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Star Trek: Picard – Season 3, Episode 5

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Patrick Stewart

Jean-Luc Picard

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Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5 Review – Imposters

A surprise character return provides a powerful emotional linchpin for an episode that's otherwise pretty focused on setting up Star Trek: Picard's endgame

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This Star Trek: Picard review contains spoilers.

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

Now that the U.S.S. Titan has successfully escaped the existential threat of death in a gravity well (and completed a truly outstanding quasi-two-parter in “Seventeen Seconds” and “No Win Scenario” ), Star Trek: Picard slows down a bit. “Imposters” is an hour that is, admittedly, mostly table setting for the back half of the season, as the show moves various pieces into place to finally bring its disparate plots together. Yet, because Picard seems to have learned—at long last—that it’s at its best when it’s wrestling not just with the broader legacy of The Next Generation , but the way that legacy has impacted the lives of others, the episode is still more emotionally compelling than any installment that’s predominantly about Changeling physiology has any right to be.

The big reason for the episode’s success is the surprising return of Bajoran commander Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) , a character who has a complex history with Picard, Riker, and Starfleet itself. Though her time on The Next Generation ended with her decision to ultimately defect and join the resistance group known as the Maquis, an act Picard viewed as a deeply personal and professional betrayal, Picard reveals that Ro has returned to the organization she once abandoned, was court-martialed, went to prison, and is now an official investigator, charged with leading the probe into the potential treason Picard and Riker committed by commandeering the Titan in the first place. Though by episode’s end, we learn she’s been digging into the “Changeling problem” in secret.

The complicated dance of regret, anger, and, yes, genuine affection that still clearly exists between Picard and Ro is the emotional engine that powers the bulk of the episode, and Patrick Stewart and Michelle Forbes are, unsurprisingly, still absolutely fantastic together. That Picard, a man who has given so much to Starfleet, is still angry about Ro’s defection makes plenty of sense, but what Stewart’s performance reveals is how personally he took her decision, and, in fact, how genuinely hurt he was by it. The same, intriguingly enough, can also be said for Ro, who clearly still longs for the approval of the man who first gave her a chance, and is apparently equally hurt that his belief in her couldn’t go far enough to trust that she had a genuine belief in and reason for the choices she made so long ago.

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That “Imposters” actually does a fairly great job of making you wonder whether this is the real Ro or a Changeling in disguise, even as it makes your heart break for the relationship that might have been between these two people, is particularly impressive. (And kind of makes you weep for the lack of similar nuanced and careful writing over the past two seasons of Picard , but at least we have it now , I suppose.) That the sharp jagged edges of their memories are ultimately what allows them both to prove they each are who they say they are is the sort of twist that works perfectly on both an emotional and narrative level.

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5 Easter Eggs Explained

Todd Stashwick as Captain Shaw in Star Trek: Picard

Picard Season 3’s Liam Shaw Is the Captain Star Trek Needs Right Now

This is an argument these two people have been waiting three decades to have, and it plays out with all the associated anger, hurt, and misconceptions that each of them has been carrying for so long. And the best part, as is so often the case in all good conflicts, is that they both valid points to make. She did betray all the principles he most believed in, and by extension, their relationship. But he often does conflate morality and duty, and he believed in her most only when it was easiest for him to do so.

The most human of emotions—love, pain, hurt—are what ultimately convince them to trust one another, and it’s such an incredible sequence that it is even more heartbreaking to realize it is the last the two will ever share. That they come to something like a fragile reconciliation before Ro heroically blows herself up to give Team Titan a chance to escape the Changeling-compromised U.S . S. Intrepid is, in hindsight, almost completely predictable, yet a complete gut-punch to watch unfold.

“Imposters” still suffers from some unfortunate pacing problems: sadly, Raffi and Worf’s excellent adventure remains Picard ‘s weakest element. Every time the episode shifts its focus away from the high-tension situation building aboard the Titan , it struggles to maintain anything close to momentum — no matter how much fun it is to watch Michael Dorn sling Klingon weaponry around and proclaim today is a good day to die. But, thanks to Ro’s big revelation—that Starfleet itself is compromised even at the highest levels of command and she’s been working under deep cover to try and suss out both who’s behind it and how to stop it—it appears that we’ll finally see season 3’s two major narrative threads intersect for good next week.

How Jack Crusher fits into all this is still anyone’s guess, though, and “Imposters” does little to clarify what, precisely, is going on with him. Why is he hearing voices and having visions? How does he suddenly have bizarre powers like he’s the Star Trek version of Eleven from Stranger Things ? Is he in control of these abilities or do they just surface at random? And is there a reason this appears to be the first time he’s ever mentioned any of these extremely concerning issues to his mother, who is, after all, one of the most renowned medical doctors in Starfleet?

If the show hadn’t already spent so much time and emotional energy on the whole “Picard’s long lost son with Beverly” subplot, I’d be inclined to assume that Jack is somehow an evolutionary answer to the Changelings’ improved ability to hide in plain sight since he appears to be able to pick them out much more easily than normal humans. But that’s a little too heavy-duty Chosen One vibes even for me at this point. So what is it? Maybe next week we’ll finally find out.

Lacy Baugher

Lacy Baugher is a digital producer by day, but a television enthusiast pretty much all the time. Her writing has been featured in Paste Magazine, Collider,…

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Star Trek: Picard

‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, Episode 5 Recap: Old Friends Return

In this week’s “Picard,” Jean-Luc encounters a familiar face. And he must contain his anger.

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By Sopan Deb

Season 3, Episode 5: ‘Imposters’

I am rarely truly surprised when it comes to television, but my jaw literally dropped when Ro Laren, played by Michelle Forbes, appeared as one of the Federation officers sent to upbraid Jean-Luc and Riker for their antics.

A genuinely stunning callback. The last time we saw Ro, she had become a traitor to the Federation by joining the Maquis in their fight against the Cardassians. This was a betrayal so cutting that it left Captain Picard speechless in one of Patrick Stewart’s stronger acting moments. That wasn’t supposed to be the last we saw of Ro, one of the more storied occasional characters in Trek lore. “Deep Space Nine” wanted Forbes to resurrect Ro as part of the cast, but she turned it down.

What made Ro a brilliant character is that she was one of the rare figures in “Next Generation” who didn’t automatically buy the righteousness of Starfleet hook, line and sinker.

She notes to Jean-Luc during their tense reunion: “Blind faith in any institution does not make one honorable.”

Ro questioned the status quo and valued her personal identity — as was signified by her insisting on wearing her Bajoran earring, which Jean-Luc astutely notes is missing when we see her again. This makes her the perfect person to tell the captain she once turned on that Starfleet is compromised at the highest level. Ro, on some level, has always believed that Starfleet is corrupt — just not as blatantly as it is now.

It falls somewhere between appropriate and ironic that Ro wants to question her former commanding officers about committing treason. Jean-Luc, understandably, is still enraged that Ro betrayed him all those years ago, though it’s a bit rich at the moment, given why he is in trouble.

“Empathy is one thing; betraying a commanding officer is another,” Jean-Luc rages, though we should remember that Jean-Luc just stole a shuttle from the Titan and put the entire crew in danger. But let’s move past that.

In the “Picard” version of Ro, she is a commander now, not an ensign. I was mostly fine with the story of how she got there. She was court-martialed, did some time and was recruited to Starfleet Intelligence, which included an “arduous rehabilitation program.” One small quibble: At no point during this process did Starfleet let Jean-Luc know that Ro had turned herself in.

Jean-Luc is able to vent his frustrations to Ro directly, though he does it at gunpoint in the holodeck. Historically, Jean-Luc’s family has always been his crew, not his actual family. So to be betrayed by someone he took under his wing is the deepest shiv someone could stick in him, especially on a Starfleet mission. But he has always fundamentally misread Ro: Jean-Luc wanted Ro to be Starfleet’s finest — as she notes — whereas Ro just wanted to be Ro.

But even so, Picard’s crew is still family. So when Ro asks Jean-Luc if he trusts her, he immediately says yes. Changelings are everywhere within Starfleet, Ro tells Jean-Luc; and as it turns out, they are right next to her, planting a bomb on her shuttle and thus bringing a closure to Ro’s character that she never properly received on “Next Generation.”

That Ro was the behind-the-scenes handler of Worf and Raffi was a nice touch. The three of them have much in common as outsiders who never quite fit the Starfleet mold. Using Ro’s earring as a data chip that could reunite Worf with Riker and Jean-Luc was innovative — and it tells us something else about Ro: She knew she was going to die when she handed the earring to Jean-Luc.

This was the best episode in what is turning out to be a strong season for “Picard.”

Odds and Ends

Genuinely loved the shots showing the Titan being repaired in space. Good example of how much the visuals of Trek have advanced over the decades.

Even after all this, Jean-Luc still insists on trying to get his Jack to join Starfleet. “Perhaps you might consider choosing a more honest vocation,” Jean-Luc says. The elder Picard, at his core, is a company man through and through, and even in trying to guide Jack, all roads lead back to Starfleet, despite its being obviously not a good fit. And as we find out later in the episode, the honesty of that vocation is up for debate at the moment.

The ship that Starfleet uses to bring its investigators is the U.S.S. Intrepid, a descendant of a ship that appeared on the original series.

Ro tells Jean-Luc that she has transferred most of the Titan crew to the Intrepid. Why would they need to be reassigned? If Ro didn’t trust anybody on her own ship or in the rest of Starfleet, wouldn’t she be putting those crew members in danger? This is borne out when Ro crashes her shuttle into the Intrepid to give the Titan time to run, but that also presumably hurt the Titan crew members that were beamed to the Intrepid.

I was also surprised that Jean-Luc and Riker encouraged Shaw to take the Titan and run so quickly with Titan crew members on board the Intrepid. Let’s assume the corrupted Starfleet ship wants to frame the Titan for Ro’s death. And lets assume that everyone knows the changelings aren’t afraid to murder. It stands to reason that Picard, Riker and Shaw would want to take their crew with them.

I’m enjoying the show’s willingness to offer fresh takes on members of certain species, like Krinn, a villainous Vulcan, or Sneed, the gangster Ferengi. But this story line is turning out to be unintentionally hilarious. How exactly did Worf and Raffi come up with their plan to capture Krinn?

Worf: “OK, Raffi. You set up with your rifle up top while a hologram version of you stands next to me on the ground. Then they’ll discover that. Then Krinn will make us fight each other. Then you stab me, but not too hard. Then when they think I’m dying, I’ll surprise them.” Raffi: “That seems complicated. What if they shoot us on sight?" Worf: “Trust me.”

A mea culpa: Last week, I wrote that Picard, while having his haddock, “blithely discusses the accident” that killed Jack Crusher Sr. Multiple readers noted that Picard was talking about a different incident, not the one that killed his old friend. My apologies, a changeling took over my body.

