star trek picard two of one

Two of One (episode)

• View history
• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.2 Production
• 3.3 Continuity
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Special guest star
• 4.3 Guest starring
• 4.4 Co-starring
• 4.5 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.6 Stand-ins
• 4.7.1 Europa Gala displays
• 4.7.2 Los Angeles locations
• 4.7.3 Passport references
• 4.7.4 Search references
• 4.7.5 Meta references
• 4.8 External links

Summary [ ]

Picard is lying on the floor, blood running from his mouth, as Rios and Tallinn check on his condition. Tallinn believes he should be taken to a hospital, then asks Rios about getting him back to the CSS La Sirena 's sickbay . As Picard lies unconscious, he flashes back to his memories of his home , seeking out his mother .

Thirty-four minutes earlier, Picard – dressed in a tuxedo for the Europa Mission pre-launch gala – glances over at Tallinn, who remarks that he "did it again", calling her " Laris ". Given their similar appearance, Picard had thought she might be an ancestor, but given that Laris was Romulan it didn't seem possible. Tallinn points out a "funny little thing" Picard's voice does when he mentions Laris' name, and asks who she is to him; Picard tries to play it down, saying she was "no one of importance", which Tallinn notes is an audible clue of when Picard is lying. Picard then has Rios get into position, while he calls Jurati to proceed with her part of the plan. Jurati is handcuffed to a chair in the surveillance room, and the Borg Queen , who is inside Jurati's mind after being fatally shot back on the ship , compliments the "clever little plan" about getting caught on purpose, remarking on how she missed Locutus . Jurati shoots back that he doesn't miss her one bit.

Picard tells her to speed things up, as the line was moving; Jurati takes a canister of anesthesia gas from a holster strapped to her leg, and knocks the two guards out. However, one of them has the keys in his pocket; the Queen points out she could have waited until he was closer to her. Meanwhile, Rios is checking in as "Karl Leonard Kelley", a 60-year-old heart surgeon from Texas , but the ID shows the real Kelley 's picture. Rios has the security guards check again. Jurati is unable to move the chair – actually three chairs bolted together – to reach the security guard, and the Queen offers to help. Frustrated, Jurati accepts; the Queen tells her simply to pull on the handcuffs. She does so, and they release. Jurati then reaches the security console and uploads the updated IDs, which allow Picard, Rios, and Tallinn to enter the gala. " Better late than never, " Picard remarks, relieved. The Queen sardonically tells Jurati she's welcome for the help, to which the doctor tells her if she doesn't shut up, she will find a way to destroy her – a comment a confused Picard thinks is directed to him. The Queen suggests they leave, as the guards will wake up any moment with short-term memory loss, and she would like to get back to enjoying "our" evening, as she holds out her hand. Hesitantly, Jurati takes it.

Act One [ ]

Picard is now in a hospital, with the team surrounding him. His vital signs are dropping, and he is again seeing flashbacks in his mind.

Twenty-six minutes earlier, back at the gala, the team is in place: Picard and Tallinn at a table, and Rios, Seven , and Musiker at the bar. Jurati enters, freed from the security room, and gives Picard a nod. The Europa astronauts are engaging in photo opportunities, and one of them – Musa , the mission commander – calls out to "Picard". Renée , standing at the corner of the bar knocking back her drink, looks up, as Musa gestures for her to join him, half-jokingly adding that it was an order. Renée appears to be all smiles, and her future descendant notes that it seemed "so far, so good". Tallinn, however, knows Renée better; the supervisor can see she looks alright, but is aware that Renée knew how to put on an act, saying that there was a little sign she gave with her earlobe. She admits that while she has watched over Renée for twenty-four years , she was not used to interacting with Humans . Picard is surprised that Tallinn has never spoken to her charge once in all those years, but to Tallinn, that was not only the rule of her job, but the code she lived by. But while Tallinn was watching over Renée, Picard wonders, who was watching over her ? Tallinn looks visibly uncomfortable at this question, then returns to business; they had ten hours before Renée had to report to quarantine, and they just had to keep her safe until then.

Jurati stands (to all other observes) alone at a table while the party is in full swing, while the Queen asks who "we" were that evening. Jurati is adamant that there is no "we", saying that the Queen was just a "houseguest" until she could find a way to get rid of her presence. The Queen mocks her for not being able to let her die. Jurati insists that the Queen was not who she was trying to save, which the Queen dismisses as "splitting hairs", before saying it was fun to lie to her friends, especially Rios, "the one [Jurati] had intercourse with". Jurati counters that she did not find it fun, before clarifying to mean the lying. She was faced with an impossible choice: she couldn't allow Leclerc , the French policeman, to die, but also couldn't kill the Queen either, the only means for them to get home. The Queen thinks they had talked enough, suggesting they enjoy the party instead, but Jurati insists on "no playing", that she had a mission to complete. The Queen replies that the stress hormones were not good for "us", but mockingly says that Jurati was in control.

At the bar, Musiker is offered a drink, and after an initial hesitation she goes for the non-alcoholic club soda . Rios approaches her, saying the perimeter was clear, Renée seemed to be enjoying herself, and there was no sign of Q . He pulls a cigar from his tuxedo jacket, marveling at the idea of real tobacco , and a box of matches. Musiker wonders about the "glow" Rios is showing, how he seems happy. Rios says that he's just making the best of things, but Musiker half-jokingly replies she finds that "alarming", given how she knew him. Rios admits that 21st century Earth is not what he thought it would be; everything was so intense, "all the cars and the honking and the shouting", and how dirty it was – along with the music everywhere, the good food, and the real cigars. Musiker, however, thinks it's more than that, saying he has had a "big goofy smile" on his face since he was locked up by ICE with Teresa Ramirez , the free clinic doctor. He clearly admires her, saying she built the clinic from the ground up for a community that had nowhere to go. Musiker warns him not to think about "going there", and Rios confesses that he's trying not to. Musiker suggests he try harder, seeing as a relationship with someone from another century would be "built on lies". Nearby, they hear Seven laughing, chatting with guests and enjoying herself. Musiker knows how much "baggage" her usual look with the Borg implants carries, and is glad to see her travel "light" for a while. As Rios moves off, Musiker once again momentarily sees a hallucination of Elnor , dressed up and standing at a table. Putting her back against the bar, she breathes steadily to calm her emotions.

Renée returns to the bar, and downs her drink in a single gulp. Picard asks Tallinn if she normally drinks like that. Given that she was going into quarantine the next day, Tallinn thinks it was just a "last hurrah". However, she appears to look distressed, reaching up to her right ear – the beginning sign of a downward spiral, as Tallinn puts it – before looking at her cell phone . Tallinn has an interceptor program installed on it, and looks to see who Renée is exchanging text messages with. Tallinn curses in Romulan under her breath as she sees she is texting Q, her "therapist", saying that she couldn't go through with the mission, and intended to tell Musa she was backing out after the party. Q encourages her to do so. Picard plans to speak to Renée, but Tallinn is adamant they do not break the code; besides, what if Q was right, and she was not ready? Picard, however, thinks it was actually Tallinn who was not ready. He compliments her on the job she has done to protect her thus far, but he believes it was her destiny to go on the flight, and gently suggests it was time for Tallinn to let Renée go. Tallinn relents, saying that they would need to keep Musa out of the way. Picard suggests Jurati, who speaks his language.

Jurati re-enters the room, the Queen asking if she "felt better", noting they had needed a "little break". She wanted to help Jurati "live a little", but there was only so much she could do; Jurati replies it was by design, as it was fifty-fifty between them, before asking the bartender for champagne . The Queen remarks on the amount of attention Jurati is getting, which Jurati attributes to her dress. The Queen, however, thinks it's the two of them together, and compliments Jurati on showing her potential. Just then, she feels a hand on her shoulder, and turns to see Rios, who asks if her communicator was down; Picard had been trying to call her. Rios notices she seems a little out of it, and asks if she was alright, offering to support her. Jurati is appreciative, saying he was great that way. Rios knows she's been through a lot; just hours earlier she had had blood on her hands. Jurati notices the way Rios' eyebrows moved when he expressed worry about her, and Rios admits he cares about her. In her head, the Queen admonishes her not to let fear get in the way. " Allow me, " she says, taking momentary control of Jurati's body to have her pulled Rios by the tie into a passionate kiss . Rios clarifies that had not been what he meant, that he wanted to know what was wrong. Jurati admits she was not "herself" at the moment, and abruptly walks away.

" I can't allow Renée to complete this mission. Stay away from her. " " I could say the same to you. "

Renée knocks back another drink, reliving the disastrous simulation earlier, and musters up the nerve to act. As she walks determinedly away, Picard realizes they can't wait for Jurati anymore; Tallinn agrees, it was now or never. When asked what he plans to say to her, Picard admits he is not sure. As he moves to follow her, he is stopped by another surprisingly-familiar face: Adam Soong , who remarks that they have a "friend" in common… Q. Picard makes it clear he is no friend of Q, and Soong replies that Q had said the same of him. Picard insists he not have anything to do with Q, but Soong counters that he has no interest in being part of whatever was going on, and suggests Picard stay away from Renée. Picard replies he could say the same to him. One of the guests approaches Soong, recognizing him as a generous donor to the Europa Mission, and asks if there was something she could do for him. Stepping away with the guest, Soong replies there is something, whispering that the "gentleman", Picard, was dangerous. The security on the perimeter is alerted, and they all begin to approach him.

Act Two [ ]

The hospital the crew has taken Picard is revealed to be Teresa's clinic, as she works feverishly to save him. In his mind, he hears his mother's voice again, telling him to "look up".

Fourteen minutes earlier, Picard is in trouble: the security guards are all seeking him out, and he has lost Renée, asking if anyone had eyes on her. Rios confirms he does, and that she is on the move. Alone, Jurati tells the Queen she can't "push" her like that, but the Queen replies that she was trying to get Jurati to understand that good things happen when she lost control. Jurati listens as the situation goes down; Musiker reports the exits were blocked, and Picard asks for Tallinn's assistance. Rios doesn't think Renée will stay at the party much longer. " You want to help? " the Queen asks Jurati. " Let's help. Your friends need a distraction. " The Queen sets off a nano-electric pulse that knocks out the lights, giving Picard and Tallinn their needed exit. Then Jurati's voice is heard, singing " Shadows of the Night " from the one of the balconies. The band begins to play along as spotlights follow Jurati down the stairs and onto the stage. She finishes the song to a round of applause, but Jurati is confused by her body's response. The Queen tells her that this had been her plan, to release the amount of endorphins needed to "steer the ship" for a while. Jurati insists she is in control. " Not anymore, " is the Queen's smug reply.

Picard finally catches up to Renée, noting how upset she seemed. Renée tells him she wishes to be alone, but Picard replies that in his experience, talking about something else helps, and suggests she look up. Above her is suspended an OV-165 shuttle, which she calls "Spike" because of its "kick-ass" aerospike engines that use less fuel. She apologizes for any offense, but notes that Picard seems "a little up in years" to be a security guard. Picard concedes that's true, but adds that he was the wisest of them all. Renée half-jokingly says he probably thinks they let anyone be an astronaut these days. " Sometimes, those who shine the brightest feel the sting of fear and melancholy in ways that others can never understand, " Picard replies. Renée thinks he talks like he knows her, and in a way he does: she is an astronaut of the Europa Mission, and believes her indeed capable of great things. Picard tells her that in some ways, Renée reminds him of his mother; she also loved the stars, and also had her struggles. Renée thinks fear is sometimes a "friendly reminder" that one was not ready, but Picard insists that fear was fear, and it didn't speak in riddles; fear meant that one was smart, and understood the risks. Renée asks what he was afraid of, and he admits he didn't know where to begin. She asks if he found a way to live with it, and he replies that even in the darkest circumstances, there was a light, even if it was just a glimmer. " Trust that light, " he urges her. " Find a way back. No matter what it takes. " Renée thinks his mother was lucky to have him, triggering another memory. Back in character, he "remembers" that he was sent to bring her back, that Dr. Jemison was having a toast and wanted all the astronauts on stage; he had been sent to collect her, and asks if she would be joining them. Renée, seeming more confident now, replies that she will. Taking her arm in his, he escorts her back to the party.

Sitting in his car, Soong appears both distressed and angry, thinking of his daughter Kore , the brief glimmer of hope he had had with the temporary cure Q had given him, the anguish he had felt when it wore off, and the deal with Q he made to "remove an obstacle": Renée. Determined, he begins driving his car. Meanwhile, Renée walks with her (unbeknownst to her) distant descendant back to the party, saying going around outside was faster. Picard tells her it was as far as he went, and she thanks him for the pep talk. Just then, she is illuminated by the headlights of Soong's car, and Picard pushes her out of the way, taking the impact himself. Tallinn and Rios rush to his side, Rios calling him "Admiral" aloud (in Renée's hearing). Tallinn tells Rios they need to get him to a hospital, but Rios points out they'll want ID; when asked about his ship, he points out that a biobed was not a doctor. Rios, however, happens to know a doctor…

Act Three [ ]

At her clinic, Teresa asks the crew – Rios, Seven, Musiker, and Tallinn – if he has any conditions; they all exchange glances, knowing that Picard has a synthetic body . Seven simply says that he has "some" transplants. When asked how many, Musiker replies "all of them". The monitors begin showing he has an unstable arrhythmia, the sign of a major cardiac event. When she applies the defibrillator , the device shorts out from the contact with his mechanical body, but it restores his heartbeat to normal. Teresa orders everyone to leave the room.

Back in her sterile room at home, Kore is writing in a journal when her father comes through the decontamination door, looking unkempt and unsteady on his feet after hitting Picard with his car. He slumps down on the couch with a sigh, saying that all his life he had invented things – machines, medicine – and knew he could bend the rules and take the risks. He had poured his heart into Kore, but even after everything, even convincing himself he could take action, he still failed. He had missed hitting Renée, but had taken out Picard as collateral instead. Kore is scared and confused, asking why he was talking like that. Soong raves that the "why" matters, and that she, his "life's work", was his "why". As he gets up to walk away, Kore pleads with him to be honest with her, but he does not respond.

Back at Teresa's clinic, she tells the others that Picard is stable, but non-responsive. Tallinn thinks this is not good enough. When Rios insists she was doing the best she could, Teresa curtly tells him she doesn't need his help. She would return in an hour; her son Ricardo was about to wake up, and wonder for the second time that week where she was. Musiker asks if they could see him now, and Teresa allows it. Alone with Rios, Teresa sarcastically says it was fun to return to her raided clinic in the middle of the night to have her hands inside his boss' chest, and notes the damage to the defibrillator. Rios jokes that perhaps her son cranked it up, but Teresa doesn't buy it, before asking him point-blank who he really was. Rios knows what it looks like, but assures her that he and his friends were the "good guys". " Good guys never say that, " is Teresa's response, as she leaves.

Kore makes her way into her father's lab, and begins an Internet search regarding her father. The first news story refers to her father having his license revoked by the California Medical Board for an ethics violation of the Shenzhen Convention . She sees other stories about his "disgrace", his prior work in genetic experiments with Spearhead Operations , and how he was labeled a "mad scientist". She finds other things on his computer that confuse her: videos taken with her father and a girl who appears to be her. She wonders aloud why she does not remember any of the events being played on the videos. She then sees video log entries, referring to girls named Persephone , Despoina , Persephatta , and Artemis , all of whom died at very early ages from some form of genetic disease. She finally comes across a log where Soong is saying that "this one" will be the last, and admitting to a sense of release. He pledges to do everything and anything to make sure she survives, before naming her: Kore. Watching this, Kore is horrified, asking herself what she actually is, and what her father did.

Act Four [ ]

Tallinn conducts her own scans with her servo , showing that all of Picard's brain synapses are firing. Seven knows that's not right, as brain activity should be minimal if one was in a coma, and Tallinn concurs. All of his vital functions were normal, and there was no sign of brain damage or bleeding; what if it was a mental condition? In his mind, Picard again hears his mother telling him to "look up at the stars". Tallinn believes Picard is essentially trapped in his own mind, and the longer he remained so, the harder it would be to get him out. She suggests using a neuro-optic interceptor , a device she uses to look through others' eyes , which could also be used to get inside his subconscious, like a "jury-rigged mind meld ". Once inside his mind, Tallinn could hack into whatever memory or thought he is fixated on, and in theory interact with it. Musiker protests, saying that the brain being comatose was protective, but Tallinn, perhaps inspired by what Picard had told her earlier, replies that a lot of what they did was protective; it didn't mean it was good for them. Renée is being targeted by Q, and the only person who knew how he worked was Picard. Rios is forced to agree; they would stay with Teresa outside, while Tallinn worked inside. He points out that if something happened to Renée, their future was lost, and they also needed Picard awake to prevent that. When Musiker looks to Seven, her only response is to nod in agreement. Musiker still thinks a lot could go wrong, but given how much had happened since they crashed into that "bullshit time period", she wonders how much worse it could get.

