[Lady Bliss]

This is the best season!! Why do you think that each season was written as almost a standalone?

[Gothos]

Maybe so that TNG fans can skip the first two and go straight to the watchable one?

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

QuickTidal, on 16 March 2023 - 03:15 PM, said:

HOLY SHIT. Episode 5!

Spoiler

ENSIGN RO!....gods my other youthful crush from Trek. Michelle Forbes still rocks it at 58!....please now just give me Beth Toussaint reprising Ishara Yar, and there trifecta of my childhood Trek Crushes showing up and chewing scenery on PICARD will be complete.

HOLY SHIT indeed!

Spoiler

Michelle Forbes looks incredible. I'm so sad Ro died, I always found her character intriguing. The entirety of Starfleet being compromised feels like logical endgame for all those times that we've had a corrupted or possessed admiral or high up staff in isolation, though goodness knows how they resolve it. The scene between Ro and Picard on the holodeck is one of the strongest in the series so far.

[Tavvar]

Lady Bliss, on 17 March 2023 - 12:18 AM, said:

This is the best season!! Why do you think that each season was written as almost a standalone?

I don't think they had a clear plan. They got Patrick Stewart back by promising not to redo TNG, but that's apparently the only idea that has actually worked well. I like this seaons's TNG, but darker with more interpersonal conflict (that they weren't allowed to do by Rodenberry). (I also think there may have been a showrunner change, so they completely changed direction.)

[Abyss]

Lady Bliss, on 17 March 2023 - 12:18 AM, said:

This is the best season!! Why do you think that each season was written as almost a standalone?

Not knowing if they would have a follow up season, and not wanting (possibly not being allowed) to leave the audience hanging.
Really i prefer it.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Holy shit....Episode 6!

Spoiler

THE BAND IS BACK TOGETHER!!!

Ah, Geordi, we've been waiting and it's so good to see you. Loved his conversation with Picard about the things you pass on to your kids.

Brent Spiner never stops being wonderful, I'm so pleased to have him back and that little sequence where he cycles through personalities just proves what a wonderful actor he is.

I would say the one weakness is I don't feel like I particularly care who Vadic is and why she's chasing them yet, and the seires doesn't have a lot of time to make her more compelling. However that isn't to say she's not proving a strong antagonist. As if beating up Riker didn't make me mad enough, you harm a hair on Deanna's head and phasers will not be set to stun!

(presuming of course that's the real Deanna.... I assume we'll find out next episode when Picard tries to contact her.)

As an aside, I largely enjoyed the first series ("Nepenthe" is one of the best episodes of anything I've seen in years) and enjoyed bits of the second (read: every time Q was on screen) - but with every episode of this final series I become more confused and mildly irritated that if the writing team could pull off something like this the whole time.... why did we get that patchy middle series in particular? I don't know if some of the team has changed but it certainly feels like there's been some sort of seismic shift.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 24 March 2023 - 08:47 AM

[QuickTidal]

Did you hear Terry Matalas talking about the show that could spin off this?

He said it would be titled "Star Trek Legacy, and would be a bridge between the Last Generation and the Next"...so I feel like we will get something like

Spoiler

a post-PICARD show with Captain Shaw being given the Enterprise F with some of the crew from the Titan (the LaForge's for sure, maybe Seven), Jack Crusher (if he survives this show that is, his whole character arc could be about reckoning with being the son of one of the most famous and decorated Starfleet captains ever), hopefully Raffi, and then you pull in cameos from everyone else from TNG occasionally, like when TNG had TOS actors on certain episodes. For what it's worth I think Captain Shaw is fascinating and quite different from all the other Captains we've seen before.

I only say it will be the Enterprise because they might want a NAME ship show after DISCO ends with the remaining season, but I would be just as happy with the Titan A....it's a really REALLY lovely ship design. I love the half moon saucer section!

