Was pretty excited for this show.. but ultimately underwhelmed...

[DarKush]

I can't say I was super excited, outside of when the initial announcement was made. It was good seeing Patrick Stewart come back. Also, when I heard that some other TNG veterans were going to be on the series. As time got close for the premiere I did get more excited, or more so intrigued, to see what they would do.

I read the prequel comic, which I thought was just okay, but didn't give me much world building or as many clues as I would've liked. When I finally checked out season 1 I was underwhelmed. The ingredients for a good series are there, but I think the truncated 10-episode season didn't allow for them to do much world building or character development. I thought the big story arc wasn't that interesting, and had a been there/done that feel to me. I also didn't care for the profanity or the gore, I thought that stuff was just done for shock value.

I think the Romulan, ex-Borg, or android storylines could've each been the major storyline for such a short season, but they were all thrown in together and that didn't allow for each to be explored as well as they could've, or should've been.

I would've been happier if Picard was a limited series, truly the Logan for this character, instead of having a season 2. I wonder where are they going to go next? Is Picard just going to go on adventures with the La Sirena crew? We'll see what plans they have in store for Picard and the other characters but I don't see where they go next. Perhaps if they hadn't named it "Picard", and that could've left this part of the Trek era to be explored by Riker and Troi, or perhaps that Captain Worf series that Michael Dorn had pitched. Or if they had perhaps dedicated a season to each main TNG character anthology-style instead of just doing another season of Picard. And just mix in some DS9, VOY, and perhaps even TOS, characters in like how Seven of Nine was on ST: Picard.

 

[thribs]

Why? What possible difference could the number of episodes make if you’re enjoying the show?

For a serialised show it makes a difference. You can cut out all the fluff and have a more coherent story.

 

[Kzinti]

For a serialised show it makes a difference. You can cut out all the fluff and have a more coherent story.

the problem is that the synth plot is complete garbage so without the fluff there wouldn't be anything left to salvage

 

[fireproof78]

The Borg were not necessary in my opinion and could have allowed for more time exploring the Romulans.

 

[The Lensman]

I enjoyed the show for the most part. Liked the cast, the look, had some nice call backs. Overall, pretty good. I was mixed on the ending though. Because when they thought Picard was dead and we see all their reactions, it was pretty emotional for me as a viewer because I thought "That's it for Picard" and I would've been very happy if the show had ended with them eulogizing him. On the other hand, I loved the following Data scene as well and THAT was also pretty emotional for me. So much so that I purchased that version of "Blue Skies" and have listened to it quite a bit. Just a well done song in a great scene.

What I didn't like was.....Picard.

Or at least the backstory they gave him. He didn't come off as a "broken man" so much as an entitled shit who didn't get his way and took his ball and went home. I didn't feel for him. I felt for Raffi, who was onto something all those years ago, and was ignored by him, leading her into depression which led to alienation from her family. If this had been Geordi or Worf, audiences would've hated Picard for acting the way he did towards Raffi. Or the Romulans on that planet where Elnor lived. He just never went back to do anything resembling help and gets pissy because things didn't turn out the way he liked. Watching him go into their society, the one he turned his back on, and think he should be able to ignore their rules just screamed "human privilege" to me. I know what they were going for, but it was a miserable failure and I sympathized more that a guy lost his life because entitled Picard thought he should be able to ignore their rules on their world.

When he went into the office of that Starfleet officer, I was waiting for, and was amazed it took her that long to tell him to fuck off. And I cheered out loud when she did. Because, again, Picard came off as an entitled piece of shit who walked away when he didn't get his way, isolated himself off for years leaving everyone else to rot, trash talks Starfleet, then comes back making demands he had absolutely no right or business to make.

Now, I chalk this up to the writers obviously, because they should've given us a story that wasn't "If I don't get my way, I'm going to quit!" That doesn't work in most companies comprised of scores of employee's and it sure as shit isn't going to work in an interstellar alliance comprised of a hundred or so worlds and quintillions of citizens. That the writers thought Picard thought that would work was just....ugh. Picard was a diplomat, who over the course of his career forged many contacts and relationships. We should've seen more about him rallying disparate groups of allies from within and without the Federation, not just trying, but actually rescuing as many as he could until he couldn't go on anymore and feeling the guilt from those he still couldn't save. Not just going "Welp, the fleet got blown up, and they said "No", so then I said "Say yes or I quit" and they said "Laterz", so I'm outta here"

So I think the way they went was a huge disservice to the character of Picard. It didn't feel true to the character at all.

