I left room open for a thread of the "Who cares if it is Trek or not? It's great!" variety.
Star Trek: Picard is Good Star Trek
- Thread starter Bad Thoughts
- Start date
All are welcome in either thread. Trekkies are a big tent.
Picard is my favorite of the 24th Century series. It's not even close.
"Fuck This Picard Shit!"
"This Picard Shit, Fuck Yeah!"
Adding to the list
- Picard explores its world, albeit in a manner different from TOS and TNG. Various parts of the universe of the late 24th century are being encountered and revealed with attention to living conditions, not scientific oddities and first contact.
I was in middle and high school when TNG was on and Picard was a role model for leadership and a missing father figure. I don't think my personal experience is unique in this regard. He taught me to do what was right.
In the last six years I have reached my professional pinnacle, been placed at the head of a large global project, and have dealt with some of the hardest personal and professional challenges in my career. I have always tried to think "what would Picard do" and let that lead my actions. And I conquered.
Unfortunately, I am reaching a burn out point professionally, and my spouse has congestive heart failure which has made someone that is difficult to live with on a great day, an emotionally and psychologically exhausting man to live with on the increasingly frequently bad days. There is no release valve to either my professional or personal stress and it's wearing me down.
So my view of Picard is mixed. It's hard to see "the great man" torn asunder with hubris. It's hard to see him live with his decisions and mistakes. It's hard to see how he treats Rafi and Elnor. It humanizes Picard in a way that tarnishes him. And it draws parallels with my life and disillusionment that I prefer to not acknowledge.
But at the same time he is doing something. He is trying to do right by Data's progeny. I like to think he is going to do right by Rafi and Elnor. Neither of us is perfect and both have made huge mistakes. But I hang on to him saying "I would do what needs to be done". The line was from a trailer, I think they changed the phrasing slightly in the third episode. But I try to think of that when crap is hitting the fan. And it never bother me getting up at 530 am every Thursday to see what happens next. If "the great man" can foul stuff up this badly, I can get through the issues in my small life. So in a weird way, hope?
Not sure any of this makes sense, it is nice to get off my chest. Thanks.
In the last six years I have reached my professional pinnacle, been placed at the head of a large global project, and have dealt with some of the hardest personal and professional challenges in my career. I have always tried to think "what would Picard do" and let that lead my actions. And I conquered.
Unfortunately, I am reaching a burn out point professionally, and my spouse has congestive heart failure which has made someone that is difficult to live with on a great day, an emotionally and psychologically exhausting man to live with on the increasingly frequently bad days. There is no release valve to either my professional or personal stress and it's wearing me down.
So my view of Picard is mixed. It's hard to see "the great man" torn asunder with hubris. It's hard to see him live with his decisions and mistakes. It's hard to see how he treats Rafi and Elnor. It humanizes Picard in a way that tarnishes him. And it draws parallels with my life and disillusionment that I prefer to not acknowledge.
But at the same time he is doing something. He is trying to do right by Data's progeny. I like to think he is going to do right by Rafi and Elnor. Neither of us is perfect and both have made huge mistakes. But I hang on to him saying "I would do what needs to be done". The line was from a trailer, I think they changed the phrasing slightly in the third episode. But I try to think of that when crap is hitting the fan. And it never bother me getting up at 530 am every Thursday to see what happens next. If "the great man" can foul stuff up this badly, I can get through the issues in my small life. So in a weird way, hope?
Not sure any of this makes sense, it is nice to get off my chest. Thanks.
I think you touch on something great. Optimism isn't just about good things. It's about hope, as you say, that we can improve. I feel the same way with Picard as I do with Luke in the Last Jedi. Would I write a character like that? Um, no, not even close. But, does it resonate strongly in my life? Absolutely.
Optimism comes from hope. And hope of continued improvement is a good goal. Well said.
It is WAAAY to early to rate Picard (5 episodes) or Disco (20?). Put together, that is basically 1 season of TOS/TNG/DS9.
I have liked aspects of the newer Trek series, but I must admit I perfer episodic and seasons with more episides. I have zero issue with cursing or mild gore, though I can see why those with kids do. I used to vastly prefer TNG/TOS to DS9, and vastly prefer DS9 over VOY/ENT.
After going back through ENT, it grew on me the 2nd time through, though the ending was horrifically bad. VOY with infinite shuttles got hilariously bad, but when it was good, it was really good.
I'd now put DS9 in the top tier with TNG/TOS. I get why anyone could rank any of those first. VOY/ENT is really stretching it.
I have liked aspects of the newer Trek series, but I must admit I perfer episodic and seasons with more episides. I have zero issue with cursing or mild gore, though I can see why those with kids do. I used to vastly prefer TNG/TOS to DS9, and vastly prefer DS9 over VOY/ENT.
After going back through ENT, it grew on me the 2nd time through, though the ending was horrifically bad. VOY with infinite shuttles got hilariously bad, but when it was good, it was really good.
I'd now put DS9 in the top tier with TNG/TOS. I get why anyone could rank any of those first. VOY/ENT is really stretching it.
I don't think it is terrible to see Picard as somewhat of a different character than what came before. In spite of the shared universe, each series needs to stand on its own and, to some extent, not be ruled over by the others. Jean-Luc is a man of convictions, a philosopher. JL is the Old Man and the Sea, a pale version of a past self who is trying to recapture that magic. I don't know where the story is going, but there is some interesting potential in exploring how Picard relates to the man he once was.
I hope things start working out and you can be less stressed.
What I like about the show on a basic level is that I feel like it's kept up with me. It's not a look back at a situation from "before". It's catching up with the situation "now". Picard, Seven, and everyone else went through horrible things that changed them forever. While it's not the same, and nowhere near as bad or extreme, I went through certain things over the past decade where it didn't shake up the galaxy but it did shake up my own life, and I'm still dealing with those things to this day.
What makes Picard more creatively successful, IMO, is that it didn't do what The X-Files did and just become a revival of the series from the '90s. The X-Files Seasons 10 and 11 are very much The X-Files Seasons 10 and 11. Picard is not TNG Saeson 8. It also isn't Fuller House or Girl Meets World where they do something like Wesley is in command of the Enterprise-F ("the next next generation") and he's taking orders from Admiral Picard at Starfleet Command. There are so many ways Picard could've gone wrong. And it didn't go down those paths.
What makes Picard more creatively successful, IMO, is that it didn't do what The X-Files did and just become a revival of the series from the '90s. The X-Files Seasons 10 and 11 are very much The X-Files Seasons 10 and 11. Picard is not TNG Saeson 8. It also isn't Fuller House or Girl Meets World where they do something like Wesley is in command of the Enterprise-F ("the next next generation") and he's taking orders from Admiral Picard at Starfleet Command. There are so many ways Picard could've gone wrong. And it didn't go down those paths.
"Star Trek: Degrassi"... you know you want it.
Okay, fine. We'll make Naomi Wildman the First Officer, Icheb will be the Science Officer, Molly will be Chief Engineer, and Alexander will be at Tactical.
I guess my key to enjoying ENT, DSC and now Picard is that I don't give a damn about imaginary "canon". I want a good story with relatable characters (in this case, familiar too). A good look is nice but secondary; I could watch ENT on a 9" B/W TV and still enjoy the stories. Picard grabbed me and the Lady Sho-Rin from the first notes of Blue Skies and has held our interest. Waiting eagerly for tomorrow for #6.
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