Yes! My boy is back and with a dog other than Riker! The new Number One sure is as cute as the original one.
This was not what I expected, but, then again, I didn't know what to expect of something set in the TNG universe 30 years later. This is definitely not TNG but — and most importantly — this is not STD either (gotta love that acronym).
There was a wee bit too much more action than I'd thought there'd be in a show revolving around one of the most wise and reasonable Star Trek characters, but it wasn't exactly gratuitous, anyway. The show seems to want to blend some action for the newer generations with the trademark deep and thoughtful Picard monologues. And I'm cool with that.
I'm not so sure about that "Tea. Earl Grey. Decaf." moment. That's meddling with a sacred TNG quote! Maybe it was just a one time thing, a nod to the good old TNG days, while showing at the same time that the years have clearly passed by.
Also, was that a Borg Cube at the end? Add that to the obvious incoming wave of guest appearances and this show will quickly get soaked in fanservice. I don't mean it in a bad way, though... Because I do want to see all of that!
After this premiere I still don't know what to expect from the show, but I did enjoy this first episode — both for the nostalgia and for the new elements — and it got me excited to watch the next one, which is all one could ask from a pilot episode.
Everyone loves a good mystery, and Picard sure seems to be getting his teeth (dentures?) into a tasty one. And so are we.
[7.0/10] Patrick Stewart can act. That is, perhaps, no revelation. But the strongest moment in the series premiere of Star Trek: Picard is simply giving him a moment to emote, to condemn, to express his distress and regret over the state of things. When pushed to explain why he left Starfleet, the fire that fueled The Next Generation is revived, and the ghosts of the utopia it operated in are exercised.
Picard left because of xenophobia, because of isolationism, because of an abandonment of the principals of altruism and mercy and acceptance that buttressed the Federation he knew and believed in. That connection to larger ideas -- of a once noble nation turning its back on those in need out of a fear for what opening one’s doors to the world could invite in, and an architect of that community severing his ties with it when it shrinks from the ideals he so deeply believes in -- not only imbues this story with a real world resonance; it’s pure Trek.
But it’s not enough to offer a man meditating on his legacy and the institutions that devolved on his watch. So we need a mystery box. And we need a terrorist attack from a group of “synths” on Mars that scared the Federation into submission. And we need Romulan refugees resettling in an old Borg cube. And we need Romulan fighters trying to root out and destroy the last of the synths. And we need a mysterious young woman -- half River Tam and half Daisy Johnson -- to seek out Picard’s help to sort it all out.
It’s all...fine. It’s naive to expect a modern day science fiction show to rely on the staid, contemplative tone that The Next Generation thrived on. I don’t mind Dahj kicking ass in a hand-to-hand combat scene that makes Kirk’s karate chops look like childsplay. I don’t mind a wire fu-esque battle between her and a cadre of Romulan attackers that involves dodging phaser fire, leaping grand distances, and gory-ish explosions. Times change, and shows have to change with them, even if it means making allowances for the sort of fireworks that once disappointed fans in Picard’s jump to the big screen.
But what I do mind is how generic so much of the rest of the episode feels. Make no mistake -- it is a tall order to follow-up to one of the most beloved science fiction series of all time, that honors past successes while forging a distinct path for the show at hand. But if you shaved off the serial numbers and took away the easter eggs, this could be any other modern science fiction show, with a look and dialogue and mysteries that suffice but don’t wow.
The best you can say is that in the early going at least, Star Trek: Picard doesn't feel like fanservice. Sure, Picard’s dog is named “Number One,” and he orders earl grey tea, and he has a futuristic safety deposit box full of familiar trinkets. But when the show invokes the past, it does so in service of the story in the here and now.
And yet, that’s both a blessing and a curse. Revealing Dahj as Data’s daughter adds some emotional potency to her pairing with Picard. They make Brent Spiner’s guest appearances in the episode more than a fond reminder of everyone’s favorite android, but as a touchstone for Picard’s close relationship with his former protege. For all the flack Star Trek: Nemesis caught, one of its saving graces was the way it suggested that, flesh and blood or no, Data was Picard’s son, his family. So by making Dahj a sort of granddaughter to Picard through that bond makes her relevant in the early going, when the show has to be economical about establishing its characters and stakes.
But at the same time, that’s part of the problem. Stewart and Isa Briones do their best, but the on screen chemistry isn’t quite there yet, so the results feel more like Star Trek: Picard drafting on the good feelings of old, even if it wants to move in a new direction. Fans of the Next Generation will shudder to hear the name Bruce Maddox, the man who tried to have Data declared property, invoked. Still, it feels a tad cheap to have him missing and potentially responsible for some sort of new-fangled “biological synthetic” that is cloned or replicated or somehow otherwise spawned from Data.
All the while, “Remembrance” has the same, overly glossy look that the rest of modern Trek does. All the while, we get characters giving tearful statements that tidily deposit their backstories, with performances that can’t support the psychological weight the show wants to place on them as well as Stewart can. All the while, we get another damn mystery box, where we’re left to guess who made Dahj and her twin sister, and whether the twin’s new flirty Romulan acquaintance is part of the apparent terrorist group, and what the true motivation of the “synths” who blew up Utopia Planetia was, since the show apparently can’t muster that intrigue while still putting its proverbial cards on the table.
