star trek picard narissa actress

Why Narissa From Star Trek: Picard Looks So Familiar

Every "Star Trek" show features plenty of memorable characters, but few can match " Star Trek: Picard " on that particular front. As the title implies, Patrick Stewart's legendary Jean-Luc Picard is the star attraction, here, but the show features the return of several other franchise favorites, as well. From "Star Trek: The Next Generation" favorites like William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) to "Star Trek: Voyager" breakout Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), all sorts of classic characters turn up for their last (or, at least, latest) hurrah. 

The presence of so many "Star Trek" Hall of Famers, of course, means that the forces that oppose Picard must be formidable enough to stand out. One of the more interesting characters on the opposing front is Colonel Narissa, the ruthless Zhat Vash operative and expert infiltrator who causes no end of trouble to everyone on her way. A role like this takes plenty of acting experience and genre savvy, and the actor playing Narissa certainly has both. Here's why she looks so familiar.

Peyton List is Lucy Montgomery in As the World Turns

Peyton List's — who shouldn't be confused with the Peyton List who plays Tory in "Cobra Kai" — first acting credit was "Blonde Girl #1" in a 2000 episode of "Sex and the City," but her acting career truly picked up the next year, when she joined the cast of CBS daytime drama " As the World Turns " as Lucy Montgomery. A longtime character in the show, Lucy is the daughter of Sierra Esteban (Played by Mary Beth Evans during List's tenure with the show) and Craig Montgomery (Hunt Block).  

Like several other characters in the long-running show, Lucy has been played by multiple actors. List took over the role from Amanda Seyfried, and was followed in the role by Spencer Grammer and Sarah Glendening. However, List remains the longest-serving Lucy actor. What's more, her tenure coincides with what may very well be the most popular era of the character, due to Lucy's romance with Dusty Donovan (Grayson McCouch) at the time. The pairing of these two characters became so popular that it has its own Wikipedia page. 

Peyton List is Nicole Kirby in FlashForward

After leaving the soap opera world behind, Peyton List had major roles in the NBC lottery win drama "Windfall" and ABC's relationship comedy-drama "Big Shots," as well as numerous one-off roles in TV shows like "One Tree Hill" and "CSI." However, in 2009, she started gravitating toward genre fare by joining the all-star cast of ABC's "FlashForward." The "Lost"-style scifi drama centers on a mysterious incident that causes the vast majority of the world's population to simultaneously experience a short blackout, which causes them to see a few months into the future. List's character is Nicole Kirby, a young babysitter whose terrifying "flashforward" shows her seemingly being drowned. 

"FlashForward's" stellar cast and intriguing premise made it a potential smash hit, but unfortunately, the show was cancelled after just one season. Still, the experience was hardly a loss for List. After all, she got to work as a part of an ensemble cast that involved names like Joseph Fiennes and Dominic Monaghan ... and soon after the show was over, it became apparent that she was only getting started.

Peyton List is Jane in Mad Men

AMC's " Mad Men " is a masterpiece of period drama, and its very specific vibe requires a lot of style, grace, and dramatic chops from its cast. Imagine the challenge, then, when a role requires the actor to shine even brighter than the rest of the show's impossibly charismatic characters. Peyton List tackled this challenge when she joined the show's cast in Season 2 as Sterling Cooper secretary Jane Siegel, who immediately becomes the hot topic at the workplace ... and, perhaps unsurprisingly, clashes with office manager Joan (Christina Hendricks) on multiple occasions. 

In an interview with Baltimore Magazine , List said that playing the role was a great experience, and that many parts of Jane's journey in the show came as a complete surprise to her.  "I have an absolute blast," she said. When I came on, I had no idea what would happen to the character. They keep you guessing, even the actors. I had no idea she was going to wind up marrying the boss [Roger Sterling, played by John Slattery]. I remember sitting at that table read and everyone was like, 'What?'"

Peyton List is Cara Coburn in The Tomorrow People

From 2013 to 2014, Peyton List starred opposite Robbie Amell in The CW's "The Tomorrow People," a sci-fi show about young people who have evolved beyond the norms of humanity, and have various psionic superpowers. These "Tomorrow People" have existed in the shadows for years, hunted down by a hostile organization called Ultra. List stars as Cara Coburn, a powerful and high-ranking member of the Tomorrow People. 

Jumping from critically acclaimed period drama like "Mad Men" to a fun sci-fi show might be counterintuitive to some, but in an interview with Nerdly , List made clear that the script appealed to her greatly, and that she absolutely loved playing a self-assured character with powers. 

"The story is exciting, entertaining and fast paced," List said. "When you're not even a part of the show and you read the script, you get blown away by it. That's how I fell for it. On top of that, I think that any girl would want to play my character. She's strong and she knows herself. She's got super powers and she's a bad ass. How cool is that? I love the character, I love the story and I love this group of people we have working on the show. I really enjoy everything about it, so it's a complete dream job for me."

Judging by the fact that List has appeared in numerous genre shows over the course of her career, it's pretty clear that she wasn't exaggerating her love for sci-fi and superhero fare. 

Peyton List is Ivy Pepper in Gotham

Because it mostly focuses on James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) is still a few years removed from his costumed crime-fighting years, Fox's "Gotham" is free to play fast and loose with the future Batman's rogues gallery. One of the clearest examples of the show's refusal to adhere to traditional bat-standards is "Gotham's" take on Poison Ivy, Ivy Pepper. Various aging antics mean that the character has no less than three actors over the course of the show: Clare Foley, Maggie Zeha, and as the incarnation that's closest to the classic Poison Ivy character, Peyton List. 

