Prologue

I remember the very first time I saw Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was 1987 and I was living in Denver, Colorado. I have no idea which episode, but what I do remember is the feeling. The feeling of the room around me, the faint blue light casting shadows as I snuck down the stairs to watch from behind the couch. Most of all, I remember how BIG and POSSIBLE everything felt.

Fast forward to today, and we have Picard, the first true series for TNG in over 26 years. If I am being honest, I did not want to see it. After watching the franchise stumble through some bad movies (unpopular opinion, I know), I was happy to let the series become a fond memory. I tried watching the series again and made the mistake of starting with the pilot, “Encounter at Farpoint” (I knew better).

Here’s the thing. I WANTED it to be amazing. I wanted to feel those goosebumps. But lets be honest; reboots are a lot like new restaurants – 9 out of 10 fail. Before we boldly go into my review (sorry, not sorry), I want to say that these recaps will not be a play-by-play review but will contain spoilers, and my thoughts on what makes the episode special. Ill start with my opening thoughts, top goosebumps moments, things I loved and hated, and finally, closing thoughts.

Episode 1: “Remembrance”

Deep Breaths and Intro

Holy crap did I miss Data and Picard, who both, somehow, have barely aged. I have to applaud Brent Spiner for his uncanny ability to pull of the Zuckerberg stare, long before anyone else did. The opening scene of poker was the perfect tribute to the past (cue poker episodes), and a beautiful tie to the present about becoming human. It also struck me as exactly what I wanted, a tip of the hat to a series that always made you question what you saw and was around you.

Goosebumps #1:

Data: Why are you stalling, Captain?
Picard: I don’t want the game to end

Me neither Captain, me neither.

As the show starts, we discover that Picard did get his dream of living in France at his winery and appears to have found his happy place. Thankfully, its all a sham and we find out during an interview that Picard left Starfleet in protest over the abandonment of the Romulans before the supernova that wiped out their home world.

Goosebumps #2:

Laris: After so long, sometimes I worry you’ve forgotten what you did, who you are. WE have not.
Zhaban: And sir? Be the captain they remember.

OK fine, I’m hooked. Who among us wasn’t afraid that Picard would be an odd offshoot or weird version of himself? I love this exchange, and I love it all the more watching it again. Seeing Picard PISSED made me so happy, and the writers taking risks to call out the sanctimoniousness of Starfleet is exactly what I wanted, even if I didn’t know it.

As the story progresses, it gets really REALLY fun and engaging.

Memory Alpha (aka Things I Loved)

• Dhaj – a strong female ass-kicker we hopefully get to know and love… oh she dead.
• HIS DOG IS NAMED NUMBER 1 – I can’t even with this choice, its perfect.
• Picard Vault – What I wouldn’t give to spend days in there. I would love to know if someone saved the original Picard sign from the kids or if it’s a repro. Either way, bravo.

• Showrunner and Costume – The entire show feels SO rich, thought out (without being heavy), and, ultimately, real.

Farpoint Station (aka What Did I Just Watch?)

The intro left me wondering what I was watching. Given that the introduction scenes are actually more a part of the story (or forecasting), I am holding final judgment.

Ten Forward (aka What I Want)

• More jokes from Data. One of my favorite TNG shticks was Data learning humor.
• Wesley Crusher. As far as child actors go, his journey from teen to adult was amazing. I would love to see Picard and Crusher reunite.

Beam Me in Scotty (Cameos)

7 of 9 is BAAACCK!!!!

Set Your Phasers to Stun and Calm Down

One of the biggest critiques out there is the slow pace. What show did you watch? The first episodes are a whirl of story lines, plot points, and catch-ups. Give it time.

Closing Thoughts

I am so excited. I hope this series goes for several years, and I hope the story arc is already planned out. It seems that this Star Trek series may bring me back into the fold, and I look forward to the journey with you. Let’s be patient with the show and trust that Captain Picard would never steer us wrong. After all:

Data: Would you like to finish it Captain?
Picard: I don’t know how.
Data: That is not true, sir.