Amph "Engage!" - Star Trek: Picard Discussion Thread [Paramount+/CraveTV]

That's true, the PRC (whom along with North Korea the Romulans were intended to serve as the stand-ins for) was a major "third faction" during the last years of the Cold War, but I doubt anyone would argue they were on par with the Soviet Union and United States in terms of native technology circa 1991. At the very least though, I would think the Romulans tech would have to be close enough so they could actually hurt the other two powers, so perhaps they were somewhat equviliant to were the Cardassians were during the TNG era.

 

I noticed we were talking about cash a few days ago in this thread and then episode 4 hit and they mentioned they had to buy their way into the Romulan colony (everyone gave a wary smile at it, so much for no commerce), so I wonder if they took Federation credits or they have to roll with some Real High Roller Gold Pressed Latinum to get things done on the spaceways.

 

What would Romulan money even be called? Denarii? Solidi maybe? Or would they just use the same currenacy as whatever the Vulcans had used?

 

The "Trek Legendsverse" so to speak, calls it the Amarcan-class Warbird - it was basically a smaller D'deridex:

https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Vulcan's_Heart

 

I know that's probobly supposed to be pronouced Amar-cyan/Amar-kan or something like those, but I can't not read it as American

Also, lol I remember that book - I'm pretty sure I actually own it.

 

Well, things are definitely moving now. Not sure how I feel about some of it though.

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I hate it when they bring back a character just to kill them off. So that's probably it for Seven's role on the show? Though speaking of Voyager, I'm reminded of the Maquis, of a rogue group operating in an area the Federation has abandoned. Though with the collapse of the Romulan empire, probably less tension than with the Maquis back then. Picard's "accent" was kind of funny.

Was that a Quark reference? I hope so.

At least Picard got his next important clue before Maddox got killed off (of course Picard didn't get to talk to him long, such as how he managed to create the twins). Yeah, knew we couldn't trust Agnes. What the heck did they show her to convince her that her life's work was wrong? Unless it was just brainwashing but probably not that simple. Didn't she say she used to be in Starfleet so she comes off as more nervous (even as an act) than I expected. I hope she doesn't cover this up somehow but probably will.

And then there's Raffi's sideplot. Yeah, she probably took the collapse of their evacuation effort even harder than Picard. Elnor didn't do much so far, but then this was an infiltration (attempt at one anyway). Maybe next week we'll see him do more.

Looks like next week the plot lines will meet up. Well, hopefully its not just entirely a trailer fakeout (such as that Locutus shot is probably a nightmare or vision or something).

 

About 5 minutes into episode 5 and

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Icheb! I thought it was him from the nose bridge bumps. And they tore his eyeball out and Seven euthanized him, yikes! "Where's your cortical implant, buddy?"

Is that the same actor who played Bruce Maddox on TNG, been a few decades so more difficult to tell than the other recurring cast.

 

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I can’t watch until tomorrow but I was immediately spoiled this morning about Icheb. No!!!!!! Dang I hate these shows doing crap like this. I so wanted Icheb’s story to be at the very least referenced, in that I wanted to know that he stayed close to Seven and that he was happy. I figured it might be him Seven was holding in tears in the trailer, but damn I didn’t think we’d see him just tortured and killed off immediately. It’s so freaking pointlessly grimdark and now I’m not looking forward to watching. Fridging characters that serve literally no other purpose in the story is not a narrative device I respect. We watched Icheb grow up and become human, discover his dreams. He was a kid. It’s like Alien 3 unceremoniously killing off Newt.

 

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In honor of Icheb, this wonderful ST moment:

 

This was the worst of the episodes so far. It looks like bad editing or something, just really choppy.

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Raffi's scene seemed really forced into it. Too much of everyone all in the same place and got that in there too.

I swear I thought the lead villain was Deana Troi.

So Agnes knows something and felt she had to kill Maddox but did not reveal what it was to the audience. Just had to word that out.

I got as kick out of the pop up ads.

 

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I didn't notice Quark but what I noticed was Mott's Hair Emporium. That's two TNG-era franchisers out there?