List took over the role for the last two seasons of "Gotham," and her portrayal of the character is deadlier than ever. "Dangerous," producers of the show described her version of Ivy (per Deadline ). "A live wire of crazy energy. She'll set her sights on Gotham, intent on making the city her own green paradise."

Interestingly, Ivy isn't the only DC villain List has portrayed. In 2015, she played Captain Cold's (Wentworth Miller)  younger sister, Lisa "Golden Glider" Snart, in "The Flash." 

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Interview: Orla Brady On Playing Two Characters And Bringing A Gary Seven Vibe To ‘Star Trek: Picard’

| April 2, 2022 | By: Anthony Pascale 18 comments so far

Orla Brady was only in three episodes, but her portrayal as the strong-willed, protective Romulan Laris was a highlight of the first season of Star Trek: Picard . For season two the Irish actress was brought back with Laris playing a pivotal role for Picard , and Brady was also tasked with a new role that is tied into classic Star Trek. TrekMovie had a chance to speak to the actress about doing double duty, and even about a popular feline theory about her new role as Tallin the Supervisor (aka “The Watcher”).

How did you feel when they let you know not only about coming back for season two, but you were going to play two characters?

Well, I didn’t know about the second character at the beginning. At first, I was asked to come back as Laris and I was completely delighted because I had gone in as a guest role in season one for two episodes. And that became three. Going into the job, I thought, ‘Lovely, my mom is a Trekkie. So she’ll be very pleased.’ So I will do this guest role as one does and pop out of it. And then when it was finished, I was sad. I thought, I really liked her. For someone who is only there for a few episodes, they had written her in a very cool way. I felt who she was, and I missed it. So when they asked me to be part of season two, I was absolutely delighted. It was a little bit down the line that they mentioned the other one. I think there was an evolution of the story from the original thought on season two, and they told me about the second character.

From season one: Orla Brady as Laris with Jamie McShane as Zhaban and Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard

So how did you feel about Tallin when they came back with this second character?

I think for Tallin, her primary role, obviously in the story, is that she is The Watcher. She is the Supervisor, which references Gary Seven , as you know. And she is the one who has all the knowledge on this point in history; this person who changes history, but might not be able to in this break in time. So she’s very essential to how they crack the mystery and go forward.

However, the twist is that she is clearly reminiscent of Laris. Now, I interpreted that as [Picard] has not been able to… With Laris in episode one we see that although he has deep feelings for Laris and they have a bond, he has spent a lifetime pulling back from that big commitment, if you like. So he wants to, but he’s not quite ready. And he does what he classically does, which is he’s going to do what he’s good at. He’s going to save the planet and space. That’s what he’s good at, that’s where he puts his passion. But it’s like the universe won’t let him off the hook. They throw a person in his path, who reminds him so deeply of someone he loves. And I think he sees her as more reminiscent of Laris than other people would because it’s on his mind. His feelings were unprocessed if you like.

In the latest episode Raffi brings up how Tallin looks just like Laris, so it’s not just in Picard’s eye, is it? Doesn’t everyone see it?

Yes, she does! [laughs] She does look very like her. More classically, a choice would be if you had an actor playing a different role would be to do a wig or change the color of the eyes or really make them look markedly different. But that was not the producer’s vision. She looks like me. She looks like Laris in human form. I guess what I’m saying is, it’s more that is what is still on his mind and what he is trying to get away from, in some sense, is the very thing that has been pushed into the path. And that is why it’s played by the same actor to make that very clear to everybody, and to him.

Orla Brady as Tallin in episode five

One of the surprises for season two was this romance. Of course, Laris was married , but did you see it coming or have any inklings of a romantic connection in season one?

No, I didn’t see it coming. That’s not what I was asked to do in season one. My role was as a fierce and loyal Tal Shiar agent who has been assigned and has been in Picard’s life for a long time. What I did discover is that she does love Picard. And when I say “love,” I don’t mean where there’s any endpoint or endgame. Just she loves him. He had been very instrumental in accounting for and partly succeeding to save the Romulans. He advocated for them and tried to do the right thing for a species that was formerly enemies, but who he feels should be treated equally and with the same respect as humans. So with all that history, she loves him. She was married and so it would never have entered her head that there would be anything more than her loyalty. However, it’s there in the writing at the beginning of season two that Zhaban does die and she is somebody who is very, very straightforward emotionally, as Romulans are. And she is particularly. So she is able to love again very, very deeply. And that’s how it happens.

When we last saw Laris in that first episode, it looked like she was getting ready to leave the Chateau for good. Is that what was going on?

Yes. She’s somebody that is not willing to sit around thinking, ‘Oh, God, I’ve been rejected and this is the love of my life.’ She does love him very much. It is a rejection. It’s not that it doesn’t hurt. It’s not that there isn’t a disappointment. But she has a sense of self-worth that will tell her that if somebody doesn’t want her, then they’re not for her and she will find love that is equal to her own. So she is leaving. She’s going off to her own life and her own adventures and different people.

Can you say if we will see Laris again?

I would say so. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her. Surely not. That would not be a good moment to end.

Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard and Orla Brady as Laris in the first episode of season two

Laris and Tallin are central to this season. So did you just learn as you were going along or did you know where things were going? So when you are doing episode five, is your performance informed by what’s coming?

