3x02 Disengage

[7.8/10] Let's address the elephant in the room first. I don't love the fact that Jack turns out to be Picard's son. The long lost offspring is a big cliché, and Wrath of Khan influences or not, I could probably do without it.

That said, I like how Star Trek: Picard uses it here. The bad guys want Picard and the Titan to turn Jack over. It prompts one of those classic, Next Generation-style moral dilemmas that were always so fascinating. Do you hand him over to the bad guys because, true to that Wrath of Khan homage, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and there's 500 crew members at risk? Or do you stand your ground because, scoundrel or not, this young man deserves a fair trial and a chance at rehabilitation rather than swift judgment and likely a summary execution.

This is Star Trek, so we pretty much know how it's going to go down. But seeing Picard explore the issue, get to know this kid, see if there's a way out of this situation through guile or diplomacy, is some classic TNG-esque stuff. Sure, it's all magnified with the grittiness and bombast of modern television, but I appreciate that this is, at base, the kind of boardroom debate where the philosophical meets the practical that was the lifeblood of the old show.

So was the personal getting in the way of all this. I appreciate how Picard elides the questions of this young man's parentage because he already knows the answer in his heart and doesn't want to confront it. But I love how all it takes is one look from Beverly, a soft exchange of expressions that shows they still have the intuitive shorthand of twenty years ago, and he can deny the truth no longer. This is his son, a son as reckless but valiant as they once were, and by god, they're going to protect him.

For all the added pomp and circumstance, that's the core of this one, and for that reason alone, borrowing the rhythms that made The Next Generation famous, this is one of my favorite outings from Star Trek: Picard yet, despite the questionable cliché at the heart of the story.

HOW IS THIS SO GOOD?

Awesome bit with Worf!

Good Raffi characterization!

WOW.

I don't like the whole Beverly cutting contact for 20 years, and keeping a son away from Picard for 20 years. And the whole Deanna and Kesler needing a break from Riker or something, but at least it's not another broken family trope, and gets Riker to having an adventure with Picard. And while i'm here, i will mention that i don't like they only gave Riker one child. He has a daughter but he also had a son that died. Why make up giving him a son and then kill him? It was also strange that the son died because there was no "positronic" technology around to save him.

PICARD HAS A SON!I LOVE IT!

And it was amazing when he found out without any spoken dialogue, and you saw the life return with him. The fiery passion of old. THAT WAS PICARD!

I'M GETTING EXCITED AND EMOTIONAL!

I like some of the moral complexity. Raffi and the phone call, Jack and what he's doing to help people with medical supplies but also giving weapons. The decision of whether to send him to the enemy ship in order to save the lives of the current crew. The earlier decision of whether to go and even find Riker and Picard, even though it would put their ship and crew at risk. But this captain still did it. He's less of an asshole than i thought, and he's alright sometimes.

I kinda like the villain. She's a bit cartoonish, but she's alright. I'm interested to know more about her.