The debut ofStar Trek: PicardIt had been twenty years since Star Trek fans saw Patrick Stewart return to the role that made him a household name; Jean-Luc Picard, one of Starfleet's most famous officers. For seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation and several films, Captain Jean-Luc Picard guided the loyal crew of the Enterprise-D and later the Enterprise-E with compassion, integrity, and diplomacy that was just as effective, largely rooted in his ability to always to see the best in those around you.
RELATED:Star Trek: The 10 Most Important TNG Episodes to Watch Before Picard
The new series exclusively for CBS All Access revealed a man weakened by years of retirement and long past his daring days in Starfleet. Even the emergence of a new adventure and crew couldn't shake off some of the effects of isolation. But by the end of the series, old Picard began to come to the fore with newfound strength and purpose. Here are 5 ways Captain Picard has improved as a person and 5 ways he hasn't.
IMPROVED: PERSONAL EMOTION GAUGE
When I saw Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, I witnessed a study of professional-level emotional distancing. Picard was a fiercely private person, never accompanying his bridge officers to their weekly poker night and rarely allowing anyone access to his innermost personal thoughts.
RELATED:Star Trek: The Next Generation: The 10 most important episodes with a moral message
During Star Trek: Picard, beginning with his Romulan refugee householders and continuing with the crew of La Sirena, he allowed himself to be free without caring for rank or distinction. No longer bound by the shackles of duty and protocol, Picard felt free to be himself.
HAS NOT IMPROVED: TRUST
From the moment Dahj mysteriously appeared on his property, Picard almost explicitly trusted her, even as her presence prompted Romulan Tal Shiar agents to break into his home. This was before he even knew of her special bond with his longtime friend, the late Commander Data.
RELATED:Star Trek: Picard – The 10 Most Surprising Post-TNG Federation Changes (So Far)
He also trusted Seven of Nine, a woman he'd only heard of, to help with a dangerous operation in the abolished Neutral Zone. He seemed surprised by her duplicitous actions, although he should have expected this level of capricious behavior from someone he had never served with.
IMPROVED: ABILITY TO ASK FOR HELP
AlthoughPicardNot afraid to ask Q for help when the almighty trickster sent the Enterprise squarely in the Borg's path, it took a situation of great importance for Captain Picard to plaintively plead for help. While he always sought the advice of his officers on a mission, it was more difficult for him to accept their help in other circumstances.
Going to Starfleet headquarters after he had unceremoniously left the organization cost him anger, but apologizing to Raffi and essentially asking for her help after Starfleet fired him cost him even more. Picard sought help across the universe and learned that if he were willing to ask, he would be granted it.
HAS NOT IMPROVED: GOT AWESOME AND EXCITING
Years of isolation as a hermit in Burgundy had made Jean-Luc Picard a particularly hateful oddball in some respects. While he was mostly friendly and welcoming, his antisocial tendencies made him rough when it came to dealing with certain individuals.
He completely ignored the fact that Elnor might have his own reasons for wanting to spend time with him instead of just doing it for herself and Soji, and as for Soji, he acted entirely on instinct regarding her circumstances and how they affected her .
IMPROVED: WAS NO STICKER FOR LOG
For someone once careless enough to step outside the parameters of Federation doctrine and Starfleet protocol, Picard spent much of the series escaping the very principles to which he had once set the rhythm of his life. Starting with allowing a colleague to call him the unflattering nickname "JL."
RELATED:
In the series, Picard appeared to operate under his own internal code of ethics, which didn't have to be tied to any particular starship, uniform, or communications badge. He loosened his grip on controlling every aspect of his surroundings and the people in them, allowing him to easily adapt when the situation called for it.
DIDN'T IMPROVE: POOLED UP ABOUT THINGS HE COULDN'T CHANGE
One of the fundamental aspects of the series involved Commander Data's sacrifice in Star Trek: Nemesis, where he allowed himself to be blown up aboard the Scimitar so that Captain Picard could live. Another was his assimilation into the Borg collective, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Starfleet personnel.
Data's devotion, combined with the weight of the innocent victims of the Borg massacre, caused Picard immense guilt, and he spent the next twenty years feeling that both events were clearly his fault. When he retired to Chateau Picard, the former admiral seemed to have many regrets. He blamed himself for so many things that were beyond his control.
