NB These pieces contain spoilers

“Even in Arcadia, there I am” goes the usual translation of the final episode title, referring originally to a Poussin painting of shepherds at a tomb. “I” is usually interpreted to be death itself, and death is indeed a palpable presence in this final episode. In a very touching sequence we finally say a proper, well earned goodbye to Data, whose untimely end in Nemesis seemed contrived to solve the issue of an ageing actor rather than providing a worthy denouement. Here, in a moment which genuinely had me tear up a little, he finally becomes “a real boy”, aged and loved.

Picard himself also meets his maker, but is resurrected by the powers of plot contrivance. I wonder if as originally conceived this was supposed to be the final end of old J.L.? I somehow doubt that Stewart was initially considering more than one season, and killing off the character wouldn’t have been an unreasonable request; hardly the first time an actor had returned to a role they were heavily associated with with that caveat (Leonard Nimoy in Wrath of Khan for one). Whether that’s the case or not, having already announced a further season before this one even began airing rather took away from the impact it was supposed to have. We see various characters mourning him, and for the briefest of moments I wondered if next time around would be somehow Picardless, with the crew continuing their adventures without their titular Admiral. Happily this won’t be the case. I’m not keen on the trick of seeming to kill off a main character only to spare them at the last moment (Star Trek: Discovery used it more than once quite recently), it feels manipulative, lazy and a bit cowardly, although in this instance I’m glad he was spared.

My feelings towards this series have run somewhat hot and cold over these ten weeks. Many episodes I’ve enjoyed very much, one or two were like having teeth pulled. It’s been inconsistent in quality and tone, and despite being one overarching story has had episodes that felt like a sidequest in a computer game. In more than one episode Picard has stated out loud how urgent his mission is, then goes off and does something else only indirectly related. Nice as it was to see them again, we didn’t need fifty minutes of rustic mooching about with Deanna and Will when, for story purposes, fifteen would have done. I also don’t think we even really needed Romulan Lord of the Rings reject Elnor (or an entire episode about him). Less a character than a device to occasionally save someone’s life, chop someone to bits, or somehow be really sad on our behalf when Hugh dies even though they’d only really just met.

One aspect I really did appreciate throughout is how the Borg were presented entirely as victims, encapsulated in the finale in the “fighting talk” between Seven and Narissa, where we’re reminded that Seven was just a small child at the time. As someone who didn’t stick with Voyager for long I was unaware of that fact, and it’s chilling just to think about. It also helps make a character previously more or less unknown to me (other than as the cover star of as many issues of genre magazines as they could justify at the time!) much more vivid and properly motivated.

The rest of the crew I really came to appreciate too, especially over the last few episodes where the actors were allowed to really get their teeth into their personas by being given strong, dramatic dialogue to work with. Alison Pill in particular has been outstanding as the manipulated Dr Jurati, as complex a main character as we’ve ever had in a Trek. The final sequence where they all converge on the bridge suddenly made me realise that up until now, for all its strengths and faults, this hadn’t felt like Star Trek to me. At that moment, it finally did, and I really can’t wait for series 2. I hope it’s a little lighter in tone; the heavy stuff is fine but Star Trek is supposed to be fun as well, a few more jokes can’t hurt. Plus hopefully some of the excesses will be dialled back – we don’t really need beheadings, f-bombs and closeups of pulled out eyeballs (some of us like to watch this while we’re having our dinner).

If, of course, series 2 ever happens. My personal journey with Picard began back in mid-January at the Odeon Leicester Square, in one of the most fraught but memorable days in a long time. A day full of takeway coffees, tube journeys, busy shops, crowds, red carpet celebrities and friends old and new. A glitzy whirlwind of sights and sounds and smells. It ends, as it does for most of us, trapped in my home, genuinely fearful for the lives of my loved ones and myself. The world needs real life heroes aplenty right now if we’re to get through this with some semblance of normality retained.