An earlier version of this recap misidentified the species of the gangster Sneed. He is a Ferengi, not a Vulcan.

How we handle corrections

Sopan Deb is a basketball writer and a contributor to the Culture section. Before joining The Times, he covered Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign for CBS News. More about Sopan Deb

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Star Trek: Picard Recap: A Good Day to Die

Star trek: picard.

If Jean-Luc Picard were disappointed in me, I’d crawl into a hole and never come out. Even as a fictional character, he’s one of those people who has been so pivotal in my life, so fundamental to the person I chose to become, that I couldn’t imagine being the target of his anger and disappointment.

Even so, he’s not perfect. One of the best parts of Star Trek: Picard is that it explores Picard’s arrogance in a way we haven’t previously seen. And as viewers, we’ve come to understand the weight of his expectations in this latest episode. What happens when you don’t become the person he thinks you should be?

It’s easy to breathe a sigh of relief at the beginning of “Imposters.” The Titan escapes the nebula and clutches of the Shrike, but as Beverly says, “I don’t think this is over yet.” We’re only halfway into the season, after all!! Starfleet arrives on the scene, ready to take Jean-Luc and Will to task for their actions.

Things are amped up, but once the USS Intrepid arrives, everything feels off. The Starfleet representative is arriving by shuttle, not the transporter. There’s no real communication as to what’s happening. Everything about this screams changeling imposter. When that shuttle docked, I was prepared for the Starfleet representative to be anyone, anyone at all. And yet I still gasped at the reveal: Ro. Freaking. Laren.

My personal relationship with Ro Laren has changed over the years. When I first saw the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Preemptive Strike,” I couldn’t believe that Ro betrayed Starfleet and joined the Maquis. It was unthinkable. SHE TURNED AGAINST JEAN-LUC PICARD? HOW DARE SHE!

But upon subsequent watches of the episode (which originally aired in 1994, nearly 30 years ago), I started sympathizing with Ro more (it doesn’t hurt that the excellent Michelle Forbes plays her). All of a sudden, the issue — having her loyalty tested between Picard and a group of resistance fighters opposing the Cardassian Union — wasn’t so black and white. You can see how torn Ro is, how much she doesn’t want to disappoint Jean-Luc or betray the trust he puts in her, but in the end, she has to do what she thinks is right. To see her again, back in a uniform, working for Starfleet Intelligence, and sitting in judgment of our heroes: I had a lot of feelings (putting them on trial for treason???).

It is fascinating to watch the different reactions. Will was in the shuttle with Ro when she betrayed Starfleet all those decades ago and saw how conflicted she was. He bore her message — “I’m sorry” — back to Captain Picard. Unsurprisingly, he tries to talk Jean-Luc down and curb his anger.

But Picard is having none of it . He’s angry at everything, and his emotion is intensely focused on Ro Laren, who, in his opinion, is an affront to everything he stands for. She betrayed Starfleet, sure, but more importantly, she betrayed him . And now she dares court-martial him??

It’s a tense chess game. After Jean-Luc learns from Beverly that changelings can pass blood tests, he immediately begins to suspect he’s dealing with an imposter. Commander Ro doesn’t help things when she pulls a phaser on him and redirects Picard into the holodeck. (Apparently, Ten Forward is just where all the good conversations will happen this season.)

It’s here that they begin to really test each other out. They’re half examining each other’s memories, half having the confrontation they’ve thought about for years. The conversation between them is so good that I struggle to write about it. My notes from the scene are just the dialogue written out because it’s so emotional and poignant. It is the catharsis I didn’t even know I was looking for: Jean-Luc pours out his anger, and it all comes down to the two breaking each other’s hearts: “You broke my heart,” Picard says. “And you broke mine,” Ro says back.

Interestingly, Jean-Luc’s anger is palpable, while Ro’s is quieter. It seems she’s accepted she betrayed him and that he will never forgive her. She tries to defend herself but also feels resigned to bear the brunt of his disappointment. It’s a weight she’s been carrying for decades. In the end, Jean-Luc’s anger at Ro convinces her to trust him. Neither of them are changelings. Ro tells Jean-Luc of a changeling infiltration of Starfleet at the highest levels. (At once, it becomes clear who Worf’s handler is.) Ro doesn’t even trust the Starfleet officers who traveled with her from the Intrepid.

As Ro explains what she knows, things become more apparent, but there’s one thing we don’t get an answer to: Why Jack Crusher? Even Ro doesn’t know, just that she’s been ordered to bring him in (presumably by changeling impersonators). But her crewmates can’t find him because Seven of Nine disguised Jack as a Starfleet officer. His visions are getting worse, but he’s safe for now.

Ro returns to the Intrepid, leaving the investigation in Jean-Luc’s hands. She pulls him aside and gives him an emotional goodbye, putting her Bajoran earring in his hand. It’s an ominous sign. As Commander Ro heads back to the Intrepid, her companions activate a bomb on her ship and beam back to the Titan. They’re clearly changelings and are going after Jack Crusher. Ro maneuvers the shuttle toward the Intrepid’s nacelle and says to Jean-Luc, “I’m giving you what you gave me all those years ago: a fighting chance.” It’s only then that Jean-Luc truly understands what Ro was trying to tell him, that her honor required her to do what she thought was right instead of being loyal to an institution like Starfleet. Even though she couldn’t be the person he wanted her to be, that doesn’t mean Ro doesn’t have honor or integrity. He realizes how much he’s misjudged and vilified her. He’s in tears as, in her final moments, he finally understands who she is.

After her death, the Titan escapes. Will realizes that the Bajoran earring Ro gave Jean-Luc has a data chip embedded within it, and it grants them access to her entire changeling investigation. As they’re looking through her files, Worf calls to check in with his handler — and finds his old captain and commander at the other end.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the escapades Worf and Raffi went on in this episode after being absent from the last ones. They are such an incredible team and an absolute delight to see onscreen. The story can be heavy at times, especially in this particular episode, and they provide necessary lightness whenever they’re onscreen. It makes for a nice balance.

This is one of those episodes that, as Trek fans, we’ll talk about for a long time. Was it a bit of fan service? Probably. Will anyone who cares about these characters actually mind? No, I don’t think so. Because the story line and motivations are authentic to who these people are, and the resolution between these two characters needed to happen. Jean-Luc is really hard on people, and living up to his expectations must be brutal — Ro earned every bit of her beautiful redemption arc.

Captain’s Log

• Legacy character count: Five.

• What is going on with Jack Crusher? I’m so glad he finally told his mom what was happening at the end of the episode, but those red visions? The voice saying, “Find me?” That has to be why the changelings want him, but what does it mean?

• “I’m going to step outside so the three of you can get your bullshit story straight.” Captain Shaw continues to be the most delightful asshole.

• Will Jean-Luc eventually succeed in recruiting his son to Starfleet? That’d be a lot of fun, but I also like the idea that Starfleet isn’t for everyone.

• Changelings no longer revert to goo when they’re killed; that’s fun and disturbing news.

• I knew Worf wasn’t going to die, but “Today was a good day to die” GOT ME.

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Star Trek: Picard Boss Explains the Surprise Return of a Next Generation Favorite: ‘It Felt Like We Had to Do It’

Dave nemetz, west coast bureau chief.

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Warning: This post contains spoilers for Thursday’s Star Trek: Picard .

We knew this season of Star Trek: Picard would see Jean-Luc cross paths with a lot of his former Enterprise crewmates — but we didn’t see this one coming.

In Thursday’s episode, Starfleet sent a team of investigators to question Jean-Luc and Riker about their insubordination aboard the Titan , and the team was led by… Ro Laren, the Bajoran lieutenant played by Michelle Forbes on Star Trek: The Next Generation . (Jean-Luc was left deeply disappointed by her on TNG when she left the Enterprise to join a band of resistance fighters.) Forbes reprised her role as Ro Laren this week, and it was clear the wounds between her and Jean-Luc hadn’t exactly healed over the years.

Star Trek Picard Ro Laren Season 3 Episode 5

Jean-Luc still felt betrayed by Ro Laren’s abrupt departure all those years ago, labeling her a “traitor,” and he also suspected she could be one of the changelings that have infiltrated Starfleet. That led to a riveting scene where Jean-Luc and Ro held phasers on each other while arguing about their old rift on the holodeck — “You broke my heart,” he told her, and she replied: “And you broke mine” — and that intense conversation convinced Jean-Luc that she was the real Ro Laren.

For Matalas and the Picard writers, “the opportunity to tell a story that’s essentially a paranoia thriller, where both of them are looking at each other, not entirely certain if each other are who they say they are, and the only way to verify their identity is to work through this kind of catharsis about how they feel, [felt] like it could be good television.” He admits “it was a tough one to crack, but it was brilliantly written by our writers, and I think it’s satisfying. But it felt like we had to do it.”

By episode’s end, Ro Laren exposed the changelings within Starfleet and nobly sacrificed herself, piloting a shuttle carrying a bomb into another ship to allow Jean-Luc and the Titan time to escape. “She sets them on the path, hopefully, that could save the galaxy,” Matalas notes.

Got thoughts on Ro Laren’s surprise return and this season of Picard so far? Beam down to the comments and make your voice heard.

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33 comments.

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Brilliant !!

I enjoyed the first two seasons, but these episodes feel like a real continuation of TNG. Very well done.

This third season of Picard has been some of the best Star Trek ever put out. It’s been incredible.

Loved her character and she was like a surrogate daughter for Picard. I haven’t watched yet….

Crazy effing good ep. right there! Never saw that coming. No way. No how.

Outstanding that Michelle Forbes came back to conclude Ro’s story. A brilliant performer whose presence 30 years ago made TNG better and whose appearance in ST:P continues the high quality of this season. And a well-deserved special guest star notation in the credits, as she was one of the recurring stars in TNG as relevant to the series as the regular cast.

yea bring her in then make her stupid. she was in the maquis for pete’s sake. even i could figure out how to get out of that situation. blow the hatch, then while you’re outside you get beamed over. i’m sure she has many more ideas, but writers chose to write her stupid.

Yeah, sure. Blow up the hatch in the small shuttle without a) blowing up herself, b) jump into space and hope that the Titan is faster than the Intrepid and c) that the transporter block on the shuttle is limited to the dimensions of the shuttle.

She did the best she could with the times she had left and did what she said: she gave them a fighting chance to escape.

The communication link was cut off several seconds before the explosion, so its possible she did some maquis trick in that time to survive. Just a theory but strange it didn’t stay connected until the explosion.

It was a very welcome surprise that Michelle Forbes came back, not only that but a character (Ro) we did not know as this surprise was kept, and not released on all the spoiler sites. Not sure how I feel yet about them killing her off, well not true, I would have preferred her to have survived. This season has been a lot better than i thought it would be.