IMPROVED: STANDING BY ITS PRINCIPLES
Picard had a long history of standing by his principles throughoutStar Trek: The Next Generationwhen it came to tackling challenges with Klingons, the Borg, and even Starfleet. It didn't matter if he had to deal with a Klingon Chancellor, the Borg Queen, or a rebellious Starfleet admiral, he would not back down if any of them questioned his beliefs.
Although it pained fans to know that Picard was no longer part of an organization to whose ideals he had dedicated his life, they were comforted by the fact that he left Starfleet because it failed to live up to its conceptual principles. When push came to shove, Picard put his Federation credits where his mouth was.
HAS NOT IMPROVED: HIS ABILITY TO SEE THINGS FROM ANOTHER'S POINT OF VIEW
Picard often used empathy to bridge interactions between two different cultures and two different officers aboard the Enterprise. Whether it was a gathering of delegates from across the universe or a group of disgruntled officers in Ten Forward, Picard used his ability to dig in someone else's shoes to cleverly arbitrate disputes.
RELATED:Star Trek: Picard's 10 Biggest Mistakes
In Star Trek: Picard, the former admiral showed an egregious lack of one of his best qualities. He didn't understand why Elnor was still mad at him for leaving him decades ago and he couldn't comprehend what it was like for Soji to see her reality being shattered all around her.
IMPROVED: DETECTS HIS DEFECTS
Undoubtedly, twenty years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, fans will never get used to a Picard prone to petty remarks, hostility, and callousness. But the impact of Data's sacrifice, assimilation into the Borg collective, and the feeling that he has failed numerous loved ones are responsible for much of the change.
Luckily for his part, Picard was able to see many of his shortcomings by the end of the series. He apologized where necessary and continued to workrepair his relationshipswith those he had disappointed. And after the help of Agnes Jurati and Alton Soong, he has a second chance.
HAS NOT IMPROVED: HIS CAUTION
In Star Trek: The Next Generation, with Q's help, Picard learned what his life would have been like if he had shown caution rather than courage in this eponymous bar fight with the Nausicaans. Picard renounced an existence in which he played it safe, yet was known for his learned moderation between daring and recklessness.
Picard's steadfastness has always been tempered with wisdom, but in Star Trek: Picard he displays an uncharacteristic audacity. On Vishta, after being reunited with Elnor, he goes to a Romulan watering hole where humans are clearly not welcome and begins an altercation with a Romulan thug that would be of no benefit to either party.
NEXT:
FAQs
What makes Picard a good leader? ›
He is courageous and steadfast in leading his team on a noble mission. He always sees the big picture but still focuses on execution. He has the moral compass and principles to command and lead. The team trusts him completely and knows he is not out there just for his own personal glory or ego trip.
What was Picard's mistake? ›Picard's rage for the Borg has him arguing with his crew, and his greatest mistake is not listening to his crew, which he later does.
What was Picard's brain abnormality? ›In the anti-time future, Jean-Luc Picard had developed advanced Irumodic Syndrome by 2395. His condition caused many of his friends to doubt his claims that he has been shifting back and forth through time. In this time period, no cure was known to exist.
What is Captain Picard's famous saying? ›"Make It So": As the Captain's command to set things in motion, Picard used this time-honored catchphrase as far back as The Next Generation's pilot episode, "Encounter At Farpoint—Part 1."
Does Picard fall in love? ›Picard spends years attempting to find a way back to his starship, but eventually settles into a quiet, provincial life on Kataan. He falls in love with Eline and they raise a family.
Who is Picard's best friend? ›On TNG, we encountered more than one woman from Picard's past. But perhaps the reason he could never make it work with any of them was that he was secretly in love with the wife of his first officer and best friend, Commander Jack Crusher.
How did Guinan not remember Picard? ›As the showrunner, Terry Matalas has explained, “This Guinan wouldn't remember Picard because in this alternate timeline, the TNG story 'Time's Arrow' never happened. Because there was no Federation, those events did not play out the same. No previous relationship exists.
Who is Picard's daughter? ›Olivia Picard was Jean-Luc Picard's daughter during his Nexus experience in 2371. Olivia Picard was played by Olivia Hack. According to the Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd ed., p. 324), Olivia Picard was ten years old, the same age as her brother Matthew Picard.