I'm a sucker for Seven of Nine stuff so this had it in spades. I hope it's not a done in one (but her giving Picard her "pager" seems she'll be back, hopefully in a big capacity I would love to see her reaction to the Artifact and not just flying in for an assist resuce). After the Icheb opening and Seven being ticked I thought they were going for a heroic final last stand, which to be fair they kind of did but Seven is way too badass to go out like that. But she was definitely different here however it's been 20 years since Voyager got home and she's been through a lot, so I'm cool with her being way more emotional (her admitting her quest was pointless was oddly heartfelt). I saw some shades of classic Seven here though. "You need a feather." "I am functional." and her admitting she's with the Rangers just so there could be "order" is something I can see Seven doing. Jeri Ryan is so great. I mean, Jeri Ryan is always great but she was extra great here. Quite interesting that she would be more valuable since she was assimilated at a young age in the Delta Quadrant, and also explains why she still has so much Borg tech in here when someone like Hugh has lost a lot and Picard had his Borg tech removed entirely. (Also she has Borg kidneys? How is that more efficient?) Her and Picard sharing their Borg emotional trauma for a moment was amazing.

There was some dopey stuff with the not-Seven and not-Picard portions of the crew but really only Raffi's stuff was an actual drag. I wish they would swap Rafi for Seven but no such luck. I mean, Seven is grimdark mopey too but it seems more epic pathos than Raffi. Picard's big dumb French criminal guy I thought was so out there it got a laugh out of me. Agnes turning traitor, not the most unexpected thing but her emotional response was unexpected, she isn't just a cold blooded double-agent, she seems genuinely horrified. And Maddox's death was really freaky.

But hopefully things are moving, nobody else needs introductions (unless you want to quibble that this was Seven's introduction episode which I don't view that as) and the seem to know to go to the Artifact. Oh and apparently people actually know about it, I guess it isn't some super secret project since Picard just sort of raised his eyebrows about it.

“Star Trek: Picard” is still a terrible title for this show. Moreso than Discovery (which you can argue is really about Burnham), this is an ensemble. But the name “Picard” sells subs. I still like my personal title “Star Trek: Hubris!”

 

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I highly doubt it, not with how much emphesis they placed on the fact that they got Ryan back and how they presented as if she were more or less a part of the main cast in the leadup to the show

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He died in 2386 and seemed to be in his teens when we first met in 2376. He was presumably in his twenties by the time he died, and would have had eight years between Voyager getting home and him dying that we can take solace in - that's quite a bit different then what happened with Newt.

Though I do agree with you, it was a bit needlessly grim - simply telling us what happened to him would have sufficed just as well...

...or, you know, they just could have killed Chakotay instead. Then nothing of value would have been lost

Star Trek: Okay Boomer...

She had no choice. He knew her deepest, darkest and most horrifying secret.

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That she was in Midnight in Paris

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Star Trek: The Increasingly Terrible Decisions of Everyone Except Jean-Luc and Maybe Seven

 

Star Trek: He's Jean-Luc Picard And if He Wants to Go on One More Mission, That's What We're Going to Do.

 

I actually thought it was the best episode since that great opener. Instead of setting up & promising more interesting stuff to come it was mostly about the present. Jeri Ryan is still awesome & stole the episode IMO. Also some pretty good Trek style wackiness thrown in. And...no coincidence that things improve when we avoid the

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CW standard romance subplot on board the Artifact.

 

HA! I was not the only one!

 

yah I thought she looked like they had plunked Marina Sirtis from the timestream circa 1992.

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There's been some positives notices for this episode and also I saw a few huge negative ones. I didn't know Icheb was that beloved!

 

I enjoyed it.

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Picard's mad frenchman moment made me chuckle. Reminded me of Indiana Jones' hammy tapestry moment in The Last Crusade. Seven was excellent, and, yes, I too sat there trying to work out what Deanna was up to until it clicked.

What's Jurati up to then? Is she in league with or being leaned on by the Federation baddies?