Fantastic episode. I never expected a conclusion to this TNG storyline, just wonderfukl.

Also another 12 Monkeys alumn joined as a guest star, Kirk Acevedo as a Vulcan crime Lord. Who would have thought?

During DS9 the Cardassians joined the Dominion and together waged war on the Maquee. During Voyager we learned that the entire Maquee resistance was wiped out. Ro Larin should have died sometime around 2373 give or a take a few years. Moreover, had she turned herself in before then, Picard would have absolutely been made aware. This was a retcon. An illogical and frankly pointless one at that. She might have been recruited by a section 31 like organization, but never starfleet security. This show is making a mockery of starfleet and star trek canon. Did these writers even watch the DS9 two parter “Home front/Paradise Lost?”

How is this a retcon when it is realistic? The entire Marquis is wiped out? Well, some of them were in the Delta Quadrant. Obviously it wasn’t the entire Marquis. What makes you think that others didn’t also survive? It’s not like Q snipped his fingers and actually wiped them out. You also don’t know when she turned herself in. She only said after years with the Marquis. That could have been well before that all happened. Also you assume that Picard would have been informed. Maybe, or maybe not. Missing information happens all the time. Non of this is a retcon, just nitpicking.

1. Ro Laren joined the Marquis sometime in 2370. It would have been later in the year based on the events and episodes that take place between her return to the enterprise and her defection. The Marquis were wiped out approximately 3-4 years later.

2: Picard was her mentor and commanding officer. She wouldn’t be thrown in jail without a court martial, and they would definitely inform him and seek his testimony in such a proceeding.

3. Torres makes it pretty clear that every base was destroyed and the vast majority died. If she was a lucky survivor then they should have said so in the episode. This was clearly an error by the writers who were probably not very familiar with the events of DS9 and Voyager.

4. A spy who defects is not a good spy. Using her in intelligence is a huge risk. Section 31 would recruit her in a heartbeat. She should have been section 31. This would be even more significant as 31 is the group that created and disseminated (through Odo,) the original Changeling virus/bio weapon. I assume the new found powers/abilities of the Changelings are tied directly to surviving it.

5. That a random Commander would put the pieces together and be allowed to live, and interact freely with JLP is silly writing. Why not replace her instead of her underlings. Especially if she is making noise trying to get to Janeway and other trusted admirals and raise the alarm about the infiltration.

Not only is it a retcon, it is bad writing.

Yes, definitely nitpicking. Nothing Ro said is contradicting established canon. You are just making a lot of assumptions what people would have done or should have done when there are multiple possible scenarios. Just because she didn’t detail every single second of what happened after she left the Enterprise means it’s bad writing or a retcon.

You are over complicating stuff when what happened can also be a lot simpler and still work. It might just not work for you and that is fine. I just don’t agree with it.

Or, they wanted to use an actress who had history with TNG, a character who would be a fun callback, and a character fans would believe Picard would trust. To accomplish this, the ignored the fact that the Marquis only lasted another few years after Roe joined. The better choice would be someone like Miles O’Brien. That said I am not sure they could get the actor to reprise that role.

It’s nice that you are such a devoted fan, but I also think you are nitpicking. They wouldn’t have known if every single Maquis member died. This is not the stretch you are making it out to be.

Crazy good episode! Fantastic way to tie up that loose end!

The season has been a lot better but its weird they way everyone treats Picard. He’s a dinosaur that doesn’t know what happening around him. Everyone seems to lecture/scold him for every idea he has. The show is very antagonistic toward its main character.

On a scale of 1-10 this episode was a 12!!

This season has been incredible. It makes me feel like this third season should have just been a limited series because the first two seasons were not good overall.

If Michelle Forbes isn’t Performer of the Week, I’m going to riot.

(Okay, one person can’t riot but you get what I mean.)

Better and better! . The first few episodes were a little mixed, for me — wonderful performances, but some of the occasion for them seemed shoehorned in, such as the issue between Ryker and Troi. There was the danger of making this into a series of set pieces rather than a story. The business in the nebula had its function, establishing the new bad guy and giving some time for character interactions, and giving a moment of beauty and wonder, but ultimately it got resolved by pulling a rabbit out of a hat, or, rather, stuffing a couple into the port nacelles. . But now things are cooking. As someone who saw TNG when it first aired and subsequently forgot all about it, I had no idea who Ro Laren was, but I still found the scenes with her moving, particularly at the end. Michelle Forbes was just very good, and Patrick Stewart as well, of course. . One standout that no one seems to mention is Michelle Hurd, who’s really brought it, and apart from her solo performances, her chemistry with Michael Dorn has been amazing. Put on top of that their impressive stunt work. . If there actually was another season of this, it would not be a bad thing.

Wil Wheaton had both Dorn and Hurd on The Ready Room, and they discussed the chemistry that developed and prep for the fight scenes quite a bit.

Big plug here for Ready Room. It’s been stellar this season with lots of insights into the characters from the primary players.

I absolutely loved the DS9 tie in here – it was so appropriate. And it gave Michelle Forbes a final reprise, a meaty, heroic, buzzyworthy one.

I have hated every nuTrek series, including Star Trek Picard. It was all garbage. But I can honestly say that season 3 is good Trek. Not perfect. There is some retconning and some misunderstanding of the changelings (the bucket), but it has some great character work, and a pretty cool arc. And there is a son of Beverly Crushers whom I don’t hate! Now I want to see more Trek like this, and it is the last season!

We now need a standalone tv movie to explore the story of Ro. Like RAZOR did for her Admiral Cain.

I liked the return a lot but it really saddened and surprised me that they killed her off.

It didn’t surprise me that they killed her off. They had an interesting character, so of course they killed her off. Shock value. I seriously doubt she’ll be the last.

The biggest shame of killing off Ro was that, with no chance of Yeoh doing it, Ro would have been amazing leading a Section 31 series. I can’t imagine that Forbes would have any interest in playing Ro for that commitment any more than she did back in the 90’s, but one can dream.

Could she have survived the shuttle explosion? I only got 3 words….advanced tactical training!

What a great idea and ep.

Cried so hard.

The confrontation is one of the best scenes in all of ST. Masterfully written and masterfully played by the actors.

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'Star Trek: Picard' season 3 episode 5 features the brief return of another 'TNG' favorite

Fans will squeal as a beloved B-character makes her 'Trek' encore — and then just as quickly makes her 'Trek' exit.

She's bad, she's Bajoran and she's back, baby. Her return could've easily been spread over two episodes

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Picard" Season 3, episode 5

So far, Douglas Aarniokoski and Johnathon Frakes have shared the directorial duties of "Star Trek: Picard" equally, but this week is the turn of a gentleman named Dan Liu.

In fact, Liu is also at the helm of next week's installment, an interesting two-episode-per-director approach. Liu was also responsible for a singular episode of "Strange New Worlds" — S01, E04, entitled " Memento Mori " — and two episodes from Season 3 of " For All Mankind ." And it's worth noting that the directors in a show like "Picard" are very often selected because they're deemed suitable by the showrunner for particular types of episodes.

The quality dipped a little in last week's episode, but this remains the best season of "Picard" so far without a doubt. And it should come as no surprise then that this week sees the return — and subsequent send-off — of another of " The Next Generation 's" favorite B-characters, Ro Laren, played once again by Michelle Forbes.

While Forbes' debut on TNG was actually playing a character called Dara in "Half a Life" (S04, E22), she then appeared as the series semi-regular Bajoran Ensign in a total of eight episodes, with six in Season 5, one in the sixth season and then the most notable one, which preceded the series finale, "All Good Things." Even Q only appeared in eight episodes.

Related: 'Star Trek: Picard' season 3 episode 4 is fun, but not at the warp caliber we've seen so far

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Forbes made a name for herself in television science fiction and was even offered the chance to play the same character in " Deep Space Nine ." However, she declined, and the character was rewritten as Major Kira Nerys and played by Nana Visitor. But she rocked our worlds once again in 2005 playing the reimagined Admiral Cain in arguably three of the very best " Battlestar Galactica " episodes. Lest we forget, the original character, Commander Cain, was portrayed by Lloyd Bridges in 1978.

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Laren was a female Bajoran national who formerly served in Starfleet aboard the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Jean-Luc Picard before finally sympathizing with, and later defecting to, the Maquis. This was a resistance group who organized against the occupation of their homes after their colonies were ceded to the Cardassian Union by Federation-Cardassian Treaties in the late 2360s. Starfleet considered them to be traitors, while Cardassia considered them to be terrorists.

So, you can imagine then, fans gasping with delight as such a potentially interesting character makes her "Trek" encore and then, within the same episode, makes her "Trek" exit. Who's going to get wheeled out next week? Keiko O'Brien perhaps, or how about Lt. Reginald Barclay? Given we already know of the return of Lore, the other son of Soong, plus the return of the holodeck character Professor Moriarty (played once again by Daniel Davis), who appeared as the antagonist from the Sherlock Holmes stories in the TNG episodes "Elementary, Dear Data" (S02, E03 and "Ship In A Bottle" (S06, E12), quite frankly, at this point, anything is possible.

Meanwhile, Jason Bourne Jack Crusher is turning out to possess sleeper agent-style, long forgotten or preprogrammed skills in hand-to-hand and close quarters combat. You know, like we've seen in so many movies and television episodes — such as "A History of Violence," "The Long Kiss Goodnight," even "Nobody" to a slightly lesser extent, and "The Man From Nowhere" — that it practically has its own sub-genre.

However, despite cruising quite close to a couple of colossal clichés, this remains a well-written installment and that, in association with good dialogue, well-thought-out character interplay and effective, even pacing, make it reasonably enjoyable.

Ro's death, though, is spectacularly underwhelming, and despite efforts to be creative, like making her Worf and Raffi's handler, you really have to wonder: If the technology exists to create hard light that feels like it's solid and has mass and can fill hard-light-generated receptacles with replicated matter, rather than just having a damn bar onboard, surely something could be done for Ro. Why couldn't she just use the illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator?

Worf has always had a way with the ladies (Deanna Troi, Jadzia Dax) and this relationship is fun too

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This season remains entertaining and is a vast, vast improvement on the previous two. It is very far from the very best of "Star Trek," however. So far, the cast reunions have been well handled, but if we're going to get a token return appearance only for each one to disappear or die after just one episode, it will ultimately prove to be a wasted opportunity. Also, why isn't teleportation used more frequently as a torture device?

"Star Trek: Picard" and every episode of every "Star Trek" show currently streams exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US. Internationally, the shows are available on Paramount Plus in Australia, Latin America, the U.K. and South Korea, as well as on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. They also stream exclusively on Paramount Plus in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.

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‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3 Cast and Character Guide (Photos)

Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise embark on one final adventure in space

The crew of the “U.S.S. Enterprise” reunites for one final mission in Season 3 of “Star Trek: Picard.”

