The Next Generation

After Season 1 and 2, I was ready to drop Picard...bad written characters, the main protagonist mainly a bystander in his own show. Strange and unlogical story development (even for Sci-Fi), just not a series I could enjoy as a Star Trek fan (same with Discovery, after Season 2 - I dropped it, because the overemotional, overexpressed characters and cringy dialogues drove me crazy). Strange New Worlds was a mixed bag, but many episodes were decent - a positive trend. Not even wanting to watch Picard Season 3, I gave myself a push - after watching the episode I can say I am positively surprised. Apparently, many of the producers of Season 1 and 2 are not involved anymore, which is in my opinion the best decision they could have made to save the series. Not to spoil anything, it feels like a TNG movie and not as rushed and confused as previous seasons of Picard. Overall more mature. Still quite dark (more like ST Nemesis, ST First Contact). The new writing and directing staff seem to actually like the Star Trek franchise and its characters. Some fan service in the episode as well, but that is to be expected. Based on this episode it gives me hope that Picard and the TNG crew finally get a decent and well-deserved send-off with this last season. This season could actually be the Star Trek Picard the fans have been waiting for since season 1. Let's see if the upcoming episodes can keep up. I will update the rating when the season has progressed.

Seasons 1 & 2 were utter trash. Embarrassingly so. However, miraculously Season 3 is fantastic so far. Things could tailspin, but Terry Matalas (season 3 show runner) was a writer for Voyager, DS9 and Enterprise, and it shows.

Picard finally acts like Picard. Riker is even better than he was in TNG, Crusher was a sight for sore eyes. Loved seeing Seven finally in Starfleet Uniform and even Rafi was tolerable. Fingers crossed they do something redeeming with her this season.

I'm buying this the moment it lands in Blu-ray to sit alongside my Star Trek Next Generation Blu-ray collection and I'm considering it a direct sequel.

Do yourself a favor and skip seasons 1 & 2 if you plan to watch, and start with this season. You won't regret it.

Oh, I didn't know how much I missed the next generation series. I grew up on great stories (usually), and a more optimistic show, no grittiness, that was Babylon 5 , lol.

Great to see old favourites in action again, and a few new faces. I hope this series sees a 'handing of the baton' over to a new next generation crew who have more in common with Kirk/Picard universe than the recent shows.

The ships look well designed I think, and CGI looks decent.

On the whole, I enjoyed this episode and can't wait to see the next one.

I do fear that we won't get a series 4 and this is it sadly, even if it took a while to get back to its roots.

I have seen all episodes thus far of Picard (and everything else Star Trek related). I grew up watching the original cast in movies. Then came along TNG. It was fantastic. TNG, DS9, and Voyager were all favorites of mine. I even liked Enterprise being a Scott Bakula fan. So far the Paramount+ shows haven't been horrible, but also haven't felt like Star Trek. Picard Season 3 looks, sounds, and feels like Star Trek. That's largely due to Terry Matalas. Someone who worked with Rick Berman who learned from the legend himself Gene Roddenberry. It's not like Alex Kurtzman has made bad series, he just has done it his way and not the Star Trek way. Terry Malalas should be more involved with any future Star Trek project, period.

Everyone I'm sure will have high hopes just like me. But before we get into the details, let's talk about the feeling. It all comes back and if you're like me those feelings go way back. To the beginning. The very first season. Sitting on the floor in the den, so excited for each episode. It was the best thing in the world. Well, all these many many years later not only am I older, not only are we older, but the crews of the Enterprise, their families... all off us, older too. What doesn't get old? The feelings, the excitement, the anticipation. This first episode delivers. Can't wait for the next episode! It doesn't have to be perfect. This first episode wasn't. They don't have to be a 10 out of 10. The feelings and the joy, the thrill of these strange new worlds is still there. That's enough for me.

The adventure continues. So do our lives. Make it so.