One has the outline. Certain details change. Yes, I knew the trajectory pretty much. I knew what the outcome of the particular Tallin and Laris stories would be. You don’t see the writing and you don’t see the fineness of the moments. Sometimes you’re surprised when you read it and you see a beat that you hadn’t foreseen before. But broadly, yes, an actor would want to see where on the journey you are. So, of course, we were made aware of that.

You mentioned Gary Seven, so I assume you did your research and watched “Assignment Earth”  to get into the mindset of a Supervisor?

Of course. I had seen it before because there were several classic episodes that I had seen across several of the Star Trek series. I loved that episode, partly because it was realized very beautifully by Robert Lansing with a really wonderful performance. There’s a lot of richness in there. And I like the idea. Maybe it’s because I’m an ex-Catholic, but the idea of somebody who would watch over humans, like a guardian angel. Now, I don’t believe in that. But I just like the idea that we all find comfort in the fact that there might be someone… especially when people feel alone. There might be a being who cares and who sees them.

One of the striking things about Lansing’s portrayal and that character was how he stood up to Captain Kirk and dealt with him on his own level. There seems to be an element of that with Tallin and how she sees Picard, which is totally different than the dynamic between Laris and Picard.

Yeah. Tallin thinks, ‘Who the heck is this old guy? What is he doing here messing around?’ She learns in short order he is a time traveler. She doesn’t like that, at all. He’s clearly entitled and bossy because he’s used to having people who have a reverence for him. Remember, he is one of the most well-known people in the galaxy as Admiral Picard, and he has this legendary lifetime, in the timeline we’re normally in. But in this timeline, she just has this white man in front of her. And remember, this is her patch. She has been taking care of this particular girl and taking care of her very well and watching and doing her job that she committed to and sort of her whole sense of self-worth or vindication is in the execution of this job. And then this guy comes in and without explaining anything to her start telling her what she’s going to do. But understandably she is: ‘Hang on a sec.’ If anything, it’s the other way around. So yes, I did notice that as well about Gary Seven, that they were very equally matched.

While they didn’t change your look for Tallin, besides the ears, you did change your accent to the more American accent…

We wanted to not be obviously Irish because there is a story behind Laris. Remember, season one was essentially an immigration story. It was a story about a people who no longer have a home. This could be akin to Syria or Ukraine currently where people have had to leave their own country and have had to go and find lives in other places which the Romulans had to do. Laris was assigned to Ireland because they wanted several actors who were not American to use their own accents. Star Trek being a human phenomenon, not an American phenomenon. So Laris when Romulus was destroyed, that’s where she found a home. And that’s where she learned her English. So her accent would be an Irish accent. There was no such rationale for Tallin, so we just decided to make her more neutral, if you like more.

Sir Patrick Stewart as Picard and Orla Brady as Tallin in episode four

Before we wrap up, was there anything else…

You know what I will tell you… yes, I will, is that a lovely thing that is happening with the fans, who are just, I mean, honestly, the best part of this job. Well, there are many best parts to the job, including working with Patrick and playing a character I love. But one of the things is what fans say to you. And so many people have said that they think that Tallin is Isis , the cat in human form. [laughs] And it’s just my favorite theory. Whether it is true or not we do not know, but it’s just rather lovely. So it made me laugh.

Maybe you just have a feline essence?

There you go. Maybe that. I think it’s just so heavily referenced. And I think Isis the cat was rather wonderful. I think there is some talk about that [episode] as pilot for a spinoff series. Had that been the case, Isis would have become a character in human form because she is shapeshifting. So I rather love that as a theory. I just think Trek fans are so inventive, and always make me laugh, in a good way.

Isis in her human form in “Assignment Earth”

Keep up with all the  Star Trek: Picard  news and analysis .

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What a lovely interview with such a great actress. Thank you.

Very nice interview. I’ve always enjoyed her work and thought she was quite underused in season 1, for someone with that talent. Glad to see she has a bigger part in season 2.

I met her once, briefly. Such a lovely, friendly, approachable person, as likable as she is beautiful.

Yeah, but she is not playing two characters………..

If you look closely Tallins padd has Romulan script on it, people think they’re one and the same character. It could be a red herring tho

She referenced being a cat in her twitter a couple of days ago – so…hmm

She is a very underrated actress, so glad they are utilizing her more this season. I said at the beginning of the season that she will be the secret MVP of this season and I feel like that will be true.

Wow. Thought she was in her 40’s, but she’s actually 61! Good for you, Orla!

Same here. I would have said early 40’s.

She’s MY age? Geezus, Indy was right, it’s not the years, it’s the mileage. And she is, in my opinion, what somebody writing TNG s1 would call a low-mileage pit woofie, if I remember THE NEUTRAL ZONE correctly (it has been 25 years since I watched it.) Pretty sensational looking, aging like a Vulcanoid.

Great interview! Also, I hope Orla Brady will be coming to the Las Vegas convention this year and be able to meet the woman who played the human form of Isis all those years back: April Tatro (who is confirmed for the convention).

Other reason Orla Brady needs to come to Las Vegas this summer: John Noble is already one of the featured guests, and Orla played Walter Bishop’s wife on “Fringe.” Get that dual photo op session scheduled now, Creation!

Well, lookee here. Gary Seven. There’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. Since all before you were born. A very long time.

