Star Trek: Picard(2020-2023) was an attempt to refresh and perhaps rebrand the tiredStar Trekuniverse canon. And that made sense, given the popularity of theStar Trekreboots that ended withStar Trek: Beyond(2016).Picardcould not keep viewers interested, despite overwhelming fan interest and fan-favorite returning characters. Why?Picard is an intriguing characterand carried many an episode ofNext Generationall on his lonesome.
It boils down to the concepts contained within the show. The ideas weren’t there as they had been inNext Generationand other spinoffs likeVoyagerandDeep Space Nine. If the entire series is predicated upon a missing girl (and various nefarious entities within the UFP trying to stop Jean-Luc from finding said girl), then the show turns into a sci-fi version ofTaken(2008), and Picard’s particular set of skills aren’t what they used to be. This closed-circuit storytelling style can mean only one thing: the writers didn’t have an ending in mind when the story began. That is termed; ‘Painting oneself into a corner.’
Painting Picard Into a Corner
Question – What’s the best way to continue aStar Trekseries? Answer: Not like this! From the opening scene depicting a blurred and semi-hazy Picard trying to mentally communicate with Data’s daughter – the feel, texture, and film sense inPicardappears way, way too similar to his turn as Professor X in theX-Menfilm franchise.
Indeed, dressed nattily in his form-fitting suit and tie in preparation for his interview with reporters for the United Federation of Planets (UFP), viewers wereconfused by Patrick Stewarthaving believed they accidentally turned onDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness(2022) to the Professor X scenes, rather than a legitimateStar Trek: The Next Generationcontinuation.
Things didn’t really get any better from the pilot episode ofPicardon out. As was obvious from later dialogue and romantic entanglements (Counselor Troi and Picard?What?!?!), the writers painted themselves into a corner. Attempting a chimera storyline, the scripters reveal Data’s daughter only to promptly destroy her. But wait, there’s more! Data had two daughters! No, no, no – Just no! From the first moment Picard begins to get ambush-interviewed by a bad girl reporter from the UFP, fans and critics alike could only muster one reaction: ‘This isn’t Picard! This is barely Star Trek!’
Related:Star Trek: Picard Reveals Captain Kirk Is Still Around… Sort Of
No, It Wasn’t the Writer or Actor Strike
Despite the most popular and prevalent theories,Picardwasn’t placed on hiatus or simply suspended pending the outcome of the SAG / AFTRA / WGA (Screen Actors Guild and Writer’s Guild of America, respectively) strikes.Picardended early because the show was failing, despite the incredible acting ability of Patrick Stewart and his returning guest stars.Even the Enterprise-G looked tired.
The gang was all there! Riker, Worf, LaForge, Troi, and even relegated cameos from Wesley and Dr. Crusher – so why didn’t the show work? Frankly, the cast was too old, and every action scene betrayed that fact to viewers. For instance, the last time Riker had been in combat before this series wasStar Trek: Nemesis(2003) – well over 20 years have passed since Riker was even in his late forties! The gang may be all here, but the gang is also wearing adult diapers and should have been left alone in the retirement home.
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Philip K. Dick Ripoff
The main issue regarding the introduction of Picard was the recent release ofBlade Runner: 2049, in which Rick Deckard’s half-android baby from his android mamma went missing. This concept was fine for a Philip K. Dick novel but not the type of fare Star Trek aficionados are used to.
Thus, when it’s revealed that Data, of all characters, had two daughters, and they appear to besuperhuman android hybrids. Really? Of course, one of ol' yellow-eyes prodigal kids gets the axe, and it’s up to Picard to find, save, rear, and tutor the young human/machine offspring.
That’s not going to work for the crew of theNext Generation, particularly when added to the aforementionedPicardtelepathy close-ups that recall theX-Menfranchise more than theStar Trekseries. The true downfall ofPicardwas laziness – laziness in writing, laziness in editing, and laziness in the belief of the fans.
Studio executives and marketing representatives were convinced they were all but guaranteed a hit withPicard. Unfortunately, these self-same, profit-driven suits hadn’t considered that viewers had grown savvier over the past three decades. Just becauseStar Trekfans were excited forPicarddidn’t mean they were saps. Poor story concepts, poor extraneous acting from tertiary characters, poor execution of plot devices, and over-the-top drama turned off the very enthusiasts that Paramount+ had hoped towin over withPicard.