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Oh look, I'm tearing up at Star Trek again

Spoiler

Yay for filling out Vadic and giving her purpose - it felt a bit to me like they were wasting an excellent actress by not fleshing our her motivation up to this point. Her exchange with Beverley and Jean-Luc was excellent.

I knew as soon as Geordie started appealing to Data through Lore I wasn't going to hold back the emotions. LeVar Burton and Brent Spiner bringing their A Game again.

Whaaaaat is with Jack? I loved how clearly Sidney played out "That scared the shit out of me but I don't have much option but to trust you for now" after he'd been in her mind.

Is it next Friday yet?

[QuickTidal]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 31 March 2023 - 08:02 AM, said:

Spoiler

Whaaaaat is with Jack? I loved how clearly Sidney played out "That scared the shit out of me but I don't have much option but to trust you for now" after he'd been in her mind.

Spoiler

I have a theory about Jack. The Irumodic Syndrome in Picard that Lore in this episode seems to indicate is not what it was thought to be and that Soong (from S1) found in him was not Irumodic Syndrome, but something that only looked like it...What if when Picard was Locutus, it changed his DNA and gave him abilities that mimic the syndrome while also allowing him telepathy and whatnot? Jack can pull a very Borg-like trick in that he can link minds...enough that he was in Sydney's head and she was doing his exact moves...since Vadic was "made" into what she is at Daystrom, she would maybe have access to what was going on with Picards human body and found a way to use it against humanity? the answer likely lay in who the talking head thing is that Vadic speaks with who is becoming more and more demanding....is it another changeling? Someone else? I'm not staying that the Borg are behind this all, that would make little sense after them being so huge in S2 and ending on good terms with the Federation. The only other thing I could think of was that during the Dominion War, but prior to ALL gOOD THINGS, some Changeling got some Changeling Goo into Picard to mimic that syndrome and it got passed on?

I also think the "I was supposed to show up at Frontier Day and you want to replace me" comments are telling. Watch Vadic, when Picard says he knows their plan she frowns, unsure for a second....but when he suggests they wanted a doppelgänger of him on Frontier Day, she smirks...he's not figured it out....not the least of which, how would a doppelgänger Picard speak at Frontier day when he's wanted all across Starfleet? It's another Red Herring. There's some other reason GooFace wants Jack, and needs Picards old body.

Oh, and I was also SUPER emotional when Geordi was pleading with Lore/Data....gods what incredible acting on both their parts.

And I got SUPER misty when Seven was talking to Not-Tuvok before the reveal as they were playing the Voyager music and everything!...bt then the reveal was like "Nah, this ain't Tuvok!"....you bastids!

I feel like we will 100% see Janeway this season now. I feel like she will be the only High Council member who is non-compromised by the Changellings.

This season has been EXQUISITE.

EDIT: Oh, and I stan Jack & Sydney now...they have GREAT chemistry.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 31 March 2023 - 12:00 PM

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. What a series it's been!

Spoiler

Oh my goodness if we get Janeway I think I'll explode. I might not have loved Voyager towards the end of its run, but I adore Janeway.

Bit of trivia: Kate Mulgrew voices a great character in the Dragon Age franchise. I pretty much jumped up and down squeaking when I first heard her voice!

[QuickTidal]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 31 March 2023 - 12:12 PM, said:

I agree with pretty much everything you said. What a series it's been!

Spoiler

Oh my goodness if we get Janeway I think I'll explode. I might not have loved Voyager towards the end of its run, but I adore Janeway.

Bit of trivia: Kate Mulgrew voices a great character in the Dragon Age franchise. I pretty much jumped up and down squeaking when I first heard her voice!

Spoiler

They've name dropped her on almost every episode this season, that's a Chekhov's Gun if I've ever seen one....she's 1000% coming, and I will be JUST as excited about it as you! Love me some Janeway.