As if in response to that, Jurati – now controlled by the Borg Queen – walks through the streets of Los Angeles , the interlapping voices in her head…

Memorable quotes [ ]

" You know, your voice does this funny little thing when you say her name. Who is she, anyhow? " " Oh, no one of importance. " " Thanks for that. Now I know what it looks like when you lie. "

" I do miss Locutus . " " I'm a hundred percent sure he doesn't miss you. "

" Who are we tonight, Agnes? I like it. " " There is no "we". " " I believe that's the proper pronoun for when one shares one's body with one's new friend. "

" 21st century Earth isn't what I thought it would be. " " Hmm. " " Everything's so intense. With all the cars and the honking and shouting. It's dirty. There's music everywhere. Oh, the food's amazing, cigars … "

" I'm gonna see who she's texting . " " She does seem to check her mobile device quite a bit. " " Oh, we all do that. "

" Picard! Adam Soong. I believe we have a friend in common. A Mr. Q. " " He's not a friend. " " That's what he said about you. "

Background information [ ]

• 4 April 2022 : Title publicly revealed via Paramount Press Express . [1]
• This episode's title is listed as "Two for One" on StarTrek.com [2] [3] , but was later changed to the correct title "Two of One". [4]

Production [ ]

• The song Jurati was to sing at the gala was originally planned to be Feeling Good , a song popularized as a civil rights anthem by Nina Simone . When Alison Pill raised concerns about her singing that song in the context of the episode, the song was changed to Shadows of the Night . ( TRR : " Two of One ")

Continuity [ ]

• A poster and model of Nomad from TOS : " The Changeling " appears in the background of some of the gala scenes.
• During that same scene, he tells her to "look up" and describes his mother's own fascination with the stars. ( PIC : " The Star Gazer ")

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard
• Alison Pill as Agnes Jurati
• Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine
• Michelle Hurd as Raffaela Musiker
• Evan Evagora as Elnor ( hallucination )
• Orla Brady as Tallinn
• Isa Briones as Kore Soong
• Santiago Cabrera as Cristóbal Rios
• Brent Spiner as Adam Soong

Special guest star [ ]

• John de Lancie as Q ( flashback ; archive footage)

Guest starring [ ]

• Annie Wersching as Borg Queen ( illusion )
• Penelope Mitchell as Renée Picard
• Sol Rodriguez as Teresa Ramirez

Co-starring [ ]

• Alexandre Chen as Cute Waiter
• Ren Hanami as Director Lee
• Michelle Haro as Guard #1
• Shaw Jones as Guard #2
• Richard Leacock as Commander Musa
• Zach Sowers as Security Guard #1
• Kareem Stroud as Security Guard #2

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Jenya Chaplin as Dancer
• Guy Fernandez, Jr. as A. Finch
• Marti Matulis as Prisoner (illusion)
• Justin Nickels as Dancer
• Morgan Peters as J. Hawkings
• Patrick Price as Security guard
• Dylan Von Halle as Young Picard (illusion)
• Thadeus Welch as Bartender
• Madeline Wise as Yvette Picard (illusion)

Stand-ins [ ]

• Margot Muraszkiewicz as stand-in for Jeri Ryan
• Thadeus Welch as stand-in for Patrick Stewart

References [ ]

2000 ; 21st century ; admiral ; adrenaline ; aerospike engine ; amygdala ; ancestor ; arrhythmia ; astronaut ; August ; baggage ; biobed ; blood ; blood pressure ; body ; Borg ; Borg implants ; Bourbon II Whiskey ; bracelet ; brain ; brain bleed ; cake ; car ; cave ; champagne ; chest ; cigar ; Citi ; clinic ; Clinica Las Mariposas ; club soda ; cockpit ; Colorado ; coma ; commander ; communicator ; community ; cortisol ; counter-thruster ; Datascope ; defibrillator ; director ; doctor (occupation); doctor (title); dress ; ear ; earlobe ; Earth ; endorphins ; Europa Gala ; Europa Mission ; evening ; eye ; eyebrow ; face ; facial recognition ; fear ; Flag of the United States of America ; Fort Collins ; Friday ; friend ; French language ; fuel ; future ; gala ; ghost ; god ; " good guys "; guest ; hand ; heart ; heart surgeon ; hospital ; hour ; Human ; intercept program ; intercourse ; January ; jazz ; Jemison, Mae ; July ; Kelley, Karl Leonard ; key ; kiss ; laptop computer ; Laris ; life sign ; light ; " lights out "; liver ; Locutus of Borg ; lunar rover ; lying ; master distiller/blender ; match ; memory ; Microsoft ; mind ; mind meld ; mission ; mission commander ; mobile device ; month ; music ; name ; nano-electronic pulse ; neuro-optic interceptor ; Noco Distillery ; norepinephrine ; odds ; OV-165 ; Paul Hastings ; party ; pocket ; pronoun ; psyche ; Q ; quarantine ; raided ; revocation ; riddle ; Romulan ; Romulan language ; safe house ; Saturn V ; security guard ; servo ; " Shadows of the Night "; Shango X-1 ; short-term memory loss ; smile ; Soong, Artemis ; Soong, Despoina ; Soong, Persephatta ; Soong, Persephone ; space shuttle orbiter ; Starbucks Coffee ; stage ; stress hormone ; swelling ; synapse ; table ; texting ; time period ; Trotter, P. ; US President ; Villalobos, Xavier Vincente ; vital signs ; voice ; week ; year

Europa Gala displays [ ]

1958 ; 1961 ; 1962 ; 1963 ; 1968 ; 1969 ; 1972 ; 1979 ; 1981 ; 1986 ; 2002 ; 2003 ; 2005 ; 2011 ; 2020 ; 2024 ; Aldrin, Buzz ; altitude ; Apollo program ; Apollo 11 ; Apollo 17 ; Apollo 8 ; April ; Armstrong, Neil ; asteroid belt ; Atlantic Ocean ; Atlantis ; Challenger ; Collins, Michael ; Columbia ; Delta IV ; December ; Discovery ; double axe ; Dragon 2 ; Endeavour ; elliptical orbit ; Europa ; Falcon 9 ; February ; Florida ; flyby ; Freedom 7 ; Gagarin, Yuri ; Galilean moons ; Galileo ; Ganymede ; Gemini capsule ; Glenn, John ; gravity assist ; inflation ; International Space Station ; July ; Jupiter ; Kennedy, John F. ; lithopanspermia ; magnetosphere ; Mars ; May ; Mercury ; Mercury capsule ; Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle ; Mercury Seven ; Neptune ; Nomad ; OV ; Pluto ; Project Mercury ; Roman mythology ; Saturn ; Shango ; Shepard, Alan ; single stage-to-orbit (aka SSTO ); Sol ; Sol system ; Soviet Union ; space telescope ; SpaceX ; Titan II ; United Launch Alliance ; United States Congress ; Uranus ; Venus ; Voyager 1 ; Voyager 2 ; West Africa ; Yoruba people

Los Angeles locations [ ]

400 South Hope Street ; Aon Center ; City National Plaza ; Figueroa at Wilshire ; FourFortyFour South Flower ; Gas Company Tower ; Manulife Plaza ; Northwestern Mutual Life Building ; US Bank Tower

Passport references [ ]

1964 ; 1978 ; 2020 ; 2030 ; date of expiration ; date of issue ; Department of State ; El Paso ; January ; March ; May ; Spanish language ; Texas ; United States of America

Search references [ ]

article ; California Medical Board ; ethics ; eugenics ; Federation of State Medical Boards ; Feldt, Casey ; geneticist ; homeless ; license ; licensee ; live stream ; mad scientist ; mall ; President of the United States ; real estate ; revoke ; schadenfreude ; Schloss, Noah ; Shenzhen Convention ; shooting ; soldier ; Spearhead Operations ; treaty talks ; unrest ; veteran ; whistleblower

Meta references [ ]

flashback ; intertitle

External links [ ]

• " Two of One " at the Internet Movie Database
• " Two of One " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " "Discovering Two of One" " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast

Den of Geek

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 6 Review – Two for One

Star Trek: Picard continues firing on all cylinders as Jean-Luc tries to convince his ancestor Renee to go to the stars.

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The following contains Star Trek: Picard spoilers

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 6

Any episode of Star Trek: Picard that features the La Sirena crew gussied up in formal wear, finds an excuse for a random musical interlude, and features Patrick Stewart giving a heartfelt pep talk to a young woman doubting her own strength is automatically going to be an instant classic in my book. Is “Two for One” a perfect hour? Nope. Does everything that happens in it even fully make sense? Not really! But, this episode is full of that magical alchemy of heart and hope that is so purely Star Trek that it’s impossible to look away from, even during its most head-scratching moments. 

Of course, the setting helps a great deal. Picard and friends must infiltrate a swanky gala that’s taking place to honor the Europa mission astronauts, which naturally involves a complicated plan to hack their way into the security base with several near-misses and almost-discoveries along the way. (Dress ranking: Jurati’s red number is killer , but that teal color looks great on Seven.)

The secret mission vibes are lots of fun, and offer plenty of opportunities for the sort of light-hearted moments we haven’t had the chance to see a lot this season, what with all the encroaching authoritarianism and alien genocide. From Rios’s love of non-replicator-made food to Jurati’s snarky arguments with the Borg Queen that’s apparently taken up permanent residence in her head, I honestly wouldn’t have minded watching the gang drink and spy on Picard’s great-great-cousin Renee for a bit longer.

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“Two for One’s” best moment, naturally, revolves around the moment the two Picards finally meet. Renee, afraid of failure and feeling alone in her own darkness, and Jean-Luc, lost in time and having been himself where she is now, share a lovely moment talking about the paralyzing nature of fear and their shared love of the stars, as he convinces her to grab on to the chance she’s been training for and join her fellow astronauts in quarantine. This show is full of small moments highlighting what a tremendous actor Patrick Stewart is, but if this episode isn’t his Emmy reel, I’ll be shocked. It’s his most emotionally moving, most complete work as an actor yet this season, and though he and actress Penelope Mitchell only share a pair of brief scenes together, they have fantastic chemistry. (The “look up” reminder shared across literal centuries is going to stay in my head for a while. Just so lovely. ) 

The episode’s framing device of a countdown to the moment Picard is hit by a car is…a choice, particularly given that we all already know he’s not in any real danger—after all, the news that most of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast is joining Picard Season 3 was just announced this week ! Why does Soong decide to tell Picard he’s been tasked with stopping Renee? Why does he just go home after his murder attempt fails? How come  Rios’s nice doctor friend doesn’t seem to really notice that Picard doesn’t exactly have a standard-issue human body anymore? And who drives a possibly dying man across town in Los Angeles traffic? These are all weird things that happen!

Elsewhere, the revelation that Dr. Adam Soong is perhaps the darkest branch of his admittedly very messed up family tree is disturbing on multiple levels. According to the articles Kore finds, he’s had his medical license revoked on the basis of multiple ethics violations and been accused of conducting illegal genetic experiments on homeless veterans. It’s not clear whether he’s somehow been cloning the different versions of Kore who came before her, genetically altering embryos, or what, exactly, but given the sheer volume of files on his desktop, whatever he’s been doing has been going on for a very long time.

Kore, by the way, is another name for the goddess Persephone, who appears to have been the namesake of Soong’s first “child”. There’s something darkly fitting that he’s come full circle with this one, that he seems for some reason to assume is his last attempt. What his ultimate goal is—with Kore specifically or all the other experiments that came before her—is unclear. Why does she look exactly like Dahj and Soji Asha? Does Adam Soong’s work connect to that of his descendants in some way? Is his failure to clone/make/create humans the reason later generations of the Soong family turned to androids and synthetics? (Props to Brent Spiner though, who does seem to be having a fantastic time playing a Soong that’s very quickly unraveling.) 

Speaking of people who deserve praise: let’s give it up for Jonathan Frakes, who directed this episode and gave us some of the most memorable shots of the season, especially that final look at a Borg-controlled Agnes wandering the streets of Los Angels barefoot in that flowing red dress. “Two for One” does a great job flipping between perspectives involving Jurati talking to real people versus the Borg Queen in her head, and Allison Pill’s performance skillfully delineates which being we’re dealing with in the body they both share. There’s something so wonderfully dumb and hopeful about Agnes’ being so unwilling to truly kill the Borg Queen that she essentially allowed her to take up space in her body, and not, I suspect, solely because she was worried about the Sirena crew’s way home. She’s genuinely trying to be a better person than she was before. (Plus, some part of her probably does enjoy feeling seen in a way she often is not.)  A desire, I suspect she’s about to suffer for.

4.5 out of 5

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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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But forget all that — because the beautiful character beats and nuance in the threads of this season is where this episode is at. And the starting point for that is the quiet scene between Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his young ancestor, Renée (Penelope Mitchell), that serves as a predestination paradox for what we saw in the season opener… when Jean-Luc recalls his mother inspiring him to “look up.”

In this key moment of the season, when Picard successfully convinces Renée to proceed with her mission in the face of her personal challenges with anxiety and depression, he asks her to “look up” as they stand inside a museum of historical ships… and above her is the immaculate OV-165 shuttle from the  Star Trek: Enterprise opening credits!

The joy for the viewer in seeing this classic and familiar ship is matched by Renée, who lights up at the sight of a ship she affectionately calls “the Spike.”

With her guard down, Picard — posing as a security guard — helps her in the way we’ve seen him help so many characters in need through the years. It’s a Picard speech for the ages as he reminds her of how much she has accomplished even in the face of her “melancholy,” and that she reminds him of his own mother, who also loved the stars – and who also “struggled.”

As many of us are wont to do, she tries to support her self-doubt by saying “sometimes fear is a friendly reminder you aren’t ready for something,” to which Picard reminds her forcefully: “No! Fear is fear… it doesn’t speak in riddles.” He explains that by acknowledging fear is just proof of how smart she is and how she understands the risks. (This is the second time in two seasons that Picard has targeted “fear” in one of his famous speeches, previously telling Rios that “fear is the great destroyer” in “Broken Pieces.” )

The conversation gets deeper and deeper, eventually leading him to tell Renée there is always a light to guide you and find your way, even if sometimes it is only a glimmer. When she says his mother must have been very happy to have you, Jean-Luc is overcome with emotion, and we see another one of the dark flashbacks to his childhood that have permeated the season.

In the end, she is convinced and will proceed with the mission (even joking she wishes she could bring him along to help keep her team calm – little does she know how right she is!). The moment leaves us with little doubt that moving forward, in her personal times of struggle, she will remind herself to “look up” to collect herself or to power through – something that will be passed down through generations of Picard explorers.

In the other very strong character thread running through this episode, it’s time for Agnes v. the Borg Queen, Round 4! (And this just might be the final time we can truly say that, as the friendly foes get closer and closer to becoming “Two of One.”)

Their complex entwinement begins immediately when Agnes (Alison Pill), handcuffed to a chair, realizes she has the strength of the Borg Queen (Annie Wersching) to literally and figuratively break the chains to get Picard and crew into the party. Once the pair are out of confinement, signified by Agnes taking her hand to say she is ready to work as a team – “50/50,” the Queen begins exuding her influence at every corner (kissing Rios, ignoring hails from Picard, pushing Agnes to understand “good things happen when you lose control,” and providing … a distraction).

And what a distraction it is. In another spine-tingling moment from Terry Matalas and his crew, shot beautifully in a stark, black silhouette, queen Agnes takes the stage at the party to belt out a postmodern jukebox version of “Shadows of the Night.” And it’s official: Pat Benatar is now canon! (And should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I mean, come on people. Look up her oeuvre.)

The performance from Alison Pill is a wonder — remember when we said how much fun this season is? — and the two actors on stage together in their dueling décolleté necklines is a gloriously dramatic image. Overjoyed from the rush and the applause, Agnes takes a bow and is joined by the Queen who reveals she was doing a little more than helping her provide a distraction, she needed those endorphins from the performance to gather enough strength to assume full control of the pairing.

Pill’s face goes from nervous to comfort in the span of a few seconds as her eyes go dark for an instant and she relinquishes any semblance of the control she once thought she had. But the truth is Jurati was never in control in her battle of wits with the Borg Queen, who told her as much two episodes prior in “Watcher.”

During that particular battle, the Queen flaunted her own confidence in saying, “it’s how you get the army to follow you… it’s how you teach the choir to sing.” And now two episodes later, Jurati is literally on stage signing at the behest of the Queen.

That singing distraction was needed to allow Picard a little extra time from the wrath of Adam Soong (Brent Spiner), who we now know is paying off his debt to Q by buying his way onto the Board of the Europa Mission so that he could adversely affect Picard’s ability to get to Renée. (Just go with it. It’s fun!) The quick meeting between Stewart and Spiner — back again after their emotional swan song for Data last season — was an impressive tête-à-tête between the two Trek powerhouse actors.

We’ll see Soong two more times in the episode, when he runs down Picard in a car, after the admiral pushes Renée out of harm’s way, setting up next week’s continuation with Picard in a coma, and then again with his daughter who the experimental geneticist has been working his whole life to save. (At least, that is how he would like people to see him.)

In reality, the “mad scientist label” that Soong has earned seems to be pretty accurate when Kore finds a stash of files on his computer that indicate he has been creating and losing daughters (that all look like her) at an alarming rate throughout his life. He is clearly a bad guy, capable of anything.

