Caught by Starfleet and facing court martial, paranoia grows as Picard struggles to uncover whether a prodigal crewman from his past has returned as an ally or an enemy hell-bent on destroying them all.
Bringing back the entire main cast of the Next Generation for Picards final season was a risk that has to this point paid off nicely. While we have a regretful Riker and Picard on the Titan while Worf hangs about with Raffi on M’Talas, another former Enterprise officer turns up on the Titan. Just not the one anyone expected…
Now the Titan’s free from the nebula and Shaw’s upright, it’s back to business for the Titan and Riker hands command back to a gleeful Shaw who wastes no time getting his own back for his ship being hijacked. He’s been in touch with Starfleet who are on their way to put Picard and his cohorts under investigation for mutiny; a deserved fate after putting the entire crew in danger.
After being largely out of action through the nebula mission, Todd Stashwick steals every scene he’s in here. There’s a lot of joy in getting payback to the three people who have lied to him and put everyone at risk. Especially Seven who he reinstates just so she gets her comeuppance as well. It doesn’t even end in the opening scenes. On the way to meet their judge and jury, there’s a wonderfully over the top cheerfulness in leading Riker and Picard to their fates whilst reminding them most of their brave heroics only came down to them messing up in the first place.
Of course who that judge and jury is comes as the episodes biggest surprise as it’s someone from Picards past he’s been waiting thirty years to have an argument with; Ro Laren. It seems after defecting to the maquis, she ended up in prison again before restarting her career under stricter rules and psychological retraining in order to earn her uniform back. Though now she’s here, her mission to debrief and punish Picard becomes merely a welcome plot of tension as the years have left them to resent each other even more. Picard resents her for betraying him and everything he taught her to become a better officer. She resents him for trying to hard to change her instead of accept her.
Playing background plot to the episode was the fear of Changlings on board the Titan. After finding one and dissecting it, the question of how the changeling retained the shape of Crash LaForge after death instead of drying out into dust, as we’d seen on Deep Space Nine, Crusher found the answer. Evolution. These changelings weren’t just replicating the impression of a person, they were replicating every organ and only lose their shape with invasive dissection. That means they’re even better infiltrators with all conventional ways to detect them null and void.
Knowing they’ve infiltrated Starfleet at the highest level, having Ro suddenly appear brings more suspicion to the table. Though the raw honestly between Picard and Ro, the upset and resentment they’d carried over the years is enough to convince each of them of their true selves and make Ro drop her mask to tell the truth; she’s been trying to catch these Founders without much success and needs Picards help.
But the changeling’s truly are everywhere and once the emotional dust has settled, they come out to play. On the Titan, with Jack hidden in plain sight dressed in a Starfleet uniform so the visiting obvious changeling’s can’t find him and he can transfer to the USSS Intrepid and do a runner. Until they find Jack, racing to capture him on the Titan as Ro leaves knowing they’ll come for her next. And she was right. After passing Picard her traditional earring, her shuttle back to Intrepid becomes a suicide run to the Intrepid; her shuttle planted with a bomb that she uses to slow down the Changelings in control of her ship.
On hand hand it felt a little empty to bring Ro back and have her story follow on. On the other, losing Ro soon after they made up strikes a nicer balance than previous characters deaths such as Hugh and Icheb. Ro’s inclusion settles her history, advances the plot and the severity of how she died alongside the Intrepid declaring war on the Titan finally wakes Shaw up to the realisation that this is all bigger than he thought; he has to listen to Picard and go on the run now he’s seen how far the infiltrated Starfleet will go to fulfil their goals.
Shaw learning he has to trust Picard is a strange but fitting reflection of what Ro’s story brought with them. And the show of his reaction as the menacing look of the Intrepid braces to destroy his ship was a wonderfully choreographed moment.
Breaking up the tension of the Titan, Worf and Raffi’s little side mission to trace who stole the portal gun and why almost feels unwelcome in places in contrast. Saved with the more matured Worf’s humour, the sub plot is thankfully brought to an end as they trick Vulcan Gangster Krinn to giving them what they need; the secret handshake to Daystrom station that he’d gained in order to let them enter the highly secured facility and find out what else was stolen that could be more powerful and dangerous than the portal weapon.
