Spoilers Season 3 Cast Announcement

[donners22]

I don't get the gnashing of teeth and rending of clothes over "nostalgia". So what if they bring back past character and actors? How and why is important to me. Is there a story there?

I'm neither gnashing nor rending, but am apprehensive.

My primary concern is that it will be at the expense of the current cast and characters. I really like Jurati and Rios, and want to see much more of them. To a lesser extent, I'd like more of Seven - while she was over-exposed in Voyager, here there's the chance for some better material. (Don't particularly care about Raffi, and I was pleased that Elnor died, at least temporarily). In contrast, I just don't care about any of the other TNG characters or actors. They've had their time, and most of them weren't particularly interesting back then.

Plus, the hints as to at least one new character for S3 do not bode well for the story.

 

[Jayson1]

What if they bring them all back just to kill them all in the final episode. I can see it now. The crew has just beaten the bad guy who lets say stole the new Enterprise and went on a crime spree. The auto destruct has been set though and the TNG crew can't get off. But the newer characters will still be alive. The Enterprise explodes killing everyone meaning a end to the TNG era for certain.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

What if they bring them all back just to kill them all in the final episode. I can see it now. The crew has just beaten the bad guy who lets say stole the new Enterprise and went on a crime spree. The auto destruct has been set though and the TNG crew can't get off. But the newer characters will still be alive. The Enterprise explodes killing everyone meaning a end to the TNG era for certain.

Hmm. Sir Patrick has said that Jean-Luc’s story won’t end the way Charles’ story ends in LOGAN, which I’d say means more than the literal interpretation of “he’s not gonna get stabbed by a fake Wolverine”. And he also said “Jean-Luc Picard will live forever” (direct quote). Doesn’t sound like “we’re gonna kill them all” to me. Also, they wouldn’t have said that there is room for a 4th season of the show if Sir Patrick wants to. (And HE wouldn’t have said that he’s not fundamentally opposed to the idea and that he has to think about it.)

This doesn’t mean that the show can’t end with Jean-Luc being turned into a Q or wormhole alien or a watcher or whatever else of course tho. But a “simple” death doesn’t seem that likely. However, since Sir Patrick has also said that the ending is “questionable” and “unexpected”, the fate of the other TNG characters could remain up for debate. I doubt it tho. Somehow this doesn’t strike me as the intention. “A proper send-off” (as Matalas has called it) sounds more like “one more mission that ends more or less successfully but with questionable undertones of ‘did we really end this threat’” to me.

 

[Romulan_spy]

I highly doubt that the show will kill off all the main cast in TNG. That would be unnecessary and just anger fans. However, I could see one of the main cast sacrificing themselves to save others. It also sounds like they probably won't kill off Picard either. My guess is that they will either have Picard truly retire to his chateau for good, now that he has done one last adventure that has given him closure. Or Picard will turn into a Q, Watcher, Traveler or something so that there is a sense of ending but also of new beginnings.

 

[eschaton]

I think there's no doubt - should Q survive this season - that he will have Picard "live with him" rather than allowing him to cease to exist following death.

 

[gvn2fly]

I think people put too much into this TNG announcement. The teaser says “joining the cast”. That doesn’t mean the entire season will have them from start to finish.

Right. Just like Brent Spiner is in the cast for season 2, but as of the upcoming episode will only have been in 4 out of 8 episodes.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

Right. Just like Brent Spiner is in the cast for season 2, but as of the upcoming episode will only have been in 4 out of 8 episodes.

Exactly. “In the cast” doesn’t equal “in every episode”. I mean they promoted the hell out of Q’s involvement in season 2 with Picard/Q promo images and whatnot and yet he and Jean-Luc have had like what, one big scene together so far and we have only three episodes left. With the way they promoted Q you would have thought he and Jean-Luc go on a Buddy cop adventure together all through the season. And Whoopi Goldberg’s Guinan was teased excessively as well and she has only appeared in one episode so far. It’s the name of the game, yes, promote things on the basis of your audience’s nostalgia, but in the end this sort of thing is often incredibly misleading.

