Review Copy Provided by Paramount.
To say I was looking forward to watching Picard season 2 would be an understatement.
After watching season 1 I was invested to the characters and the post Next Generation story that was presented felt like it was just getting started, and I couldn’t wait for more. So, after watching Episode 1, not only did I get my favourite character from the Next Generation with John De Lancie returning as the meddling Q but there is also new Borg Queen. The seeds were planted for an exciting season of television. However, the beautiful lavish forest that awaited me at the end of the season was simply a mirage because as the season continued the storyline soon became absurd.
The similarities to Star Trek IV the voyage home, one of my all-time favourites was a bit unreal. But then again, we are dealing with the subject of changed timelines and futures, so the commonality is not unfounded. But on top of that though we are also dealing with beloved characters we know being evil, to returning to the past to deal with illegal aliens and ICE agents and the atrocities associated with this, illegal medical practices, space travel, Jean-Luc or JL as he is called dealing with some traumatic event from his childhood which he is blocking out, then introduce the evil Borg Queen. We also have Data’s creator Noonieen Soong, we are also introduced to a very young El-Aurian Guinan. And as if that wasn’t enough and just for good measure lets through in a cameo from Will Wheaton in his iconic role of Wesley Crusher and Woopie Goldberg as Guinan back behind the bar in 10 forward. There are so many storylines in this season that it leads to a show narrative wise that feels half-baked and underwhelming.
It is such a pity, the series had the basis of an excellent spin off, but since the characters completely change the past with no consideration of how that will affect the future is just too much for me to contemplate and is utterly unrealistic. The fact they literally contradict themselves as they clearly state that the must ensure nothing is changed, made me question my mental sanity.
The final nail in the coffin is the change to the Borg, without saying too much, the 400 years of difference is just taking the whole thing too far.
I was looking forward to this season but with all the confusing storylines, characters and just the sheer craziness of it all I am afraid it is not something I would rush to watch again which for me who is not only a Next Gen fan, but a Trekkie is very sad.
Star Trek: Picard S2 – “STAR TREK: PICARD – SEASON TWO ARRIVES ON DVD, BLU-RAY™ AND LIMITED-EDITION BLU-RAY™ STEELBOOK® ON NOVEMBER 14”