And as it turns out, Ro’s earring wasn’t just an earring. It was the key to bringing the stories together. She hadn’t given Picard a memento, but her secret hard drive containing all her research and Picard finds it just in time to find out she was Worf’s handler – finally letting the Klingon captain back to the main plot.
Though the real revelation’s come from the background of Jack. His visions increasing, he’s now seeing a red door, red vines, impending doom and dreaming of killing against his will. And his dreams come true when he takes on and defeats four changelings single handedly – though after being congratulated by a very impressed Shaw, the admission that he didn’t know they were changelings deepens the intensity of the slow burning question of who he really is.
Overall the episode did drag in places, but the questions and answers are coming thick and fast as it all seems to set up the next part of the journey. After the nebula plot, how we’re racing towards the infiltrated Starfleet with the Titan on the run, the crew coming closer to being back together and while we get some answers on who Vadics changelings are, the slow drip of Jack seems to be building piece by piece…
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Shaw. Undoubtedly Shaw. Not only for his raw honesty in calling out Riker and Picards history, but in just going from gleeful basking in ratting them out to the seriousness of the situation hitting at the end. We need more Shaw!
- When quizzed on why the changelings looked and behaved differently, Terry Matalas just replied to a fan with “Watch. The. Show.” – it’s nice to see the differences being paid off ans that theres still a story to tell behind that.
- Despite the side plot on M’Talas being a bit dull, Worf’s delivery is still a lot of fun. Especially now he’s gained a sense of humour.
- Despite her coming back to be killed off, in terms of returns for The Next Generation, Ro was a welcome addition if a bit brief and her final act at least let her end her personal arc.
- Jack is the mystery box of the season and they just keep taunting us with new revelations. His visions. His dreams. Becoming Jack Bourne on a moments notice. And over half way we still aren’t given the answers, only more questions….
About the author
Dude, Where’s Your Shuttle? Human Best Friend; Strange New Worlds S4E03
It's been a stressful few months for the Enterprise crew and they want, well, demand, shore leave. Choosing a tech-free planet with natural psychedelics in the atmosphere, the command crew take a shuttle down, take in all the wonders the world provides. And then it all goes a bit wonky... Writers: Kathryn LynDirector: Yana Gorskaya Engineers and pilots hate each other. It's the rules. Scotty and Ortegas have been following those rules to the letter, with the bickering pair opening with a dual monologue highlighting how irritating they are to each other between Scotty setting up alerts and alarms to keep the engines in check, and Ortegas duct tapping over the console to get rid of them so she can push the limits freely.While they're constantly irritating each other, the rest of the Alpha shift command team are exhausted. Months […]
Admirals Blog: Gamma Quarter 2403
To say it’s been a sad few weeks for Q2 would be an understatement. There have been fewer constants than Mark Mitchell within the past, Gods knows how many years. The rulebooks? Thats him. Academy? Thats all Mark. Sure, things got updated and edited over the years, but he’s been the backbone of the fleet for as long as I remember. Mainly as I remember him making my Academy exam when I joined the fleet on a whim. It’s because of people like Mark that I stayed. The fleet has always been the people. And he was one of the best people. I was honoured and humbled by the amount of people who went to say their goodbyes to him and while I felt a real sense of loss, it was also a day filled with joyful memories. When it […]
A Fistful of Down To Earth Adventures
Warping through the stars always searching for the next adventure, it's rare that Star Trek ever comes home to Earth. Through all the series, and highlighted in Enterprise, the third rock from our sun is kinda important in the grand scheme of things but our eyes are always far beyond the stars. So for no particular reason at all - certainly not any recent new series launching - we're taking a look at Trek's more Earthbound moments.... Homefront/Paradise Lost Deep Space Nine Season 4 The Founders said they were everywhere. Now we know they're on Earth. Recordings revealed a founder during the bombing of a Federation meeting on the home-world and Sisko is recalled. His knowledge and experience with the Dominion is vital to securing Earth against the inevitable war. But while the Dominion may be the enemy, they aren't […]