At this point, the Soong reveal is mildly interesting, but it seems like a good bet that this writers’ room is going somewhere with this that will connect to Trek in some interesting ways.

Throughout this season, there have been hints of some parallel storytelling, as the story structure heavily resembles Season 1’s mileposts: a reveal of a Borg ship in Episode 1 ( “Remembrance” vs “The Star Gazer”), undercover party crashing in Episode 5 ( “Stardust City Rag” vs “Fly Me to the Moon”), now it seems clear that many of these similarities must be by design.

In “The Impossible Box” (Season 1, Episode 6) Agnes is under an alien influence hiding her true motives and decisions from her shipmates, and here in “Two of One” (Season 2, Episode 6) she is again under alien influence and keeping a secret from her crew — this time, however, she’s a much larger threat as she harbors the Borg Queen’s consciousness (and nanoprobes, it seems)… calling her decision to lie to everyone an “impossible choice.”

Similarly, Kore (Isa Briones) is coming to grips with her unorthodox origins and asking the question, “What am I?” At the same point in Season 1, Soji was asking an identical question — resulting in her understanding that she’s a scientifically-created life form, much like how this episode seems to present Kore as a genetically-engineered creation of Adam Soong.

Ultimately, what these parallels might mean in the scope of the entire storyline for Picard remains a mystery.

Elsewhere in this episode we also get further developments between Picard and Tallinn (Orla Brady) — who he keeps calling Laris — and obviously has feelings for, asking the watcher, “Who is watching over you?” Her silent response speaks volumes. Additionally, Raffi (Michelle Hurd) has yet another mirage glimpse of Elnor (Evan Evagora) while at the party, and we see a happy and energized Rios (Santiago Cabrera) bouncing around the gala.

Rios loves the 21st century — especially the food and the honking! And it’s through Rios that Picard ends up in the urgent care facility run by Dr. Teresa Ramirez (Sol Rodriguez) after being hit by Soong. (“He’s had some transplants.” “How many?” “All of them.”)

Ramirez spends her time in the episode channeling her best Rain Robinson impersonation — this is a compliment of the highest order — and immediately knows something is off with her patient, even before she blows up her defibrillator while trying to jumpstart Picard’s heart.

OBSERVATION LOUNGE

• As noted by Tuskin38 in the comments below, the failed ID scan displayed when Rios first attempts to access the party is “Karl Leonard Kelley” — named for DeForest Kelley and Karl Urban, the two actors who’ve played Leonard McCoy — from El Paso, Texas,  birthplace of Gene Roddenberry.   The birth date listed on the badge (March 11, 1964) is the date of the famous “ Star Trek  is…” pitch letter , and the issue date of January 23, 2020 signifies Star Trek: Picard’s series premiere.  
• Rios’ alias, Villalobos Xavier Vicente, shares a birthday with actor Santiago Cabrera: May 5, 1978.  
• Renée Picard nicknames the OV-165 shuttle “Spike” based on its unique aerospike engine design. In perhaps a sly double-meaning, “Spike” was also the original name for the character we later knew as Charles “Trip” Tucker.  
• As we first showed you on Monday, a pre-sentient model and display of the Nomad space probe is on display in the ‘history of spaceflight’ exhibit; the probe was of course first seen in the Original Series episode “The Changeling.”  
• Besides his lack of Irumodic Syndrome, the explosive feedback given off by his defibrillator shock is the first physical alternation we’ve seen from Picard’s synthetic new body.  
• Rios tells Dr. Ramirez that “We’re the good guys,” in the same way Tom Paris once told Rain Robinson, “Look, we saved your life. Isn’t it obvious we’re on your side?”  
• In a very rare instance for Star Trek, at least mid-season, the music during the opening credits has mysteriously changed for this episode. The differences are subtle but also clear, especially in the opening notes. It must mean something, but your guess is as good as ours.

It’s Tallinn, though, who sets the stage for the storyline’s continuation in the next episode, as she recommends a “jury-rigged mind meld” to burrow into Picard’s psyche and help him break out of his mentally active — yet comatose — state. This set-up is another classic Star Trek trope, this one along the lines of “Dark Page” and “Extreme Measures,” and should go a long way in revealing some of the internal demons that Picard has been battling.

The procedure is not without risk, but at this point even exasperated Raffi must ask herself, “How much worse can it get?” as the camera cuts to a Borg-Queen-controlled Agnes Jurati walking the streets of Los Angeles in her stunning red dress, carrying her shoes. It’s the ultimate stride of pride for a character who has struggled to find her footing throughout the series’ first two seasons, and it is accompanied by an audible undercurrent of voices from the collective.

Powerful stuff — and probably not a great thing for the citizens of 2024.

Jim Moorhouse is the creator of  TrekRanks.com  and the  TrekRanks Podcast . He can be found living and breathing Trek every day on Twitter at  @EnterpriseExtra.

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Review – Star Trek: Picard – Jurati Takes The Spotlight In Two Of One

Following last week’s “ Fly Me To The Moon ,” Jonathan Frakes returns to direct “Two of One,” his second of two episodes this season of Star Trek: Picard .  I found the episode enjoyable and it reminded me of a few heist films like Ocean’s Eleven ; everyone has a part to play in the plot, and everyone gets a moment to shine.  With a cast like this, each character and actor absolutely should get a chance to stand out, and most everyone does.  As much as I enjoyed the episode, it does give the impression that the season’s overall plot is starting to drag.

The bulk of “Two of One” takes place at the big gala happening in support of the crew of the Europa Mission before they enter quarantine, and our heroes all have something specific to do here, though it mostly seems like they’re just keeping an eye on Renee Picard.  Before that can happen, they have to get into the gala itself, which involves Dr Jurati (and her unwelcome Borg guest) infiltrating security and uploading new identities for our crew.  With a little help from the Queen, Jurati succeeds, getting the rest of the team into the party while she heads to the bar.

Roughly the first half of the episode includes flash-forwards to bleeding and injured Jean-Luc with his crew surrounding him.  This technique worked to add some level of tension to the episode, but I’m personally not a fan of that storytelling tool.  To paraphrase Mortimer Smith, start the story where it begins and not when it gets interesting.

Most everyone gets a spotlight moment during the gala, and these are nice little reminders that the show has great characters other than Picard.  Rios seems to be revelling in the 21st century, commenting on how good the food was and how intense everything seems to be, and particularly marvelling over a real cigar. 

Raffi notices something else in Rios’ lighter manner and posits that he has a certain selfless doctor on his mind and warns him not to move on with whatever he might be feeling.  She also sees how “light” Seven seems to be as she mingles with other guests.  Raffi is still dealing with the loss of Elnor, as once again she sees his face in another person.

Picard and Tallinn also have a few moments together, with Picard wondering who’s watching over Tallinn while she watches Renee.  Tallinn pokes around a bit to find out more about this Laris person Picard keeps mentioning, only to discover how the elder man looks when he lies.  Picard also has a wonderful moment when he finally meets Renee and gives her just the sort of pep talk she needed, and one that could only have come from the legendary Jean-Luc Picard.  Patrick Stewart once again proves that he’s an even better actor now than he was during TNG’s heyday.

As in previous episodes, a standout relationship is that between Jurati and the Borg Queen.  The Queen spends her time prodding Jurati to let loose and have some fun in their shared body while the doctor refuses, citing the mission at hand.  Eventually, though, in an effort to keep their cover from being blown, Jurati lets the Queen take control, resulting in a momentary blackout and a phenomenal performance of Pat Benatar’s “Shadows of the Night.” 

I love the song, I adore Pat Benatar, and Allison Pill’s rendition is nothing short of remarkable.  Not just her singing, but the way the party band knew exactly what she was doing and had a perfect musical arrangement on hand.  Perhaps more shenanigans from the Queen?

All is not well, though, as Adam Soong is also at the gala, having become part of the mission’s board of directors.  He meets Picard face to face and moves to remove the Frenchman from the party, but Rios’ timely intervention and identity swap (and Jurati) helps Picard make his way to Renee for that aforementioned pep talk.  Soong is determined to remove the elder Picard from the equation to help his new “friend” Mr Q, and he hits Jean-Luc with his car as he’s escorting Renee back to the party.

With Renee safely entering quarantine, the crew gathers up the injured Picard and takes him to the only place they can: Teresa Ramirez’s hospital.  The doctor stabilizes Picard but he’s comatose.  After some spirited discussion with Raffi, Seven, and Rios, Tallinn decides to use her Supervisor tech to enter Picard’s mind and help bring him back, describing it as a “reverse mind-meld.”  However, they notice someone is missing from the group…

Soong returns home having failed to stop Renee from going on her mission and talks to his daughter Kore in a manner that makes her wonder just what he’s talking about, particularly referring to her as his life’s work.  She does some digging and discovers that she’s not the first of Soong’s “daughters,” but the latest.

After her lovely musical number, Jurati chillingly discovers that this was all a part of the Queen’s plan: get her endorphins up enough to allow the Queen to assume control.  And now, the Borg Queen walks the streets of Los Angeles in Agnes Jurati’s body.  Oh boy…

I sincerely hope the next episode, “ Monsters ,” get the season back on track.  We’ve had a nice detour into the 21st century, but with Renee’s destiny finally in motion, hopefully, we can wrap up this tangent and get back to the future.

Picard airs on  Paramount+  in the United States, and on CTV Sci-Fi Channel and Crave in Canada. Outside of North America, the series is available on Amazon Prime Video

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‘Two of One’ Brings Out The Voyage Home in Star Trek: Picard

This discussion and review contains some spoilers for Star Trek: Picard season 2, episode 6, “Two of One” (and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , if you somehow never saw that).

Given how much the second season of Star Trek: Picard owes to Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , it is worth taking a moment to consider what The Voyage Home is actually about.

On the surface, The Voyage Home is a time travel story. When an alien probe arrives on Earth and wreaks devastation trying to communicate with extinct humpback whales, Kirk (William Shatner) leads the crew of the Enterprise back in time to recover two humpback whales from the late 20th century. A series of comedic fish-out-of-water setups ensue, with the visitors from the future awkwardly navigating the hostile world outside the audience’s cinema.

However, there is something more at play within The Voyage Home . In some ways, The Voyage Home is as much a spiritual companion to Who Framed Roger Rabbit? as it is to Back to the Future . It isn’t just about time travelers from an imaginary future; it is about fugitives from television. Kirk and his crew are inherently absurd figures who have somehow broken free of the imaginary world of 1960s science fiction television and landed in Reagan’s America.

This is obvious in the emphasis that The Voyage Home places on the cast’s inability to convincingly swear — “ double dumbass on you !” After all, it is ridiculous to assume that a future that preserved Shakespeare, Mozart, Bach, and countless others would have forgotten words like “ merde ” and “ shit .” The reason Kirk cannot swear is not because those words will be eliminated from future vocabularies, but because the harshest curse a 1960s television character could utter was “ hell .”

This gets at the often overlooked genius of The Voyage Home , which is that it is a story that confronts relics of 1960s science fiction utopianism with the realities of 1980s America. To quote blogger Jack Graham, it is a story about “ ageing progressives from another time (coming) to Reagan’s America .” It is about collapsing imagined futures into a disillusioned present, as well as the conflict that results from having those two elements at play with one another.

Star Trek: Picard season 2 lifts quite a lot from The Voyage Home . The slingshot maneuver that the crew employed to travel back in time in “Assimilation” was the same one that Kirk used in The Voyage Home . Indeed, the second season of Picard marks the first time that this trick has been employed since The Voyage Home . “ Watcher ” also featured a cameo from Kirk Thatcher reprising his role as the angry punk from The Voyage Home , even recording an updated version of the same song .

As in The Voyage Home , Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew are operating a stolen craft with a cloaking device. As in The Voyage Home , that stolen craft has landed on the planet’s surface but is obscured from human eyes. As in The Voyage Home , this time travel story is ultimately a none-too-subtle allegory about a pressing real-world concern. In The Voyage Home , that concern was the environmentalist movement. In Picard , that concern is immigration.

Of course, there are some key differences between Star Trek: Picard season 2 and The Voyage Home . Given that the characters are escaping from a 2020s streaming service instead of 1960s broadcast television, they blend in a lot easier to the modern world. The cast is capable of swearing , and they can engage in sex and violence just like real human beings, without worrying about upsetting the censors. However, the core ideas carry across.

Notably, “Two of One” positions Jean-Luc Picard as something akin to guardian angel for his distant relative Renée (Penelope Mitchell). Much of Renée’s arc in “ Fly Me to the Moon ” and “Two of One” consists of the character feeling powerless and helpless, as if her choices and actions do not matter. While Jean-Luc cannot physically complete her task for her, or even help directly, he can offer moral support. Picard can offer advice and wisdom, perhaps even inspiration for the task ahead.

Renée is even overtly aware of Jean-Luc’s passivity. “I don’t suppose you want to catch a ride to Europa?” she asks. “You could hang in the cockpit, keep everyone calm?” She doesn’t expect him to lead the mission or to provide any meaningful function. Instead, she suggests that his mere presence could be reassuring to the real people who are doing the real work. It’s a striking take on the question of what Star Trek means in a chaotic and turbulent world.

Both “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Two of One” return to the theme of passivity and observation. Tallinn (Orla Brady) has spent years watching Renée as a “Watcher” who works for a “Supervisor,” but she has never interacted with her. “I watch, but I’m never seen,” Tallinn explains in “Fly Me to the Moon.” “You’ve never spoken to her in all those years?” Picard asks in “Two of One.” Tallinn responds, “It’s not just a rule; it’s a code we live by.” It seems the television set works both ways.

After all, even though Star Trek is not real, it has had a meaningful and inspirational effect on many lives. Whoopi Goldberg has spoken about how seeing Nichelle Nichols on the original Star Trek was an important moment for her . Astronaut Mae Jemison has argued that Nichols was a major inspiration on her choice of profession . President Barack Obama has spoken a great deal about what Star Trek means to him and what he has learned from it .

“Two of One” serves to position the characters as ambassadors from Star Trek into something resembling the real world, making an argument for the importance of the franchise’s utopian values in a world where individuals (particularly from younger generations ) can often feel depressed or hopeless. One of the core appeals of Star Trek is the hope that the future will be better — arguably a quintessentially American ideal . What does it mean when people stop believing that ?

“Two of One” makes this explicit with the character of Adam Soong (Brent Spiner) and his daughter Kore (Isa Briones). “I poured my heart into you,” Soong tells her. “I let myself believe you were the one; you’d make it.” Describing Kore as his “life’s work,” Soong embodies a recognizable sentiment. He speaks for a generation that believes their children will not inherit a better life at all . It seems that Soong has become disillusioned to the point of nihilism and is driven to do terrible things.

One of the more interesting elements of Star Trek: Picard season 2 is the emphasis that it places on the importance of mental health. In some ways, this perhaps represents a tempering of the franchise’s longstanding utopianism, to better reflect an age where climate change may already be past the point where it can be reversed , where the political system may already be beyond repair , and where even modest goals like home ownership are out of reach for many young people.

It makes sense that the second season of Picard is largely about the way that the characters respond to these sorts of existential pressures, with the understanding that maybe they cannot change the world singlehandedly. In “Fly Me to the Moon,” Tallinn notes that Renée has her demons: “sometimes anxiety, sometimes depression.” The show understands that depression doesn’t always manifest in obvious ways. “She’s gotten pretty good at putting on an act,” Tallinn explains.

This theme carries across to the primary cast. For the first time, the relationship between the Borg Queen (Annie Wersching) and Jurati (Alison Pill) makes sense, with the Queen positioned as Jurati’s worst impulses. “I’m trying to help you understand that good things happen when you lose control,” the Queen goads, the embodiment of Jurati’s worst self. Similarly, Raffi (Michelle Hurd) is still haunted by visions of Elnor (Evan Evagora), while Seven (Jeri Ryan) is freed of her Borg scars.

There is something interesting in this, particularly in the context of Picard as a sequel to The Next Generation . One of Gene Roddenberry’s most derided decisions on The Next Generation was to put a mental health professional on the bridge of the Enterprise, seating counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) next to Picard. It is an understatement to suggest that The Next Generation had no real idea what to do with Troi . So Picard ’s emphasis on mental health is an intriguing development.

In some ways, “Two of One” feels quite like the episode that “Watcher” wanted to be. It feels very much like a relaxed breather episode. The party setting helps, allowing for a variety of low-key character moments with the ensemble. It is nice to see Seven enjoying the act of socializing without her Borg implants. Jurati’s musical number is goofy, but in keeping with the franchise’s rich history. Patrick Stewart looks great in a tuxedo. The cast seem to be enjoying themselves.

Of course, there are limitations. Modern Star Trek is too propulsive to fully commit to a low-stakes character-driven hour of television, so “Two of One” features a frustrating in medias res framing device that constantly assures the audience that the episode will contain at least one action scene. It’s distracting and unnecessary, adding nothing to the storytelling and suggesting that the episode doesn’t trust the audience’s attention span.