What did they do with Picard's body? ›Akiva Goldsman turned Jean-Luc Picard into a robot for no good reason. At the end of the first season of Picard, we saw the titular Jean-Luc Picard die, and his conciseness downloaded into an android body, that the show refers to as a “synthetic”. He's a robot, make no mistake about it.
How old was Picard when he died? ›According to Trek canon, Jean-Luc Picard is 96 years old at the start of Picard Season 2. This puts him 15 years older than Patrick Stewart is in real life: 81. In Season 1, Jean-Luc was almost “dead” and reborn in a synthetic body at 94 in 2399.
How did Picard become human again? ›
During his confrontation with the the Borg Queen, Picard learned that she wanted Locutus to be more than a drone; she wanted Locutus to be her counterpart. Picard managed to defeat the Borg Queen and save humanity once again.
What illness does Picard have in all good things? ›Will Jean-Luc have Irumodic Syndrome in Picard? “All Good Things” revealed Picard would be afflicted with the Alzheimer's-like neurological disease in his later years. The malady caused him to suffer from memory loss and hallucinations, which often manifests as a gaggle of medieval peasants jeering and laughing at him.
What is the most famous line in Star Trek? ›Take "Space: the final frontier," for example. In addition to being one of the most iconic phrases in all of Star Trek, it's also the opening line of Kirk's title theme speech at the start of each Original Series episode. It was also used by Picard in The Next Generation.
Why does Picard say there are 4 lights? ›For some fans, "Chain of Command" resonated in a real and terrifying way. “There are four lights!” Those are the final words Captain Jean-Luc Picard shouts out to his torturer, Gul Madred. Good prevails over evil and all is well with the world.
What was Picard's highest rank? ›In 2385, Picard accepted a promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral and assumed command of the Invincible-class Fleet Carrier-Battleship USS Invincible, as well as its task force, both of which are assigned to the Vanguard Command of Starfleet Academy batchmate and old friend Fleet Admiral Maximus Hunter.
Did Captain Picard marry Dr Crusher? ›Crusher and Captain Picard continued throughout the non-canonical Star Trek: The Next Generation Pocket Books series. Beverly and Jean-Luc have married, but still serve together on the Enterprise-E. They have a son named René Jacques Robert Francois Picard, named after Picard's older brother (Robert) and nephew (René).
Did Picard and Crusher ever hook up? ›While romance never blossomed between Jean-Luc and Beverly on TNG, Star Trek novels set after the events of the movie series depicted the two marrying. Eventually, Picard and Crusher had a child together, named Rene.
Who is Captain Picard's wife? ›Elise Picard was Jean-Luc Picard's wife during his Nexus experience in 2371. Elise Picard was played by Kim Braden.
Who outsmarted Picard? ›For most people, Roga Danar (played by Jeff McCarthy) is as Mariner says, “some dude nobody has heard of.” He appeared in the TNG Season 3 episode “The Hunted,” and briefly, did “outsmart” Picard, just as Boimler says.
Who is the best Starfleet Captain? ›- In Star Trek, captains are the best of the best. ...
- A legend, obviously. ...
- Jean-Luc Picard might be the most popular choice for favorite captain, beating out even the legendary Kirk. ...
- In Voyager, Captain Kathryn Janeway was the first female captain to lead a Trek series.
Who is Picard's son? ›
Bok says he plans to avenge that death by killing Picard's son, Jason Vigo. Picard is unaware he had a son, but did have a relationship with Vigo's mother 24 years earlier.
What alien is Guinan? ›During the course of the film, the character is revealed to be an El-Aurian for the first time.
Did the Borg assimilate the El-Aurians? ›Circa 2265, the El-Aurian system came under Borg attack. Though they resisted, most of the El-Aurians were assimilated or killed, with fatalities numbering in the millions. Their cities were destroyed, and the handful of survivors were forced to flee.
What is the beef between Q and Guinan? ›As a trickster god, Q relies on people feeling powerless against his godlike status as he toys with their lives. With Guinan referring to him as merely a “denizen” it's clear that she doesn't buy into his elevated status. That could very well be the thing that frightens him most of all.
