Control Review: Picard

I, Dalton Lewis, watched the first two episodes of the new show Picard. Jean-Luc Picard continues to quest for harmony and goodness in a universe filled with diversity, moral quandries, and the most messed-up optimistic view of the future that has ever been created. I have watched a large number of episodes from Star Trek but never watched the whole thing — I haven’t seen every episode of every show. I wouldn’t mind to rewatch all of them. I remember when we were in college Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was the current Star Trek show. It proved to be an intelligent and literary discourse about a border between two intelligent and different races.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, of course, as played by Patrick Stewart, defined the intellectual leader of a group of heroes trying to make peace and defend humanity — and represent it to the universe as a whole. I think that this show is about the core tenets of the Star Trek universe that Gene Roddenberry made — a far future facing ethical and moral dilemmas and grasping with the same problems being faced by the real world today.

In this case the subject is racism. Someone kills androids. Someone hates androids. In a harrowing turn a borg cube has been destroyed and turned into a research facility where they cut up the borg and investigate them. Seeing the vicious enemies being turned into parts hits an emotional mark. Jean-Luc Picard, of course, is one of the people trying to protect someone, a young lady who has mysterious powers. The connection to the past is effective — as Jean-Luc has dealt with family matters in the past. The connection to The Next Generation is strong and poignant.

Picard’s statement that his close friends need to do their own thing while Jean-Luc investigates this is a smart change. I’m glad that the guest stars are interesting but not overwhelming — it’s not a show of, let’s introduce this star from the universe next. Picard shows up to get a ship and restart his career at Starfleet and the bosses handle the situation intelligently.

Star Trek represents the hopes and dreams of a future in which people strive to be better. I admire the concept. Picard’s character is a complicated, intelligent hero who doesn’t just punch people — he is an amazing personality from television and movies. I’m impressed that he shows up again and resonates with audiences.

Why do we go back to the same stories, over and over, instead of loving all the new stuff? I don’t know, but I don’t mind this retread as much as the others. The other stories seem like cash grabs in which an old hero gives an extended cameo and introduces a new hero who will stop a bad guy in the third act. I don’t think that this is that — this is a new story about Jean-Luc Picard. This show still focuses on Picard and shows him in situations which reflect the nature of growing old and angry and bitter. He reminds me of Mark Twain in that he becomes old and angry at the injustices of the world and the death of his loved ones.

Overall I recommend CBS All Access because the new Star Trek shows are worth watching. I think that they are an effective and emotional return to the Star Trek canon. Gene “Wesley” Rodenberry would be proud.

Thanks, and take care, friends.