It marks the first time the entire cast from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (“TNG”) — Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton and Michael Dorn — have reunited on screen since 2002’s “Star Trek Nemesis.”

See what your favorite “TNG” cast members look like now.

Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard

Now retired and residing at his family vineyard, the Starfleet admiral is called into action for one final mission after receiving a distress call from Beverly Crusher.

Aside from Picard, Stewart is best known for playing Professor Charles Xavier in the “X-Men” movie franchise. His character recently crossed over to the MCU, appearing as a member of the Illuminati in “Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.”

Jonathan Frakes as William Riker

Picard calls upon his former first officer for assistance. Riker, no longer in command of the U.S.S. Titan and needing some time away from his family, jumps at the opportunity.

After “TNG,” Frakes appeared in numerous shows and hosted “Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction.” He’s also a prolific director, with episodes of “Roswell,” “The Librarians,” “Star Trek: Discovery” and even “Picard” under his belt.

Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi

Troi is the former ship’s counselor and is married to Will Riker. They have a daughter, Kestra. As a half-Betazoid, she is able to read the emotions of others.

Sirtis (and Frakes) voiced lead roles in the animated series “Gargoyles.” She’s appeared in numerous shows in the U.S. and U.K. including “NCIS.” She reprised the role of Troi in Season 1 of “Picard.”

Brent Spiner as TBD

Data, the beloved android who served on board the Enterprise and perished in a battle against the Romulan warlord Shinzon. Whether Spiner is playing Data, his evil brother Lore, or some other being is to be determined.

Although his character Data was killed in “Nemesis,” Spiner has played various characters with familial connections to Data in other “Trek” series and films. He’s also known for playing Dr. Okum in the “Independence Day” films.

Michael Dorn as Worf

Worf is the former Enterprise security chief. Despite being raised by humans, his Klingon heritage imparts a strong sense of honor, particularly in battle.

After “TNG,” Dorn joined the cast of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” He’s appeared in more “Trek” shows than any other character. He’s also lent his voice talent to numerous shows.

LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge

La Forge is the former Enterprise chief engineer. He is currently running the Starfleet museum. He also has two daughters in Starfleet.

Prior to “TNG,” Burton was the beloved host of “Reading Rainbow.” There was a campaign to have him replace Alex Trebek as the host of “Jeopardy,” and he even guest-hosted. Like Frakes, Burton has directed numerous episodes of “Trek” series.

Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher

Crusher is the former Enterprise chief medical officer. She lost contact with her crewmates but reaches out to them in a time of need. She and Picard had a former romantic relationship that became a close friendship.

McFadden starred in “Marker” and “Mad About You” after her stint on “TNG.” She’s also reprised the role of Dr. Crusher on “Star Trek: Prodigy.”

Jeri Ryan as Annika Hansen/Seven of Nine

After being rescued from the Borg, Seven joined the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager. She later joined the Rangers, a space vigilante group, before re-enlisting in Starfleet. She is currently the first officer on the U.S.S. Titan, where she goes by Annika Hansen, her human name before assimilation.

Ryan wasn’t a part of the “TNG” cast. She joined “Star Trek: Voyager” in 1997. Her character was extremely popular, and she reprised her role in Season 1 of “Picard.” After “Voyager” Ryan starred in “Boston Public.”

Michelle Hurd as Raffaela “Raffi” Musiker

Musiker served with Picard late in his Starfleet career but burned out. She eventually helped him root out Romulan spies. She re-enlisted in Starfleet and joined the U.S.S. Excelsior crew, but has since taken on a special mission.

Hurd is best known for playing Monique Jeffries in “Law and Order: SVU” and Ellen Briggs in “Blindspot.”

Amanda Plummer as Vadic

Very little is known about the villainous Vadic. She captains the warship Shrike and has a grudge against Picard and the Enterprise crew.

Plummer, the daughter of legendary thesp Christopher Plummer, had had a long career on stage and screen. But her most memorable role might be playing “Honey Bunny,” one of the restaurant robbers in “Pulp Fiction.”

Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut as Sidney La Forge

La Forge is the eldest daughter of Geordi La Forge and the helmsman on the U.S.S. Titan.

Chestnut has had recurring roles in “Rap Sh!t” and “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

Todd Stashwick as Liam Shaw

Shaw is the no-nonsense captain of the U.S.S. Titan. He took over command from Will Riker. He previously served on the U.S.S. Constance, one of 40 ships destroyed in the Battle of Wolf 359 against the Borg and an assimilated Picard.

Stashwick is no stranger to the “Trek” universe, having appeared in “Star Trek: Enterprise” as Talok. He appeared in the sci-fi show “12 Monkeys” from 2016-18.

Ed Speleers as Jack Crusher

Speleers’ character is the son of Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard. He never knew his father while growing up.

Speleers played the title role in the fantasy film “Eragon,” and had a memorable stint playing Jimmy the handsome footman on “Downton Abbey.”

Michelle Forbes as Ro Laren

Ro served aboard the Enterprise as an ensign before defecting to the Maquis. She is back with Starfleet working in the Intelligence division. She is sent to interrogate Picard and Riker for treason.

Forbes previously appeared on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Battlestar Galactica.”

Mica Burton as Ensign Alandra La Forge

Alandra is the youngest daughter of Geordi La Forge who works with her father at the fleet museum. She has an interest in engineering.

Burton is the real-life daughter of castmember LeVar Burton.

Daniel Davis as Moriarty

Moriarity was a hologram created to be a foil to Data’s Sherlock Holmes. He gained sentience and outwitted the Enterprise crew. Eventually, he was placed in a memory module to continue running but appears to have escaped his program.

Davis is best known for playing Niles, the sharp-tongued butler on “The Nanny.”

Tim Russ as Tuvok (doppleganger)

Tuvok was the former security officer aboard the U.S.S. Voyager. Seven of Nine turns to her former crewmate for information about the kidnapped Captain Riker.

Elizabeth Dennehy as Elizabeth Shelby

Admiral Shelby is the commander-in-chief of the U.S.S. Enterprise F during the Frontier Day celebration. She previously served aboard the Enterprise D during the Federation’s earlier encounter with The Borg.

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In ‘Imposters,’ Picard Has an Identity Crisis

This review and discussion contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 5, “Imposters.”

The revelation that rogue Changelings had infiltrated Starfleet in “ Seventeen Seconds ” shifted the third season of Star Trek: Picard into something resembling a conspiracy thriller. To be fair, the season arguably began by hitting that note, with Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) imploring her old commanding officer Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) to “ trust no one ,” the iconic catchphrase of the definitive paranoid 1990s television series. This paranoia comes to the fore in “Imposters.”

In the episode’s teaser, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) is haunted by nightmares in which he murders the bridge crew of the Titan , suggesting he might be a brainwashed operative like in the classic paranoid thriller The Manchurian Candidate , which got its own loose Next Generation remake in “ The Mind’s Eye .” When the Titan intercepts the Intrepid , Commander Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) arrives on board to reveal the extent and the reach of the Changeling infiltration of Starfleet.

“I believe the Changelings have infiltrated every sphere of power in Starfleet, including key personnel,” Ro warns. “Starfleet is compromised at the highest level.” Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) repeats the warning that “Starfleet has been compromised” in his broadcast to his crew. “Jean-Luc, your ship is not the only one with a Changeling problem,” Ro urges Picard. “There have been twelve incidents across multiple starships, all being kept quiet. I’m just connecting the dots.”

As with a lot of the third season of Picard , this plays as a retread of an earlier episode. In the first season of The Next Generation , the episode “ Coming of Age ” saw Picard receiving a visit from his old friend Admiral Gregory Quinn (Ward Costello), who revealed a sinister plot in the upper echelons of Starfleet Command. In the later episode “ Conspiracy ,” it was revealed that a parasitic bug-like species had taken over senior officials. This early serialized plot remains an object of fascination for fans and writers.

Star Trek: Picard season 3 episode 5 review Imposters changeling Ro Paramount+

The “Conspiracy” plot was a product of its time. Writer Tracy Tormé had originally pitched the idea of a conspiracy within Starfleet as a commentary on the then-recent Iran-Contra controversy , in which the American government conspired to sell arms to Iran in violation of an arms embargo . That scandal had also been an influence on the arms-dealing Starfleet Admiral Mark Jameson (Clayton Rohner) in “ Too Short a Season .” The threat within Starfleet received an alien dimension in order to appease Gene Roddenberry.

Obviously, these ideas exist in particular contexts and in conversation with particular ideas. A conspiracy thriller in the wake of Watergate or Iran-Contra is saying something different than a similar narrative in the era of “ trutherism ” or “ birtherism .” This is an issue in adapting older works in new contexts. The paranoid conspiracy theories of The X-Files spoke to something particular during the 1990s, but its subtext became much more uncomfortable when the show was revived in the age of Trump .

Star Trek has always been an inherently political show, with the franchise engaging with contemporary issues from the Vietnam War to the counterculture . Sometimes it did so elegantly and sometimes it did so clumsily, but the franchise has always been a science fiction saga that served as a mirror of America’s present , rather than a blueprint for its future . Even Star Trek: Picard itself was very much engaged with the Trump era from the outset: isolationism, xenophobia, refugee crises .

It’s important to stress that the first season of Picard was imperfect in its political commentary. The show was undeniably sympathetic to the Romulan refugees displaced by the supernova that consumed Romulus, earning praise from various human rights organizations . That said, the first season was still a paranoid narrative about how some of those refugees were infiltrators seeking to subvert the Federation, evoking right-wing fearmongering about immigration .

Somehow, the third season of Star Trek: Picard has ditched the empathy that the first two seasons demonstrated towards migrants and refugees , while retaining the paranoid fearmongering about outsiders hiding in plain sight. Indeed, Jack’s two killing spree sequences evoke similar sequences with the synthetics from the show’s first season, creating an interesting thematic bridge between two seasons fixated on the idea of “external enemies within.” It’s an odd choice.

To be fair, it’s unlikely that the third season of Picard is embracing this sort of paranoia deliberately or consciously. Indeed, the third season of the show has worked hard to erase anything even resembling a commentary on the modern world. Instead, it seemed like the show stumbled unthinkingly into this awkward political subtext, creating a story that doesn’t feel like an interrogation of the worst impulses of modern American discourse but an embrace of them.

There is a worrying number of Americans who believe that their government is conspiring against them and that there is a secretive cabal engaged in monstrous activities . These individuals attempted a literal coup of the United States . When Ro warns Picard that he “must make sure that (the crew of the Titan ) are loyal,” it’s a choice of language that evokes President Donald Trump’s attempts to solicit the individual loyalty of the officials serving under him .