Some Scary Ship! The Griffin Incident; Strange New Worlds S4E02
Returning from a conference for future leaders of Starfleet, Spock and La'an (with Kirk hitching a ride) find a long-lost ship adrift. The USS Griffin's disappearance nine years prior had never been explained, becoming a bit of folklore within the fleet. Stum,bling upon it by chance, the trio board the ship hoping to find an answer to the mystery only to get more than they bargained for... Writers: Robbie Thompson Director: Axelle Carolyn I'll preface this now by pointing out I love creepy sci fi settings.. The isolation of being trapped on a derelict ship with no escape and no one to call for help has always been something I've enjoyed from the obvious Event Horizon, even to old classics like The Thing. So I was excited for this one by the trailer alone and can't say I was disappointed! […]
Mars Attacks! Valles Marineris; Strange New Worlds S4E01
Since losing Batel at the end of the last season, life for the crew of the Enterprise hasn't stopped. Mainly because Pike won'd let them. Racing from mission to mission without even a water break in between, the crew are getting a little run down after six months of back to back nonsense. And it's all because of Pike running away from the loss and burying himself in adventure to keep the grief at bay. As Admiral April pops over for a chat, and to offer Pike a promotion he doesnt seem too interested in, a break doesn't seem to be coming any time soon. Writers: Henry Alonso Myers, Alan B. McElroyDirector: Chris Fisher Sent to investigate some new weird space stuff, things go completely mental when the Enterprise gets pulled into it and thrown, Caretaker style, into an unfamiliar […]
Mark Mitchell; 1969-2026
It's with great sadness we report that our Director of Operations, Mark Mitchell, has sadly passed away suddenly earlier this week. Mark was one of our longest serving members and a huge part of what helped shape what SFCQ2 is today. Having served in leadership as a CO, throughout fleet support and originating the role of Director of Administration, Mark's unyielding dedication to the club and his multiple contributions over the decades undoubtedly make him worthy of his Legend handle. From writing the entire base for our modern Academy to being vital in the fleet restructure, to offering support and advice to countless members to support leadership and direction, Mark's efforts serve, and will likely continue to serve, as the backbone of everything that makes Q2 with his primary goal always being to offer the best of everything and push […]
Related
Starfleet Academy Welcomes It’s First Class!
The first batch of cast announcements for Academy focused on veteran actors Paul Giamatti and Holly Hunter, the latter in the role of the new Academy Commandant, but now we're getting a full look at the shows first class of cadets as the first five are ready to enlist!
Paul Giamatti joins Holly Hunter for Starfleet Academy!
Looking ahead to the next generation of Star Trek shows, Paramount and Secret Hideout have already began announcing new cast members to lead the Starfleet Academy series coming to the streaming platform in the near future. News of the show has already turned heads with notes that the new academy campus will be the largest seen on TV so far, being filmed in Pinewood';s largest stage in Canada, though in terms of what to fully expect from the young adult drama, things are largely being kept under Red Directive secrecy. However we now at least know who will be leading the new class ahead of the shows production...
The Last Generation: Picard S310 Review
In a desperate last stand, Jean-Luc Picard and generations of crews, both old and new, fight together to save the galaxy from the greatest threat they've ever faced as Picard and the Next Generation era comes to an end.
Starfleet Academy Series Announced
An idea teased and thrown around for decades will finally come to life as Paramount+ confirmed the next venture of Star Trek. As Picard and Discovery come to an end, we'll see a new brand of hero come to the forefront in Starfleet Academy in the near future.
The Bounty: Picard S306 Review.
Now on the run, Picard and the skeleton crew of the USS Titan must break into Starfleet's most top-secret facility to expose a plot that could destroy the Federation. Picard must turn to the only soul in the galaxy who can help: an old friend.
No Win Scenario: Picard S304 Review.
With time running out, Picard, Riker, and the crew must confront the sins of their past and heal fresh wounds, while the Titan drifts helplessly toward certain destruction within a mysterious space anomaly.