And all the while, we have to cut through clunky scenes that try to establish all of this. Little of it is outright bad. This is a competent production with a stellar lead actor and enough reverence for the source material not to upset too much of it. But when you’re bringing back one of television’s great characters and invoking the legacy of the series that started a new age of Star Trek, I expect better than solid but less-than-inspired adequacy.
None of it quite matches that one moment of personal truth or the real life implications of Picard’s disdain for what the organization he once loved has transformed into. When “Remembrance” deposits him into its adventure, it becomes just another off-the-shelf science fiction series, albeit one that can harness the history and world of The Next Generation, The Original Series, and even the 2009 reboot.
In that one scene, though, Star Trek: Picard gives us a glimpse of the show it could be. “Remembrance” soars when it allows its lead performer to do what he does best and embrace the thematic resonance and introspection that were the hallmarks of his prior series, rather than flash and whodunnits and twisty reveals. Only time will tell whether, with so much narrative throat-clearing and table-setting out of the way, the series sets a course for the better.
8.5/10 - Very promising so far! It's super nice to have another Star Trek show. I also liked "Star Treck: Discovery" at first (especially the beginning of the first episode) but it fell of for me (it's ok but doesn't feel like a proper Star Trek show and I feel like it could be so much better). In the case of Picard I like the whole first episode (apart from Dahj dying!) and it seems so much more interesting and promising so far:
And this is just the first episode - there's much potential. "I haven't been living. I've been waiting to die."
I'm so excited for the next episode. It just sucks that Dahj died... :o It's nice that she has a sister (that is even played by the same actress) but I liked the backstory of Dahj and she was so nice... I'll really miss her :o I hope Soji will be cool as well but I cannot relate to her yet.
It'd be nice if there was a way to bring Dahj back but I guess not - the explosion was thorough and her memories are likely lost for good (unless they have a remote backup mechanism).
Not being one to break my arm patting myself on the back, I will suffice with a single collar pop, a low key dab, two snaps up, and, to channel FDR, say that, the only thing to be feared was the fear of ones own low exceptions. Now, while it would have been nice to premier with a 90 minute or two hour pilot, I think they bit off just enough of the story to catch us up with Jean-Luc and his apparent fall from grace, followed by his subsequent self imposed exile, give us just a bit of the protagonists story to make it interesting when she finds herself in peril and is "activated", and then, to be relieved when we find out the rest of her genesis. (Although sadly, the catchphrase, "Wonder twin powers....., ACTIVATE!!!, may possibly never be uttered now)
So this was basically a set up episode, just enough to wet our appetites, and let us know that they were happy to stick with what works, and run with what brung ya, that is, great characters and excellent storytelling. So, lets hope they can stay on the narrow path, while at the same time, giving us new insights and adventures to look forward to.
Woah! Expectations Exceed!
I came into this, with very low expectations. The previous star-treks are a tough act to follow. Yet, this first episode surprised me. It set the stage for some great storytelling. Opening up a whole new chapter in star trek's already diverse universe.
This episode was rightly titled Remembrance, it set the stage for what I hope to be some exciting and amazing stories. It showed some really cool tech, some really cool places. If the show can keep going with this and even greater enthusiasm, we are in for one hell of an amazing show.
The one worry I have is Patrick Stewart, he is an amazing actor that's driving these stories. The whole existence of the show revolves around him, and consequently his health. The question I find myself asking is, does he have it in him? He is one hell of an amazing actor. Yet, the show is missing chemistry - desperately trying to leverage past relationships to build relevance. Time will tell if this works, I suspect there is hidden potential yet to be realized in some of the new actors. They're just "no name" actors standing in stark contrast to a legend, Patrick Stewart.
I'm definitely going to be following this show. There is definitely some potential here. So, I'm going to sit back - and try not to be too harsh and critical. I want to take it in for what it is.
Enjoy it - while it lasts. Lets hope 5+ seasons.
Review by LeftHandedGuitaristBlockedParent2020-01-24T09:42:13Z
[8.5/10] Expectations can be a difficult thing to manage. When you hear that an actor is going to reprise one of your favourite roles of all time, it's easy to get excited. When you see trailers and it looks good, you get more excited. When you start hearing positive early reviews, your excitement level can go through the roof. If anything, I was worried that my expectations for Picard were just too high, and I was only going to be disappointed.
But almost from the opening moments of this premiere, I was swept up. Picard avoids excessive nostalgia (but provides just a nice amount) and begins by telling a tale full of emotion and character. It's markedly different from Star Trek: Discovery, both in terms of visuals and writing. The pace is measured and characters are given room to breathe, the action is sparse but hard-hitting. Patrick Stewart himself is a frailer man than the one we remember, but there's no mistaking that this is our Jean-Luc Picard back on screen.
It's still early days and there are a lot of directions this story could take. But here I was surprised at just how impactful some of the emotional moments and revelations were. Isa Briones is strong in the role of Dahj, seemingly an unknown "daughter" of Data's,, but it was Picard's reaction to it all that made it have so much more weight. No mention of Data's other daughter, Lal, but that may come up later.
There was some awkward exposition early on with an interview sequence that didn't quite hit the mark due a mix of writing that was a bit too on-the-nose and the actor for the interviewer feeling weirdly out of place. For a mostly calm opening there was a surprising amout of information and story to be digested here and a lot of questions that I can't wait to be answered.