Individual loyalty is the thematic glue of “Imposters.” It links both of the episode’s plot threads. Ro and Picard navigate the issue of their loyalty to one another, while crime boss Krinn (Kirk Acevedo) ruminates on his relationship to Sneed (Aaron Stanford), “In my world, loyalty is what passes for family.” This feels like the thesis statement of the episode. In Picard , individuals are shrewd enough not to offer loyalty to institutions. However, the third season insists on loyalty to individuals above all else, including ideals.

As an aside, Krinn himself is fascinating. There is something delightfully gonzo and silly in the idea of a Vulcan gangster who has decided “there can be no utopia without crime; ergo, an organized criminal enterprise is logical.” It’s also good to see Kirk Acevedo having fun. At the same time, there’s something uncomfortable about using vertical Vulcan text to evoke teardrop tattoos and a character wearing an IDIC like a medallion. It recalls Voyager ’s use of the Kazon as a clumsy commentary on Los Angeles gang culture .

Still, “Imposters” taps into something tied to the Changelings as a concept. The alien species evokes the paranoia of the 1950s witch hunts, the belief that communist sleeper agents had infiltrated America and looked just like everyone else. This may be why Star Trek: Deep Space Nine quickly leaned away from “imposter” narratives using the aliens. The last big infiltrator plotline was “ By Inferno’s Light ,” two-and-a-half seasons before the show ended and before the Dominion War began.

Indeed, Deep Space Nine was more interested in how paranoia about the Changelings warped the Federation than it was in actual Changelings. In “ Homefront ” and “ Paradise Lost ,” paranoia about Changeling infiltration leads to an attempted Starfleet coup . In “ Inquisition ,” Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) discovers how the fear of infiltration has been used to justify the erosion of civil liberties . So it’s weird that Picard is recycling plots that Deep Space Nine outgrew quite early in its run.

Inviting comparisons to Deep Space Nine was always going to be risky for Picard . When Crusher conducts her autopsy of the shapeshifter, she notes, “This Changeling could pass the traditional blood test.” However, Changelings have been passing that blood test since the imposter posing as General Martok (J.G. Hertzler) cut his palm in front of Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) in “ The Way of the Warrior .” Joseph Sisko (Brock Peters) ridiculed the efficacy of the test in “Homefront.”

The problem is compounded by the fact that the episode’s central emotional arc, the betrayal that Picard feels toward Ro in the wake of her defection to the Maquis in “ Preemptive Strike ,” was already played out in the betrayal that Benjamin Sisko felt toward Michael Eddington (Ken Marshall) in the wake of his defection to the Maquis in “ For the Cause .” The fact that Forbes and Stewart are both great as Ro and Picard in “Imposters” doesn’t discount the fact that this plot was done better in “ Blaze of Glory .”

There is something interesting in the central conflict between Picard and Ro. In many ways, the third season of Picard continues the first season’s fascination with Picard as a failed father figure . Over the course of the season, to varying degrees of success, there is a sense that Picard has damaged relationships with both Jack Crusher and William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes). Like Riker, Ro is another surrogate child who devoted herself to Picard and whom Picard has perhaps disappointed.

These scenes come close to a legitimate criticism of Picard as a father figure defined by his own ego. “You have no idea what it was like, living under your relentless judgment,” Ro protests. Picard counters, “You betrayed everything I believed in.” Ro objects, “No, you wanted to mold me in your image, your mentorship, your affection. It was conditional.” Given that many of the children in Picard are synthetics who are literally made to their creators’ specifications, this is all very pointed and charged. What does it mean to be a parent?

“I believed in you,” Picard tells Ro. Ro responds, “Only when it was easy for you. If I meant so much, you would have understood.” That feels like what Picard should aspire to be. For all its flaws, the first season did well to establish these surrogate children as series regulars: Raffi (Michelle Hurd), Elnor (Evan Evagora), and Soji (Isa Briones). In the third season, with the emphasis on the returning Next Generation cast, these younger characters seem like props . Picard still doesn’t believe in them.

There is no sense that these conflicts mean anything. Picard’s feud with Riker in “Seventeen Seconds” is forgiven in the opening scenes of “ No Win Scenario .” Jack doesn’t spend any time with his father in “Imposters,” despite going through an identity crisis. Ro is killed off at the climax of “Imposters.” What is this recurring thematic motif building towards? What is the third season of Picard saying about this generational conflict? Does the show itself even know? Or is it as confused about its own identity as Jack Crusher?

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5 Review: Imposters

By: Author Diana Keng

X (Twitter)

Of all the fan service we've been gifted this season, Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5 is the most emotionally impactful and psychologically satisfying.

Ro Laren's history with Starfleet, in general, and Picard, in particular, has been an open case for so long that most fans probably believed it would remain without conclusion forever.

Her return binds the season's two narratives together for the first time. Her reunion with Picard brings closure to the betrayal he's carried for thirty years. Her death may prove to be the most meaningful sacrifice Starfleet ever records.

Together Again - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

Despite not appearing on Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 4 , Worf and Raffi's mission is never far from mind as unmasking the Changeling posing as Titus Rikka linked (!) their investigation to the personnel issues aboard the Titan.

When Worf's handler denies them their requested authorization to access Daystrom Station, we see how Worf and Raffi respond differently to orders.

Determined Raffi - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

In the seasons since Raffi was first introduced, we've watched her struggle to find and stay on a healthy and balanced path.

She is a supremely capable and brilliant operative, but the people she loves have never been enough for her to give up on the people she knows she can save.

Worf: Your enemy’s aggression will always reveal their weakness. You could have sacrificed a move to reveal mine. Raffi: I already know yours. It’s talk. Worf: Impulsiveness, stubbornness, short-sightedness is yours. 🔗 permalink: Impulsiveness, stubbornness, short-sightedness is yours.

Worf sees and names the warrior in her and recognizes that the warrior will die a needless death if she does not learn patience and flexibility.

I suspect he sees himself in her, possibly Alexander and Kurn as well. After all, Alexander harbored resentment for a long time, allowing it to cloud his judgment and weaken his battle readiness. Kurn felt dishonor so deeply he had to be reconned and adopted into a different Klingon House.

Mr. Worf - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

Worf can see a better path for Raffi. One that allows her to serve the justice that compels her to constant action while granting her the peace she needs to become the mother and grandmother she wants to be.

After Jadzia's death, Worf devotes himself to his work, whether as Federation Ambassador to Qo'noS, as Enterprise-E crew, or, evidently, as a Starfleet intelligence operative and handler.

Whatever the work, he is alone until he reveals himself to Raffi.

As a team, they may prove to be the found family they need because they cannot be with those they've lost.

Of A Single Mind - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

I mean, they're already close enough that Worf trusts her to stab him. That's a lot of trust.

Now, whether you like or lump Raffi — personally, I think she's a phenomenal addition to the Trek-verse, and only part of the reason is I've loved Michelle Hurd since her days on Another World — you have to admit she provides a perspective on the Federation of the 25th Century we've never seen before.

Raffi: Talk now. Krinn: Reason suggests that you won’t kill me because you need more information. Raffi: My friend is bleeding pretty badly. How much of his impatience have you factored in there? 🔗 permalink: My friend is bleeding pretty badly. How much of his impatience have you factored in there?

She is Starfleet that is pretty awful at being Starfleet, but she is not willing to give up on making a difference in the world.

In a fascinating way, she's the new Ro Laren.

Sorrowful - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

Commander Ro's role as Worf's handler is the final piece to how the season's Titan and M'Talas IV narratives fit together.

With Changelings in the picture, everyone is suspect. There is subtle brilliance to bringing Michelle Forbes back to reprise the role at the very moment the enemy could look like anyone.

Picard: We have absolutely no reason to believe that she will treat us justly. Riker: You mentored her. You trusted her when no one else would. You had a bond… Picard: … and she broke it! 🔗 permalink: … and she broke it!

Of all of Picard's past crew, Ro Laren is the most tragic and traumatic lost cause in all of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

There's a reason her defection to the Maquis — turning against Riker and tearfully rejecting everything Picard offered her as a part of Starfleet — aired as the penultimate episode of the entire series.

From her first appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5 Episode 3 (Forbes had previously appeared as Dara on Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4 Episode 22), Ro Laren was revolutionary in character and effect.

Trust No One - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

No other recurring character from the Enterprise-D days carries the same level of authority, dignity, or moral rectitude.

She's always done what she felt was right, no matter the expectations of those around her or the hopes of those she respected.

Ro: You have no idea what it was like living under your relentless judgment. Picard: This wasn’t about judgment. We had a bond based on mutual respect. Based on you and I. Ro; You and I what? 🔗 permalink: This wasn’t about judgment. We had a bond based on mutual respect. Based on you and I. Ro;…

It cost her the relationship she'd built with Picard and her freedom, but it speaks to the value Starfleet sees in her as well as her fortitude that she keeps coming back.

Picard: You betrayed everything I believed in. Ro: No, you wanted to mold me in your image, your mentorship, your affection. It was conditional. You dare to question my honor? I joined the Maquis because belonging there meant standing up to injustice even if it meant betraying your beloved Starfleet. That was me. But you could never understand that because you confused morality with duty and that, Admiral, is your dishonor. 🔗 permalink: No, you wanted to mold me in your image, your mentorship, your affection. It was conditional….

After Picard and Beverly cleared the air on Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 3 , I didn't think there could be another exchange as fraught with history and emotional baggage.

Ro and Picard - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

I've never been so happy to be wrong.

Picard and Ro's brutal honesty on the holodeck is everything fans could ask for in closure.

Picard: I believed in you. Ro: Only when it was easy for you. If I meant so much, you would’ve understood. Picard: You broke my heart. Ro: And you broke mine. 🔗 permalink: And you broke mine.

Even those watching without a grounding in the canon of Star Trek: The Next Generation can't help but feel the cathartic implosion the admiral and commander trigger when everything is finally said.

Picard: Well, if that pain tells us anything, it’s that we are who we say we are. 🔗 permalink: Well, if that pain tells us anything, it’s that we are who we say we are.

Everything about Ro aboard the Titan is so damn clever.

Two Titan Captains - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

Using the shuttle forces the Changeling moles to wait on her arrival and departure. Not trusting the Intrepid's transporter, she inadvertently provides them with a means to frame the Titan for her death but also ensures she has a way to cripple the Intrepid.

Ro: I wish, just once, that you could look into my heart and understand that I only did what I thought was best. All these years, I wish you’d known me and that I’d known you. Goodbye, Admiral. 🔗 permalink: I wish, just once, that you could look into my heart and understand that I only did what I…

Testing Picard's authenticity, using the holodeck for privacy, hiding her investigation files in for data chipped earring, is it any wonder why Starfleet Intelligence recruited her?

Ro: I’m giving you what you gave me all those years ago. A fighting chance. Picard: Ro, I do see you. Everything. Forgive me. It’s only now. 🔗 permalink: Ro, I do see you. Everything. Forgive me. It’s only now.

