Back in August of 2018, a new Star Trek series was announced. There’s still very little known about the series, other than that it will take place roughly 20 years after TNG and that Picard will have a very different life than the one he led as captain aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.
I’m a little concerned that the new Star Trek series will copy the modern era shows that are “dark” and “cinematic.” That’s not Star Trek, or at least it’s certainly not what I liked about the franchise. It works in the cinema, but not as a series. The two forms of media are just too different. That’s also why it doesn’t work in reverse. The first cinematic Star Trek movie was a failure, in part because the producers quickly tried to take a one hour Star Trek episode and turn it into a cinematic event.
However, it has also been announced that Patrick Stewart wants the series to be released all at once, and for it to be bingeable style of show. That style would allow for a more cinematic and dramatic feel without taking too much away from the narrative. I’d still prefer something more along the lines of TNG however.
My issue with the cinematic nature of modern Star Trek doesn’t mean that I’m suggesting that a darker story-line couldn’t be interesting. A lot could be done with Picard, without changing his character all that much. He’s an archaeologist. He’s had experience being a criminal, sort of. As Ryan Britt mentioned in his Syfy article, Picard was easily able to pull off acting like a rogue (Gambit).
But even in such episodes, and in many of the episodes dealing with very dark content, including rights, personhood of artificial intelligence, and slavery, the darkness wasn’t overbearing or overly dramatic (The Measure of a Man). A Star Trek series that focused even more on these kinds of issues, and where Picard was faced with even more difficult situations would be fine.
For instance, Picard’s character has always been about maintaining law and order, and as importantly justice. Unlike with Kirk who repeatedly ignored the line, Picard always toed it. So what would happen if Star Fleet itself has turned its back on those ideals? Would Picard turn his back on Star Fleet?
There’s also a hint from Q. In All Good Things, Q even suggested that Picard will become a different kind of explorer. In fact, Q has been almost a teacher to Picard, for most of the series. Terry Day made a wonderful composite video of various lessons that Q has taught him so far, and of what is to come.
Q: “That is the exploration that awaits you. Not making stars and studying nebula, but charting the unknown possibilities of existence.”
And hell, he’s already been inside the Nexus and has learned to, at least for a moment, pause time. Who knows, maybe they could even bring Wesley back? It’s doubtful, but it might be interesting to see. Speaking of which, he learned to pause time too. Does that play into the fan theory that Wesley is really Picard’s son? Wil Wheaton has already said that he would be happy to return to Star Trek, by the way (trekmovie.com).
If the writers of the new series are able to keep these lessons in mind and the prophecy which Q made, then this new series could be wonderful. And I hope that it works out that way. I trust that Patrick Stewart will ensure that the show does Picard justice.