“Two of One” is another solid episode of Star Trek: Picard , albeit one that comes with many of the show’s core flaws baked into the mix. Still, the second season continues to come into focus in compelling ways.

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Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Episode 6 “Two of One” Sneak Peek + New Photos

Star Trek: Picard season 2 episode 6 “Two of One”

Star Trek: Picard returns this week with the sixth episode of season two “ Two of One ” and we have a collection of new photos, a video sneak peek, and a teaser trailer for you below. Written by Cindy Appel along with Jane Maggs and directed by Jonathan Frakes , “Two of One” premieres on Paramount+ this Thursday, April 7th .

With the help of Tallinn, Picard and the crew infiltrate a gala on the eve of a joint space mission, to protect one of the astronauts they believe to be integral to the restoration of the timeline – Renee Picard. Kore makes a startling discovery about her father’s work.Picard discovers an important person from his past may be integral to the divergence in the timeline. Q continues his manipulation of the timeline, taking an interest in Dr. Adam Soong. Seven and Raffi attempt a daring rescue of Rios, while Jurati faces the consequences of her deal with the Borg Queen.

Sneak Peek:

The cast of Star Trek: Picard season 2 includes Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Jeri Ryan, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Orla Brady, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, Brent Spiner, along with Annie Wersching and special guest stars Whoopi Goldberg and John de Lancie.

Stay tuned to TrekNews.net for all the latest news on  Star Trek: Picard ,  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ,  Star Trek: Discovery ,  Star Trek: Lower Decks ,  Star Trek: Prodigy , and more.

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Review: ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Has A Night Fit For A Queen In “Two Of One”

| April 7, 2022 | By: Anthony Pascale 182 comments so far

“Two of One”

Star Trek: Picard Season 2, Episode 6 – Debuted Thursday, April 7, 2022 Written by: Cindy Appel & Jane Maggs Directed by Jonathan Frakes

Picard has a little fun with a focused episode that moves the season plot forward just a bit.

WARNING: Spoilers below!

“The 21st century is intense”

Picking up at the Europa Mission gala we start with how the night ends badly for a black-tied Jean-Luc Picard, collapsed, bleeding, and flashing back to his childhood before snapping back to a ticking clock of 34 minutes earlier as he and the gang try to sneak into the party with bogus credentials. Agnes is in position in the security room where she knocks out the guards with a gadget and after little banter with her onboard Borg, the Queen gives her the strength to break free and hack the system. Once inside, Picard and Tallinn keep an eye on Renée to make sure she makes it through the night without quitting the program while Rios, Raffi, and Seven mingle.

As for Agnes, she doesn’t seem to be coping well with her new “houseguest,” with Queenie backbrain driving every move she makes. The Borg inside isn’t happy, complaining how her bots have to swim through all of Jurati’s stress hormones. As the night drags on Raffi notes how Seven and Rios seem to be enjoying 2024 a bit too much, each for their own reasons, while she remains haunted by the death of Elnor. The evening is getting to Renée too who starts spiraling with memories of her failure in the simulator and texting Sigmund Fraud (aka Q), who is encouraging her to give in to her fear.

“You really don’t understand who you are dealing with”

With the young Picard heading to quit, the admiral springs into action. Against The Watcher’s code, he is determined to engage with his ancestor. He needs Jurati to distract the mission commander so he can get to Renée but she is distracted herself by the Queen’s constant buzzing in her head, pushing her to live a little, including giving Rios a big kiss before running off explaining (a bit on the nose) “I’m not myself.” Picard too is waylaid, stunned to find himself blocked by an all too familiar face… until the introduction of Adam Soong makes things click with this family’s shallow gene pool. The mad scientist makes clear he is working with “Mister Q,” and he will do anything to keep Astro-Picard from going to Europa. And his first move is to use his newly bought seat on the board to get Jean-Luc kicked out of the party.

As guards close in on the admiral, the team scrambles, and Jurati tries to snap out of her mission jeopardizing internal dialog. The Queen decides to help by using Borg powers to shut down the lights, so Agnes can go full Evita , belting into song. Didn’t see that coming, but it works as a distraction to allow Picard to disguise as a guard and get close to Renée. Jurati relishes in her literal moment in the spotlight… until the Queen reveals her evil plan. Turns out she needed Agnes to have an endorphin-inducing good time to wrestle control over their shared body. “I am in control.”  Totally saw that coming.

“Even in the darkest circumstances, there is a light”

Jean-Luc approaches great-great-etc cousin, presenting himself as the Yoda of security guards to get her to open up. He sees his mother in her, including how “she too struggled.” The admiral calls to the young astronaut’s ambition with a personalized version of one of his better inspiring speeches. Her trepidation isn’t a sign she isn’t ready, it means she understands the risks… and isn’t that the business they are both in? His optimism breaks through therapist Q’s gaslighting, and now she is ready again to meet her destiny. But as he escorts the reinvigorated Renée to reunite with her fellow astronauts, Jean-Luc has to protect her again as a desperate Adam Soong tries to run her down with his car. With young Picard pushed away from the danger now we are caught up with where we started with our Picard down for the count.

“What am I?”

A dejected Adam Soong returns home to commiserate with his daughter talking about how she is the only thing that matters and why is willing to do the things he has done. She is his “life’s work.” Wait, what now? Kore decides it’s time to snoop around, discovering dear old dad has been rejected by the world for playing god with science. She is horrified to learn she is actually his latest project… the last survivor of a line of little girl experiments.

With Renée safely in quarantine, the team focus on saving their Picard, with a little help from Dr. Teresa who stabilizes him, although his android body shorts out her defibrillator, adding to her Rios weirdness list. The doctor leaves the team alone in her clinic as they use their future tech to sort out Jean-Luc is “stuck” in some kind of memory and the crazy plan is to have Tallinn use her Supervisor tech for a “jury-rigged mind meld” to get in there and sort him out… next week. They do wonder where Jurati is as we end with Queen Agnes walking the streets of LA, relishing in the many, many voices.

Let’s party

“Two of One” is a fine simple episode focused on an away mission. At times profound, and other times a bit goofy, the team has some Ocean’s Eleven -style fun with Picard and director Jonathan Frakes pulling it off much better than their last caper episode (“Stardust City Rag”) in season one. Leaning on the in media res style again gave the episode a clear focus and ticking clock, running it almost in real-time. But for an episode that was set up to play into the heist genre, there wasn’t that much action and this structure felt like a crutch to up the stakes. In between the glamor, jazz, and gags the episode spent some time exploring the season’s main theme of fear, along with some touches on mental health and addiction.

Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard ably drove the story forward as he moved from one fascinating dynamic to another — starting with Orla Brady’s Tallinn, to Brent Spiner’s new Soong, to Penelope Mitchell’s Renée. He showed why he is the star of the show with that moment of seeing Adam Soong for the first time, with his evolving facial expressions. And Brent Spiner is at the top of his game, making Adam wholly different from his varied prior Trek characters. The scene with Renée was a beautiful moment where Stewart used his superpower of changing the world with an inspiring speech full of hope. Lines like, “fear is fear, it doesn’t speak in riddles” was classic Trek and quintessential Picard.

But it was Annie Wersching’s Borg Queen that was the biggest highlight of the episode as she chewed up the scenery as Jurati’s annoying party crasher. Together Wersching and Alison Pill continue to bring the most memorable moments in each episode, with a mix of humor and horror. Having Jurati break into song to act as a distraction was weirdly wonderful, although how she and the Queen got the band and the spotlight operator to work with them is a mystery.

And once again it was Picard and Jurati doing the lion’s share of the work, with both paying big prices to keep Renée safe. The other characters continue to have their own emotional stories, with Raffi struggling over the loss of Elnor who she continues to see in little visions. She also has the insight to see that Seven and Rios are a bit too enamored with the 21 st century, with Rios smitten by Dr. Teresa. Even though Jeri Ryan’s Seven was at the party she didn’t have anything to say until a couple of fun lines back at the clinic, but the short run time could indicate there were some cut subplots. The actors are all doing fine work, however, it would be nice to see them more involved with the main story.

What’s going on?

Even with an episode focused on keeping Renée on the right timeline to fix the future, we still have no more idea about Q’s true motivation for setting all this in motion. Fear does seem to be a thematic thread connecting the astronaut and Jean-Luc’s mother, with him even evoking her line of “look up.” And there were more scary childhood flashbacks to mom, but it appears the real answers to the meaning of those will have to wait for Tallinn’s journey into Picard’s mind next week.

Speaking of Tallinn there were contradictory clues related to the big mystery of why she looks just like Laris. Early on Picard seemed to dismiss the idea she was an ancestor to a Romulan, but later (as Tallinn mumbled a curse at phone) the closed caption described it as “(speaks Romulan),” and as pointed out last week, her tablet appeared to be Romulan tech. Has anyone run a scan of her, just to check to see exactly what she is?

The Agnes/Queen storyline is fascinating with a different take on assimilation. Jurati seemed to have some level of control, even though it was clear that there are Borg nanos running around her system. Perhaps things from the alternate timeline work differently, but Jurati’s will and biochemistry seem to be playing a part in the process. It was a bit disconcerting how the gang didn’t seem all that concerned with how she was acting or her absence at the end, so hopefully soon they will clue in on what’s going on. One thing is for sure, this Queen could put a crimp into the timeline struggle between Q and our La Sirena team.

Where we did learn a bit was thanks to some snooping by Kore, making it clear she is a clone or biological creation, and sadly one of many, many girls who had died. Soong’s motivation to save her makes sense, although how this leads to him being a revered figure in the Confederation timeline remains unclear, but it could have something to do with his inventions (with a little help from Q) leading to a “safe galaxy being a human galaxy.” Those hexagonal panels in his office and those shield drones could be a connection to the wall grid around the Confederation’s future Earth. [UPDATE: Showrunner Terry Matalas has confirmed this connection ]. As for why Kore never Googled her dad before, that was is inexplicable.

Final thoughts

“Two of One” was a fun little episode with some laughs, good performances, and even some character development. But now that we are past the halfway mark, the season is starting to drag a bit with too many mystery box teases going on.

Random bits

• At 38:51, the episode runtime is the shortest of the series.
• Following last week, this is the second Star Trek credit for writer Cindy Appel, who joined the series as a producer for season two.
• This is the first writing credit for Jane Maggs, who joined the series as a supervising producer for season two.
• Jonathan Frakes returns for the second of his two-episode episode block, for a total of 28 Star Trek directing credits, and fourth for Picard . (See TrekMovie interview with Frakes about directing for season two)
• For the first time this season, John de Lancie’s Q does not appear.
• This is the first episode of the season with no scenes set on La Sirena.
• The Gala was primarily filmed at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angles , with the Fox Village Theater in Westwood serving as the exterior.
• Rios’ initial fake ID was “Karl Leonard Kelley” a 60-year-old heart surgeon from the South (and a reference to Dr. Leonard McCoy and actors Karl Urban and DeForest Kelley). After Jurati hacked the system Rios became the more believable 45-year-old “Xavier Vincente Villalobos.”
• Rios also disguised himself as a security guard with the nametag “P. Trotter,” later giving Picard that nametag and earpiece.
• The song Jurati sings is “ Shadows of the Night ,” made famous by Pat Benatar.
• Tallinn uses a Servo device like fellow Supervisor, Gary Seven .
• The names for Soong’s previous girls included Persephone, Despoina, Persephatta, and Artemis, all of which are from Greek mythology. Kore is another name for Persephone , Queen of the Underworld.
• The Europa Mission spacecraft is named Shango , for the African god of thunder, lightning, and fire.
• Renée Picard points out a model for the OV-165 Shuttle which is featured in the spaceflight history montage in the opening credits of Star Trek: Enterprise . She calls it “Spike” for the aerospike engines, like the proposed Lockheed VentureStar/X-33 , which inspired the OV-165.
• One of the spaceflight displays for the Europa Mission gala featured the Nomad probe from the TOS episode “The Changeling.” (Episode 204 featured Jackson Roykirk Plaza at a NASA facility, named for the scientist who created Nomad).

More to come

Every Friday, the TrekMovie.com All Access Star Trek Podcast  covers the latest news in the Star Trek Universe and discusses the latest episode. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify ,  Pocket Casts ,  Stitcher and is part of the TrekMovie Podcast Network.

New episodes of  Star  Trek: Picard  premiere on Thursdays on  Paramount+  in the U.S. and on Fridays where Paramount+ is available around the world. In Canada, it airs on  CTV Sci-Fi Channel on streams on Crave on Thursdays. Picard  is also available on Fridays on Amazon Prime Video around the world.

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

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Putting the known Picard issues aside, I really enjoyed this episode as the characters got to do something and Picard felt more TNG-ish. However, I wish they’d stop making Raffi an “angry black woman” stereotype. It’s not fun to watch and certainly not woke. The doctor is bordering on “fiery latina” too.

Less Spiner was a plus too but Kore’s storyline seems like a rehash of season 1.

The season has gone from what we all wanted in episode one (and all the “professional critics” reviewed), to a mixture of cringe and low budget fan fiction in just 2 more episodes.

It’s hard to watch and I don’t hate myself enough to watch any more of it. Now I know how the star wars fans felt.

At this rate everything will be considered as a trope or a stereotype. I don’t think we need to handicap writers anymore than they already are. As a long the tropes are used an effective way to tell a story, I don’t think we should think too much about them, now whether an effective story is told is another matter but we’ll have to watch until the end of season to see where it all goes. The Kore storyline kind of gives me the impression of the beginnings of the augments but we’ll see.

I’m certainly no expert on wokeness, but I don’t see either of those characters as the stereotypes you mention. Teresa acts like every other doctor i’ve seen on TV (“get out of my operating room” etc) and Raffi is feeling the pain of Elnor’s death, she’s certainly not the same kind of “angry black woman” you describe.

Both are behaving based on strong internal character and story logic, not stereotypes. Also not sure what you imply by “known picard issues.” Known to your griping nitpickery, sure…

“Griping nitpickery”…? Not sure why you feel the need to be rude.

The only person trading in harmful stereotypes is you- so perhaps that’s why some people are calling you out (or as you call it “rude”).

I don’t know what you mean by “trading in harmful stereotypes”. Many people have pointed out over the weeks that Raffi has done nothing but get angry at people this season. First Picard, then Seven, now Tallin. She was also the trailer living drug addict with a broken family in the first season. As for the doctor, she does have some fiery latina elements but hasn’t been on screen enough to make a fair judgement. As the other user pointed out, these are also typical doctor tropes too which I hadn’t considered.

“Angry black woman” and “firery latina” are both well established tropes. Me mentioning them doesn’t mean that I am encouraging stereotypes. Only by discussing these things can people avoid them in the future.

The “rude” comment was referring to the wording of the previous user. Accusing someone of griping and nitpicking for sharing an opinion is rude. I didn’t mean that they were rude for having a different opinion to me and I did find some of their points interesting.

Rafi was super integer in the first couple of episodes, till Elnor’s death. What do you not understand about her behavior? Ever lost someone in a circumstance where he was sacrificed for someone else? Would it make you angry? Would you be able to direct your anger, or would it be more like a shotgun spray? She even saw Elnor in the crowd at the party. You clearly follow an agenda of not just being nitpicky, but you actively try to be negative. Either that or you are unable to follow the story. If it’s the latter, then I’m sorry, we can easily explain the story threads and character development if you want.

Bingo. Not rude, reality.

Not rude. But your lack of an actual response to my points pretty much proves mine.

I didn’t counter your points because I didn’t want to start an argument with you. I did mention in a reply to someone else that I thought your points about the doctor stereotype were fair and something I hadn’t considered. I don’t agree with the rest but I don’t want to argue it either. Accusing someone of griping and nitpicking is rude though, especially when I did actually say I really liked the episode.

There are no “known Picard issues”, the show is great

Huh? It’s Marvel-tier garbage. One of the most intellectually vapid and aesthetically incompetent shows I’ve seen.

Well, maybe not that bad, but not great

They made an “interesting” decision to have the only black regular character on the show be impulsive, erratic, and unstable. No, black characters don’t need to be perfect, but you make a valid observation, especially since the characters are coming off as rather cartoonish this season. I find the doctor to be less fiery Latina and more generic Latina.

Thank you, this is what I meant. And you’re right, I confused generic latina and fiery latina.

So what you mean is “generic person.” The only thing that makes her latina, as far as I can see, is that she is one, which seems to be exposing your own personal issues with minorities. I don’t see any stereotypes, myself.

If you’re seeing something i’m not, you need to bring forth an actual argument, with a factual basis.

Given Trek’s long history of diverse black characters, I think it’s ok to have one who has issues (which by the way, there are a wealth of stories issues for).

Characters of all races and ethnicities can be portrayed with all manner of attitudes. Sure, i might acknowledge it as a problem if Raffi was the FIRST EVER black character in Trek, but come on, now. The end goal of anti-racism isn’t for all minorities to be portrayed as perfect people, but for them to be portrayed as everyone else: a diverse collection of differing people.

I’m all about fighting harmful stereotypes, but if you’re going to bring an accusation of one, bring a nuanced argument. Back it up with something. Let’s have an actual discussion. Something more than “well Raffi is a stereotype ugh.”

