Star Trek: Picard (season 2)
{4.5/5} “The universe is essentially a grand tapestry. It is flawless. It is fragile. It is exquisite. Yet it is somehow always a thread’s pull away from total annihilation.”
Star Trek: Picard season 2, aired in 2022
Picard is taking some time to work on the grapes, and he gives a speech to Starfleet’s newest cadets. Elnor is the first Romulan at Starfleet Academy. Rios’ new ship is the Stargazer. Rios and Jurati are no longer dating but still trying to work together. After Picard rejects Laris’ advances, he goes to talk to his old friend Guinan. When he’s called to join Rios investigating a spatial anomaly, he discovers it’s the Borg.
This is the 1st Star Trek show since The Original Series to have a 2nd season that was less good than the 1st. The beginning and end of the season were terrific, but the middle sagged a bit.
Many elements from this season are ones that have been used before, and it’s somewhat repetitive. The main concepts of the season — spending most of it in the past, and rehashing Picard’s youth — weren’t my favourite. It’s fine to have Guinan in the past played by a different actor, but she didn’t seem like herself.
Picard’s conversation with his ancestor Renée was inspiring. Conversations between Raffi and Seven, Rios and Teresa, and Jurati and the Borg Queen were great. The Borg theme from First Contact is used to great effect.
As for the season finale, it’s a whirlwind again. There are payoffs for many things that happened earlier in the season. There’s also, again, a big new threat that’s dealt with very quickly. I’m not sure I really like the change in the Borg — since previously the point was the Borg didn’t change.
The best behind-the-scenes fact: Lea Thompson, star of Back to the Future, directed an episode in which our heroes went back in time.
Guest stars include Whoopi Goldberg and John de Lancie. Although she isn’t one of the people who played her before, Annie Wersching does a fine job playing the Borg Queen.
James Callis plays Picard’s father.
And Wil Wheaton plays the Traveler formerly known as Wesley Crusher.
Stars Michelle Hurd, Santiago Cabrera, and Evan Evagora.
I previously reviewed season 1.