So, of course they’ll promote the hell out of the TNG crew for season 3, but honestly I’m not sure if this is going to be what the fandom seems to think it is going to be. It’s more than cameos, yes, Matalas has said as much, but “more than cameos” might just as well mean “they have quite a bit of screentime in two or three episodes in total”.

I think there's no doubt - should Q survive this season - that he will have Picard "live with him" rather than allowing him to cease to exist following death.

Yup. My thoughts exactly as well. The whole thing about “spending eternity together” that Q brought up in “Tapestry” has never looked like a joke to me.

 

[Danja]

I highly doubt that the show will kill off all the main cast in TNG.

It would be a morbid look for Prodigy.

Spoiler: Prodigy

Imagine some child's older brother or sister telling them, "Crusher dies in Picard".

Or Picard will turn into a Q, Watcher, Traveler or something so that there is a sense of ending but also of new beginnings.

That's assuming Q gets HIS powers back.

I was pleased that Elnor died, at least temporarily).

He may well be the person who helps Agnes (a la Talinn). I can see him entering Agnes and fighting the Borg Queen.

He's popped up twice this season. He's still hanging around Raffi and Seven.

 

[Jayson1]

Hmm. Sir Patrick has said that Jean-Luc’s story won’t end the way Charles’ story ends in LOGAN, which I’d say means more than the literal interpretation of “he’s not gonna get stabbed by a fake Wolverine”. And he also said “Jean-Luc Picard will live forever” (direct quote). Doesn’t sound like “we’re gonna kill them all” to me. Also, they wouldn’t have said that there is room for a 4th season of the show if Sir Patrick wants to. (And HE wouldn’t have said that he’s not fundamentally opposed to the idea and that he has to think about it.)

This doesn’t mean that the show can’t end with Jean-Luc being turned into a Q or wormhole alien or a watcher or whatever else of course tho. But a “simple” death doesn’t seem that likely. However, since Sir Patrick has also said that the ending is “questionable” and “unexpected”, the fate of the other TNG characters could remain up for debate. I doubt it tho. Somehow this doesn’t strike me as the intention. “A proper send-off” (as Matalas has called it) sounds more like “one more mission that ends more or less successfully but with questionable undertones of ‘did we really end this threat’” to me.

Live forever though could also be seen though as a metaphor about how some people are legends that live on in memory long after they died. Picard could die but the legend that is Picard would continue on long after that. Same with the whole crew. The ole, they aren't really dead as long as we keep them in our heart. I do wonder though if maybe he and Laris go off to live with those Gary Seven aliens.

 

[shapeshifter]

I think there's no doubt - should Q survive this season - that he will have Picard "live with him" rather than allowing him to cease to exist following death.

The Odder couple!

why? If this is indeed the last we see of Picard I’d love to see him retire with a family instead of being alone.

Picard and Laris marry, Q moves in as their human butler.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

Live forever though could also be seen though as a metaphor about how some people are legends that live on in memory long after they died. Picard could die but the legend that is Picard would continue on long after that. Same with the whole crew. The ole, they aren't really dead as long as we keep them in our heart. I do wonder though if maybe he and Laris go off to live with those Gary Seven aliens.

The main goal of the show is to display how Jean-Luc deals with certain issues that he has to face now that he has gotten some extra years late in his life. (And they already killed him and then brought him back. From a storytelling point of view killing him AGAIN would be somewhat redundant.) They wouldn’t have said there’s room for a fourth season if they simply killed him off at the end without any sort of hint that things aren’t the way they seem. I do agree that he’s most likely not just gonna sit on his vineyard and look at the sunset tho, PIC is not that kind of show. They will shake things up in some major way, no doubt. It’s what they’ve been doing for almost two seasons now. First he got a new body, then they revealed (more) severe trauma in his mind… I’m sure there will be more surprises that shake up both the Trek universe and Jean-Luc as a character. I think it was John de Lancie who said that things get REALLY intense for Jean-Luc in season 3. And Sir Patrick also said that Jean-Luc is still dealing with his fear in season 3 and that this will “come to a climax” then. So, in short, there’s more turmoil ahead. (Another reason why I doubt the TNG reunion will be what the fans expect. Or even want.)