Serioulsy! Whatever the writers do they are hanged for it. We had the Burnham show ! She had all the solution and she is black! The gay latinos Doctor that kisses an albino dude. We have Transgender aliens that got on my nerves but I didn’t wine about it. They felt pushed in there only to represent a certain groupe and did not serve the story, which that to mw is annoying. Raffi is grieving and she is pissed! It’s part of her character arc. That’s it! So if the writers want to have an annoying and angry character, they better should make him a male white dude if they don’t want any backlash from every wining angry Joe on social media. Is that the solution? And the latina doctor is fine. 7 of 9 was the sexy chic hired for reviews in VOY and here she is, a fan favorite!

As a long time trek fan, I like Picard season two way more then Disco season 3-4 and even Picard season 1. I think it’s entertaining and Im always anxious to see the next episode.

Must be very hard being a writer in this day in age.

I sure hope Jeri Ryan is getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to be in this stupid show. She’s absolutely being wasted. Meanwhile, this episode was just diarrhea. Not even bad Star Trek, just awful TV.

Yeah this series is definitely less awful than S1 but i’m not excited about S3 with these writers. There’s not a chance in hell they will top All Good Things. It will be closer to “These Are The Voyages” and everyone knows it.

When someone pontificates on what “everyone knows,” it is virtually assured to be absolute rubbish. As everyone knows.

This thread is a combo of trolling and gatekeeping and is closed

Everyone keeps calling it Two of One or Two For One, lol.

Two Girls one…. Drink?

Ughhhhh. My Prime renews the day before the final episode (May 5″. So i’m gonna end up paying a whole month just to watch the finale…  😩

If you have any curiosity about Strange New Worlds you will be able to watch the first few episodes of it.

Strange New Worlds isn’t going to be on Amazon Prime. At least, they haven’t announced anything to that effect. And with Paramount+ slowly expanding internationally, I don’t expect they will give away any further shows to Amazon or Netflix.

Well the episode interesting it gave me Ocean’s 11 vibes but personally this episode imo is the weakest of the whole season.

I again love the Jurati/Queen scenes though i do hope we have normal Jurati back when they return to 2401 and for S3.

The Picard/Tallinn scenes were nice Picard i think is really in love with Laris and i hope they get together when the crew gets back to 2401. I felt sad for Tallinn with her watching over Renee but not interacting with her over the 20 years though I’d understand why she couldn’t.

I liked the scenes with Raffi and Rios they haven’t shared many scenes in the show so it’s great to have them interact here and Rios talking about the doctor from the previous episodes i knew then that we would see here again when helping save Picard’s life.

Raffi talking about 7 getting to loosen up was great she really does love 7 and 7 loves her i hope they get back together and can we can even get a wedding for them in S3 please.

Raffi seeing Elnor again shows she is mentally not great. His death is really getting to her but I’m glad the show is not afraid to highlight ptsd just like Discovery with it’s highlight of Trauma and Culber talking to the crew. I hope we get Elnor back and have him in S3.

The scenes with Picard and Adam Soong were interesting especially with Soong called him Picard. I wonder just what Q has told him about told Adam about him and i felt kinda sorry for him as he is only doing this to give his daughter a life but not knowing he changes the future from a good one to a bad one and trying to kill Renee by running her down but getting Picard instead.

Jurati up on stage singing was cool but not so cool as the Queen seeming now to be in control.

The scenes with Picard and Renee was nice i loved the talk he had with her.

I knew we would see the doctor again and 7 saying Picard had a few transplants and Rafii saying all of them was kinda funny. When the doctor used the defibrillator on Picard and electricity shot out of his body was interesting. I take it has to do with his organic golem body.

So Kore is a clone? hmmm i wonder where they are going with this part of the story-line.

Picard being trapped in his mind due to a blocked memory of his father abusing him and his mother? I also wonder where they are going with this part of the story-line too. It will be interesting what happens when Tallinn going into his mind will do and what we will see.

The queen controlled Jurati is so going to cause a lot trouble.

Yes, I think Kore is a clone. “The Infinite Vulcan” (TAS) introduced the connection between the Eugenics Wars and cloning in the person of Stavros Keniclius, an Earth scientist from the Eugenics Wars period, and his clones Keniclius II to V. In this episode, McCoy said Keniclius would be over 250 years old, meaning he was from Kore’s generation or the next.

So Adam Soong could have been Keniclius’s mentor, as well as the ambitious scientist who, as TonyD surmised, planted the seeds for the Eugenics Wars. In fact, all of this Soong’s descendants could have been products of his work, either clones or androids.

Good Lord, was Orla Brady gorgeous in this episode! Imagine being the most beautiful woman in the room that also has Jeri Ryan in it…

Plus the fact she recently turned 60! One of the real positives of Picard has been its given front and centre roles for middle age actresses, hard to believe Jeri Ryan is 54 and Michelle Hurd is 55

Every moment of this episode was absolutely delightful. Yet another one this season that feels like an instant classic. This season is really knocking out of the park imo.

So … we get – for the most part at least – our third filler episode in a ten episode season. And it’s pretty much a “best of” of ideas done better 30 years prior in other shows or movies or that haven’t been original for even longer.

Starting with a “Yup. That’s me. You’re probably wondering how I got here” is never a good sign. And they did it for the second time in six episodes. And it’s not even that thrilling, when it’s Picard, who’s in danger, since this airs one or two days after the cast announcement for season 3 🤷🏻‍♂️ … they didn’t even even really commit to the flashback format and dropped it halfway through an already short episode.

What else do we have? … Jurarti talking to herself like a maniac and no one at a fancy party caring. The old cliché of talking to the voice in your head and someone in the room misunderstanding you. And that’s not even mentioning, that the possession/imaginary freiend trope has been done to death in SciFi. Even Discovery already did it at least once.

Seven being shown as the life of the party is weird, since she was written completely different up to here. Soong introducing himself and monologing instead of just having Picard removed from the party makes no sense.

Same with the whole hit-and-run thing: So when you’re a 90 year old guy getting hit by a car, all it needs is a defibrillator and a bed to get you stable … yet you still need open heart surgery by one person in a back room afterwards. And while “A bio bed isn’t a doctor”, it still saved the cop in the last episode and would have saved Elnor with more energy.

And next episode we can look forward to the going-into-someone’s-mind-cliché. How often has that been done on Star Trek alone? 🙄

Why spend all that money, actually hire pretty good actors for the parts (with the exception of Hurd and Brionnes) and then have people write it, who not only have no idea how to write Star Trek or interesting dialogue but obviously have no ideas in general? 🤨

Have to agree with most of this. Very interesting set up but it’s all being so squandered right now. I was hoping now that we are officially at the halfway mark, they were going to dive in and really push the story. They keep teasing that maybe Talliem for example is more than they say she is but it was just a lot of fluff talk between her and Picard all episode. Is there something more to her or is she really who she say is? If it’s the former, that shoe could’ve dropped here instead of teasing it for more episodes.

Other than learning Soong is making clones it just felt like a filler episode once again. There was just no strong twists in the story itself. Something that took the story in a different direction.

And btw, what was up with the scene where the security was trying to stop Picard? It came off so weird to me. Were they trying to take him into custody or just there to stop him from entering rooms? Why not just detain him like they detained Dr. Jurati in all of thirty seconds when they became suspicious of her? And then we somehow have to believe they ‘lost’ him when there are a dozen security guards on the guy.

Not looking forward to next week episode either. It sounds like it’s going to be Picard wrestling with his inner demons all episode.

I like learning that Soong is making clones, because he could have been the mentor to Stavros Keniclius [“The Infinite Vulcan” (TAS)].

I’m with Red Letter Media now. This season is irretrievably muddled about the cause/threat of the time alteration and this episode was just coasting. I hope they can pull out of the dive in the remaining shows.

I agree, it does not seem like they are resolving anything. I feel like i could watch the first two episodes and the last episodes and not miss anything.

I might try that

I would pay more for a good story.

“Coasting.” That is exactly the word to describe what this show has been doing ever since they arrived in 2024. Things have happened but it doesn’t really feel like things have happened.

I haven’t seen their review of Picard this season but I can’t imagine its great lol.

I watched their review of last season and sadly I had to agree with nearly everything they said. I’m shocked they are reviewing this season because they said in one video they were giving up on the new shows completely, well definitely Discovery. I don’t think they even bothered to review LDS or PRO at all.

lol getting your opinions fed to you

Where did you remotely get that? They simply said they agreed with them. And you’re on a review thread right now which I’m guessing many people agree with Anthony’s review as well.

RLM? I’ve suffered through their “reviews” in S1… They had some good points but stylistically their reviews are so full of disrespect and cynicism… Example: Stardust City Rag… the ep was TERRIBLE and they had every right to trash it but NOT the way they did it… showing no interest in the world they are blasting… not even remembering Freecloud’s or Bjayzal’s name because they couldn’t care less. If I don’t like aspects about Trek I dislike them BECAUSE I care so much about every little detail…They on the other hand don’t seem to give a hoot…And that’s why I’ll never watch RLM ever again…

RLM is now, ironically, better drama even than nuTrek.

Yep! And if you dig below their humour (which is an acquired taste for some, evidently… usually those who are hopeless recognising irony or sarcasm or having their precious shows criticised) just about all their points are usually bang on. They just don’t idolise like some fans, and point out the trash which is all too often evident in modern script-writing, as they should.

“They just don’t idolise like some fans”

This is why I dislike those reviewers. Even bad Trek is larger than life…

Ugh. What a bad episode of television. And that’s what it felt like. TV. Just the worst. And this season started soooooo good. But what a wandering mess of mediocrity.

It’s really quite gutting isn’t it. I was on a high after the first episode, because it truly had that elusive ‘Trek’ quality where you just know you’re watching the real deal, and not a load of ‘Trek stuff’ put into a pop-culture blender and throw out onto the scripted page, which is what this has turned into. Appalled Sir Patrick hasn’t noticed how badly written and plotted this has become. I’d say it’s only slightly above the quality of Season 1 now. I have little hope for S3 and almost don’t want to see it, and have the rest of that crew soiled by this era of NuTrek. Easier to retcon All Good Things in my head-canon as being the true ‘end’ for the TNG crew.

This show…

I don’t know, it’s not as bad as the first season. But now it’s like one of those standard CBS action/heist dramas that would air after 60 Minutes or The Amazing Race and last one season.

Can we get back to the Stargazer? I really liked that episode. You know, Seven and Picard arguing over whether they can trust the Borg, that was great stuff. Felt like Star Trek.

Though, I suppose they could be saving that peace with the Borg storyline for season 3.

Entertaining but given that this era is supposed to present a drastic differential between have and have-nots, I see nothing solid and relatable about that in this story line. Renee could represent something a little more than a crisis of personal confidence.

Fascist dictatorship lasting centuries… Caused by depression.

And, with due respect to Patrick Stewart being the nice guy, why build Jurati’s crisis if she doesn’t get to directly meet/confront Renee when she has the chance? Isn’t that what the Queen really wants? To rewrite history from this point?

And is Laris a Romulan who, once she left Chateau Picard, is recruited by the Watchers to go back in time? And what does that mean for Season 3? Let’s imagine that Laris and Picard hookup, but then the Romulans who dislike AI tech come back in full force.

Maybe I should take a break and come back at the end of 2023!

Laris going back in time may be Qz doing, as a present to his “capitan” to have him finally realise that he can have a proper love in his life. Plus Laris/Tallin (the name of the capital city of Estonia, btw) may find out what is holding back Picard from her in the future, but all this after saving the prime universe as we know it again. The Renee role in the timeline harkens back to the role Edith Keeler had in the time line except Keeler dying kept the time line unchanged.

As Anthony pointed out, Tallinn’s tablet appeared to be Romulan tech – the written characters on it looked Romulan – and she spoke Romulan. But then, the characters on Gary Seven’s Beta Five keypad didn’t look Romulan. Perhaps, the aliens that assigned Gary Seven and Tallinn to Earth were a federation of different species.

I still won’t understand the desire to make less than 40 minute episodes when you are on a streaming channel. Also it seems to me that Frakes these days intentionally picks the weirdest episodes to direct. Not having Q in an episode also made me realise how much more John De Lancie makes anything watchable. Finally the Kore storyline might be the beginning of the augments as we know from Enterprise that another Soong was involved with those experiments maybe picking off where this Soong left off.

TV directors don’t get to choose which eps they’re directing unless, maybe, they’re producing directors for that particular show. TV directors, for the most part, are freelancers, and they get offers from the producers who assign them their episodes based on scheduling. Directors virtually never know what the episode will be about until they get a script.

“Also it seems to me that Frakes these days intentionally picks the weirdest episodes to direct.”

That’s not directing works. You’re hired as a director–you don’t choose the episodes.

As for the Augments, they were created long before the 2020s. In the 1990s, they tried to take over the world.

I’m increasingly of the opinion that the Eugenics Wars haven’t happened yet in this version of reality. The word “eugenics” was briefly seen while Kore was Googling her father. Something happened (maybe Braxton/Starling from Voyager’s Future’s End ) that made the Eugenics Wars and World War III (now the same thing) happen 40-ish years later than in the original history. 

I think you are correct. However, the Eugenics Wars and World War III were originally meant to be the same thing. In “Space Seed,” McCoy identified the last world war as the Eugenics Wars, when Spock stated that the mid-1990s was the era of that war. As for something making it happen 40-ish years later, I think the “1990s” was the “1984” of Star Trek.

As Matalas tweeted, PIC’s writers concluded that several EMP bursts kicked everyone back decades during WW3 , but if these bursts only kicked back everyone’s electronic clocks, not their memories, paper calendars, and tick marks on walls, then an Orwellian, dystopian global tyranny, perhaps during the dark ages of the Postatomic Horror completed the job of kicking everything back, by establishing a new calendar, altering every date, and implanting mind-control devices in everyone.  Perhaps, leader of this tyrant was Colonel Green, Lee Kuan, or Krotus [“Patterns of Force” (TOS) and “Whom Gods Destroy” (TOS)].

Although poverty, disease, and war would be gone within the fifty years after First Contact, they Postatomic tyranny did its damage to the dating of historical events, resulting in records of the period being fragmentary, the history of the period being wildly incomplete.

Sorry, by “they Postatomic tyranny,” I meant, “the Postatomic tyranny.”

At least for me, this season continues to get better with each episode, and the first episode was pretty good already. I think what I appreciate most is that each episode acts as a clearly distinctive beat in the overarching story.

Getting good quiet moments between the characters that doesn’t feel overwrought is why its light years better than Discovery in my opinion.

Certainly better than Disco.

Recently writers seem to have developed the idea that an extended arc of their shows tells a better story, but really it seems likely that they have trouble meeting deadlines to do a quick episode start to finish.

The demise of Enterprise – the Xindi nonsense went on too long, ended poorly planned

Discovery, while a show that is good overall, fails to secure the need to watch a specific episode because each are so stitched together, a single show is always unfinished. Not everyone has the time. This approach is a lot like looking at a painting, but only focusing on an area the size of a postage stamp.

Episodes that are start-to-finish get rewatched more often, long arcs don’t, and this approach can and has killed franchises in the past.

Hopeful that Strange New Worlds is legit and will try again to do this, but the young writers of today simply lack the ability or the willingness to reinforce viewership. They want immediate praise and a paycheck, but ultimately fail the franchise and the fan base. I am not saying that all they do with beloved characters is 100 percent bad, people return to the shows because of the characters, but telling the stories in long arcs can make even the most devoted fan, uninterested and aloof.

Picard is doing the same, telling a good story, but taking too long to get to the point. It is good that Picard is only 3 seasons, they could have wrapped all of this up in just 1 season. The only real grace in this was no mirror universe nonsense, although messing with time in the way they are is very close to that concept.

It would also be super nice if stories written about time travel could really wrap their brains around the enormous complexity of messing with time. There are billions of people on the planet, each person making a decision in every second of every hour of every single day. With all of that chaos going on, every moment that the crew exist is unraveling the tapestry of time. I am not saying that as a Star Trek Snob or Nerd, but from the point of view from Physics. Copenhagen Interpretation, Heisenberg, Bohr, Schroedinger, Einstein and more. The writers are either too disinterested in understanding the nature of time or simply don’t care. Messing with time is a popular idea in science fiction, but even a basic understanding of Physics will go a long way to telling a better story when it comes to using that as a plot. Let’s see some original and deeper thinking in the writing for a change and watch how far that goes.

“Tell a story, but tell it slowly” is a trend that’s really gotten on my nerves. For example, the first, 13 episode season of Battlestar Galatica was excellent, and tightly written, but subsequent seasons really dragged. Lost was even worse. Every resolution to one question triggered three more questions. And since a lot of streaming shows are produced with the knowledge at they will be binged, this is a problem for more casual viewers.

This is consistant with TNG wanting to be Young and the Restless in Space.

But it tends to rush everything at the end too.

Then there’s the theory of time travel that the time travelers were neccassry to the timeline in the first place. I think several Star Trek shows have addressed that.