Ok, we’ll see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6lmBbV3VWo&t=4s

So does this confirm that the Supervisor and Laris are not connected and that they happen to both be portrayed by Oral Brady because the Supervisor’s face reminds Picard how much he wants to tie the knot with Laris?

Great interview; thanks.

I also always liked Robert Lansing’s portrayal of Gary 7. The sequence near the beginning of the episode when on stepping off the transporter platform he initially dismisses Kirk’s explanation that he is from earth’s future until he see’s “humans with a Vulcan”, always makes me smile.

I love everything about that opening.

I loved Orla Brady as Laris right from the first episode of season 1. I always felt that she and Jean-Luc had serious chemistry. I’m glad that the old fool Picard has stopped running away from love and finally admitted his feelings for Laris. I’m hoping and praying for a wedding between the two in season 3.

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‘picard’ star orla brady credits character’s total sense of self to “reasonably rare” female director.

The actress is pulling double duty on this season of the 'Star Trek' series as both Laris, who was introduced last season as Jean-Luc's housekeeper, and Tallinn.

By Ryan Parker

Ryan Parker

Former Senior Reporter

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Orla Brady was not ready to say goodbye to her Romulan character introduced last season on Star Trek: Picard . So it goes without saying that Brady was thrilled to learn that she would return for the second season of the Paramount+ series in a double role as both Jean-Luc’s ( Patrick Stewart ) love interest, Laris, and also as a new character, Tallinn, a mysterious figure who serves as a guide to Picard in the 21st century.

However, the Dublin-born actress is quick to point out to The Hollywood Reporter that while fans may be frustrated with Jean-Luc’s inability to be happy in love, Laris, his housekeeper, is fine and certainly not pining over him by any means. Jean-Luc rejected her romantic advances in the opening moments of this season. However, it is clear he wants to love her in return, but something is holding him back.

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“Sometimes the best way to play a role is to not know, follow the writing and see what happens,” Brady tells THR of not knowing Laris’ arc beforehand. “One of the things that came along is: Laris loves Picard. She just does. But it’s not viable. No one is going to do anything about it. It’s in another life. And none of us knew that was going to happen.”

Brady explains that the writers and Stewart wanted to explore to a great degree Jean-Luc’s seeming inability to be happy in a viable relationship. Why so many near-misses with a long-term companion?

“The writers felt that was an opportunity to go deeper with that, to find out what his hold-back is and what does it relate to,” Brady says. “His self-vindication comes from his extraordinary commitment to work and his career. We see in the beginning: Can he go there? And he couldn’t. It was too much for him.”

Laris, of course, is to a degree wounded that he cannot allow himself this happiness, but she would never bemoan the situation, Brady says. “She has a healthy sense of self, which is partly her Romulan-ness, if you like. Many women are this way and many are not. She has a sense of herself that she can love deeply, she can commit. And if someone rejects her, her conclusion is then they are not for me because I will meet someone who loves me as deeply. She is not the woman to sit around moaning about the one who got away. It hurts, but she is not incomplete.”

Brady is pulling double duty this season as both Laris and Tallinn, who was introduced in the closing moment of the March 24 episode “Watcher.” In last week’s episode, “Fly Me to the Moon,” viewers learned more about Tallinn, who is tasked with protecting Jean-Luc’s ancestor Renée Picard in the year 2024. But, what is going on? Are Laris and Tallinn connected?

“From my point of view, when Tallinn appears, she is clearly very reminiscent of Laris,” the actress says. “I think that we are seeing Tallinn through Picard’s eyes. She is not Laris. She is a different woman in a different time. We learn that maybe there is a connection, but she is an entirely different woman. Other people would not see as much of a similarity as he does.”

As for Laris, Brady credits first-season director Hanelle Culpepper for helping her find the character and understanding her inner strength and solid foundation. “There was something about Hanelle’s input about the emotional light and the tempestuousness of this woman that set me off on this path,” Brady says. “It was wonderful to be directed by a woman because it remains reasonably rare.” Lea Thompson directed two episodes of Picard this season, including “Watcher,” with Brady noting, “Lea is lovely and makes it easy and fun.”

With a lion’s share of this season being set in Los Angeles in 2024, very much a reflection of the current time with homelessness, racism and climate change, Brady understands some viewers are out of their Star Trek comfort zone. She certainly is, admits the actress.

“I was quite obsessed with Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) when I was a child — a woman who is in command, being trusted in the top team — because it wasn’t my world in a very repressive country,” Brady explains. “It gave a vision of the future that was very inspiring, and we felt that we could do this. And I think what this season is trying to say is, ‘We won’t get there without the effort.’ It is uncomfortable, and part of me wants to go back to the pristine future of Star Trek . But, I admire the show tackling this.”

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• View history

Narissa and Ramdha about to experience the Admonition

Before the Attack on Mars in 2385 , Narissa was part of the same group of Zhat Vash to experience the Admonition on Aia as her aunt , Ramdha . This group was overseen by Commodore Oh , a Vulcan /Romulan hybrid who had infiltrated Starfleet . Together, they formed the Conclave of Eight to plan an attack on Mars to manipulate the Federation into banning the creation of artificial lifeforms . ( PIC : " Broken Pieces ")

In 2399 , she underwent temporary surgical alteration to pose as a human and assumed the identity of Oh's personal aide, Lieutenant Rizzo. From this position, she directed efforts by the Zhat Vash to apprehend Dahj Asha on Earth as part of an effort to obtain information on the whereabouts of several existing biological androids .

