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When Star Trek: Picard premiered on Prime amid lavish ticker tape parades predicting a hero’s welcome, there were some who felt this might be jumping the gun. More than two decades on from that final episode of Next Generation, what would contemporary audiences make of Patrick Stewart now wearing the rank of Admiral as their beloved Jean Luc, a revered icon of space exploration who not only occupied a very special place amongst the fan faithful but remains a Captain against which all others are measured. Thankfully, what followed was a much needed return to form with Jean Luc Picard at the forefront, boldly going where no one had gone before aided by co-creators Akiva Goldman, Michael Chabon, and Kirsten Beyer.
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Whether facing off against an unknown Romulan threat or tackling repercussions from previous Borg encounters, Star Trek: Picard did much more than trade on nostalgia or take advantage of fan favourite moments to get them through. This was an enlightened Jen Luc who sought to make amends for decades of isolation as a Starfleet Captain, reaching back into his past and seeking reconciliation with old friends. That journey was never going to be smooth sailing, but with the advent of season 3 on DVD and Blu-ray, fans finally get a chance to experience what many are calling Star Trek’s finest hour.
With Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), and Worf (Michael Dorn) amongst its main cast this feels like an extended season of Next Generation rather than a swansong for an exceptional Admiral. There are unknown assailants attacking the U.S.S Titan on the edge of Federation space, an on-going paternity issue that intentionally throws a spanner in the works, not to mention a rekindled romance between key players, in a series that consistently hits those high notes.
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At every opportunity Star Trek Picard ups the ante for Jean Luc as he is torn between his personal life and professional loyalties, keeping audiences guessing as trump cards come thick and fast and plot twists pave the way to a barnstorming finale. Across ten hours of television Patrick Stewart never takes his foot off the throttle, bobbing and weaving like a prize fighter delivering a landmark performance that only confirms what people have known all along; Jean Luc-Picard remains one of the greatest Starfleet captains to bless a flight deck. For those who doubted the decision to bring back an icon, season 3 should finally put pay to those naysayers, since Star Trek: Picard might just be the greatest thing this franchise has ever produced.
Star Trek: Picard – The Final Season arrives on DVD, Blu-ray™, and Limited Edition Blu-ray™ SteelBook® from the 20th of November.
