SNAPSHOT
The second season of the American television series Star Trek: Picard features the character Jean-Luc Picard as he and his companions are trapped in the 21st century when reality is broken by Q as part of the ultimate trial for Picard. They must race against time to save the future of the galaxy. (synopsis courtesy Wikipedia)
Star Trek: Picard season 1 was just brilliant.
A beguiling mix of propulsive action, captivating characterisation, forward storytelling and well-used nostalgia (hello to Riker and Troi!), Picard proved that there’s a great deal of life left in the onetime captain of the Enterprise yet.
Originally envisaged as a one-shot deal, Picard is now back for a second and forthcoming third season, telling a whole new story from the season 1 arc, a narrative which sees the return of Q, Picard’s nemesis of sorts who is here to test him all over again.
I’ll be honest – Q, played beautifully by John de Lancie, is not my favourite Trek character; in fact, I find him rather annoying but the actor who brings him roguishly to life hints that he’s a different all-powerful being this time around.
“It’s going to be a different Q as well as it should. It’s not quite octogenarian Q, but time has gone by. So, it will be a different Q. Other than I am still there to annoy Jean-Luc as much as I can. And I think I do it pretty well.” (Games Radar)
I am reassured then but only a little; time (haha) will tell if he’s different enough to be palatable; at least Picard and the crew are back and it’ll be interesting to see what happens in the season to come and how much of season 1’s unanswered elements bleed over. (For some delightfully detailed thoughts on that, check out Games Radar.)
Patrick Stewart, who plays Picard, has told the official Star Trek: Picard podcast (via Deadline) that “[Picard] has no idea where he is at because he has no idea what the future now might hold for him”, which bodes well for season 2 which looks like it’s going to have a lot of fun with the reinvigorated character who could pretty go anywhere, which is always a thrilling possibility in the endlessly expansive Star Trek universe.
Picard season 2 premieres on 3 March 2022 for a 10-episode run that goes through to 5 May.