The first attempt, in Boston , resulted in the death of Dahj's boyfriend and the deaths of the operatives involved; the second, in San Francisco , witnessed by retired admiral Jean-Luc Picard , resulted in Dahj's death. Oh chastised Narissa for making "a shambles" of these operations on Earth, and in no uncertain terms stated that the lives of Narissa and her best agent were on the line for any more failures with the Zhat Vash mission. ( PIC : " Remembrance ", " Maps and Legends ")

Narissa then focused on Dahj's twin Soji , serving as her younger brother Narek 's handler as he infiltrated the Romulan Reclamation Site . She had given approval for Narek's approach of building a relationship with Soji as a means to acquire information, but after Oh's reprimand expressed impatience at his slow pace of uncovering useful intelligence. Contacting him by hologram , she stated that she was concerned for his well-being, but with their lives at risk, her self-preservation would come first. ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ") She warned Narek against coming to love Soji, saying it would threaten their mission. ( PIC : " The End is the Beginning ")

After Seven of Nine began to reactivate the Artifact , Narissa began jettisoning Borg drones into space after murdering a large number of reclaimed xBs . She was eventually overwhelmed by the xBs and sought refuge elsewhere in the Borg cube. ( PIC : " Broken Pieces ")

After the Artifact arrived at Coppelius , where it later crash landed , Narissa briefly encountered her brother, Narek. She bade him well on his task and let him go off on his own, before later confronting Seven of Nine in hand to hand combat, where Seven eventually knocked Narissa into a chasm within the cube, claiming that this fate was what she deserved for having killed Hugh . ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

• 1 Memorable quotes
• 2.1 Appearances
• 2.2 Background information

Memorable quotes [ ]

Something far worse is coming, centurion… if I fail in my work.

Have you entertained for even a moment, that she might be the one handling you?

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• " Maps and Legends "
• " The End is the Beginning "
• " Absolute Candor "
• " The Impossible Box "
• " Nepenthe "
• " Broken Pieces "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 "

Background information [ ]

Narissa was played by Peyton List .

• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein
• 3 John Paul Lona

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Narissa Rizzo

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She was portrayed by Peyton List , who also portrayed Poison Ivy in Gotham , Lucy Lane in Smallville , and Lisa Snart/Golden Glider in The Flash .

An agent of the Zhat Vash , her actual name is unknown. Rizzo is the identity she used when she infiltrated the Federation Starfleet in the late 24th century. Rizzo grew up in a family that included a deceased brother, another brother named Narek , and an Aunt named Ramdha.

In 2385 Rizzo traveled with her Aunt Ramdha and a group of other Zhat Vash initiates to the planet Aia. There the Zhat Vash leader Oh had them participate in the Admonition, a message the Zhat Vash believed to be a warning to never allow synthetic lifeforms develop. The Admonition was actually an ancient message from a group of synthetic life forms to other synthetic lifeforms that might follow, but was such that organic brains could not handle the stream of information. With the exception of her Aunt, all the other initiates committed suicide upon seeing the message, leaving only Rizzo standing and coherent.

Following her experience with the Admonition, Rizzo helped Oh reprogram the synths working on Mars to carry out a devastating attack on Mars. In the aftermath the Federation banned synthetic life forms. Like Oh, Rizzo also infiltrated Starfleet in the guise of a young human female, using the Rizzo identity. By 2399 she held the rank of Lieutenant in Starfleet.

After finding a biological android named Dajh Asha, Rizzo sent a team to kill the young android. The operation did not go as planned, with the strike team being killed and Dajh being activated. Dajh went to Jean-Luc Picard for assistance but was killed by Zhat Vash operatives a short time later. Oh chastised Rizzo for botching the operation to kill Dajh.

Learning that Narek had found Dajh's twin sister Soji working on a derelict Borg cube known as the Artifact, Rizzo abandoned her cover identity and traveled to the cube to oversee Narek's attempts to find out where Soji came from. She was critical of his attempts to seduce the information out of Soji, and felt that he was being manipulated by her.

After Soji learned the truth of who she was, Narek and Rizzo attempted to kill her but she escaped with Picard. Rizzo set about murdering many of the ex-Borgs in order to get the project director Hugh to reveal where he had sent Picard and Soji. Rizzo later murdered Hugh.

Rizzo disguised as a human.

When the Borg cube was reactivated by Seven of Nine Rizzo ordered the Borg drones flushed out into open space, killing nearly all of them. She survived when the Artifact crashed on Soji's homeworld of Coppelius. Confronting Seven of Nine, Rizzo fought with her. Seven gained the upper hand and pushed her off a ledge to her death, claiming the act was for her friend Hugh.

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Series: Picard

Characters: Laris, Tallinn

Orla Brady is an Irish actress who played Laris in the first three episodes of Star Trek: Picard’s first season. She has been promoted to series regular for the second season where she also plays Tallinn.

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Picard season 1 wasted its most interesting villains.

Star Trek: Picard season 1 introduced Narek and Narissa, Romulan siblings who were Tal Shiar agents. It's a shame how their potential was squandered.

Narek (Harry Treadaway) and Narissa (Peyton List) were Star Trek: Picard season 1's most interesting villains, but their potential was wasted by season 1. Star Trek: Picard season 1 centered on a Romulan conspiracy to wipe out synthetic life in the universe. Narek's mission was specifically to glean the location of Coppelius, the homeworld of androids, from Soji (Isa Briones), who initially wasn't aware she was synthetic. Unfortunately, Narek and Narissa's outcomes turned out to be disappointing.