All in all a good ep, but yes, the season is dragging a bit. Still, I was eager to see more as it ended, so job well done I suppose.

This was bad.

The conceit of seeing Picard unconscious, then the time stamp of “whatever minutes ago” and then jumping back got really tedious, really fast. The singing scene was totally irrelevant, not beautifully shot or enchanting enough to merit so much screen time. Raffi’s character is such an insult to the actress. She is literally just there to be antagonistic and go against whatever option is on the table in any given scene, by whoever she’s in the scene with. It’s getting really tedious, really fast.

And ok, the idea that Renee’s anxiety and depression is keeping her from her dream, from the mission she worked so hard for and prepared for her entire life, presumable passing psych exams and evaluations along the way TO BE A BLOODY ASTRONAUT OFF COURSE ! is kinda daft to begin with (also the messaging here is kinda alarming tbh); Not saying that real life people’s mental health can’t be crippling and debilitating etc. But if we go along with what the writers are trying to have us believe – a few minutes of a conversation with a total stranger at a party cures you of all your woes? Sure, Jan.

I’m really unsure of what this is all saying about our time, or the future, or if there is even any message here at all. 2024 is bad, but has good food. Cool.

Four episodes to go and I honestly do not care what happens. Hope the Borg queen wins.

“ 2024 is bad, but has good food. Cool.”

A security guard actually told me a few years ago that both the “greys” and the “reptilians” frequently visit earth because they like pizza and whiskey, respectively.

We make good food (and drink), we can’t help it. :D

TV writers use that in medias res hook because with so many viewing options available, the feeling is you have to be pretty aggressive and grab viewers right off the bat. It’s a natural evolution from the cold open (formerly called the teaser) that the original Star Trek employed.

Starting your story using the in medias res structure has its merits 100%, and is as valid a storytelling device as any. But the way it was used was completely unnecessary and, again, tedious. We know Picard is not in any real fatal danger. They’ve already written and shot season three, and we’ve all just seen the teaser clip from season three of Picard writing something and wearing glasses with the VO of Geordie etc. The name if the show is Picard! Obviously he will be fine. There’s therefore no point in using that structure here as any tension it should create is moot.

Maybe if it was some other character who was laid out, presumably dead or near death, it would’ve had more impact as we don’t know the fate of anyone this season – bar Picard.

I enjoyed the episode although we need to open some mystery boxes soon. Seven needs some roles! And how Kore didn’t Google her dad could be due to the simple fact that Adam was exposed fully last week. In academia/research, a ‘mad scientist’ will have no funding if it becomes public. If the revelation happened at the meeting where Adam Soong was stripped of his license and funds, the news would go bonkers after that. At that point googling his name would give those articles..

Your explanation sounds plausible.

“ As for why Kore never Googled her dad before, that was is inexplicable. ”

Not at all. I’ve never Google’d anyone in my family. I know them, so why would I? This is the first time Kore has had any reason to Google him.

Your explanation seems plausible.

I can’t believe you guys missed the significance of Karl Leonard Kelley!

I like this show more than a lot of people here. But I have to say… this season, despite a VERY strong start, is driving in circles. This episode was a snooze-fest. There’s so much potential with this cast and these characters. Why are they wasting their time, two seasons in a row, with party-crashing scenes? In both seasons, they turned out to be the weakest episodes.

Both seasons also have a version of the same actress out finding out she wasn’t what she thought she was.

Prediction: The queen in “The Star gazer” is Jurati/Queen, who really does want to join the Federation. The Borg refer to Jean-Luc as “Locutus” not “Picard”

Not trusting the Borg is Picard’s sin that Q is mad about?

Good theory. That explains why the Stargazer queen’s identity was concealed.

It was Agnes all along.

Please reboot your Picard to install upgrades.

This show continues to get bogged down ever since Q showed up. Q appearances have traditionally meant the episode would not be good, but this is a whole new level. That first episode was pretty decent. Until Q showed up. Then the quality dropped 90 degrees straight down an miraculous speeds.

I’m still stunned at the level of security for this astronaut send off party. You’d think this was thrown by a Bond villain.

And fine… Jurarti singing was Borg influenced. But at a gathering with such tight security how is just waltzing onto a balcony and singing something that can even happen? And it only took out SOME lights?

Further, I have grown very tired of the “X time units earlier…” trope. And this episode doubled down by using that card multiple times! At least that’s new.

I’m confused about the Picard robot body. Why is it so fragile but so strong at the same time? I guess it’s as resilient as the writers need for what is happening at the time.

The bio bed repaired the French cop and would have cured Elnor had it had enough power, yet it can’t help Picard? No buying it.

But, worst of all, ever since they appeared in 2024 the show feels like it’s just been spinning its wheels. The 2nd episode was awful but at least it propelled the story forward. They have discovered stuff but overall it seems like very little is happening. This season feels very much like season 1. Which is unfortunate. 90% of the first episode was pretty good.

For some reason, TV writers nowadays love to take about one hour of story and stretch it across ten episodes. It’s been going on for a while, and I suspect the idea is to make the story so involved and convoluted that people will get invested in the characters and the mystery boxes to such a degree that they’ll feel compelled keep watching to see how it turns out.

Agreed on the biobed comment. “A biobed is not a doctor” no, but Dr. Jurati is. If they really needed to bring Dr. Ramirez back in to the story, I say beam her over to the ship and wipe her memory or something. I’m fully expecting her and her son to be traveling to 2401 à la Dr. Gillian Taylor in Star Trek IV anyway.

Karl urban Leonard nimoy DeForrest Kelley

Leonard McCoy

U mean Karl Urban Leonard McCoy DeForest Kelley!

Sorry but this makes me think of Leonard James Akaar.

“I think you both are going to be insufferably pleased with yourselves for at least a month.”

I haven’t watched this episode yet but i’m shocked so far he hasn’t done his trademark ‘snort’ that he does for every character that isn’t Data.

Brent I mean.

So this is about when Akiva Goldsman took over as showrunner for the rest of the season, eh?

And as usual – another season of nu-trek where all the questions will be answered in the final 2 episodes. That plus the cliffhanger endings EVERY week is just a LAZY way of making sure people come back because they have no faith in their show.

Was this a cliffhanger ending?

I don’t binge shows but I have seen streaming shows that end episodes and I REALLY want to keep watching to find out what is coming next. They are engineered the get that kind of reaction. This show sure isn’t doing it. Neither has Star Trek Discovery. Not once has either of these shows ended an episode with me jonsing to see what comes next.

Least favorite episode so far this season. Very meh. Seems like we’re on a downhill slide with each work getting more mundane with very little forward momentum.

Maybe Jurati, the Borg Queen AND Nomad become the Borg invader on the Stargazer!

NomadVgerBorg

Even though I was ‘cautiously optimistic’ about this season, I ended up being very excited about it once it started. But I’m sorry it’s just been pretty bad for me since they made it to past Earth. Maybe I was just expecting too much because who the show runner was and there were a lot of things I liked that was part of the show but it’s just hasn’t been very exciting or flowed very well.

There were definitely things I liked about this episode and did think was better than last weeks, mostly the interaction between the Borg Queen and Dr. Jurati. All those scenes were fun. I thought the singing was a little over the top but OK. The Borg Queen is fun to watch even if she’s ‘dead’. I am curious to see where that is going. And I did like the reveal we finally got with Soong and he’s actually making clones. Sounds about right lol.

It just comes down to teasing the mystery too long. The premise does feel intriguing because every time we do learn something, I actually like it and really want to know more. But just like Discovery last season, they are stretching everything out to a ridiculous level. And it’s still a bit weird the future is changed to such a dire degree over Renee Picard traveling to Europa or not GIVEN all the issues we know that will be happening to Earth soon. I would think there is another angle, and there is with Soong himself I guess, but the story hangs all on this so far and sorry, it’s not compelling enough IMO.

The season is definitely better than season one but it still feeling like they are setting up something and not just fully telling the story. At this point, I almost wish I could just wait until it’s over and binge watch the rest. It’s feeling too frustrating every episode instead of feeling satisfied.

I just wish there was more going on. More layers. There are no strong twists to anything so far and the way they are laying everything out just feels too pedestrian. I wasn’t expecting something like All Good Things, but I was hoping for a more twisty story like that one and we’re not even close to that level.

I thought the stuff with Borg/Jurarti, while a trope, was still the best part of the episode. I thought it was obvious the daughter was a robot. That came as no surprise whatsoever. Their reveals so far have all been telegraphed way in advance. In that sense, it is like All Good things where the audience knew what was going on well ahead of the characters. So far it’s plodding along and it feels like they just don’t have enough story to fill the full 10 episodes. But people keep saying how Matalas in his 12 Monkeys show tied everything together quite nicely in the end so I guess we are just going to have to wait till episode 10 to see if everything in these plodding episodes is relevant.

I liked the reveal about Soong making clones. He could have been the mentor to Stavros Keniclius [“The Infinite Vulcan” (TAS)], as well as the ambitious scientist who, as TonyD surmised, planted the seeds for the Eugenics Wars.

So are we laying odds that the Picard team has it wrong? That she’s really not supposed to go on the mission and they discover that later – and then have to stop the mission…

You’re probably onto something. I never believed the solution to the problem would be that simple.

Well, it’s simple mathematics – we’re only half way through the season (more or less) and if they’ve solved the problem now, then there’s not much more story to tell, right? So clearly, there’s more here than meets the eye. Not sure if it will be as simple as I laid it out, but I doubt just getting her to go on the mission corrects the timeline.

I don’t think this group of writers are that clever. I was hoping for something like that in season 1. Where Picard took a side in an issue thinking he was taking the moral stance but then later, after he learns more about the situation he then realized due to his actions he unwittingly took part in something heinous. And he would have to live with that decision. Or at the very least is able to swap sides in time to halt the whatever it might end up being. I just wanted to see him be on the wrong side of a call for once. And see how he deals with it.

They’d just have to call her and tell her the dog died or it was raining

This was bad. There was way too much of it that was either way too silly (e.g., Juratti breaking into song) or had characters acting out of character or in unbelievable ways for the situation.

The pacing of the overall story doesn’t justify 10 episodes. A lot of what has been in the past 3-4 episodes could and should have been cut, since I think the series has lost focus. I mean these are supposed to be people that are desperate to save the future, who think their chance of getting back to their time just died with the Borg Queen, trying to outwit a quasi-omnipotent being, and lost Elnor what had to have been just a day ago tops.

Yet here they are quipping about matchbooks, cigars, and worrying about their love life. It just undercuts the urgency of the crisis at the heart of the story. And instead of getting back to the main story, next week looks to be another side quest into Picard’s mommy issues.

As for the Soong story… Maybe Kore and the other children were created from unstable Augment samples that Soong acquired or created during the Eugenics Wars?

It was the same in S1

Regarding the Soong story, I think Kore and the other children were, as TonyD surmised, the seeds that Soong planted for the Eugenics Wars.

As Matalas tweeted, the writers concluded that several EMP bursts kicked everyone back decades during WW3, to the 1990s/late 20th century. However, if these bursts only kicked back everyone’s electronic clocks, but not their memories, paper calendars, and tick marks on walls, then an Orwellian, dystopian global tyranny, perhaps during the dark ages of the Postatomic Horror, completed the job of kicking  everything  back, by establishing a new calendar, altering every date, and implanting mind-control devices in everyone. Perhaps, leader of this tyrant was Lee Kuan, Krotus, or Colonel Green (TOS:“Patterns of Force”, TOS: “Whom Gods Destroy”, TOS: “The Savage Curtain”, ENT: “Demons”, ENT: “Terra Prime”).

Although poverty, disease, and war would be gone within the fifty years after First Contact, the Postatomic Horror still resulted in records of the period being fragmentary and the history of the period being wildly incomplete.

That is, the “1990s” was the “1984” of Star Trek.

Another solid episode. Some obvious foreshadowing. Rios’ stays/Theresa leaves the 21st century? Seven&Raffi stay? Eugenics war gets fleshed out? This is a two season arc, apparently, so we are only about a third of the way in.

I don’t think Rios will stay behind. I think that speech was just way to remind everyone that the doctor character exists. Plus Rios has huge spinoff potential so it would be really stupid to do, unless they made a present day spinoff. They also have to return to the present so the scene in the first episode can be finished. It would be a little strange if he wasn’t there.

Possible spoilers: One of the trailers showed Rios and the doctor kissing on La Sirena which suggests that he tells her who he really is. Perhaps she comes back with him or they wipe her memory or he just trusts her to keep it a secret. I also noticed that, aside from the Rios actor who is the next season of The Flight Attendant (which could be a one season part only), none of the Picard actors have any upcoming roles on IMDB Pro. This suggests that the spinoff is already confirmed or at least pending.

Thinking about this more, maybe Rios does stay but we see the combined hologram in season 3.

Regarding whether the Eugenics Wars get fleshed out, I think the wars are more like foreshadowed, given Matalas’ tweet about  the writers concluding that several EMP bursts kicked everyone back decades during WW3, Spock saying in “Space Seed” that the records of the period being fragmentary and Earth being on the verge of a dark ages during that period, and Picard mentioning in TNG: “Encounter at Farpoint” the Postatomic Horror and saying in “Fly to the Moon” that the history of the period being wildly incomplete.

These filler episodes are so draining. Especially considering how short the season is. Why New Trek insists on having season long story arcs is beyond me; having two or three mini-arcs would have been perfect. I switched off Discovery for this very reason and thinking of doing the same here; will just watch the season finale for closure. It’s great that Strange New Worlds is returning to episodic format, hoping that it will be a notch or two above.

As I feared this show is just losing steam the further it goes.

Jurati’s suddenly bursting out into a song was the kind of cringeworthy moment I hoped I would be spared from not to mention the fact that all the security people who were so serious seconds earlier are just as quickly forgotten.

Kore’s backstory is basically turning into an alternate version of Dahj’s story from season 1. Are we to surmise that this Soong is the one who plants the seeds for the Eugenics Wars?.

I also don’t understand why Picard is haunted by his childhood memories to such a debilitating degree at this particular moment of all times given all the other stressful events he’s endured in his very, very long life.

Seven of Nine was completely wasted. Raffi again served as the obligatory angry person questioning the necessary course of action.

I’m also supposed to believe that a two minute pep talk from a total stranger will suddenly cure a massive crisis of confidence and lingering depression? I hate that kind of naive armchair psychology.

I also really hated the whole “XX minutes ago” structure of the episode; it felt like a tacky attempt at drawing attention to how little happens by framing it in a time-disjointed way. And let’s not kid ourselves, is Picard really going to die here? That kind of manufactured drama always falls flat, just like when he “died” at the end of the first season.

Overall disappointed but just not surprised given the people running the show.

Been watching the Halo series and I am enjoying the more restrained and serious tone of that so much more, especially the way that it’s various plot threads are presented in a more focused and integrated fashion without forced humor or oddball scenes that just jump out of nowhere.

Yeah I don’t argue that there are a lot of problems here. However the one thing I’d disagree with you on is the manufactured drama of Picard possibly dying. That can be said about just about any manufactured drama – after all, did we really all think that ET was going to stay dead? Or that Indiana Jones wasn’t going to get the Ark from the Nazis? So it’s less about will they or won’t they, it’s more about how they get there. So, no, of course he won’t die – but the journey of keeping him from dying/rescuing him is the real story. (and no, I’m not saying it’s good story, because I don’t think it is, but it’s not about will he or won’t he die. At least not now. Not ’til next season…)

I understand where you’re coming from and agree but at the same time you’ve kind of highlighted just how uninspired the writing is. The examples you’ve cited are over 40 years old and that “will they or won’t they die” trope has been done countless times before and since, especially on Trek, all the way from TOS to the movies to the finale of Picard’s first season. At this point, whenever a show goes there, it just takes me out of the experience precisely because it’s so lazy has been done to death (no pun intended). The fact that it’s been done countless times before is precisely the reason one should try to avoid doing it again.

The examples are 40 years old…cuz I’m old. ;)

Right there with ya :)

Yes, I think we are to surmise that Adam Soong is the one who plants the seeds for the Eugenics Wars.

Agree with you on all points, well said.

Someone mentioned a “Dr. Jemison.” That could be an allusion to Dr. Mae Jemison, physician and former astronaut, who played “Lieutenant Palmer” in the NG episode “Second Chances.”

Good ear! Picard was the one who mentioned Dr. Jemison. He mentioned the name when he was trying to convince Renee to return to the gala.

This episode was a filler where it introduced side-plot complications just for the sake of drama. We know Picard is in no mortal danger. He is the main character of the show. I’m tired of the Agnes doing her own thing plot. We had to sit through Kore figuring out what we already know. Seven is totally underutilised. In Voyager she was a walking database with plenty of skills. They’ve reduced her to just being this former-Ranger. I would hope that Seven would have recognised signs that Jurati has allowed herself to be assimilated by now.

Summary: Bad episode.

“We had to sit through Kore figuring out what we already know.”