While it's a devastating end to a brilliant character, knowing that Picard finally understands what drives her to do what is right at any cost may be the most profoundly fulfilling way to conclude the life of Ro Laren.

And even though he was light years away and playing possum, Worf is right when he declares it a good day to die a worthy death. It just wasn't his.

Kova Rin Esmar - Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5

We nearly have the whole gang together, and with the new crew on board, it's time to address the Jack in the deck.

Why does Jack's subconscious recognize Ensign Esmar as an especially observant crew member?

Why doesn't Jack remember his nightmares from childhood? How did he know he could open the red door in his mind to access ninja skills?

Whose voice is he hearing, and are these superpowers the reason the Changelings are hunting him?

Hit our comments with your best thoughts and theories! Let's figure this out, Fanatics!

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Star Trek: Picard

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Patrick Stewart, Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, Todd Stashwick, and Ed Speleers in Star Trek: Picard (2020)

Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life. Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life. Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life.

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Michelle Hurd
2.8K User reviews
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Trivia The first season is set in 2399, 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) (which was set in the year 2379). Using the Stardate format established in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) , this would place the start of the series just after Stardate 76000.
Goofs Commodore Oh often wears sunglasses. Star Trek lore establishes that Vulcans have an inner eyelid to protect against harsh sunlight on their desert planet. Oh's shades are a fashion statement, not a protective measure.
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The second season features a Borg ship, a wormhole and hourglass, and the Borg Queen's silhouette.
The third season does not have an opening titles sequence.
Connections Featured in Half in the Bag: Comic Con 2019, The Picard Trailer, Streaming Services, and Midsommar (2019)

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Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 5, 'Imposters,' Recap & Spoilers

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The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 5, "Imposters," now streaming on Paramount+.

Jean-Luc Picard and Will Riker may have captained the USS Titan to evade the formidable enemy starship the Shrike , but they did so by defying its Starfleet captain Liam Shaw and exacting a dire price. More disturbingly, the Shrike 's mole on board the Titan was revealed to be a Changeling. As the Titan and its crew recover from this harrowing experience, Raffi Musiker and Worf continue their investigation into the Changeling conspiracy and its infiltration of Starfleet from the highest levels.

Jack Crusher has a nightmarish vision of himself storming the Titan ’s bridge and killing all the crew members as a mysterious voice bids him to come home. While the Titan undergoes repairs at a reasonably safe distance away from the nebula, Riker reinstates command of the starship to Shaw while awaiting Starfleet repercussions for his and Picard's actions. Picard shares what is occurring with Jack and Beverly, the latter of whom receives permission to examine the Changeling’s corpse for more information about what they’re facing.

RELATED: Picard Season 3 Just Revealed a Massive Deep Space Nine Connection

Beverly’s autopsy of the Changeling reveals it has maintained Sidney La Forge’s appearance, including bleeding and the replication of internal organs -- unlike any other Changeling before, suggesting species evolution. The Starfleet officer taking Riker and Picard into custody on the USS Intrepid is their old crew mate Ro Laren, who announces that they’ve both formally been charged with treason. Picard is indignant that a former Maquis who betrayed him is leading his tribunal. He has a tense conversation with Ro in which she interrogates Picard about his son .

Learning in a private message from Beverly that the Changelings have evolved to pass conventional blood tests, Picard’s suspicions about Ro’s identity are heightened, especially when she demands to see the slain Changeling’s corpse. En route to sickbay, Ro holds Picard at gunpoint and orders him into the holodeck -- but he surprises her with a phaser. During the standoff, Picard and Ro confess they broke each other's hearts when Ro joined the Maquis and thus deduce they are not Changelings. Ro confirms that the Changelings have infiltrated Starfleet Command at its highest levels and moved the majority of the Titan crew to the Intrepid , leaving only a handful of people that she trusts.

RELATED: Picard Season 3: Worf and Raffi Make a Perfect Team

The now very accomplished Worf is encouraged by to continue his investigation into Daystrom Station being compromised by the Changelings, but he is denied access to station systems. Worf and Raffi also realize they’ve become recognized as the reigning authority in Sneed’s old district in M’Talas after publicly killing its crime lord -- only to be ambushed by a Vulcan mobster. The Vulcan coerces Worf and Raffi to fight to the death against each other, but Worf fakes his death to kill the Vulcan’s guards and force him to relinquish the device used to infiltrate Daystrom.

Ro gives Picard her Bajoran earring and leaves with the two security officers who accompanied her from the Intrepid ; they both become suspicious when she orders their departure without Jack in custody. The two officers beam back aboard the Titan and attack the shuttle transporting Ro, who steers the shuttle into one of the Intrepid ’s warp nacelles to hinder it before her death. Jack is approached by the Changelings from the Intrepid and gives into his violent impulses to quickly kill them all before the Titan flees the scene -- now on the run from both Starfleet and the Changeling conspiracy.

As Picard and Riker discover the extensive research on the Changeling infiltration Ro stored on her earring, they are contacted by Worf. He reveals that Ro was his handler in charge of the Daystrom investigation, adding another piece to Picard 's puzzle. But the losses from this new war are continuing to pile up.

Created by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Kirsten Beyer, Alex Kurtzman and Terry Matalas, Star Trek: Picard releases new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Picard (2020)

'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 Episode 5: It Was Always [SPOILER], Says Showrunner Terry Matalas

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[EDITORS NOTE: This article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5, "Imposters."] Episode 5 of Star Trek: Picard Season 3 saw the unexpected and emotional return of Picard's ( Patrick Stewart ) prodigal daughter Ro Laren ( Michelle Forbes ) as Starfleet arrived to deal with Picard and Riker's ( Jonathan Frakes ) insubordination aboard the Titan. What ensues is a stunningly intimate thriller of an episode with Picard and Ro addressing the shambled state that their relationship was left in after she departed Starfleet to join the Maquis in the penultimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Ahead of the latest episode, Collider's own Maggie Lovitt sat down with Picard Season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas to unpack this turning point in the Next Gen journey. During their conversation, Lovitt mentioned what a perfect choice it was to bring back Ro Laren for this emotionally weighty plot point and asked if this was always the plan for the season or if Matalas and the Season 3 writers ever had any other characters in mind for this moment. But Matalas revealed that what played out is what was always meant to be, he said, "No, this story was always Ro Laren."

Matalas told Collider that the pitch for this episode was a "paranoia thriller" with someone whom you share a lot of emotional baggage with. He explained how it was always going to be Ro Laren as long as they could get Forbes to return and convince the studio that this was a story worth telling.

"This story was always– the pitch that I had for it was, "How great would it be to do a paranoia thriller with someone that you have all this baggage with?" The only way to be sure you're sitting across from the person that you hope you're sitting across from is to get through your trauma with them. I thought that if we could pull that off, we'd have a really interesting episode of television. But that required us getting Michelle Forbes and convincing the studio and the network it was the right idea, and educating a lot of people on who Ro Laren [was]."

RELATED: 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 Showrunner Explains Adding Angst to Riker and Troi's Relationship

Who Is Ro Laren?

Ro Laren was introduced in the fifth season of The Next Generation as a strong-willed and oft-argumentative Bajoran Starfleet officer who joined the Enterprise as a last resort alternative to going to prison following a court martial. She and Picard often butted heads on the Enterprise in her early days, but by the end of her tenure there they had developed a father-daughter-esque relationship with him expressing great pride at how much she'd grown during her time on the Enterprise. However, the last time we saw these two on screen together, Ro tore a rather irreparable rift between herself and Picard by joining the Maquis (a rebel militia group fighting the Cardassians—an alien species that occupied Bajor killing 15 million Bajorans) and following her heart.

When Ro Laren appears as a Section 31 spy investigating the Changelings' infiltration of Starfleet, she and Picard must work through their shared trauma in order to get to the truth and stop an enemy bent on the destruction of the Federation. Ro is the perfect person to tell this story, and her background in espionage—in addition to her emotional connection to Picard—lends itself to the hear-pounding thriller that unfolds in "Imposters."

As Matalas said, "there was never anyone else other than that. It was Ro Laren or bust. It had to be her." No one else could've delivered the information needed to further this story in such an emotionally satisfying way, bringing closure to a story that has felt somewhat unfinished for nearly 30 years.

New episodes of Star Trek: Picard Season 3 are available every Thursday on Paramount+. Be sure to check out Lovitt's full conversation with Matalas on Episode 5 when it goes live, and you can watch our previous chat with the showrunner on creating a satisfying conclusion down below:

Star Trek: Picard (2020)

10 Best Captain Picard Episodes in 'Star Trek The Next Generation,' Ranked

Star Trek: The Next Generation isn’t just one of the best installments in the Star Trek franchise, but one of the greatest drama shows of all time . While the original Star Trek series was sadly canceled after the end of its third season, Star Trek: The Next Generation was given the chance to keep pushing the story forward for over seven years.

Although there are many beloved characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Patrick Stewart’s performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard turned him into the greatest hero in the history of the Star Trek saga . Stewart crafted a complex, vulnerable hero who was defined by his dedication, principles, and willingness to hear both sides of any given dispute; he’s simply a character that everyone should aspire to be like. Here are the ten best Captain Picard episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Release Date September 26, 1987

Cast LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, michael dorn

Rating TV-PG

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

The Measure of a Man

Season 2, episode 9 (1989).

There are few relationships in the Star Trek franchise that are more profound than the dynamic between Picard and Data ( Brett Spiner ), the android who serves as one of the most important officers on the U.S.S. Enterprise. “The Measure of a Man” featured Picard serving as Data’s defender in a legal case in which he must defend his right to exist. The discussion about the merits of artificial intelligence is just as relevant today as they were when the episode first aired in 1989.

“Measure of a Man” showed that Picard was willing to stand up for the rights of those that were mistreated , as Star Trek has always been an incredibly progressive franchise when compared to other science fiction properties. This episode solidified the fact that Picard was willing to risk his own livelihood if the safety of one of his crew members was ever placed in danger.

The Best of Both Worlds

Season 3, episode 26 & season 4, episode 1 (1990).

“The Best of Both Worlds” is one of the most important episodes of any Star Trek series, as the first installment of the two-parter that ended the third season had a massive cliffhanger that had viewers screaming at their televisions. The episode featured Picard being captured by the Borg, with his replacement Captain William T. Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) put in a position that could end his life.

“The Best of Both Worlds” was the first instance in which Picard felt completely vulnerable , as it was feasible that he could get killed off and replaced by Riker for the rest of the show. Although Picard ended up surviving the incident, his feud with the Borg as a result of his torture left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder that he continued to deal with for the rest of the series.

Season 4, Episode 2 (1990)

“Family” was a critical episode that helped to humanize Picard and showed what his family life looked like for the first time. Although Picard rarely discussed his personal motivations and background with members of his crew during the first three seasons of the show, “Family” saw him returning to visit his family farm after his traumatic encounter with the Borg in “The Best of Both Worlds.”

