It’s all been leading to this, as Picard season three comes to its final act this week with its 9th and penultimate episode. The series has had a triumphant return to form for Star Trek as it honors its Next Generation characters and cast, but can they wrap things up satisfactorily? I’m hoping so, but after following a so-so-at-best two-part story, I’m nervous they can pull it out. The long-teased mystery surrounding Jack (Ed Speleers) is finally answered, and it’s just in time for the Next Generation crew to be together again. A win-win for a final two hours of Star Trek: Picard, right?!
Showrunner Terry Matalas directs this episode, which is the first of the season, after writing and co-writing a few episodes. Having written the season’s pilot episode and as the showrunner, we’re likely in good hands. It’s worth noting the tone of this episode will have a clear focus as Matalas also directs the finale, so prepare yourself for a final two-hour mini-movie. That’s aided by the fact that Vadic (Amanda Plummer) has been taken care of up until now, and the show can exclusively focus on Jack and the mystery of his visions.
Episode nine, titled “Vox,” opens where we left off, right in front of the red door Jack and Deanna (Marina Sirtis) opened. They haven’t yet opened the door, so it seems like we’re a few steps behind where we left off, but it’s interesting to hear Deanna probe Jack and his interpretation of the red vines crawling up the walls. After a fairly drawn-out build-up, we finally got the answer, which is probably what many of us were thinking: Borg.
It’s all explained rather quickly–there’s a lot of exposition in this episode — and generally speaking, the idea of Picard (Patrick Stewart) having his DNA augmented when he was Locutus to the point where even his sperm could transfer Borg data is intriguing. It’s a little hard to swallow that Jack would have full control of his abilities, as we see early on, but it’s still up in the air as to what Jack’s purpose is and how he’ll respond once given a choice.
We finally get to know what has been going on in Jack’s head.
Credit: Paramount
Some classic tropes are at work here, like Picard choosing the Federation protocols over protecting his son and Jack running rather than talking things through. The scenes of Jack’s escape, and a couple of others throughout, feel forced and unearned. It seems the show needs to get our characters to specific locations for their big finale next week.
If you’re confused about what is happening, the characters tell us what is happening rather than show us or even stop to figure things out. Once again, there isn’t enough time for them to stand around and piece it together. It’s made clear that the Changelings are working with the Borg, for instance, though that’s not necessarily obvious. They’re trying to get our characters to Frontier Day and set up the Borg quickly, but they could have done so more efficiently over the last few episodes instead of a two-part Vadic showdown.
In the good scene department, there is a nice one between Data (Brent Spiner), Beverly (Gates McFadden), and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) working out how the Borg have quietly upgraded their assimilation abilities. A few answers were given to use early on, but this one is earned at least. It’s actually clever and ties well into current Star Trek technology. It also speeds things up to go into a full-scale war with the Borg. Lives are lost, and the TNG crew embark on an adventure of their own. It’s a bit forced how we get to the last ten minutes, but once again, the nostalgia for fans is going to be huge in the last minutes.
Similar to moments in previous episodes, writers Sean Tretta and Kiley Rossetter know how to tug at our heartstrings. It’s a bit odd the crew is soaking it in like we are since the Borg are literally attacking Earth, and Geordi’s kids are now assimilated, but hell, it’s hard not to have a big grin on your face watching this. The Enterprise D is back, baby, and it’s beautiful.
“Vox” is an episode of Star Trek: Picard that falls prey to convenient plotting, the unfortunate return of the overused TNG big-bad, and fan service that you’ll know is manipulating you, and yet most people will be just fine with it all. Yes, this isn’t as tightly written as earlier episodes this season, but it’s also delivering everything you’d want in a reunion for these characters.
It presumably gives Picard and crew a chance to stick it to the Borg one last time, too, which should please longtime fans. Is there anything else we could have asked for in a television show that’s basically been five movies every two episodes? With enough time and rewrites, probably, but it’s still an entertaining piece of sci-fi nostalgia.
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