??? I did not know she was a clone, only that she had a defect her father wanted to cure… Maybe you’ve supposed that, I certainly haven’t…

Honestly, I thought it was pretty obvious. The clues… Same actor that played a synth in S1. A Soong is her “father”. She has some weird defect. She’s closed off from the world. Soong’s work is considered unethical… Everything added up to her being artificial.

But then, she’s not a synth and that’s why I didn’t expect her to be a clone either. I expected these attempts at curing her to pave the way for Eugenics and eventually to Khan but not herself… I was wrong…

When Soong’s computer analyzed Kore’s DNA and concluded, “Sequence results in death of subject: 99.83%,” I got a feeling that the scientist had previous subjects, perhaps clones.

I also expected Soong’s attempts at curing Kore to pave the way for Eugenics, based on Matalas’ tweet about the writers concluding that EMPs kicked everyone back decades during WW3.

That comment about EMP’s kicking society back just doesn’t fly with me. Look at the uber tech that Soong is using and look at the insane overboard security measures for that astronaut party. It’s way beyond what could possibly be implemented in two years. If the EMP pushed everything back then that just wouldn’t be possible. Sorry Terry. You need to do better.

The EMPs would affect electronics. They might affect human brains ( https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2013.03.005 ). Long-term exposure to l ow doses of high atomic number, high energy atomic (HZE) nuclei similar to those in galactic cosmic rays might affect human brains ( https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1400256 ) , but a nuclear weapon producing such particles would have to be as powerful as at least a single supernova, supernovae being the origin of most GCRs, and distribute the HZEs globally without vaporizing the Earth.

Nevertheless, EMPs and HZEs would not be able to kick back paper calendars, tick marks scratched on walls, and positions of celestial objects. A post-atomic world-wide Orwellian totalitarian system would have to complete the job of kicking everything back, by doing such things as establishing a new calendar, altering every date, and implanting mind-control devices in everyone.

Actually, such an Orwellian system is more plausible than EMPs and HZEs in making the whole world think they were still living in the 1990s/late 20th century, although EMPs would make it easier.

TNG: “Encounter at Farpoint” and “All Good Things” showed what such a system may have looked like.

As for Soong’s uber tech and the insane security measures for the astronaut party, I saw only Soong’s protective drone field as being way beyond what could be implemented in the two between now and 2024, but for it to be plausible, i t has to be based on something we already have, such as the plasma window. Perhaps, it was invented to protect interplanetary ships like the Shango as well as the Ares IV, and Charybdis (VOY: “One Small Step”, TNG: “The Royale”) from GCRs.

I can appreciate one’s desire to protect the creative decisions the show has made. But I still think you are doing some pretty incredible mental gymnastics to excuse the implausible aspects of 2024.

Actually, I wasn’t protecting the show’s creative decisions. I was saying that a series of EMPs would not be enough to kick everyone back decades during WW3, that a Orwellian dark ages would have to complete the job, and that other than the drone protective field – and the Europa mission, I should add – I did not see any other technology beyond what could be possible two years from now.

Regarding the Europa mission, I should also mention that because of the distances of their targets, I would expect the Europa mission to be launched between the loss of the Ares IV in 2032 on the one hand and the Earth-Saturn mission and the launch of the Charybdis in 2037 on the other (TOS: “Tomorrow is Yesterday”, VOY: “One Small Step”, TNG: “The Royale”).

It seems like the majority of comments about the direction of Picard and this episode specifically are negative, but I am really loving this season. I think one thing that is frustrating is that these episodes are released weekly when they are really written to be binged. I think about other “prestige” shows on Netflix or Hulu that are dropped all at once and the apparent “filler” episodes aren’t as annoying because the cliffhangers can be watched immediately. I had this same thought when I watched season 1 of Picard on Blu Ray, which I binged and found much more enjoyable on the second viewing. There are so many things to like, in my opinion, about this season. The variety of genres, ranging from car chases to heists, are very fresh while at the same time being very faithful to Star Trek lore. After extreme disappointment with the direction of Discovery I am so grateful to have this version of Star Trek to enjoy. I certainly respect the views of those who don’t like it. I just wished you could have the same joy I’m having :-)

I think one thing that is frustrating is that these episodes are released weekly when they are really written to be binged

This is absolutely right. Paramount would do very well to release the season all at once.

Two weeks in a row with two super short episodes. Some nice moments and some great performances but we’re not really moving anywhere which makes me worry we are going to see a lot of plot crammed in the final episodes which will cause a lot of plot holes. I’d really like to have seen more of Q manipulating Soong. Granted, Soong is crazy but he doesn’t strike me as naive and quick to trust anyone.

Still, flaws and all, this season of Picard has me excited to see what comes next.

Definite improvement over the last few weeks. Maybe it is because of the positive momentum from the S3 cast announcement or my acceptance that this writing team just moves the story along at a glacially slow pace! No matter what, i have to admit that I enjoyed this episode more. Of course there are still some gaffs in the writing – i.e. so what happened to Renee Picard after the accident? That said, the story is okay, there are several intriguing open ended questions and although this wasn’t a great episode, I am still anxious to see what happens next week!

Over the decades there have been many episodes of Star Trek … and this is one of them.

Is that a play on the tag line for the MST3K movie?

“Every year Hollywood makes hundreds of movies. THIS is one of them!”

Man, they really stunk up the place with this episode. The future of humanity is at stake and they’re all acting like in a skit from Ocean’s Eleven! Crappy writing, as usual.

“Guys, I think I’m in trouble here,” is possibly one of the least in-character lines of dialogue ever given to Jean-Luc Picard.

I am relieved I’m not the only one to think so.

Yeah… streuth! One of my biggest complaints about the way the characters have been written in season two, is there’s ZERO sense they’re playing a crew from the future. It all feels like now, and not just as it’s currently set in 2024. The way they act and the way they talk casually just scream ‘now’. Thrown in casual cussing, just breaks the fourth wall for me completely. In Star Trek IV the ‘damns’ and the ‘the hell I can’ts’ where cute and funny, and not inserted to be ‘edgy’ or drag Trek into the ‘modern era’. Here it’s just an offensive (to this middle-aged fan into Trek since 1985) attempt to pull Trek away from its ‘family friendly’ origins, as if that was offensive to them! The current writers apparently have ZERO idea of what professionals act like too, especially whoever writes Raffi, surely the WORST example of a Starfleet officer in all of Trek history to date. Just, appalling. I feel so sorry for Hurd who does her best with an appallingly realised part. My overriding opinion of modern Trek is it’s the bottom of the barrel kind of ‘fan fiction’, thinly disguised by a fantastic budget, crew, directors, and cast.

It certainly does give in to every last temptation of fan films, you’re absolutely right about that. When the Strange New Reboot trailer showed the Enterprise doing a barrel roll, that’s when it clicked for me that these are just billion-dollar fan films. Which, hey, good for the fan film community tbh.

To give credit where it is due, that is actually Alison Pill belting out that tune. Good voice. In interviews, all the other cast members rave about how spectacular Alison is as an actor.

She was excellent in Midnight in Paris.

Trek fan since 69 myself. Two veterans

al8989, it’s been a long time getting from there to here (ouch)! We’ve been around so long, we know where the bodies are buried……funny, that’s usually just a metaphor. :-)

And another thing which astounds me is that one minute the entire security contingent was after Picard, Jurati sings a tune and then suddenly Picard is forgotten by them? He even manages to have a leisurely chat with his ancestor without anyone still sweeping the area for him. Despite all exits being blocked, he then steps outside, still very casually, gets hit by a car and there’s no fuss? Security should have been all over the scene. I’ve co-ordinated and ran high profile events in the past and that entire sequence was just flat out mind boggling. High security threats are never forgotten that easily. Yes I know it’s only a TV show but still… End rant.

It’s even more unforgiveable considering the stupendously over the top security precautions being taken for a mere astronaut send off party. They acted like all the World’s heads of state were going to be there and there was a known creditable threat made against all of them.

Perhaps they could have had Jurarti just sing a song then all of our group could have just waltzed on in with no one knowing or caring?

In my opinion, combining intelligence with kindness brings out the best of humanity. But it works in the opposite direction- Stupidity combined with meanness produces terrible things. I thought this episode was both stupid and mean. I felt my intelligence was being insulted when the band started playing with Jurati singing. I was thinking, do the writers think the viewers are morons? Maybe they are. The daughter never googling anything about her father, given his involvement in her medical condition? Really? One five minute talk from a stranger changes Renee’s life? Have the writers lived in this world? Rios, a starship captain, apparently has no respect for preserving the timeline. I could go on with the stupidity in this episode. This episode, and Picard itself to a lesser degree, are also mean spirited, I think. Sometimes I feel the writers want us to enjoy, even joke about, the Borg Queen taking over Jurati. I think it’s horrifying.

Star Trek was once full of intelligence and kindness. That’s all history now.

I don’t know about being mean, but I can’t argue with the flaws you are pointing out. It was such a short episode, there should have been time to set up scenes like Jurati singing and Picard escaping and the beginning of the chat between Picards. Both felt rushed and awkward (though Jean-Luc’s side on the latter scene was very sweet.)

All shows are a reflection of the people who make them, and the people at the top set the tone. No matter what people want to say about “network notes” or “audience tastes,” no show gets made without the people at the top driving them. So, ultimately, they set the tone.

I’ve really enjoyed this season so far but this episode felt like a filler… Again, the season-arc format fails us. This could have been great Trek if done as a 3- or 4-parter, but dragging it over 10 eps is just too much. This is why most modern TV has lost so much of its rewatchibility… I still hope the conclusion will be worth the wait but it shouldn’t be like that… So much looking forward to SNW…

When the little girl (Kore/clone), plays make believe with her lion with Dr. Soong in the video that Kore finds… she says that she lives in a “cave”. I feel that must be how Kore feels… I think that speaks to how Kore really must feel and what this relationship is. She is an experiment, something to marvel trapped in a “zoo-type” environment for her protection. However, Kore hasn’t always seen it this way… she sees her environment strictly as her shelter. It’s a fascinating story, and this relationship between father/creator and daughter/experiment has really blown my mind.

Somehow, by coincidence, Kore is alluding to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

Along with the names of Adam Soong’s daughters, this unintentional reference is another reference to Ancient Greek culture.

Picard season 2 is really good so far. I really enjoy it. Well written, well directed and acted.

Each time one episode ends I want to watch the other one. Unlike discovery!

Can’t wait for Strange new worlds.

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REVIEW – Star Trek: Picard “Two of One”

In my review last week of “Fly Me to the Moon”, I attempted to be positive about what that story was doing. For the first time, I thought Picard ’s second season was detouring too much on the way to its final destination. But I stopped short of saying that episode was a filler. It teetered on that line, but in my view, it did not cross it. The same cannot be said for Star Trek: Picard “Two of One” , though, I think the episode title itself is a fun play on words for standard Borg designations. 

Party Crashers

Picking up where we left off last week, Picard and crew are sneaking into the Europa Mission gala, hoping to protect Renee Picard. Their interest is not solely on Renee. The fate of hundreds of years of the future is at stake. Last week seemed to set up an Ocean’s 11 style adventure, but nothing of the sort occurs. Jurati has positioned herself in with the facility’s security, set to grant Picard and company entrance into the gala. Jurati techs the tech to take out the security guards. Only to then realize that they possess the key to free her from handcuffs.

Cue the Borg Queen, who, despite being killed, is intrinsically connected to Jurati through assimilation. The Queen momentarily takes over Jurati’s body, and frees her, allowing her to grant the crew sufficient access to the gala.

Once inside, Picard and Tallinn bear most of the responsibility of the mission. Raffi, Rios, and Seven engage in a lot of busywork in the gala, but much of it does not amount to anything significant. In fact, Seven and Rios seem more interested in what a 21st Century party have to offer more than their mission. Rios and Jurati share a few moments, but instead of being a connective moment for the two, they seem to be setting up separate stories that take the characters in different directions. What was set up as this show’s version of an away team episode ended up being a lot of inaction from most of the crew. 

Who Watches the Watcher

With clearance to the gala, Picard and Tallinn position themselves in a location to closely watch Renee Picard. Renee is clearly nervous at this event. Tallinn cautions Picard against direct intervention, as it goes against her code. But Picard’s determination is unwavering. He, more than Tallinn, understands the stakes. Tallinn’s focused on one person; Picard on an entire history. 

As Picard tries to make his way towards Renee, he is stopped by none other than Adam Soong. Manipulated by Q as seen in last week’s episode, Soong is tasked to stop Renee from embarking on the Europa Mission, and with Q’s instruction, he knows that Picard must be removed from the equation. With his sizable donation, Soong wields his influence to have Picard removed. It nearly works, as facility security closes in on Picard to apprehend him on Soong’s request.

Thankfully for Picard, he’s not alone. The Borg Queen again assists with a one-two punch of surprises. On a more traditional front, power to the gala is cut, leading to darkness that allows Picard to elude the coming security. And in a surprise I’m still not over, Jurati breaks out in song to grab the audience attention. The song sequence, while lovely, didn’t quite work for me. It was tonally abrupt and didn’t make a lot of sense. The power had been cut, but somehow there’s a spotlight that magically follows Jurati, and the band jumps in with an unplanned song without missing a beat.

Thankfully, though, the double pairing of Picard and Tallinn and Jurati and the Queen continue to make the most of the terrific content they’re given. The situation with Jurati continues to demand my attention.

Meeting of the Picards

The height of “Two of One” comes when Picard meets his ancestor, Renee. Under the guise of a security guard, Picard has a moment alone with Renee. The tension here is high. We know what Renee doesn’t: she’s apparently a critical component to the future of Earth’s history. Renee is suffering from depression and anxiety, and seems ready to back out of the Europa Mission, in part, due to her “therapist”, Q. 

Picard, like so many times before, uses an appropriately timed motivational speech to remind Renee of her worth, as a person and as an astronaut. This was true Captain Picard on display, and Stewart didn’t miss a beat. We don’t get many of these moments in Picard , and so it’s wonderful to see and I think the show could use more of this. 

As Picard and Renee walk back to the gala, they are targeted by Adam Soong, who is racing his car in a deliberate attempt to hit Renee. Picard pushes her out of the way, only to take the brunt of the hit. 

A Familiar Discovery

As Soong returns home, he is distraught and discusses with his daughter, Kore, that she is all that matters and is the culmination of his life’s work. Obviously curious, Kore googles her father and discovers that he is a scientist gone mad, unhinged, and apparently responsible for many failed attempts at previous daughters. All of this seems odd, and quite unbelievable that Kore would not know more about her father until now. It’s also a retread for Isa Briones’ character, Soji, in Picard ’s first season.

Between the Tallinn and Laris similarity and the Soji-Kore thematic likeness, there’s a bit too much coincidence going on not to question. I suspect all of this will relate to whatever Q has done to alter the timeline. The sooner we understand Q’s motivation, the better. Six episodes in, and this continues to be the big question, and some form of the answer needs to be established soon. 

Synthetic Support

The La Sirena crew rushed Picard to the only doctor they know of, and one who won’t ask questions: Dr. Teresa. With Picard’s vitals failing, he is given life support treatment, and the shocks against his synthetic body startle everyone. But the measure works, and Picard’s physical health returns despite being unconscious. A scan of his mind reads a lot of activity, leading the others to interpret that Picard is somehow stuck in this state. Tallinn suggests that she can use her ability as a Watcher to go into his mind and retrieve him. 

Overall, this short entry sputters a bit, and while not really advancing the overall story in any significant way, it was still a lot of fun to watch. I wish all the crew had something more substantial to do during the mission at the gala. With only four episodes remaining, there’s a lot of ground still to cover and more layers to the story being added. 

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Star Trek: Picard

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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• Trivia The Chateau Picard vineyard first appeared in Family (1990) . It was run by Jean-Luc Picard's brother Robert and his wife Marie, and their son René. Jean-Luc would learn in Star Trek: Generations (1994) that Robert and René had both burned to death in a fire, leaving Jean-Luc as the last in the Picard line.
• 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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Star Trek: Picard review, Episode 206: “Two For One”

By michael east | apr 7, 2022.

Let’s get this off the bat straight away: you’re either going to adore “Two For One” or hate it passionately. There won’t be any in-between. If you’re a traditionalist, every minute will be nails on a blackboard, but if you love Star Trek bursting out of the limitations of the genre, you’ll love this.

Shockingly, we open the episode with Admiral Picard seemingly close to death as his friends gather around him and his childhood flashes before his eyes. The teaser perfectly sets up the coming episode, adding to the urgency and drama as we wonder just what happens. After all, there’s no lack of danger what with Agnes essentially possessed by the Borg Queen and both Q and his new acolyte Dr. Adam Soong hanging around.

We return to this scene throughout the episode, with the heaviness playing off many of the episode’s lighter moments; the audience knows that tragedy is just around the corner.

The Borg Queen goes to the ball

Just 34 minutes earlier, everything was going according to plan, with Picard looking dapper in a tuxedo and Agnes as the crew’s woman on the inside. However, nobody knows that the Borg Queen is inside her head and that, needing her help, Anges must let her further into her mind. The relationship between the Borg Queen and Agnes is perfect and wouldn’t work with any other character; it plays into Agnes’ loneliness, impulsiveness, and humor. The possession could have been played entirely straight, but that would have been needlessly dark, and Star Trek  already explored that angle with Patrick Stewart’s Locutus. Instead, the Borg Queen gets to go to the ball, giving us some surreal moments since nobody can see her except Agnes.

