Picard: Season Two
When Patrick Stewart reprised his celebrated role as Jean-Luc Picard in 2020, fans of the franchise rejoiced while new audiences were introduced to the Star Trek universe. With a slower pace than previous incarnations, Picard presented viewers with a more mature tone and an obviously longer-toothed titular character. Stewart is of course the main draw, engaging viewers with a vulnerable take on an increasingly multifaceted character.
Season two continues in this vein as Picard is confronted with the question of why he has chosen to be alone. As the character is forced to question his life choices, reflecting on his childhood in the process, one finds a contemplative and subdued Picard, at odds with the assertive character fans have come to know and love over the years. It isn’t long before he is summoned by his former crew, as they struggle to make sense of an anomaly in space that poses a threat.
The first episode is very much about setup; as a result, it feels somewhat disjointed, with an action-packed opening and intriguing climax bookending an occasionally sluggish script. Yes, it conveys a lot of information, but too often the writing feels expositional and even repetitive. Thankfully, by the second episode the narrative moves into more economical storytelling. Picard and his comrades find themselves in alternative dimensions with time apparently broken. The ominous-sounding Eradication Day has arrived, and Picard must fight a campaign of revenge against him.
The visuals are astonishing, adding an aesthetically pleasing cinematic quality, but it is the actual story that commands the most attention. As Picard wrestles with the idea that he might be losing his mind, Stewart delivers the goods with his portrayal of a usually strong man’s frailty. Confusion, anger and fragility flicker over the actor’s face almost simultaneously. But it’s when the character is reluctantly reunited with iconic villain Q that things really get interesting.
Played expertly by John de Lancie, Q exudes a menacing and manipulative air. His scenes shared with Stewart at times feel Shakespearean, and there’s even a reference to Macbeth. The actors are clearly in their element, executing their performances with aplomb. Q first appeared in 1987 and so this is another example of the show appealing to long-term viewers. Excellent support also comes from returnees Alison Pill as Dr Jurati, Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker and, of course, Jeri Ryan as legacy character Seven of Nine. Whoopi Goldberg is another anticipated addition to the second series: the Oscar-winning actress reprises her role of Guinan. She enjoys effortless chemistry with Stewart, the characters’ friendship and rapport as compelling as it is convincing.
The show succeeds in balancing an appropriate level of fan-pleasing nostalgia, with nods to historical events and past characters, while at the same time working well in its own right. Even if one had never seen any of the previous Star Trek series or films, there is still much joy to be found here. With stellar performances, the tone of a mystery thriller and an evidently hefty budget behind it, the second season of Picard promises to enthral and entertain.
Jonathan Marshall
Picard: Season Two is released on Amazon Prime Video on 4th March 2022.
Watch the trailer for Picard: Season Two here:
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