Fortunately, with a somewhat messy start, Star Trek: Picard quickly recovers. The first episode starts slow but comes to a powerful end. A mega cliffhanger that few other Star Trek series can match. The Borg Queen has a big role this season. Unfortunately, the cliffhanger is pretty much destroyed in the second episode. There is another old acquaintance who will determine the rest of this season. He is firmly in control and single-handedly ensures that Picard's new and old acquaintances have to do everything they can to win the battle. The outcome, as always with Star Trek, may (fortunately) be known.
A large part of this season takes place in 2024. That ensures that we see many recognizable situations. The science fiction feeling is therefore somewhat less present. Time travel has been a frequent sight in this franchise. Fortunately, it is done tastefully and the story has more than enough depth to captivate from start to finish. Even the disappointing plot development at the beginning of the second episode doesn't change that.
This season we get a glimpse into Picard's psyche and past.
This season we get a glimpse into Picard's psyche and past. His private life as a boy is central. In that past lies the solution to the dilemmas that Picard and his team face. His relationship with his parents and the place where he lives now have a turbulent history. It has had an effect not only on his career, but also on his love life. The latter seems closer than ever, but Picard actually doesn't know what to do with it.
Of course, everything else is fine. The 4K images, the CGI, the impressive sound, and the acting offer what we are (now) used to from Star Trek. I imagine there are fans who are annoyed by the lack of more traditional sci-fi with starships and engineering feats. However, it's long been the case that Star Trek isn't always set in the stars. This season may therefore lack the truly original Star Trek feeling, but given all the other Star Trek series that made similar trips, that is no problem at all for me.
About the writer, Karzal
Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
Are you serious? A 7.5? I thought this was about the worst season of a Star Trek series ever (except for Disco perhaps). Completely inimitable with well-known minds who then turn out to play different roles, such as Brent Spiner. A monstrosity of a time travel plot that makes no sense at all. Some absolutely soporific episodes that drag on and on. With a Q that hardly does anything and with unclear motives. And Patrick Stewart pushing his way through it. The man has now earned his pension well and that unfortunately shows. Messy and not Star Trek worthy. A shame about all the enormous talent wasted on this. I really hope that the third season will make up for something, otherwise this would be another attempt by "the men" that will fail ingloriously. But... everyone has their own opinion, I say and, even though I don't agree with it this time, thank you very much for your review :-)
Fortunately, tastes may differ. We're not going to argue about that ;) I just find your comment about Brent Spiner remarkable. He has previously played Altan Inigo Soong (say, Data's father). Now he plays someone from the same family line (Adam Soong). Only about x hundred years earlier in history. I find it rather funny that he is now playing this role.
Yes, you are right. But I've always found it very strange that the entire Soong family apparently consists of clones. It is not surprising that Data resembles Noonian Soong. That is the creator of Data who he made in his own image. It is also normal that B4 and Lore resemble Data. Those are Androids from the same series. I can also understand that Altan Inigo Soong, Noonian's son, resembles his father, but I expected a bit more deviation there. But the fact that the Soong family has exactly the same appearance hundreds of years earlier is beyond my suspension of disbelief ;-)
If I remember correctly, x-on:Mandy1966 gave a particularly low grade during the my series podcast this season, correct me if I'm wrong. That's why I didn't really want to watch, who doubts Mandy's expertise? I watched it anyway and I must honestly say that it didn't disappoint me, although I don't feel strongly about bringing old characters back in a different role, I wasn't that annoyed by it, not even by insufficiently developed plots, there There were sufficiently detailed elements that meant that I agree with the figure. There is also a lot recognizable that cannot be said of "Strange new worlds" and "Discovery". What I really liked was that Wesley Crusher had a short appearance, especially because we are watching The Big Bang Theory for the umpteenth time. I love these kinds of performances, such as the appearance of Hendrik Groen in "The golden hour", masterful!
That's right, I gave it a 5. But if someone thinks it's better, who am I to argue with that. I was actually bothered by the things that you didn't find a problem.
