Picard is back with its third season, and it might be the best season yet. Sure, it only has one episode out, but the first episode was well-balanced between characters, efficiently moved the plot along, and expertly introduced new faces that logically fit within the large cast. Episode two is out today, and it picks up where we left off.
I say more or less because the episode actually opens two weeks before where we left off with Ed Speleers’ character Jack Crusher, who it turns out is Beverly Crusher’s (Gates McFadden) son. It’s heavily implied he may be Picard’s son — he has a British accent, after all — but we soon learn he’s less a Federation type and more a Han Solo hero. This opening scene reveals he’s a smuggler, introduced in a slick-looking ship with some contemporary music blaring like he’s straight from the latest Guardians of the Galaxy movie. It’s too early to say if Speleers will make it out of the season alive, but he’s instantly likable and gives the older cast a younger vibe.
It’s a little disappointing that the show sidelines Beverly — she was injured in the first episode — but it allows Picard and Riker to interact with Jack. That is, just enough before they’re attacked, and Jack’s mom is in further danger. Her only hope might be the USS Titan, captained by a real jerk (Todd Stashwick) named Shaw. He plays things by the book, which is way outside the usual parameters of Star Trek captains of the past. That said, he’s not evil or the villain that we know of though he is a little racist towards ex-Borg like Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan).
These two are great together.
Credit: Paramount+
Meanwhile, Raffi (Michelle Hurd) is still reeling from the terrorist attack on a Federation building. A portal weapon was used, but she couldn’t alert anyone in time. She’s undercover and taking missions and orders from a mysterious figure who only sends her encrypted texts. One can imagine she’s being used here, but we’ll see when all is revealed. She continues to show the seedy side of Star Trek, which is a good choice since it lets us see it but also gets the more traditional Star Trek through Picard and Riker’s antics.
Amanda Plummer may just steal your heart and your main interest as the villain Vadic. She’s having the time of her life-threatening Federation ship, appears to know who Picard is, and is willing to show a bit of patience when threatening them. We learn that her ship is a warship that could crush the USS Titan, but she doesn’t want to kill them. In fact, she’s playing with them, using a tractor beam to throw their ship into another.
Vadic is a movie-caliber Star Trek villain.
Credit: Paramount+
A clever scene allows Picard and Jack to get a face-to-face moment alone. It’s set up as we learn that Jack is a known criminal with many different names. We learn he’s a bit of a freedom fighter and flies under the radar of entities like the Federation to do good. At least, that’s what he says. Picard is grilling him, not quite sure what to believe, but he wants to believe Jack is a good guy, given his mother is Beverly, a woman he once romantically loved and certainly loves as a close friend.
The show has been very good at unveiling familiar faces, including Worf (Michael Dorn) in this latest episode. He heroically enters the story slicing and dicing, reminding us he’s still got it! Given how slim the comedy is in this series, here’s hoping he brings that unemotional edge that brings the laughs in future episodes.
The title might be “Disengage,” but this episode all but engages your interest setting a course for all-out action in an exciting and nonstop entertaining episode.
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