“Family” was an important shift in tone for Star Trek: The Next Generation that helped follow up the action of “The Best of Both Worlds,” and did a great job at showing how Picard was dealing with his personal mental health in the series after such a frightening incident. Stewart is arguably at his most profound and emotional in “Family,” as the episode strips away all the duties of command from Picard and examines what it is like for him to live a normal life outside of Starfleet.

The Drumhead

Season 4, episode 21 (1991).

Star Trek has always been a very political franchise that touches on hot-button issues, and “The Drumhead” explores a scary situation about the denial of truth that has proven to be just as relevant today in an era of political divisiveness and fake news. After a member of his crew is accused of being a traitor, Picard is forced to prevent a representative of Starfleet from badgering everyone under his command and impeding their civil liberties.

“The Drumhead” plays out like a legal thriller, and feels just as exciting as the courtroom dramas that dominated the 1990s . While it is relatively light on action compared to some of the more intense episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Drumhead” proved that the series was capable of developing nuanced ideas about what the future would look like under Gene Roddenberry ’s vision.

Season 5, Episode 2 (1991)

“Darmok” is perhaps the most intimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it sees Picard being trapped in a primitive world where he can only communicate with the native species using rudimentary language. The episode shows just how effective of a hero Picard can be, even if he seems to enjoy being in the company of a crew that supports him.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is well known for making interesting genre deviations, and “Darmok” feels like the closest that the series ever got to a Western adventure story . Although some viewers may have felt the same exact confusion and frustration that Picard did when the premise was first established, “Darmok” ends with one of the most powerful emotional revelations about the ability that Picard has to inspire others in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Season 5, Episode 14 (1992)

“Conundrum” is one of the most imaginative episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , as it takes place after a mysterious alien virus forces the entire crew to forget their memories, leaving them helpless in the middle of space. This was an episode that essentially showed how the Enterprise crew could be built again from the ground up, as Picard is the first one to assess the parameters of the mystery and start developing a solution to keep everyone safe.

“Conundrum” was one of the best episodes that showed Stewart’s generosity as an actor , as even though it is Picard’s moment to shine as a leader, every single member of the cast is given a standout moment. The success of “Conundrum” in combining the emotional with the practical is a major reason why the fifth season is often cited as the best that Star Trek: The Next Generation ever aired.

Cause and Effect

Season 5, episode 18 (1992).

Time travel is notoriously a concept that is very difficult to capture on screen in a compelling way, as it is very easy to get so confusing that viewers struggle to understand what the stakes are supposed to be. However, “Cause and Effect” presented a brilliant time travel storyline in which Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are trapped in a recurring loop that could doom them for eternity.

“Cause and Effect” was a great example of Star Trek: The Next Generation showing Picard’s abilities as a strategist . While many of the captains established in other shows and films in the Star Trek franchise earned their rank through military conquest, it's Picard’s intelligence and ability to make rational decisions while under pressure that make him such an all-time great character. “Cause and Effect” succeeds because Stewart understands this fundamental truth about the character.

The Inner Light

Season 5, episode 25 (1992).

“The Inner Light” is perhaps the most emotional episode of the entire Star Trek franchise, and would have earned Stewart a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series had the Television Academy not been so notoriously biased against science fiction and other genre shows. The episode takes place entirely in Picard’s mind, as he begins to live out different fantasies about what an alternate life could look like when he is unconscious.

“The Inner Light” revealed truths about Picard as a character , showing how his unflinching willingness to perform his duty against mitigating circumstances put a severe detriment on his ability to start a family. There isn’t another episode more tear-jerking as “The Inner Light,” as Stewart reveals how Picard is dealing with the burdens of his sacrifices, and how it has been taken for granted by those who serve under him.

Season 6, Episode 15 (1993)

“Tapestry” was an integral episode that revealed that Picard himself was flawed , as his encounter with Q ( John de Lancie ) allows him to travel back to moments from his past and reflect on the mistakes that he made as a young man. Essentially serving as a coming-of-age story about Picard’s youth, “Tapestry” showed that even someone that noble had elements of their past that they had buried deep within their minds.

The dynamic between Q and Picard is one of the show’s most interesting, as the two have completely different outlooks on humanity and its potential. While Q uses the mistakes that humanity has made as evidence that they are beyond reason, Picard argues that humans are capable of being empathetic, compassionate, and willing to redeem themselves. It’s Picard’s faith in others and general optimism about the future that makes him such an inspiring character.

All Good Things

Season 7, episode 25 (1994).

There aren’t many shows that end on a perfect note, as many acclaimed programs like Game of Thrones , House of Cards , Killing Eve , and Battlestar Galactica had such underwhelming series finales that fans questioned why they were ever loyal to the shows in the first place. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation ended on a perfect note with “All Good Things…,” an episode that featured a profound moment where Picard was able to thank every member of the crew for their dedication to the Enterprise .

“All Good Things…” showed that Star Trek: The Next Generation was more interested in developing great characters than overwhelming the viewers with action, as it takes a far more philosophical approach to a series finale than some may have expected. A final shot of Picard playing cards with various crew members was the perfect way to wrap up the show.

NEXT: Every 'Star Trek' TV Show (So Far), Ranked

10 Best Captain Picard Episodes in 'Star Trek The Next Generation,' Ranked

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Farscape’s Ben Browder on What He’d Want to See If the Show Came Back

Of course, we'd like to see the return of John Crichton, but what would he like to see?

Would you like to see the return of John Crichton and the rest of the Moya crew? Of course you would! But after 25 years, could that even happen?

Speaking with SYFY WIRE earlier this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Farscape (now streaming on Peacock alongside Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars ), series creator Rockne S. O'Bannon stated unequivocally that any potential revival of the cult favorite show would be a continuation and not a reboot.

"Even though we would love to have gotten it going sooner, there's actually something to be said about having had a 25 year gap," he told us. "It's not something you would ever plan to do. But I think it's potentially a real advantage in that there is such a span of time that the characters could have grown and other things could have happened."

Cast member Ben Browde r agreed with that sentiment, pointing to Star Trek: Picard as a prime example of how you bring back an older IP and voicing his hope of finding a studio willing to take another crack at Farscape . "It's about finding the place that knows what they want and is willing to take a flyer on something that I would like to say even now, 25 years after it was originally on, is still unlike anything else."

For More on Farscape Farscape's Ben Browder Blushes at His Daughter's Reaction to John and Aeryn's Chemistry How Pitch Black Almost Cost Claudia Black Her Farscape Role as Aeryn Sun How Bras (Yes, Bras) Helped Save Farscape 25 Years Ago

What Ben Browder would like to see out of a Farscape revival

Ben Browder in Farscape; Ben Browder in 2016

Browder revisited the topic during an interview with GamesRadar , in which he not only discussed the fate of Crichton, but also that of Aeryn Sun ( Claudia Black ), Chiana (Gigi Edgley), and Rygel XVI (a Henson Company creation operated by John Eccleston and voiced by the late Jonathan Hardy).

"I would like to see a continuance," he said. "Our lives don't end until we draw our last breath ... I would like to see where they are today and how their universe has changed. Because in 25 years, our world has changed, and none of us are the same as we were then, and I think the stories could be compelling. Sure, I'd love to reprise John Crichton and I'd love to see Crichton and Aeryn's kids. Farscape was the opportunity of a lifetime for me as an actor and to be involved again would be immense."

All four seasons of Farscape are now streaming on Peacock alongside Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars .

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Screen Rant

What happens to every star trek ship paramount plus canceled.

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Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

Star trek: prodigy season 2 ending & shocking season 3 set up explained, star trek: how many human wives did spock’s father have.

The conclusion or cancelation of these Star Trek shows on Paramount+ puts an end to the onscreen voyages of several prominent starships. With the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery in 2017, Paramount+ (then known as CBS All Access) brought Star Trek into the modern era of streaming television. Discovery may have been met with some mixed reviews from fans, but the show proved to be a resounding success, launching another golden era for the franchise. But all good things come to an end, and Paramount+ canceled Discovery in March of 2023, announcing the fifth season would be its last.

Star Trek: Picard was only meant to last for three seasons, though the final season left fans clamoring for a spin-off. This proposed spin-off, Star Trek: Legacy, took on a life of its own, but Paramount+ has been focusing on other Trek projects. In June 2023, Paramount+ canceled Star Trek: Prodigy , removing it completely from their streaming library. Although the show found a home on Netflix for its second season, a third season remains a relatively remote possibility. Paramount+ also canceled Star Trek: Lower Decks in 2024, and its fifth and final season premieres October 24th, 2024.

Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new streaming and theatrical movies.

5 USS Discovery

Star trek: discovery.

With its controversial spore drive technology , the USS Discovery is a starship unlike any other. Initially constructed to be a science vessel, Discovery became a test ship for the experimental spore drive designed by Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp). Discovery later participated in the Federation-Klingon War, eventually helping bring the conflict to an end after returning from an extended stay in the Mirror Universe courtesy of Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs). Throughout Discovery's five seasons, the titular ship cycled through several different captains, including Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green).

During Discovery season 2, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) temporarily took over command of Discovery while the ship investigated the red bursts. After the intense battle with the evil AI known as Control, Captain Burnan led the Discovery through a wormhole to the far future. Upon arriving in the 32nd century, Discovery found what was left of Starfleet and became an invaluable asset to the struggling Federation. The 23rd century ship was updated with 32nd century technology and helped Starfleet investigate the Burn, and later the Dark Matter Anomaly.

In Discovery 's fifth and final season, the titular ship embarked on a galactic treasure hunt in search of the powerful technology of the Progenitors.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 revealed the fate of the USS Discovery, as Admiral Burnham took the ship into deep space for its final Red Directive mission. As revealed in Star Trek: Short Treks season 1, episode 2, "Calypso," Discovery - and her sentient AI, Zora (Annabelle Wallis) - will spend the next thousand years waiting for a soldier named Craft (Aldis Hodge). It remains unclear why this particular mission requires Discovery to sit abandoned in deep space for so long, but Starfleet promised to return for the ship once the mission is complete.

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4 USS Enterprise-G (Formerly The USS Titan-A)

Star trek: picard.

Under the command of Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), the USS Titan-A proved vital in the fight to stop the Borg/Changeling threat to Starfleet. After receiving a desperate distress call from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) recruited his former First Officer, Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes). for an impromptu rescue mission. Picard and Riker then commandeered the Titan, eventually finding themselves in an intense battle with the Changeling Vadic (Amanda Plummer) and her warship, the Shrike.

After getting trapped in a nebula and barely escaping the fight, the heavily damaged Titan limped back to Federation space, continuing their investigation into the Changeling infiltration of Starfleet. In the finale of Star Trek: Picard season 3 , the Titan-A was rechristened as the Enterprise-G in honor of Admiral Picard and the reunited Star Trek: The Next Generation crew, after they saved the day on the rebuilt Enterprise-D. The newest Starship Enterprise was placed under the command of the recently promoted Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan).