The only other nits I have was that the FX work, aside from a few shots, was uninspired. And what the fuck was with the tentacles? That was another element that was poorly thought out and was horrible in execution. They should've just left that element out altogether because it was just lazy as a payoff. As was an entire fleet of ships warping in, then just warping out ten minutes later. Like no squadron of ships were left behind to monitor....anything. But I guess that kind of build up and quick, convenient resolution are a staple of TNG.

As I said, I enjoyed the show, not as much as Discovery, but well enough. I do wonder...where do they go from here though. Picard was a passenger on La Sirena, so is he part of the crew now? i don't imagine that the ship was usually running the kind of missions that make for compelling tv on a regular basis, so it'll be interesting to see what happens next.

All in all I'm enjoying the AA Era of Trek a lot and am excited for the new stuff (except section 31..have never liked the concept). So looking forward to new Trek this year and next.

 

[Random_Spock]

I'm thinking a lot of the entitled behavior was due to the irimotic syndrome affecting his behavior. Do I excuse it, no. Do I hold him accountable for it, yes.

In the instance of the insufferable admiral, she was right to put him in his place. It wasn't his place to ask for the kind of help he wanted. He wasn't in Starfleet any longer and was just a regular person.

That said, I am wondering where things will go on that front and others as the show goes forward.

 

[thribs]

That neural defect nonsense didn’t make much sense as well. In TNG it was the reason he later contradicted the syndrome but here it was just a ticking time bomb for him to just die when it was convenient.

 

[Random_Spock]

That neural defect nonsense didn’t make much sense as well. In TNG it was the reason he later contradicted the syndrome but here it was just a Thats cling time bomb for him to just die when it was convenient.

It made sense to me, as Q said it may happen or it may not.

 

[thribs]

It made sense to me, as Q said it may happen or it may not.

It may happen that he would get the syndrome. Not that he would just randomly die

 

[fireproof78]

It made sense to me, as Q said it may happen or it may not.

I actually appreciated that he would be struggling, but not only that the stress of the series events would hasten that syndrome, which is pretty common.

 

[Random_Spock]

I actually appreciated that he would be struggling, but not only that the stress of the series events would hasten that syndrome, which is pretty common.

Same here. It showed that he was and is human. Exactly, a lot like Alzheimers.

 

[Random_Spock]

It may happen that he would get the syndrome. Not that he would just randomly die

The syndrome would eventually lead to death. I am thinking it was why Q in his own way, kind of gave him a heads up about it so he would be prepared when and if it did show up.

 

[thribs]

But I don’t think he had that syndrome here.

 

[Random_Spock]

But I don’t think he had that syndrome here.

They mentioned about it in ep 2, iirc. The doctor said he could have it or other similar syndromes. There's no getting around it.

https://ew.com/recap/star-trek-picard-season-1-episode-2/

 

[thribs]

He never mentioned the syndrome, just the defect. It was a very strange scene.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I think they never mentioned it by name because it because what kills Picard in PIC is different and sudden, and Irumodic Syndrome left him senile.

 

[Random_Spock]

I think they never mentioned it by name because it because what kills Picard in PIC is different and sudden, and Irumodic Syndrome left him senile.

Yea, was thinking that if he had Irumodic syndrome, it had to be for some years. Given the suddenness of what killed him. He was going senile in Picard too given some of his behavior and in the end, he was starting to hallucinate.

Iirc, didn't the doctor say that they'd have to test some more to find out which syndrome he had?

 

[STEPhon IT]

I think they never mentioned it by name because it because what kills Picard in PIC is different and sudden, and Irumodic Syndrome left him senile.

Maybe the showrunners of PICARD heard about an illness and never cared to research what Jean-Luc had in "All Good Things...", they probably thought they could invent something better than a great and popular TV show.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Maybe the showrunners of PICARD heard about an illness and never cared to research what Jean-Luc had in "All Good Things...", they probably thought they could invent something better than a great and popular TV show.

Yes, the implication that they never bothered to watch "All Good Things" is sure to gain traction.

 

[Random_Spock]

Maybe the showrunners of PICARD heard about an illness and never cared to research what Jean-Luc had in "All Good Things...", they probably thought they could invent something better than a great and popular TV show.

I doubt it. It seemed like they were aware of it to me. *shrug*