But I think we need our made up heroes too. For fifty minutes or however long, our Supermen, our Vampire Slayers, our Doctors and our erstwhile Captains can give us a small dose of medicine for the soul and, perhaps, for a short time at least, take us with them to somewhere where nothing can hurt us. Sentimental perhaps, but if Jean-Luc Picard can tell Data he loves him then I think I have permission to be sentimental too.

Verdict: The show we never thought we’d get to see takes us on a meandering, but ultimately satisfying, journey with old friends and new. Let us all live long and prosper. 

Andy Smith

The battle of Coppelius is over and the all-new Jean-Luc Picard is preparing to take the crew of La Sirena into new adventures. But how has the first season gone? What were the highs and lows of its 10 episode run? Our Zhat Vash operative Nick Joy delivers his end of term report.

The Feels – This show’s biggest ace in its pocket is the affection felt towards its Next Generation (and Voyager) legacy characters. Having spent 178 TV hours (and four movies) in the company of Picard, Riker, Data, Troi et al, the showrunners recognised that not only were there more stories to tell, but by including them organically in the narrative they would add a huge emotional boost. And adding Voyager’s most popular character – Seven of Nine – to the mix, was a work of genius, giving us Jeri Ryan’s finest Star Trek work to date. And now she’s part of the regular crew too. With Whoopi Goldberg’s Guinan publicly invited to join the show, dare we hope to see Geordi, Worf, Beverley or Q in the future?

The New Crew – As good as Patrick Stewart is in the lead role, one of the greatest joys has been watching the new ensemble cast members coming in to their own. It might be Stewart’s character’s name on the title, but as witnessed in the Picard-lite episodes, he’s ably supported by some engaging new actors to the Trekverse. Michelle Hurd’s Raffi is a wonderful, damaged soul, and you just want to give her a hug. The sadness of her losing her beloved JL is heart-breaking – she is Picard’s rock. Santiago Cabrera’s Rios has also been a joy, multiple times over in his many iterations of the ship’s hologram. In many ways a thankless role – initially a Han Solo-type roguish captain – he has grown and grown week on week. Allison Pill as Agnes Jurati is for me the performance of the season. Multi-layered, conflicted, flawed and troubled, we live every moment of her journey through treachery to remorse to salvation. I do hope that Romulan warrior Elnor gets more to do next year – he’s certainly the most underwritten of the new bunch.

Romulans – While the occupants of Romulus have been given air time in Nemesis, the JJ Abrams movie and occasional episodes of the different shows, this race has always been the poor relation to the Klingons. What a joy that the showrunners have taken the opportunity to add to this race’s mythos, with the secret Zhat Vash, Qowat Milat warrior nuns, the Admonition and a fantastic villain in Peyton List’s Narissa. Harry Treadaway’s weasel-like Narek has not always been best served by the writing, but it’s good to see he’s still around to cause further friction.

Pacing – At some point it was decided that the first two episodes would be three, with plot content initially destined for later in the season to be introduced earlier. One of the consequences of this was it taking to the end of episode 3 for the initial crew to be on their way. There are also moments of massive plot dumping, which inevitably slows things down as you get your head round it all. A whole episode setting up Elnor also feels that time could be spent better elsewhere – it’s only a 10 episode run after all. I do however see that by the final third of the season the pacing had improved, which bodes well for next year.

Soundtrack – Jeff Russo’s score to the show is probably not what you expected but is perfectly reflective of its main character. Contrast what we were hearing in the opening episodes to the end credits of the finale. As Picard regained his confidence and became the hero again, so to has his theme punched up and out. Oh, and I love the frequent refrains of the Voyager, Next Generation and Inner Light themes.

Verdict: So, a great opening year. Some of the clunky plot contrivances and pacing issues aside, it has been a solid run, and what other show had the balls to kill off its lead role in its first year?

Don’t forget, we were there at the West End premiere and interviewed the stars. 

Also check out our interviews with Sir Patrick Stewart & Jeri Ryan, the show’s creators and guest star Marina Sirtis.