When Paramount decided to focus the new Star Treks shows on their steaming service (CBS All Access which became Paramount+), they were able to take the series in new frontiers. Not only could they introduce new entries into the franchise, but they had a chance to bring back popular characters from the early shows. Star Trek: Picard has allowed Sir Patrick Stewart to return as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. For seven seasons and four feature films, Picard took the U.S.S. Enterprise across the galaxy. Nearly two decades after the last film, Stewart was given an unusual opportunity to revive the character. Instead of making another movie, he could lead a series that didn’t have the same demands as ST:TNG. Star Trek Picard was set up to only last 3 seasons and 10 episodes. This was a little bit easier than the 26 episodes per season. Star Trek Picard: Season Two gives us the middle adventure and the return of more familiar faces.
Picard finds himself visited by three old “friends” during his retirement. He runs into Guinan (Ghost‘s Whoopi Goldberg). She brings up how Picard has always run from romantic relationships. He later discovers that an alien lifeform in a rift wants to speak with him and him alone. He gets a lift from Seven of Nine (Boston Public‘s Jeri Ryan) to the discover who wants him. Turns out it is the Borg and they are going to use Picard to assimilate everyone as the Borg Queen taps into all the systems. Picard orders self-destruct. Right before the explosions Q (Breaking Bad‘s John de Lancie) whisks Picard away to an alternate timeline where the Federation is all about destruction. Q is testing Picard once more. Picard takes this test to an extreme that leads him to Los Angeles in 2024 where he must change the alternate universe.
While it seems like a lot is happening, the good news is that there’s 10 episodes and not a 2-hour running time. There’s plenty of time for Picard to deal with so much internally and externally. We can appreciate him dealing with his own mortality and the realization that the universe as he knows it can come to an end if he can’t pull off this adventure.
If you’re a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Picard is essential viewing. This is much better than any of the movies that followed the show. Sir Patrick Stewart brings so much in his return to Jean-Luc Picard. His reunion with Q feels like the set up for a Shakespearean History or Tragedy – depending on what happens in episode 10. I’m not going to spoil it. There is a thrill of experiencing Picard back at the helm. Star Trek: Picard – Season Two maintains his legacy no matter which universe you reside.
The video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The episodes look fine whether it be in the distant future or the upcoming future. The audio is DTS-HD MA 5.1 that does a fine job mixing the background music with the dialogue and laser blasts. There are also dubs in German, Spanish, French, Italian and Japanese. This is a great way to learn a foreign language. The subtitles are in English, Danish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish.
The USS Stargazer (18:29) has production designer David Blass get excited about talking about his chance to make his own starship for the show. He also goes into the terror of such a responsibility. Other members of the team go into what they contributed to the starship. This was about as involving as designing the next sportscar for a car manufacturer. They evolved the USS Stargazer from ships that came before since it.
The Chateau (15:24) gives us a sense of Picard’s life at the winery. David Blass goes into the architecture that has to give the sense that it’s a working operation with a historic feel. We get to see the various books and items that Picard keeps around his house.
The Trial Is Over (12:04) goes into Q & Picard’s relationship. Patrick Stewart credits John de Lancie for making an impact on Star Trek: The Next Generation. de Lancie was happy he could keep his beard when he returned to the role. In the interest of full disclosure, when my brother Matthew was in high school, he sold Star Trek: The Next Generation the script that became “True Q” so he contributed to Q and Picard’s history.
Rebuilding the Borg Queen (11:11) goes into Annie Wersching assuming the role. Her version is detached from the Borg.
Picard Props (12:06) has Jeffrey Lombardi, the property master, take us through the items used on the show. There’s a lot that goes into props.
Picard Passages (24:59) lets Patrick Stewart discuss how he brought the character close to himself. He goes into how he was excited to get deep into Picard’s background.
Gag Reel (3:55) has Patrick Stewart and the gang not being one take wonders. You used to have to go to conventions to see these bloopers.
Deleted and Extended Scenes on “Assimilation,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Monsters” and “Farewell.”
CBS Blu-Ray presents Star Trek: Picard – Season Two. Starring Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Jeri Ryan, Brent Spiner, John de Lancie, Annie Wersching, Whoopi Goldberg & Wil Wheaton. Boxset contents: 10 episodes on 3 Blu-rays. Release Date: October 4, 2022.