What breed is Picard's dog? ›Stewart played a huge role in ensuring Picard's dog was a rescued Pit Bull because of his advocacy against breed stereotypes. It's fantastic that such a prominent show is featuring this breed of dog.
Was Picard Cancelled? ›Goldsman said the producers had discussed a three-season plan and a five-season plan for the series, but would ultimately keep making it as long as Stewart was happy to do so. In February 2022, Goldsman confirmed that the third season would be the last.
How is Renee related to Picard? ›René Picard was a male Human and the son of Robert and Marie Picard. He was the nephew of Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard through his father. He lived with his parents in La Barre, France on Earth.
Does Picard still have an artificial heart? ›He awakens to find himself in an otherworldly realm where he is greeted by the god-like alien Q. Q explains that the weapon that shot Picard (a "compressed teryon beam") destroyed his artificial heart and that a natural heart would have survived the shot.
Did Picard lose his hand? ›Picard, 49, lost all of his right arm and half of his left because of an accident while working as an electrician in 1992. More than 13,000 volts of electricity surged through his body twice, leaving him covered with second- and third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body. His arms had to be amputated.
What is Picard's heart made of? ›Picard casually suggested the girl point her arrow at his head, as his heart is made of duritanium.
Did Picard ever meet Seven of Nine? ›
After all, Picard and Seven of Nine had never even met in the mainstream Trek continuity and, on the surface, the two have little in common beyond their shared trauma at the hands of the Borg.
Does Picard ever become an admiral? ›We know that Data dies in 2379, given the events of "Star Trek: Nemesis," and that in 2381, Picard was promoted to admiral and left the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E for an unknown special assignment. Three years after this, in 2384, Picard supposedly leads the greatest rescue armada in history.
How old was Captain Picard when he took command of the enterprise? ›After all, Kirk took command of his Enterprise at the age of 31, while Picard was 59 when he took command of the Enterprise - D. But Picard had more responsibilities than Kirk, too. In Picard's day, a starship wasn't just home to members of Starfleet, but also the families of Starfleet personnel and their children.
Are the Borg ever defeated? ›“Did the Borg ever get destroyed?” No. Arguably, they may have taken a hit at the end of Voyager, but they were not destroyed. The producer of Picard has confirmed this: “The old Borg, the resistance is futile Borg, they are still out there.
Who created the Borg? ›In 2366 Captain Jean-Luc Picard was assimilated to be a counterpart between humanity and the Borg alongside the Borg Queen herself. Following his assimilation, the Borg Collective gained tremendous amounts of knowledge including Picard's personal lifetime experience and expertise.
What personality type is Picard? ›Jean-Luc Picard is an INTJ personality type. Interestingly, he is a unique mixture of being visionary and realistic.
Did Picard ever have kids? ›In novels by Pocket Books, Picard has married Beverly Crusher, and they have a son named René Jacques Robert François Picard. Jean-Luc also corresponds regularly with Marie, his sister-in-law, who still maintains the family vineyards.
Who is the villain in Picard? ›Based on the information that Paramount has released so far, Captain Vadic appears set to be the main adversary that Admiral Picard and the former crew of the Enterprise-D will face off against in the upcoming final season of the show, and I think we have enough evidence to put together a few theories about who she ...
What was James T Kirk's catch phrase? ›1 "To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before!"
These words have been said by many a Star Trek captain, but Captain Kirk was the first.
What was the most iconic line of all time? ›
A jury consisting of 1,500 film artists, critics, and historians selected "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn", spoken by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in the 1939 American Civil War epic Gone with the Wind, as the most memorable American movie quotation of all time.
What does the T in James T Kirk's stand for? ›In the name Captain James T Kirk, the T stands for Tiberius.
Which Cardassian tortured Picard? ›Otherwise cool and refined Cardassian senior officer who engineered Picard's capture and then tortured him in 2369. Madred says his brutal childhood in the streets prepared him for the job, and he even accepts a visit from his preteen daughter Jil Orra while Picard is in his office.
What mistake did Picard make? ›Picard's rage for the Borg has him arguing with his crew, and his greatest mistake is not listening to his crew, which he later does.