Narek and Narissa were the first brother-sister Romulan Tal Shiar agents in Star Trek. The siblings served the Zhat Vash, a secretive sect within the Tal Shiar dedicated to wiping out synthetic life. Narissa was also a mole in Starfleet like her superior officer, General Nedar (Tamlyn Tomita). Nedar posed as Commodore Oh , who rose to become Starfleet's Chief of Security, while Narissa disguised herself as Lt. Rizzo. Narek and Narissa had an intimately antagonistic relationship with a sexually-charged undercurrent. Star Trek had never seen Romulans like Narek and Narissa before. It's a shame that by the time Star Trek: Picard season 1 was over, the Tal Shiar siblings' fates were sealed so that it's unlikely they will return.

Related: Star Trek Shows The Start Of Picard's Romulan Supernova Tragedy

What Happened To Narek & Narissa In Picard Season 1

Narissa, who was a Colonel in the Tal Shiar, was killed in a battle with Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in Star Trek: Picard season 1's finale. After Seven, Elnor (Evan Evagora), and Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) came aboard the Borg Cube Artifact , Narissa committed heinous crime, including ejecting thousands of Borg Drones into the vacuum of space. But Narissa's most despicable act was murdering Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco). Narissa faced off with Elnor in a battle between the Zhat Vash and their ancient enemies, the Qowat Milat, but Seven ultimately killed Narissa as revenge for Hugh's death.

Narek's fate was left more ambiguous. The Romulan spy chased after Soji and followed La Sirena to Coppelius. But Narek had a change of heart, and he helped Cristobal Rios (Santiago Cabrera) and Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) take on Soji's synthetic siblings, who were led by Sutra (Isa Briones). However, Narek was forgotten, and he wasn't seen in Star Trek: Picard season 1 finale 's closing moments. In an interview with TrekMovie , Star Trek: Picard season 1 showrunner Michael Chabon revealed the intention was to show Narek taken into custody by the Federation, but he was a casualty of the editing process.

Why Narek Lusted After Soji When He Supposedly Hates Androids

Narek's twisted relationship with Soji was Star Trek: Picard' s spin on an abusive relationship. Narek came aboard the Artifact with a mission to acquire Coppelius' location from Soji, but he ended up seducing and sleeping with the android. Narek developed actual feelings for Soji, but he was forced by Narissa to fulfill his mission and murder her, although Soji escaped thanks to Picard. This was the fascinating contrast between Narek and Narissa because the sister was much more fanatical about hating androids and more dedicated to the Zhat Vash's cause. Narek, in his own grotesque way, actually fell for Data's daughter.

None of this excuses Narek's deceitful and despicable actions in Star Trek: Picard season 1. If anything, it's all the more frustrating that Narek never received a proper comeuppance for his crimes, especially against Soji. Narek was simply forgotten and Soji seemingly moved on in her lone appearance in Star Trek: Picard season 2. There was definitely more mileage that could have been explored from Narek and Narissa, but Star Trek: Picard just wasn't interested. Instead, one Romulan sibling is dead while the other simply vanished without explanation, and it's such a waste of two compelling villains.

Next: Every New Power Picard Gave The Borg Queen

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 premieres February 16, 2023, on Paramount+.

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Published Feb 27, 2024

First Look at Star Trek: Picard: The Art and Making of the Series

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From Joe Fordham, get an inside look behind Star Trek: Picard , with the release of Star Trek: Picard: The Art and Making of the Series — a must-have for all Star Trek fans.

This beautifully illustrated hardback, available now everywhere books are sold , features behind-the-scenes and on-set photography, and a range of production art, is an in-depth exploration of a hugely popular and seminal Star Trek character.

Alongside interviews with showrunners, writers, cast, and crew, discussing concepts and character arcs, "Spotlight" features explore makeup, costumes, art, and visual effects. A final section features reflections on the much-beloved character from its original incarnation in Star Trek: Next Generation through to its final satisfying conclusion.

Star Trek: Picard stars Patrick Stewart, reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation . The book explores each of the three separate season-long narratives, which tell the story of Picard in later years, as he is brought out of retirement on his family château to face old enemies such as the Borg, take command of a new starship, and ultimately reconcile with his past.

New characters such as Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), Dr. Jurati (Alison Pill), Cristóbal Rios (Santiago Cabrera), Soji (Isa Briones) and Elnor (Evan Evagora) feature alongside appearances by old enemies and friends, such as Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), the Borg Queen (Annie Wersching), Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg, Ito Aghayere), Data (Brent Spiner), and Q (John de Lancie). Season 3 sees a full-scale Next Generation reunion, featuring Worf (Michael Dorn), Dr. Beverley Crusher (Gates McFadden), and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton).

Thanks to our friends over at Titan Books, StarTrek.com has an inside look at Star Trek: Picard: The Art and Making of the Series!

VADIC CHANGELING AVENGER

The Shrike captain announces herself as Vadic (Amanda Plummer), leader of a rogue faction of Changelings, liquid-based shapeshifters from the Gamma Quadrant. "Amanda Plummer was the only person I ever thought of for this role," states Terry Matalas. "Early on, I didn’t know that she would do it. I knew that Amanda had Star Trek lineage as her father, Christopher Plummer, played General Chang in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country .