Also, can we talk about how Amanda Plummer is gunning for being one of the best Trek Villains EVER?! She's soooooo good in this episode. It reminds me that my first real experience with Plummer was way back in SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER and she's only upped her game since then:

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

I could live an entire lifetime in the ocean of warm fuzzy feelings that episode gave me.

Spoiler

1. DEANNA, DEANNA, DEANNA. I LOVE Deanna Troi and it was so great to have her back properly. Marina Sirtis and Jonathan Frakes together on screen remains note perfect and an absolute joy.

2. "My name is Seven of Nine." Jeri Ryan does not get the credit she deserves for what an absolute tour de force of a performance she can make from the relatively little dialogue she's had this series.

3. Loved Data v Lore. Predictable? Sure. Any less enjoyable for it? Nope. Brent Spiner is such a gifted actor and the only reason I didn't leap up from the sofa cheering at the "These are memories, the only true measure of the WORTH of a life" line is because Mr Not a Blacksmith was still in bed upstairs.

4. Geordi reuniting with Data properly. Ah me, the fuzzies.

5. "This is your friendly positronic pissed off security system" - DATA, the sass!

6. "Your taste in wine is pedestrian at best". Picard, also joining in the sass.

7. ALL SEVEN OF THE CREW ROUND THE TABLE TOGETHER. I have waited so long for this and I still wasn't ready.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 07 April 2023 - 06:50 AM

[Cause]

The character of seven of nine is actually really amazing now that I think about it. She was brought into voyager to boost ratings in season 3? Season 4? Beautifull supermodel level actress put in a tight body suit. However she actually had a ton of great plots and character development. The role really became great.

That said I probably didn’t think it as a child but the best charge is the doctor and he should be in everything.

[QuickTidal]

Spoiler images of the last two episodes have leaked....so unless you want to know some shit, do NOT click this tag! You have been warned.

Spoiler

The Changelings were working with/for.....The Borg. And no, seemingly not the Jurati-run NuBorg who have a truce with the Federation, but the old school original Borg, to whom Picard will always be connected. My guess is that whatever is in Picards head pretending to be Irumodic Syndrome and Jacks as well... is Borg planted way back during the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS episodes of Trek. Something that organically passed to Jack and possibly is the reason he's so important to them?

Speaking of TBoBW's episodes..., Commander Shelby from those two episodes returns!

This also explains Jack's seeming ability to "network" himself to others like he did with Sydney.

The Enterprise D shows back up, rebuilt from the events of GENERATIONS, and they go abroad in all it's brightly lit glory!

That's about all you can suss out from the images, but still, super exciting!

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 12 April 2023 - 04:38 PM

[Abyss]

4 eps in (Riker just threw a rock).

I am enjoying this way WAAAAYYY too much.

Spoiler

The way they kept referencing WRATH OF KHAN during the fight w the Shrike... GENIUS.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

It is going to be such a long week to get ot the finale. What an incredible penultimate episode.

Spoiler

1. Can't help but feel the reveal with Jack could have happend a couple of episodes back with more time to examine what the reveal means for Jean-Luc, but I'm not even going to pretend I care that much after all the emotional stuff this episode served up.

2. New sassy Data is the best Data. "I hope we die quickly" - HAH!

3. Captain Shaw. That genuinely hurt, he's been such a great addition to this cast, and it had real emotional weight when he said it's not his ship anymore. And he finally called Seven Seven!!

4. Threat sucessfully turned up to 11. It was great seeing Shelby again but a bit of a shock for her to be killed (apparently) so quickly.

I will say before I get into this that TNG has always been my Ttek. I am a massive fangirl and I adore it. I don't think I realised quite how much I adore it and what it means to me until the moment they turned the ljghts back up on the Enterprise D bridge and I just started crying uncontrollably. What a joy to see that bridge again, and how perfect it is that these characters get a last ride on the ship they first took to the stars in. MAKE IT SO, indeed.