Although the Picard season 3 finale provides the perfect setup for a spin-off following the adventures of Enterprise-G, the long-rumored Star Trek: Legacy appears to be dead in space.

It remains to be seen whether audiences will ever see the adventures of Captain Seven and her Enterprise , but the ship will presumably continue Starfleet's mission of exploring strange new worlds. With Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) as First Officer and Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) as a Special Counselor to the Captain, the Enterprise-G will surely have an interesting tenure. Even Q (John de Lancie) seems to be interested in at least one member of the ship's crew, as he popped in to check on Jack Crusher at the end of Picard season 3.

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3 USS Prodigy

Star trek: prodigy.

After Dal R'El (Brett Gray) stumbled upon the USS Protostar at the Tars Lamora prison colony, he and his friends embarked on a series of adventures that eventually led them to Starfleet and Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). With Janeway's help, as well as that of Captain Chakotay (Robert Beltran) and the Doctor (Robert Picardo) , Dal and his friends helped save the entire Federation. The young former crewmembers of the Protostar were then allowed to begin their Starfleet journey as cadets at the Academy.

After the success of the Protostar, Starfleet began building more Protostar-class ships, including the USS Prodigy. Equipped with a proto-drive, the Prodigy could travel considerably faster than normal warp speed, covering fast distances in a matter of seconds. When the news broke of the devastating synth attack on Mars, Starfleet scaled back their missions of exploration, focusing instead on defense. As the Prodigy was built specifically for exploration, the ship was due to be decommissioned before it even launched.

However, Janeway pulled some strings and got the Prodigy turned into a training vessel as part of a new pilot program. Janeway, Chakotay, and the Doctor then assigned Dal and the Protostar kids to the Prodigy, under the watchful eye of Hologram Janeway, acting as both an advisor and an Emergency Command Hologram. Although Dal had taken on the role of captain on the Protostar, he ceded command to Gwyndala (Ella Purnell) , choosing instead to serve as the Prodigy's First Officer. The Prodigy then departed with its young crew eager to seek out the unknown.

With the future of Star Trek: Prodigy uncertain, audiences may never see the further adventures of Dal, Gwyndala, and their crew aboard the Prodigy.

Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 brings the time travel saga of the USS Protostar full circle. Here's what happened and what it all means for season 3.

2 USS Voyager-A

After the original USS Voyager returned from its seven-year journey through the Delta Quadrant, the ship was decommissioned and transferred to the Fleet Museum. Janeway insisted that the next iteration of Voyager be equipped with state-of-the-art upgrades, including some using the technology Janeway and her crew encountered in the Delta Quadrant. In 2384, the Voyager-A embarked on its maiden voyage under the command of Admiral Janeway. Voyager's official mission was to observe the wormhole created by the destruction of the Protostar , but this was being used as a cover for the mission to rescue Chakotay.

Hidden in a secret shuttlebay on Voyager-A was a small experimental ship called the Infinity. Equipped with cloaking technology and temporal shielding, the Infinity was built specifically to travel through the wormhole and rescue Chakotay. When Dal and his friends inadvertently launched the Infinity through the wormhole too early, they significantly altered the established timeline, creating a paradox. After Dal and his crew returned with Chakotay and the Protostar, they rendezvoused with Voyager.

Janeway then commanded Voyager during the Battle of Solum, buying Dal and his crew time to launch the Protostar back into the past. After the battle, Voyager landed on Solum to initiate first contact with the Vau N'Akat. After the events of Star Trek: Prodigy season 2 , Janeway decided to retire from Starfleet, but she was soon brought back in after the attack on Mars. Captain Chakotay took over command of Voyager-A and the ship presumably joined in Starfleet's efforts to strengthen the Federation's defenses in the wake of the Mars attack.

1 USS Cerritos

Star trek: lower decks.

Under the command of Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis), the California-class USS Cerritos participated in missions of second contact and other lower-level support missions. Because the Cerritos has been involved in several noteworthy encounters, it has gained a favorable reputation among Starfleet, with some even calling it "the Enterprise of support ships." Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses mostly on the lower-level officers aboard the Cerritos, led by Lts. Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) .

At the end of Lower Decks season 1, the Cerritos was attacked and captured by Pakled ships, but rescued by the USS Titan before its crew was forced to abandon ship. Later, when Vice Admiral Les Buenamigo (Carlos Alazraqui) set up the Cerritos to promote his new automated Texas-class ships (which would render the California-class starship largely obsolete), Captain Freeman and the Cerritos crew fought back. After the AI systems on the Texas-class ships grew dangerously unstable, the entire fleet of California-class starships joined the Cerritos to stop them.

While there have been fan campaigns for other streaming services to pick up Lower Decks for more seasons, the upcoming fifth season will be the show's last on Paramount+.

As of now, the ultimate fate of the USS Cerritos remains unknown. Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 will presumably end in a way that could serve as a conclusion to the series, hopefully providing a glimpse into the Cerritos' future. It's possible another Lower Decks character could take over command from Carol Freeman or that the Cerritos could be called to participate in an important new mission. However the story of the Cerritos comes to an end, the ship and its crew remain one of the most fun additions to Star Trek's roster.

IMAGES

New STAR TREK PICARD Season 3 Episode 5 Photos, Plot, Cast
New STAR TREK PICARD Season 3 Episode 5 Photos, Plot, Cast
‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, Episode 5 Recap: Old Friends Return
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Star Trek Picard season 3 episode 5 recap
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Star Trek: Picard

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Star Trek: Picard: Season 3
Writing. Christopher B. Derrick. Writer. Cindy Appel. Writer. Caught by Starfleet and facing court martial, paranoia grows as Picard struggles to uncover whether a prodigal crewman from his past has returned as an ally - or an enemy hellbent on destroying them all.
Star Trek: Picard (TV Series 2020- )
Star Trek: Picard (TV Series 2020- ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Menu. ... Oscars Emmys TIFF Festival Season STARmeter Awards Awards Central All Events. Celebs. ... theme music / original "Star Trek" theme (11 episodes, 2020-2023)
Star Trek: Picard: Season 3, Episode 5
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Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5 Review
This Star Trek: Picard review contains spoilers.. Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 5. Now that the U.S.S. Titan has successfully escaped the existential threat of death in a gravity well (and ...
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Image via Paramount+. With Vadic (Amanda Plummer) and the Shrike far behind them, one might assume that Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan are finally on the path ...
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In this week's "Picard," Jean-Luc encounters a familiar face. And he must contain his anger. "Empathy is one thing; betraying a commanding officer is another," Jean-Luc (Patrick Stewart ...
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Picard's latest cameo brings back a ton of baggage for Picard to deal with. A recap of 'Imposters,' episode five of season three of 'Star Trek: Picard.' Streaming on Paramount+
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Star Trek: Picard. Boss Explains the Surprise Return of a. Next Generation. Favorite: 'It Felt Like We Had to Do It'. By Dave Nemetz. March 16, 2023 3:59 pm. Patrick Stewart as Picard and ...
'Picard' Season 3 Showrunner Breaks Down Episode 5 & the ...
The fifth episode of Star Trek: Picard 's third and final season delivers a healthy dose of thrills, both aboard the U.S.S. Titan with the increasing stakes that Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart ...
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Watch The NYCC Exclusive Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Teaser Trailer ... Picard Season 3 To Feature Return Of Next Generation Cast Members . blog . Every Panel From First Contact Day 2021 . promo . Star Trek Day 2020: All Panels . blog ... "The Ready Room" Breaks Down Star Trek: Picard Episode 9, "Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"
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Her return could've easily been spread over two episodes.(Image credit: Paramount Plus) Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Picard" Season 3, episode 5. So far, Douglas Aarniokoski and ...
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Considering Picard's faith in the officer and Ro's need for Picard's approval, this is quite a blow that Picard hasn't managed to let go of, even decades later. TV Features Star Trek: Picard (2020)
"Star Trek: Picard" Imposters (TV Episode 2023)
Imposters: Directed by Dan Liu. With Patrick Stewart, Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, Ed Speleers. Caught by Starfleet and facing court martial, paranoia grows as Picard struggles to uncover whether a prodigal crewman from his past has returned as an ally - or an enemy hellbent on destroying them all.
Picard Season 3 Cast and Character Guide: Who's Who?
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This review and discussion contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 5, "Imposters.". The revelation that rogue Changelings had infiltrated Starfleet in " Seventeen Seconds ...
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Star Trek: Picard: Created by Kirsten Beyer, Michael Chabon, Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman. With Patrick Stewart, Michelle Hurd, Jeri Ryan, Alison Pill. Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life.
Star Trek Picard Season 3 Episode 5 Ending Explained
WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 5, "Imposters." Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 5 "Imposters" sees the short-lived return of a Star Trek: The Next Generation icon and the escalation of the Changelings' plot against the United Federation of Planets. After the USS Titan-A managed to narrowly escape the Ryton Nebula and temporarily shake Captain ...
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In season three, a desperate message from a long-lost friend draws Starfleet legend Admiral Jean-Luc Picard into the most daring mission of his life, forcing him to recruit allies spanning generations old and new. This final adventure sets him on a collision course with the legacy of his past and explosive, new revelations that will alter the fate of the Federation forever.
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The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 5, "Imposters," now streaming on Paramount+. Jean-Luc Picard and Will Riker may have captained the USS Titan to evade the formidable enemy starship the Shrike , but they did so by defying its Starfleet captain Liam Shaw and exacting a dire price.
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The latest season is all set to air episode 5 this Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 3 am ET / 12 am PT, exclusively on Paramount+. The sci-fi drama series, created by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon ...
The Drumhead
This episode is featured on the Star Trek: The Next Generation - Jean-Luc Picard Collection DVD set for Region 1 only, released in 2004. [ 15 ] CBS announced on September 28, 2011, in celebration of the series' twenty-fifth anniversary, that Star Trek: The Next Generation would be completely re-mastered in 1080p high definition from the ...
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Cast member Ben Browder agreed with that sentiment, pointing to Star Trek: Picard as a prime example of how you bring back an older IP and voicing his hope of finding a studio willing to take another crack at Farscape. "It's about finding the place that knows what they want and is willing to take a flyer on something that I would like to say ...
What Happens To Every Star Trek Ship Paramount Plus Canceled
Star Trek: Discovery season 5 revealed the fate of the USS Discovery, as Admiral Burnham took the ship into deep space for its final Red Directive mission.As revealed in Star Trek: Short Treks season 1, episode 2, "Calypso," Discovery - and her sentient AI, Zora (Annabelle Wallis) - will spend the next thousand years waiting for a soldier named Craft (Aldis Hodge).

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5 USS Discovery

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