The Next Generation

After Season 1 and 2, I was ready to drop Picard...bad written characters, the main protagonist mainly a bystander in his own show. Strange and unlogical story development (even for Sci-Fi), just not a series I could enjoy as a Star Trek fan (same with Discovery, after Season 2 - I dropped it, because the overemotional, overexpressed characters and cringy dialogues drove me crazy). Strange New Worlds was a mixed bag, but many episodes were decent - a positive trend. Not even wanting to watch Picard Season 3, I gave myself a push - after watching the episode I can say I am positively surprised. Apparently, many of the producers of Season 1 and 2 are not involved anymore, which is in my opinion the best decision they could have made to save the series. Not to spoil anything, it feels like a TNG movie and not as rushed and confused as previous seasons of Picard. Overall more mature. Still quite dark (more like ST Nemesis, ST First Contact). The new writing and directing staff seem to actually like the Star Trek franchise and its characters. Some fan service in the episode as well, but that is to be expected. Based on this episode it gives me hope that Picard and the TNG crew finally get a decent and well-deserved send-off with this last season. This season could actually be the Star Trek Picard the fans have been waiting for since season 1. Let's see if the upcoming episodes can keep up. I will update the rating when the season has progressed.

Too early to say but the first episode of season 3 seems like what this show should've started with. This has promise. Darker but not farcical and like Better Call Saul deepening the Breaking Bad world, this does the same for TNG.

I really pray this doesn't devolve into Discovery territory. ( I'd rather that show never existed) There seems to be some stakes here knowing it's the final season and that increases the anticipation and tension organically instead of exposition and galactic doom.

Last season was an odd one and I already miss Q but it's good to see the TNG folks finally seeming to be the way you might have expected.

Oh, I didn't know how much I missed the next generation series. I grew up on great stories (usually), and a more optimistic show, no grittiness, that was Babylon 5 , lol.

Great to see old favourites in action again, and a few new faces. I hope this series sees a 'handing of the baton' over to a new next generation crew who have more in common with Kirk/Picard universe than the recent shows.

The ships look well designed I think, and CGI looks decent.

On the whole, I enjoyed this episode and can't wait to see the next one.

I do fear that we won't get a series 4 and this is it sadly, even if it took a while to get back to its roots.

First, i want to say i like Strange New World, but, i swear to Almighty God, the first thing i crossed my mind after i saw this episode was, i cannot belive this is a fake trek (new trek era), it looks even better than the many of the movies, and it feels just like Star Trek used to be, but even better, it is dark enough and full with funny moments, good writing and good acting and for the first time, the uniforms and the sets don't look like something cheap, made just to please the old fans and grab quick money. Probably the only thing i miss is La Sirena, Rios and Elnor, which were more pleasant than Raffi. I've heard this season is great, from the reviews of the most ruff fans who had the opportunity to saw the whole season and believe me, they cried when they made the reviews and from what i've heard there are even more good episodes in this season. Maybe this is the renaissance of the real Star Trek we used to love.

Seasons 1 & 2 were utter trash. Embarrassingly so. However, miraculously Season 3 is fantastic so far. Things could tailspin, but Terry Matalas (season 3 show runner) was a writer for Voyager, DS9 and Enterprise, and it shows.

Picard finally acts like Picard. Riker is even better than he was in TNG, Crusher was a sight for sore eyes. Loved seeing Seven finally in Starfleet Uniform and even Rafi was tolerable. Fingers crossed they do something redeeming with her this season.

I'm buying this the moment it lands in Blu-ray to sit alongside my Star Trek Next Generation Blu-ray collection and I'm considering it a direct sequel.

Do yourself a favor and skip seasons 1 & 2 if you plan to watch, and start with this season. You won't regret it.