Do I think it's got an awful lot to do in the finale? Sure, probably a bit too much. Do I care? Not in the least.

I can say with honesty that unlike the first two series, whenever I rewatch TNG in the future I'll be putting this last series of Picard on right after. What a genuine treat this has been.

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 14 April 2023 - 06:36 AM

[QuickTidal]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 14 April 2023 - 06:35 AM, said:

It is going to be such a long week to get ot the finale. What an incredible penultimate episode.

Spoiler

1. Can't help but feel the reveal with Jack could have happend a couple of episodes back with more time to examine what the reveal means for Jean-Luc, but I'm not even going to pretend I care that much after all the emotional stuff this episode served up.

I feel like the seeds for this were definitely planted when Jack "networked" himself with Sydney, but yeah I'd have preferred Vadic had revealed it to him...but yeah it' s small nitpick.

2. New sassy Data is the best Data. "I hope we die quickly" - HAH!

I laughed at this for like 5 minutes. His face is exquisitely hilarious when he says it, and Geordi's reaction is priceless. Brent Spiner is having SO MUCH FUN!

3. Captain Shaw. That genuinely hurt, he's been such a great addition to this cast, and it had real emotional weight when he said it's not his ship anymore. And he finally called Seven Seven!!

I was beside myself upset...but I'm clinging to the tiny life raft of hope that they save him in the finale somehow, bring him back with tech or some such...but yeah, if the future Captain is Seven....I'm going to love that too. I just REALLY loved Shaw. And his death wasn't exactly glorious either...

4. Threat sucessfully turned up to 11. It was great seeing Shelby again but a bit of a shock for her to be killed (apparently) so quickly.

That was nuts! I was so happy to see her when the denouement for the season seems to stretch back o her 2-part appearance on TNG (TBOBWs), but yeah her death was shocking as hell. And that was the Enterprise F she was commanding right? Amazing. Elizabeth Dennehy looks amazing for 62 as well!

I will say before I get into this that TNG has always been my Ttek. I am a massive fangirl and I adore it. I don't think I realised quite how much I adore it and what it means to me until the moment they turned the ljghts back up on the Enterprise D bridge and I just started crying uncontrollably. What a joy to see that bridge again, and how perfect it is that these characters get a last ride on the ship they first took to the stars in. MAKE IT SO, indeed.

I predicted to my best friend that they could have the D show back up if they had salvaged the saucer from Viridian III (where it crashed in GENERATIONS) and then rebuilt the battle section and engines...and I was SO happy that theory panned out, right down to Geordi being the one who reveals it to them. Working on it for 20 years like an old mustang in his garage!

Do I think it's got an awful lot to do in the finale? Sure, probably a bit too much. Do I care? Not in the least.

Agreed. The finale could be predictable and rote at this point and I won't care. This season has given me everything I wanted out of a sequel series to TNG and that's all I'll ever need.

I can say with honesty that unlike the first two series, whenever I rewatch TNG in the future I'll be putting this last series of Picard on right after. What a genuine treat this has been.

Agreed 100%

My comments in blue.

Lastly, notice they freed up the F with ______'s death....You know who is getting to be Captain of that ship for the next show. Guaranteed.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 14 April 2023 - 12:30 PM

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

QT, I just have to say how much I've enjoyed getting to be excited Trekkies together with you whilst watching this!

Also:

Quote

Lastly, notice they freed up the F with ______'s death....You know who is getting to be Captain of that ship for the next show. Guaranteed.

YES. And I am going to absolutely SCREAM for joy!

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 14 April 2023 - 12:44 PM

[QuickTidal]

Yes! TNG Trekkies forever!

It's been such a blast, and I hope whatever the new show looks like when it finally takes shape feels like this season of PICARD with the younger cast getting their own adventures and cameos by remaining TNG cast.

[Lady Bliss]

WoW finally got to watch last week’s episode and I cried A LOT! Totally agree with you guys on all points.