ST: Picard 3.02.

[selenak]

Yeah, I'd hoped this wouldn't be the case, but didn't really think so, because I know the trope too well, plus unexpected relations are a tried and true Trek thing. (Including unexpected children, not just David Marcus, but see also, Key'lahr presenting Worf with Alexander.) What's annoying about it is that by making this one Beverly's and Jean-Luc's offspring, the show basically said they got together and split up between movies (or even episodes?), and look, I didn't even ship them, but their relationship was a thing throughout TNG's sixth season, and you can pull an off screen getting togther/split up for the series finale flash forward, that's no problem, but not in a long term story.

(There's also the apparently inheritable English accent, but hey - Picard's clone in Nemesis also inherited it, and he was raised by Remans. The English accent genes evidently are just that strong.)

While this served as an introduction episode for Jack Crusher the II., Rogue Medicine Hunter, who actually impressed me more by becoming layered beyond the season opener's jerkness as I hoped was Captain Liam Shaw, whom the script gives good arguments (i.e. his responsibiliity for his crew of 500 plus people) . Also, I had an "I knew it" moment when Raffi's handler turned out to be Worf, because it had to be either him or Geordi, and Worf just makes for a potentially more entertaining combination to be put together with Raffi. Look, Geordi is chill and would be nice, personable and understanding. Raffi might need a hug after that latest encounter with her ex, but I, as a viewer, need someone for Raffi to sparr entertainingly with, and Worf just volunteered.

(Incidentally, given Worf's less than stellar parental record, and keen sense of duty, he might also provide Raffi with some comfort re: the chances for her and her son to achieve reconciliaton in the long term.)

Less than subtle: both Amanda Plummer's character and this episode's Evil Ferengi smoke. Guys, I'm anti smoking as well, and already was when everyone around me puffed in ye olde 1980s, but this is sledgehammery.

Speaking of Amanda Plummer, she does her thing as the latest Übervillain rather well, but I like my seasonal villains a bit complicated, so please, show, give her some motivation beyond "because I can". (It's only the second episode, so I am somewhat optimistic there.)

Lastly: This was an entire episode of Beverly being unconscious, save for the very end. The show better make up for this by giving her lots of scenes and dialogue (and not just about the Unexpected Offspring) for the rest of the season.

Comments

[lightofdaye]

Well I saw your cut text before seeing the episode and that lowered my expectations a bit.

Beyond the cliche of it. I really dislike the secretly family in this trope because it immediately takes away from the actual principle of the thing and defaults to 'you have to look out for biological family'.

When someone started chopping people up to rescue Raffi, I expected Elnor before we got a good look at him. Worf is Starfleet Intelligence? Section 31? (God, I hope not I hate the legitimisation of S31) Or just pretending. And why decapitate the Ferengi? You still need answers. Hopefully some are coming.

The villain so far disappoints simply because there's no reason a random privateer should so thoroughly outgun a Starfleet vessel just for the sake of the heroic underdog plot.

[selenak]

I really dislike the secretly family in this trope because it immediately takes away from the actual principle of the thing and defaults to 'you have to look out for biological family'.

That, too. If Beverly had wanted to rescue people, or even just one stray young man, whom she had befriended in her years on her own, you would have the same plot but without that implication.

I don't think Worf is Section 31. Starfleet Intelligence, mayyyyyybe, but I don't even think that; I wonder whether Raffi just assumed this because of the way she was contacted. But of course I could be wrong.

[topaz_eyes]

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the "Picard's son" storyline for now. To me it made sense that this season would go there, because a major emotional story arc of s2 was Picard coming to terms with his mother's legacy. I'm curious how that will impact on this season.

[kore]

This was an entire episode of Beverly being unconscious, save for the very end. The show better make up for this by giving her lots of scenes and dialogue (and not just about the Unexpected Offspring) for the rest of the season.

Oh noooo

I already wasn't that into the idea of this season because I loved the OG new cast, and I was never a big TNG fan, but I wasn't even expecting they would have the "got together with old flame offscreen and had a secret babby" plotline! I hated that way back on X-Files.

I heard they broke up Seven and Raffi? I hope that's not true!

[selenak]

My guess is it's not, because Raffi mentions it as part of her cover story in episode one, and we do know all the other stuff she says are lies and part of her cover when she's infiltrating the bad guys. (I.e. Girl friend breaks up with her, she falls of the wagon, is now no longer in Starfleet etc.) I was actually quite surprised when other reviewers took it for granted that the part of the break up is true, because in the very next scene after Raffi has been shown as a desperate addict etc., we see her being her confident self reporting to her at this point unknown handler that they bought it.

[kore]

YAYYYYY OK we finally saw the premiere bc it was free on YouTube, lol. Totally agree she was playing Shrek or whoever that guy was.

[watervole]

Captain Shaw makes some very good arguments and only the Star Trek fallback of 'anything you do out of loyalty to your friends will always be proven to be good for the entire galaxy' makes Picard right.

Captain Shaw was in the right.