The battle between Q and the crew over Renée Picard seemingly reaches its climax here, with Jean-Luc and everyone else determined to protect her while Q sends Dr. Soong to ensure that she fails. Soong is the catalyst for everything beginning to go wrong, with security alerted to Picard’s presence. Consequently, the Borg Queen pushes Agnes to create a diversion by bursting into song.

The musical number defies all logic; how does the band knew exactly what to play? However, it’s thoroughly entertaining and fits the tone of the Agnes-Borg Queen thread; she sings Pat Benatar’s “ Shadows of the Night ” from 1980’s Times Square , the story of two young runaways in New York City. Whether this means that the Borg Queen once sat down and watched the movie, we’re not quite sure.

Alongside the musical number, there are plenty of other brilliant moments throughout the episode. From Agnes accidentally threatening to destroy Picard and the Admiral’s surprise at cellphone usage to the brilliant scenes with Brent Spiner toward the end, this episode sparkled. However, the one moment that stands head and shoulders above the rest is Picard’s comforting speech to Renée. Picard’s display of true understanding and compassion, drawing on his own experiences of melancholy and being under pressure, shows why Patrick Stewart is an icon and why Picard is the best leading character Star Trek ever had.

However, as is often the case, Brent Spiner nearly steals the show, as he did last week. Adam Soong is by far the most complex character he’s played on Star Trek , with his outside veneer of the doting father finally giving way to something much more horrific. The scenes where Kore uncovers dozens if not hundreds of failed human cloning experiments, all involving the children dying, are heavy, making the lighter tone of the rest of the episode essential. Soong undoubtedly loves his daughter, but it now seems clear that it’s not the love of a father for a child but a scientist’s love for his work. Like Q, he plays God, which makes their alliance even more understandable. And after nearly killing Admiral Picard, he’s quickly become a major villain.

The one downside to the episode is that Raffi, Rios, and Seven fade into the background. The issue is something that the show has struggled with all season as it tries to give everyone something to do, alongside having far more supporting characters than may be necessary. However, the likely scenario that both Rios and Seven will want to stay in the past is touched on, and finally, the crew’s jaunt around LA comes in useful when Rios takes the critically injured Picard to Dr. Teresa Ramirez. With Tallinn needing to enter Picard’s mind to revive him, next week promises to deliver the deep dive into his psyche and past that the show has been promising for weeks. Yet with the Borg Queen now at large, things will not be easy. In fact, they’re about to get a whole lot worse.

With more top performances from Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Alison Pill, Annie Wersching and the rest of the cast, “Two For One” is excellent. It will divide opinion, certainly. Yet those who hate it would do well to remember episodes such as “A Fistful of Datas” and “Our Man Bashir.” While there’s no holodeck in sight, the original series frequently featured fantastical “real world” trips, and “Two For One” is a rollercoaster of shock and emotion. It’s a spy movie and a musical. It’s moving, disturbing, funny, surreal and outright fun. Most of all, it’s possibly Star Trek: Picard ‘s best episode to date. Highly recommended viewing.

Next. Star Trek: Picard review, Episode 205: “Fly Me to the Moon”. dark

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The War Without, The War Within

Such sweet sorrow (part 2).

In the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Picard’s second season, titled “Two of One”, the Borg Queen aims to seize control of La Sirena, forcing Rios to prioritize the safety of Teresa and her son, Ricardo. The Borg Queen/Agnes Jurati boards the ship, seeking to assimilate the remnants of a former Borg Queen. However, inside the Borg Queen, Agnes continues to resist, attempting to understand the Borg Queen’s motivations, leading her to a simple conclusion: the Queen is lonely.

While the Borg Queen plots to overtake the ship and destroy the Europa spaceship, thereby allowing Soong to gain victory, Agnes counters by locking her out of La Sirena’s systems. Agnes passes the digital key to the Emergency Combat Hologram, which takes the form of Elnor, making it difficult for the Borg Queen’s drones to regain control.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the crew of La Sirena, including Rios and Picard, find themselves under attack. In the midst of the battle, Picard experiences a flashback to his childhood, shedding light on his family dynamics and his mother’s mental health. Despite an injury, Rios attempts to return to the battle, but Picard orders him, Teresa, and Ricardo to be beamed to safety.

As the situation becomes more dire, Seven proposes a strategic retreat. The crew splits up, with Jean-Luc and Tallinn confronting Soong. Jean-Luc challenges Soong to find them in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath the chateau, bringing up more dark aspects of Jean-Luc’s past.

Elsewhere, Raffi and Seven struggle against the drones. Seven reveals that she attempted to join Starfleet after Voyager’s return from the Delta Quadrant but was rejected due to her past as a Borg. Despite their dire situation, they continue to fight, making a desperate dash for the ship.

Back on La Sirena, Elnor, in holographic form, successfully evades the Queen and her drones. In a parallel storyline, we see a deeper exploration of Picard’s past, revealing his mother’s struggles and the impact on his childhood.

Raffi and Seven manage to board La Sirena, where Raffi encounters the hologram Elnor. This meeting provides Raffi with some closure, as she learns that Elnor didn’t blame her for his death. With Elnor’s help, Seven gains control of the ship’s systems, neutralizing the drones but failing to apprehend the Borg Queen.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Borg Queen stabs Seven and takes full control of La Sirena, setting a course for the Delta Quadrant. However, as she prepares to kill Seven, the Borg Queen is moved by Agnes’s tears, allowing Agnes to regain some control over her body. Agnes proposes a new path for the Borg Queen, suggesting that instead of forcibly assimilating individuals, they could offer a choice and save those in need.

This episode is packed with tension and action, leading to a climactic confrontation between Agnes and the Borg Queen, while also revealing more about Picard’s past and the character dynamics within the crew. “Two of One” sets the stage for an explosive finale, leaving viewers eager to find out what will happen next.

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Star trek’s paramount plus movies must keep canceled tv shows alive.

Star Trek on Paramount+'s potential series of made-for-streaming movies can keep canceled shows like Picard, Discovery, and Lower Decks alive.

• Paramount+ can revive canceled Star Trek shows through feature-length streaming films.
• Characters from Discovery, Picard, and Lower Decks can continue their stories in movies.
• The success of Star Trek legacy characters in films could pave the way for more spin-offs.

Paramount+ can keep canceled Star Trek shows alive by continuing the characters' adventures in feature-length made-for-streaming films. Although the Star Trek franchise began on television, Star Trek 's 13 theatrical movies provided more adventures with characters from Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation . Not only has the Star Trek franchise often moved from television to film, but Paramount+ has also set this precedent. The upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh originally began as a concept for a television series.

Star Trek: Discovery comes to an end with season 5, and Paramount recently announced that the upcoming Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5 would also be its last. Star Trek: Picard was always meant to be 3 seasons, but after the success of Picard season 3, fans began clamoring for a spin-off. While Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended with the perfect setup for the fan-desired Star Trek: Legacy , it remains little more than a hope. But made-for-streaming, feature-length films on Paramount+ could bring back the characters from these canceled Star Trek shows, allowing their stories to continue.

Every Star Trek Movie Ranked (From Worst To Best)

Star trek’s paramount plus movies can continue canceled tv shows, the characters of canceled star trek could live on in streaming films..

Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Lower Decks all introduced compelling new characters to the Star Trek universe, and it would be a shame never to see those characters again. Michelle Yeoh's Emperor Phillipa Georgiou left Discovery in season 3, but will be the lead in Star Trek: Section 31 , which brings back at least one Star Trek legacy character, a younger version of future USS Enterprise-C Captain Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl). If Section 31 proves to be successful, hopefully, Paramount+ will continue this trend with other Star Trek shows and characters.

Star Trek: Section 31 has wrapped filming, and there is talk of a sequel if the streaming movie is successful on Paramount+.

The return of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast helped make Star Trek: Picard season 3 a resounding success, but the season also introduced several storylines that should continue. With the introduction of Picard's son, Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), and Seven of Nine's (Jeri Ryan) promotion to Captain of the USS Enterprise-G, Star Trek: Legacy already has a compelling premise. If Paramount+ does not have the budget for another Star Trek television show, a streaming film could provide the chance to continue the story that began in Star Trek: Picard season 3.

Terry Matalas, the showrunner of Star Trek: Picard season 3, has expressed an interest in continuing the story, and many of the cast members would also love to return.

Why Star Trek On Paramount Plus Shouldn’t Abandon Discovery, Picard, & Lower Decks

Paramount+ should find a way to incorporate these characters into new stories..

Star Trek: Discovery's premiere in 2017 ushered in a new era of Star Trek on Paramount+. Discovery and the series that followed, such as Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Lower Decks , introduced numerous new characters that fans have embraced. S tar Trek streaming movies on Paramount+ offer an ideal venue to continue the stories from the concluded Star Trek series in a more cost-effective way than an ongoing series, given the changing streaming business model. Audiences will follow characters they've already invested in to streaming movies that continue their stories,

The Strange New Worlds/Star Trek: Lower Decks crossover also proved that characters can jump from one show to another, and Paramount+ will hopefully find new ways to continue this trend. Jack Quaid's Brad Boimler and Tawny Newsome's Beckett Mariner are great characters who should continue to be a part of Star Trek . The fan demand for Star Trek: Picard spin-off Star Trek: Legacy proves that fans want more Star Trek , especially when it connects to past Trek shows and characters. Whether with crossovers or mini-series or made-for-streaming movies, Paramount+ shouldn't abandon beloved characters of their canceled Star Trek shows.

Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Lower Decks are available to stream on Paramount+.

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Star trek: picard, star trek lower decks.

Star Trek Tried To Put Jennifer Hetrick In A Love Triangle With Q And Picard

In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Captain's Holiday" (April 2, 1990), Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) was forced to take a vacation on the sexed-up beach resort planet of Risa where his impishly playful crew hoped he would have a drink, get laid, and return to the job less stern and more relaxed. Picard, a studious and intellectual fellow, would have been more content drinking tea and reading James Joyce's "Ulysses" in a dark room. 

Luckily, Risa proves to be more exciting than Picard realized. He had no interest in beach shenanigans, but he did fall into the company of the utterly dazzling Indiana-Jone-type adventurer Vash (Jennifer Hetrick), a roguish tomb raider. Picard and Vash end up having to protect a rare, powerful artifact from time-traveling Vorgons, and fall in lust as a result. Picard returns to the Enterprise more relaxed and with a new romantic interest in the back of his mind. 

Vash would return in "Qpid" (April 27, 1991), an episode wherein the trickster god Q (John de Lancie) magically transports Picard and Vash, along with the rest of the Enterprise Q, into Sherwood Forest, dressing them as "Robin Hood" characters. Picard is Robin Hood, Vash is Maid Marian, and Q is the Sheriff of Nottingham. At the end of "Qpid," Q becomes enamored of Vash, and he offers to take her on unlimited cosmic adventures. She couldn't possibly say no.

In the oral history book "Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages" edited by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, executive producer Michael Piller said that he wanted a love triangle between Picard, Vash, and Q before he and his staff ever conceived of the Robin Hood angle. The Robin Hood story was based only on rising trends.

Show of the week

Piller recalls a time when "Star Trek: The Next Generation" reruns were common and TV Guide was still widely read by millions, used for handy TV listings. TV Guide would often look over the week in television and write highlights of new and old shows that might be worth watching. They called their highlights Close-Ups. It seems that every time "Qpid" was rerun, TV Guide would point to it. Michael Piller liked that the episode was often singled out, but admitted that the whole Robin Hood thing was an afterthought. Piller said: 

"Every time it's in TV Guide this episode gets a Close-Up. [...] I'm not sure why. I just think we came up with the idea of a love triangle between Q, Picard, and Vash, and to bring her and Q together, which I thought was a great premise. But we couldn't lick it. It came together in a meeting with Ira Behr, who had created Vash [...]"

Ira Stephen Behr was a producer and writer on "Next Generation," having written "Captain's Holiday," the notable episode "Yesterday's Enterprise." Behr left "Next Generation" after a year because he felt there were too many guardrails in place that prevented him from being as creative as he wanted. There clearly was no bad blood, however, as Behr would go on to be the head showrunner of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," for which he wrote 53 episodes. He may have butted heads with Piller and Trek's other head honcho Rick Berman, but they worked well together regardless. 

Behr was one of two credited writers on "Qpid," although a lot of the concepts came from throughout the "Star Trek" offices. Piller recalls that it was longtime staff writer Brannon Braga who came up with the Sherwood angle. 

Everyone was doing Robin Hood

Piller said: 

"While we were trying to break it, someone said if we want to do a love triangle, let's throw these characters into one of the classic love stories. King Arthur was discussed with Guenivere, and then Robin Hood. Brannon said something about wanting to do Robin Hood, and 'Robin Hood' was about to be released by about 15 motion picture companies. We said why don't we steal all their thunder? It just seemed to be that Robin Hood and his band of merry men was a very nice group to put 'our guys' into, and then we just played it for fun." 

Piller's comment about "15 motion picture companies" is referring to the two Robin Hood feature films that were slated for release in 1991, the same year as "Qpid." There was John Irvin's "Robin Hood," starring Partick Bergin and Robin and Uma Thurman as Marian, and there was Kevin Reynolds' amazingly popular "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," starring Kevin Costner as Robin and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Marian. 

"Qpid" aired on April 22, 1991, "Robin Hood" was released on May 13, and "Prince of Thieves" came out on June 14. It seems that there was just something in the air in regards to Robin Hood, and "Star Trek" wasn't above chasing the trend. Because of a swift production schedule, though, Trek beat the two big feature films to the screen. 

To briefly editorialize, "Qpid" is a supremely silly episode . "Star Trek" has never been above dabbling with fantasy, of course — recall the White Rabbit — but "Qpid" was clearly a mere "let your hair down" episode wherein the cast got to dress up and engage in stage combat with rapiers. But we did get Vash back, and that was great.

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Published Apr 19, 2024

Remembering John G. Trimble

StarTrek.com honors the luminary whose contributions saved the Star Trek universe.

Mark Davis/StarTrek.com

StarTrek.com is saddened to report the passing of John G. Trimble, who passed away the morning of April 19, 2024, as confirmed by his daughter Lora Boem in a post .

Star Trek and fandom as we know it all stems from the efforts and passion of John and his wife Bjo Trimble , the couple who launched a grassroots letter writing campaign to Save Star Trek following NBC’s cancellation of the Original Series, resulting in a third season. With enough episodes then, Star Trek was able to enter syndication, propelling it into a phenomenon that warranted an animated series in 1973 and big-budget feature in 1979.

John and Bjo Trimble, in 2016, were brought on stage at Star Trek Las Vegas in celebration of the 50th anniversary, and the Star Trek franchise team surprised and honored them with a painted portrait of them by artist JK Woodward.

StarTrek.com

Recalling their efforts after a visit to the Original Series set , following the 50th anniversary honor, John Trimble told StarTrek.com, "When we saw the change in the cast and crew during the filming of 'The Deadly Years' from what it had been before, we knew something was going on. It had been a very up cast and crew, and now it was very down, the mood. We found out by going to craft services, the underground gossip source, that they were probably going to cancel the show after the second season. We had to leave and go back to Oakland, where we lived at the time, and on the way, we were talking about what a change it had been in the cast. I turned to Bjo and I said, 'There ought to be something we can do about that,' knowing full well that that was throwing down the challenge."

The couple immediately sprang into action. John Trimble added, "We spent the rest of the trip going up the Central Valley, before Interstate 5, back to Oakland, discussing how to do it and putting together the Save Star Trek campaign."

Bjo Trimble credited John for building out the framework of their grassroots campaign, "We knew, of course, we were going to have to both mail letters. John went down to the post office, learned all about mail rules, and brand new was the zip code system. They told us, flat out, that if material wasn't zip coded it wouldn't go out as bulk mail, that it would just sit in the post office. John got all the books in those days, and it was stacks of them, and learned about the zip code rules. And we came home and put those into effect when we mailed out letters. John was downstairs with a hand-cranked mimeograph machine, turning out the letters, which we still have a copy or two. We folded them, labeled them and stamped them, and put them in bulk mail. He was doing a whole bunch of the physical work, the grunt work. I was more getting people over to help us. It was actually wonderful. We would work the volunteers hard all weekend. John was everywhere; he was the one who ran the errands. He's the one who lifted, toted, and basically it simply was not possible for me to do it alone. This is why we're a pair."

The decades following their legendary writing campaign, John and Bjo Trimble remained ambassadors for science fiction, the space program, and the Society of Creative Anachronism. The pair continued to attend Star Trek premiere and events, meeting fellow fans and sharing their enthusiasm for each new iteration of Star Trek and generation of fandom, including last year’s Star Trek: Picard Season 3 red carpet premiere in Hollywood, CA.

The entire Star Trek family sends their condolences to Trimble’s family, friends, and loved ones around the world.

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