To our delight, she said ‘yes’ and she brought so much to the character. She made Vadic one of the great Star Trek villains."

Vadic’s tortured history sprang from a clandestine operation, an offshoot of the Dominion War against the Federation. "They were held captive on Daystrom Station by a nefarious group within Starfleet, Section 31," Matalas explains. "They were trying to make Changelings that were undetectable down to an organ level in a way that Changelings had not been before. Vadic and her people escaped from that lab with their new abilities, and they found a like-minded dying species, the Borg, who teamed up with them to put an end to Starfleet once and for all."

The makeup team explored designs for Vadic and her Changelings that acknowledged their genetic origins, as seen in Deep Space Nine ’s amorphous shapeshifting security chief Odo (René Auberjonois), with a twist. "We tried a variety of prosthetic designs for Vadic," recalls Vincent Van Dyke. "We ended up creating scars as a design element on her face. They were quite symmetrical, even beautiful. The idea was these were scars that had injured her, symmetrically, on each side of her body. Technically, they were quite simple for us to create, not extensive makeup. But what a wonderful actress."

"Amanda was fantastic," concurs James MacKinnon. "Talking to her about what we were going to do, she was very particular, and quiet. But when she started talking about how she was going to play the part, it was awesome to watch. We ended up taking the color out of her eyebrows. We gave her a pale face and some cheek scars as silicone transfers. The idea was that, as a Changeling, she’d been partway through forming into another character when she stopped and that left subtle scarring on her face. We gave those scars a natural lip color."

"Changelings loyal to Vadic carry disruptor weapons illicitly acquired on their travels through the Delta Quadrant. Vadic brandished a femme-fatale-style smoking device. "Terry and Amanda wanted her to be wreathed in smoke sitting on her bridge," recalls Jeff Lombardi. "We’ve not seen many aliens smoking cigarettes before in Star Trek . Amanda does smoke, which helped. We got her blend that she was comfortable with, and we designed an alien cigarette holder and different papers. It was a simple device, the end of the holder held a rolled joint and the two melded together as a smoking apparatus. We also gave her some old French lighters and a Romulan knife — one of the Reman blades that Picard’s clone, Shinzon, had used in Star Trek Nemesis ."

Go behind-the-series with Star Trek: Picard: The Art and Making of the Series , on-sale now!

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In addition to streaming on Paramount+ , Star Trek: Picard also streams on Prime Video outside of the U.S. and Canada, and in Canada can be seen on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave. Star Trek: Picard is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Star Trek: Picard (TV Series)

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Quotes 

[Seven is fighting Narissa on the Artifact to prevent her from killing Picard] 

Narissa : Sad queen Annika. Six years old and all she got for her birthday was assimilated.

[They continue to fight until Seven has Narissa by the throat] 

Narissa : Why didn't you just put a phaser to your head and get it over with?

Seven of Nine : Because I still had this to live for.

[shoves Narissa toward a ledge] 

Seven of Nine : This

[kicks her over] 

Seven of Nine : is for Hugh!

[Narissa lets out a scream as she falls to her death, punishing her once and for all] 

Narissa : Well, have you found them?

Narek : Yes, they're all here.

Narissa : Have you fucked any of them?

Narek : Hmmm... not yet.

Narissa : Killed any?

Narek : One.

Narissa : Well, I call that progress.

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Captain Picard's Best Story Is in a Surprising Star Trek Show

• Patrick Stewart's iconic performance as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine is a career highlight.
• Picard's traumatic assimilation by the Borg in "The Best of Both Worlds" shaped his character and haunted him throughout the series.
• Deep Space Nine delves into Picard's guilt and trauma from the perspective of Benjamin Sisko, offering a new angle on forgiveness and healing.

Jean-Luc Picard made Patrick Stewart a household name, launching him from the comparative obscurity of the English stage thanks to the now-classic Star Trek: The Next Generation . Stewart's long association with the role let him deliver a number of performances as Picard that now stand as career highlights. That includes Season 5, Episode 24, "The Inner Light" in which he lived out the life of an ordinary man on an alien world, and Season 2, Episode 9, "The Measure of a Man," when he delivered a stunning courtroom argument in defense of Data's free will.

However, out of all of Stewart's Star Trek appearances, his best performance as Jean-Luc Picard might not have come in The Next Generation or even the de facto follow-up series Star Trek: Picard . Star Trek: Deep Space Nine features a cameo by Stewart in the series' premiere, in which Picard encounters one of the survivors of Wolf 359. Not only did it signal a key moment in the character's biggest ongoing plot thread, but it gave Stewart a moment to quietly shine in his signature role.

The Borg Will Always Haunt Jean-Luc Picard

Picard was famously abducted by the Borg in The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 26, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1." He spent six days as a member of the Collective, which referred to him as "Locutus" and intended to use him as a go-between for a presumably soon-to-be-assimilated humanity. Season 4, Episode 1, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" depicted the infamous Battle of Wolf 359, in which the vast bulk of Starfleet engaged a single Borg cube under Locutus's directive, and was utterly destroyed. 11,000 people lost their lives, and the cube continued unopposed to Earth, where it intended to assimilate the entire population.

They were thwarted by the Enterprise-D, now under Will Riker's command, who abducted Locutus and used his link to the Collective to put the Borg to sleep. The cube imploded, and Picard was freed from Borg control, though he remembered everything he did while he was assimilated. "The Best of Both Worlds" was a watershed moment for the franchise, bringing the Borg back for a triumphant curtain call after their celebrated introduction in Season 2, Episode 16, "Q Who." Besides introducing one of the greatest villains in the entire franchise, it marked Star Trek's first real departure from stand-alone episodes and towards more complex arcs.