What syndrome does Picard have? ›In the anti-time future, Jean-Luc Picard had developed advanced Irumodic Syndrome by 2395. His condition caused many of his friends to doubt his claims that he has been shifting back and forth through time. In this time period, no cure was known to exist.
Who has the highest rank in Star Trek? ›Fleet Admiral is the highest rank in Starfleet. The Fleet Admiral is the Commander, Starfleet and usually has many years of distinguished service and an impeccable record. There is only one active Fleet Admiral, although former Fleet Admirals may retain the rank as an honorarium.
Why is Picard more popular than Kirk? ›Fans of Star Trek: The Original Series prize Kirk for his rough and tumble attitude, and the cheesy, over-the-top style of his acting that matches the show around him. On the other hand, fans of TNG prefer Picard for his sophistication, his commanding demeanor, and the classically trained actor that portrays him.
Is Captain Picard a good leader? ›Although Captain Picard's style was very different from Captain Kirk's, he was also an incredibly successful leader.
Is Picard a good role model? ›2 GOOD: Jean-Luc Picard (TNG) Continues To Be An Excellent Role Model. For over three decades, Jean-Luc Picard has been a role model to both Starfleet and the Federation. Few commanders have his combination of diplomacy, stature, and willingness to die trying.
Was Picard a good captain? ›Though he wasn't the first person to lead the U.S.S. Enterprise, Picard is often regarded as the best captain of all. From his stoic clarity to his unwavering morals, Jean-Luc Picard set a new standard for captaincy in the United Federation of Planets.
What personality type is Captain Picard? ›
Jean-Luc Picard is an INTJ personality type.
Who is the best Star Trek captain of all time? ›- In Star Trek, captains are the best of the best. ...
- A legend, obviously. ...
- Jean-Luc Picard might be the most popular choice for favorite captain, beating out even the legendary Kirk. ...
- In Voyager, Captain Kathryn Janeway was the first female captain to lead a Trek series.
We know that Data dies in 2379, given the events of "Star Trek: Nemesis," and that in 2381, Picard was promoted to admiral and left the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E for an unknown special assignment. Three years after this, in 2384, Picard supposedly leads the greatest rescue armada in history.
How to be more like Captain Picard? ›- He's puts trust in his people and doesn't interfere.
- He mentors and encourages more Junior members of the crew, giving them responsibilities above their pay grade to challenge and stretch them.
- He's all about completing the mission without endangering the crew.
Many of us consider our parents to be the best role models. Teachers are also known as being good role models for students. A role model is anyone who has inspired or motivated you to perform well and go after your dreams. They play a critical role in our lives and careers.
Who turned down the role of Jean-Luc Picard? ›Edward James Olmos
A few years later, Olmos was offered the role of Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation. (Battlestar Galactica Panel, FedCon XIV, 24 May 2015; [17]) He had to turn it down as he was busy with other projects. [18] His Hollywood Walk of Fame star is right next to Patrick Stewart's.
Fans of Star Trek: The Original Series prize Kirk for his rough and tumble attitude, and the cheesy, over-the-top style of his acting that matches the show around him. On the other hand, fans of TNG prefer Picard for his sophistication, his commanding demeanor, and the classically trained actor that portrays him.
Is Picard a better captain than Kirk? ›From his skill set as a master debater to Patrick Stewart's acting techniques, Picard is very clearly the better captain all the way around. Not only is he more by the books than Kirk, but he also is more willing to work with his entire crew and not just the same two men every mission.
Is Picard more popular than Kirk? ›By 1994, the debate between Picard and Kirk was pretty much over. Picard had already won it. This is hard for some people to believe, but in the early '90s, characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation were much more popular than any Marvel superhero or Star Wars alien.
What is the 4th rarest personality type? ›The INTJ – Fourth Rarest MBTI Type
These individuals are driven to understand the deeper meaning behind what happens in life.
What personality is captain? ›
Captains love rising to meet challenges. Independent and strong-willed, they connect easily with colleagues and direct reports. They're natural leaders who both inspire and challenge their teams and raise the bar for their organizations.
What is the rarest personality type? ›Overall, the rarest personality type is INFJ
INFJ is the rarest personality type across the population, occurring in just 2% of the population. It is also the rarest personality type among men. INFJ stands for Introversion, Intuition, Feeling, and Judging.