Episode 5 of Picard is here, and it is a doozy. The opening scene was unbelievably graphic and emotional. Seven of Nine has a child (named Icheb, a Borg from the Delta Quadrant) and is a Fenris Ranger who roams the galaxy helping people!

Quick note: these recaps are not a play-by-play review (there are plenty of those out there); rather, they contain my thoughts on what makes the episode special, goosebump moments, things I loved and hated, Easter eggs, and other fun stuff.

Episode 5: “Stardust City Rag”

I feel like Picard is drawing from The Three Musketeers motif (the book he gave Elnor) and building his team! First Elnor, and now Seven (She dropped the ‘of Nine’). Were going on an adventure!!!

Goosebumps, Cringes, and Laughs

Goosebumps #1

Good to see you again, Annika.

Oh my god, we are finally getting closure on what happened to Seven!

Goosebumps #2

Seven: After he brought you back from your time in the Collective, do you honestly feel that you regained your humanity?

Picard: Yes.

Seven: All of it?

Picard: No, but we are both working on it.

Seven: Every damn day of my life.

Wow, this was one of the most potent scenes yet.

Laugh Out Loud #1

I thought I looked appropriately ‘sinaster.’

Picard, impersonating a bad french accent. Hilarious!

Laugh Out Loud #2

Oh my god, the pop-up advertisements when they get to Freecloud… Amazing! The future is just as bad as I thought it would be, but wouldn’t a starship have pop-up blockers?

Laugh Out Loud #3

Rios, you seriously, really need to sell this. You can’t do your broody, existentialist spaceman routine.

Rios is dressed like a pimp and Picard is wearing an eye patch! I can’t get enough of this, and I love that the writers are making this fun!

Laugh out Loud #4

Are we still pretending?

Elnor is hilarious. His deadpan humor delivery is perfect.

Memory Alpha (aka Things I Loved)

This episode was FUN. Sometimes Starfleet takes itself too seriously, and the writers here hit a whole new level of comedy and drama.

• Seven the Notorious ex-Borg Fenris Ranger from the Delta Quadrant
• Rios’s outfit on Freecloud was incredible. I need to cosplay this!
• Freecloud was amazing. The outfits, the people, and the environment were perfect.
• I loved seeing Raffi and Picard start to thaw a bit. I feel there is an amazing relationship there if Raffi can let go of the pain.
• Agnes is starting to develop strongly. I cannot wait to see who she becomes.

Easter Eggs!

This episode had some fun references and nods to the past. Here are my favorites:

• Quark: Rios talks about the infamous Ferengi bartender from Deep Space 9.
• The Breen, aka the Dominion!

Set Phasers to Kill

It’s pretty amazing how powerful Seven became in such a short amount of time. Her character has more ass-kicking swagger than she did on all of Voyager. Her final scene where she beams back Freecloud is just… WOW.

Farpoint Station (aka What Did I Just Watch?)

What in fresh hell was that episode opener? Flesh and blood androids… no wait, Borg? Either way, Starfleet is DARK. Icheb was a Borg from the Delta Quadrant, the closest to family Seven had left in the galaxy. Rest in peace, Icheb.

Seven saying goodbye to her son was powerful.

Ten Forward (aka What I Want)

I want more of the Raffi story. Watching her and her son argue was painful, but it was beautiful acting. Also, Seven talks to Picard about his time as a Borg, and I would LOVE to learn more.

Alternate Timelines – Conspiracy Theories

I think Agnes is a double agent! She offed Maddox and clearly has knowledge we do not.

See you next week!