Flagship (and while no longer romantically involved with Raffi, remaining close friends).
Geordi and Sidney start the season estranged. Then just as Geordi begins to better understand and bond with Sidney, he loses her (and Alandra) to Borg assimilation. He's so desperate to save his girls that he's initially ready to rush out to their rescue without thinking things through. Thankfully, Data gets Geordi to see that they need a plan to save his girls. And it works. Seeing Sidney and Alandra, freed, safe, and happy, alongside Seven and Raffi, brings out a well-earned smile from Geordi.
The Federation itself has gone through nearly half a century of conflict and societal upheaval not seen since the days of Captain Kirk with the threat of the Borg constantly in the back of everyone’s mind. The rising of the Sun over Earth dispels the long living nightmare of the last 40 years and the rise of a new century in which the Federation can recover and grow anew with a new Enterprise leading the way.
Even the Enterprise-D, in a sense, gets a happy ending. When we left it at the end of Generations, the once proud Federation Flagship whose adventures we'd followed during TNG's run had died an ignominious death, with the secondary hull destroyed by a warp core breach and the saucer had been, for all intents, left to rot on a backwater world in the middle of nowhere. But Geordi's ascendancy to the Fleet Museum Curator role gave him the cachet to salvage the old girl and begin restoring her over two decades. Not only does she get to fly again one more time, but the Enterprise helps save the Federation from annihilation and defeat the Borg once and for all. In the epilogue, the "D" exits the series and the 24th century era fully restored and now taking its rightful place in the Fleet Museum — a far more honorable and deserving final fate for the franchise's second most famous Starship Enterprise.
This also applies to the USS Syracuse, from which Geordi gained the Enterprise's new secondary hull. While the actual ship undoubtedly had a distinguished career, and likely saw action in the Dominion War, it will live on as part of the Enterprise legacy. In fact the entire Galaxy class itself will live on as part of her legacy as well.
The last minutes sealed the perfect package with the crew reminiscing at the bar. And Picard's final Shakespeare quote still gets me:
"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves or lose our ventures."
I agree with Riker's "We're grateful to have ridden the tide with you." Me and other long time fans.
As they clink their glasses, Picard adds one final note: A playing card, bringing the crew together for a few hands of poker. The series closes just as Next Generation did, with a game of poker. And the Trek theme playing in the final moments...pure bliss.
I...am...content.
Reiterating, THIS is the sendoff that this crew deserved. Blows "Nemesis" to space dust.
When the credits were playing during the poker game, I was a happy man, completely satisfied. Twenty years, I was afraid Trek lost what made it special.
Thankfully this, Strange New Worlds and of course Lower Decks have shown there are still good Trek for old comers and new fans.
This finale restored much for me and I can again, call this a proper farewell.
Apologies, but I must continue with the praising for I wish to cement the certainty from some Youtube comments:
"This is how you want to see these characters leave the stage…with hope, with love, camaraderie and laughter. Thanks for being our TV heroes for over 35 years…"
"Absolutely! Together, these people made our childhoods brighter, by serving as prime examples of what we could aspire to be. They will be missed."
"Watching Sir Patrick Stewart recite that sonnet from Julius Caesar, doing what we all know he does so passionately & masterfuly, while they look on with Love & Admiration is a truly Priceless ending <3 "
"I grew up with these characters. They were, for an awkward, lonely teenage me - a sort of family.
I will always love them, they will forever occupy a sacred place in my heart.
Thank you to these fine actors, thank you. "
"This WAS THE BEST ENDING. When the original TNG theme started playing i exploded into nostagic joy. Truly redeemable. Amazing end to an amazing saga"
"you know, the first two seasons of Picard where rough in many ways but Season 3 redeemed it all and that final scene there... that final scene is a perfect ending "
"I can't smile hard enough. This is SO PERFECT. It's perfect. It's just.............. PERFECT. I haven't felt so satisfied at the end of a season in years. I was a child when TNG aired. And now I'm an adult, seeing this crew, this family - my.. no - OUR other family together in a perfect conclusion of happiness, Shakespearean quotes by a Legend, ... and poker. "
"This Crew is the biggest LEGEND in Star Trek Historie.
Star Trek Nemesis left a wound, it felt like unfinished business.
Star Trek Picard brought us the glorious finale this crew deserved.
More satisfaction isn't possible."
"This was the perfect way to send the series off. Picard's demons are finally laid to rest, the galaxy is free of the Borg, the restored Enterprise-D is once again at rest, and the gang stayed reunited. "
"I think it's safe to say that this was the greatest season/series finale episode since the final episode of Voyager. After the way Nemesis ended, we all felt that the TNG cast was robbed of an official happy ending. But now, this is how the TNG cast will be remembered: good times, laughter, and a good game of poker. This was truly a story of redemption that needed to happen. To the TNG crew: "Live Long and Prosper"!!! "
PATRICK STEWART
JOHNATHAN FRAKES
LEVAR BURTON
GATES McFADDEN
MIRITA SIRTIS
MICHAEL DORN
BRENT SPINER
and to all other cast and crew.
Very proud to be a fan...always. Nice to see them one last time.
I will treasure this all my life.
Proud to have my Trek fan heart healed, restored and content.