If it were up to me I’d let Jean-Luc sacrifice himself for the good of the galaxy because that’s what he’s best at and always will be, and then the screen goes black but then there’s Q’s voice that says “Took you long enough to arrive here, mon capitaine… typical” and then, end credits. (They could even do this kind of ending if Q dies in season 2. In fact, that would make it even more impactful.) That would qualify as “Picard has a question mark over his head”, as Sir Patrick said about the ending AND it sure would be unexpected AND it would leave room for a theoretical fourth season. But then I’m not writing the show. (Probably better that way. We’d have a completely different angle on a few things, ahem.)

 

[Jayson1]

I've also liked the idea of Q being their to greet Picard when he dies but of course if he dies next year that won't happen because I think it has been said Q isn't in season 3. Picard could maybe find him in a Spock situation were he finds himself living out his final years in a alternate universe. Also part of me thinks he will become a father.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

I've also liked the idea of Q being their to greet Picard when he dies but of course if he dies next year that won't happen because I think it has been said Q isn't in season 3. Picard could maybe find him in a Spock situation were he finds himself living out his final years in a alternate universe. Also part of me thinks he will become a father.

There have been conflicting hints regarding Q in season 3. The one thing that can probably viewed as certain is that they were shooting season 3 scenes while shooting season 2 (because saving money and also there’s Covid, it makes sense to shoot stuff while you’re there instead of having to go through all the restrictions and regulations AGAIN in a few weeks) and that this is why de Lancie seemed to know what the plot is in season 3.

And yes I think after that Illuminerdi website seeming to be the real deal regarding casting call sheets, it’s indeed likely that they will introduce a son for Jean-Luc he never knew he had. Checks with de Lancie’s remark about things getting REALLY intense for Jean-Luc in the third season, and it checks with Sir Patrick’s remarks about Jean-Luc facing his fear in season 3 still. I definitely wouldn’t rule things out, especially not since the trailer for season 3 went on about Jean-Luc’s “legacy” and season 2 had him saying he’s the last Picard. They’re planting a lot of hints right there already. It’s logical from a storytelling point of view also - a son would give his fear another new angle he has to explore because of his own issues with his father. AND it would also match Sir Patrick’s life again - he had to also find a whole new way to make up for the many lost years with his kids (he has said he was an “absent father” most of the time).

 

[Jayson1]

No need to introduce a new son for Picard. It's time for Wesley to find out who is real dad is.

 

[Paul Weaver]

No need to introduce a new son for Picard. It's time for Wesley to find out who is real dad is.

 

[Vale]

No need to introduce a new son for Picard. It's time for Wesley to find out who is real dad is.

This reminds me of a recent interview with Gates McFadden where Wil Wheaton spoke about his abusive childhood and estrangement from his parents, and he outright stated that he wished Jonathan Frakes was his real dad...

 

[Alexander Corrino]

If there's one Trek character who I'd like to have as a dad it's Riker. I mean he's really sweet to his "son" in "Future Imperfect" even though he has absolutely no recollection of him. I've always liked that. You can have a worse dad than Riker. (And probably also Frakes, so I guess I get what Wheaton is saying. Frakes seems like a good guy although I'm not a Frakes expert.)

 

[Jayson1]

For me it is Sisko. I love the scenes between him and Jake. I wish I had that between me and my dad. It is one of the greatest most underrated things in all of Star Trek. Of course having Riker or Picard for a dad would also be cool.

 

[eschaton]

For me it is Sisko. I love the scenes between him and Jake. I wish I had that between me and my dad. It is one of the greatest most underrated things in all of Star Trek. Of course having Riker or Picard for a dad would also be cool.

Brooks apparently had such a close relationship with Cirroc Lofton that he took him to Disney World and introduced him as "his son."

 

[Jayson1]

Brooks apparently had such a close relationship with Cirroc Lofton that he took him to Disney World and introduced him as "his son."

I knew they were close but never heard the DIsney story before.