A Generation

The newest episode of Picard was a little better than episodes five, six, and seven, though still not quite hitting the heights of the first four. It certainly came off as a tribute to Next Generation fans and it was nice seeing the bridge crew back together.

Though many of them seemed more like the actors getting back together instead of the characters, particularly Picard. Patrick Stewart has changed his performance of the character so much I just don't recognise him as the same man. There's this constant plaintive tone to his voice now that's really tiresome.

Troi seems mostly the same, though, even if her bangs are distracting. She was my favourite character when I was a kid, mostly because I thought Marina Sirtis was hot. And maybe I also really dug the concept of an empath. They seem to have expanded her powers a lot in this episode, which I suppose they may as well. So much of new Trek involves people having visions and telepathic experiences, it's nice for them to have a character previously established with telepathic abilities.

What a shame cgi isn't cheaper and easier. Brent Spiner's new merged Data and Lore character is hard to see as anything but Brent Spiner in makeup. I also wish they'd dumped the idea of a Data with emotions. The whole "does he/doesn't he have emotions" in TNG has been parodied and had holes poked in it so much, yes. It's not hard to find moments in which Data clearly did have emotions. But because of this, the series concept of Data with emotions feels like Data with extra emotions. And in the new episode of Picard, too. He's unpleasantly zany.

I did like the resolution of his fight with Lore, though, even though I kind of saw it coming.

They have got to do something about the lighting on these shows, particularly since they have so many elderly cast members. No-one wants Patrick Stewart to break a hip on one of the tables.

Star Trek: Picard is available on Paramount+.