That came part and parcel with growth and change for the protagonists -- something that never happened in Star Trek: The Original Series . The Next Generation even punctuated the severity of Picard's assimilation with the very next episode -- Season 4, Episode 2, "Family" -- which acknowledged the extent of his trauma and devoted the bulk of its running time to exploring it. That was unprecedented for a Star Trek series, which typically just warped off to the next planet once a given crisis was resolved. Picard's psychological wounds have never truly healed, and much of his character in the ensuing years has been defined by the way he grappled with that dark legacy.

Exploring the extent of Picard's trauma began during The Next Generation's run, most notably in Season 5, Episode 23, "I, Borg" when he learned to accept another ex-Borg in spite of his hatred for the Collective. His big moment of catharsis arrived in the feature film Star Trek: First Contact , where he must first halt another Collective attack on Earth, and then stop them from traveling back in time to assimilate the Earth of the past. Even then, however, his time as Locutus haunted him, which all three seasons of Picard developed in some detail.

Deep Space Nine Confronts Picard with His Victims

How star trek: deep space nine was created.

Picard feels unconscionable guilt for his role in Wolf 359 , but the fact remains that he had been assimilated and was a helpless puppet to their will. He's a victim of the Collective as well, and there's a fair amount of survivor's guilt that factors into his trauma. All of that, however, is centered around Picard himself, and not Locutus's victims. Most of the time, that process is largely internal. "Family" aside, The Next Generation rolled merrily along after "The Best of Both Worlds" without any indication of the devastation left behind, with Starfleet in shambles and tens of thousands of its personnel dead. The slow rebuilding took place almost entirely off-screen.

Deep Space Nine changed all of that with its own central protagonist, Benjamin Sisko, whose wife was killed at Wolf 359 and who has had to raise their son Jake by himself ever since. "Emissary" opens with the battle itself, which hadn't been depicted onscreen before. For example, the Enterprise-D arrives in the aftermath during "The Best of Both Worlds." Sisko is a lieutenant commander onboard the starship Saratoga during the battle, only to see his vessel and its crew taken apart in the space of moments. He's able to rescue Jake, but his wife Jennifer is killed, and he's forced to abandon her body as the survivors flee the ship in an escape pod. All the time, Locutus's passive, indifferent face seems to loom above it all.

"Emissary" officially begins three years later, as Sisko takes command of Deep Space 9 for the first time. He's consumed by feelings of reluctance for the job, and is considering resigning Starfleet to take Jake back to Earth. Picard arrives to give him the assignment: ensure Bajor's reconstruction and application to the Federation. In the course of their conversation, it becomes clear that Sisko blames Picard for the death of his wife, and hasn't begun to forgive him for the loss. That changes during the course of the series pilot, as Sisko has his encounter with the Bajoran Prophets (who are advanced alien beings who dwell within the wormhole), and finds closure for Jennifer's death. He and Picard meet again, and Sisko rescinds his desire to return to Earth, then shakes Picard's hand before the two return to their respective posts.

Picard's Journey to Forgiveness Will Never End

How star trek's vulcans evolved beyond gene roddenberry's creation.

The two scenes speak volumes about both men, as Sisko finds new purpose in his life and learns to forgive Picard for his part in his wife's death. That serves as the launching point for Sisko's journey, ending with him joining the Prophets at the end of Deep Space Nine's run. Picard faces a darker reality: for the first time onscreen, he's properly confronted with someone who lost a loved one at Wolf 359. While he earns Sisko's forgiveness, it's a task he'll need to do over and over again, sometimes for no one's sake but his own. That pays dividends in Star Trek: Picard Season 3, when Captain Liam Shaw reveals he too is a survivor of Wolf 359. Like Sisko, he's not inclined to forgive the once and former Locutus either, and unlike Sisko, he never really reconciles with the man.

All of that is set up with Stewart's performance in "Emissary." Though brief, it establishes a strong baseline for the trauma inflicted by the Borg, as well as Picard's somewhat halting ability to confront his complicity in Wolf 359. He masks it behind duty, pushing through Sisko's obvious anger and falling back on military protocol to complete the assigned task. Stewart conveys the oceans of emotional turmoil going on beneath the surface without overtly tipping his hand. The audience can see how much Picard's guilt weighs on him without diminishing Sisko's anger or pain in the process. There's no undoing what's been done, however, and no matter what steps he takes, forgiveness and reconciliation will always be slow in coming.

The actor reveals this vulnerability in the space of a few short minutes, in a story that isn't his. Yet the way he uses that time is quietly awe-inspiring. He doesn't overshadow Sisko in these scenes, and the attention remains firmly where it should be on Deep Space Nine's lead. At the same time, he lays the groundwork for what becomes Picard's central emotional wound as a character, and the ways he can't always heal the damage no matter how hard he tries. It's a reasonably quiet moment in a long career, both within the franchise and without. But amid a bumper crop of brilliant performances from the actor, its brevity and emotional resonance may have no peer.

Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are currently streaming on Paramount+.

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek: Nemesis

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Cast Nichelle Nichols, Scott Bakula, Kate Mulgrew, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Avery Brooks, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan

TV Show(s) Star Trek: Animated, Star trek, Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks