Spoilers, Mostly not but just to be safe:
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‘This is a series that has far exceeded what I thought it would be. In its opening episodes I thought it was over interested in a pure nostalgic story about Picard and what he lost with Data. I thought they had skipped over the artificial life story to show us a darker galaxy where the light of the Federation was dimming. The last few episodes they came back to the story and deftly setup the conflict. All of the acting, production have been the best Trek ever done. The story is tight, with almost no mistakes. The finale is setup to be very exciting. This is what a Trek movie should be. The interlude of episode 7 is one of the best Trek episodes ever made, what a way to bring the story to the level of the lives of characters we love.
For me the only missteps have been the terrible disguises and Picard‘s absurd persona in episode 5 (I think). The back story of the ship captain neatly tying into the story was also a bit much. Every character so far has commented on how arrogant Picard is, to his face even. It’s not arrogance if you can back it up with results and Picard can. Please share your thoughts on this show.
Hi
I'll leave my comments Episode 10 spoiler-free, for now.
I think I've had a more difficult journey with Picard than most of the fan base. I love that so many people are enjoying and have enjoyed it - what more could you ask for than expanded Trek viewership?!
Pros:
-I completely agree that Episode 7 was absolutely fantastic. Perfect is almost every way.
-I think that (with the gross exception of some of what you've picked up re: other characters' responses to Picard), the show has done a fantastic job of honoring the TNG characters we know and love. They have been written and performed so true to character and with such respect. Scenes that included TNG characters often made my heart swoon nostalgic or even make me cry by taking things even further than they went before. I can't fault them for their treatment of TNG characters at all.
-While it took me a while to come around to Rios, I really enjoyed the multiple Rios hologram characters, and I hope we get more of those in Season 2. The actor does a phenomenal job with the variety of accents and personas.
-Isa Briones does a stellar "Data head tilt." It's uncanny, really.
-The show is beautiful, of course.
Cons:
-I wish that the show had been longer or that they had tried to cram less plot into so few episodes. I often found myself wanting more backstory or wanting them to slow down and thoughtfully explain or debate or discuss what was happening. I know that comics and other sources help fill in gaps, but I do think the main show should and could have given us more by trying to do a little bit less.
-I would have loved more character development for the new characters. Of course, in ten episodes that's pretty difficult, which I understand. And I totally get that Season 1 Trek typically lacks in character development, so I'm willing to hold back judging too harshly on this.
-I love a good update, but as with DISCO I sometimes found the violence or language a little gratuitous. Sometimes I felt like I was watching two shows: one that was thoughtfully slow and philosophical and then one that was action-packed, fast-moving, and violence-driven. Perhaps my main complaint here is that it felt a bit incongruous, but perhaps that was to show the incongruity between Picard and large parts of what Starfleet had become?
I understand that new Trek is not and cannot be own Trek, and that it must be judged on its own merits. That being said, I was pretty nervous and dissatisfied with the AI plot, especially in the beginning. After finishing the entire series, however, I do feel that they tied it up nicely in a way that made me feel joy and hope and that made me glad I stuck around.
Re: the disparaging comments that others make about Picard - Do you think we're meant to assume that Picard has become, well, less "TNG Picard-like" since we saw him last, and that this is what the characters are commenting upon?
When I wrote this post initially I had binge watched the first 9 episodes and was still in a initial viewing high. Having seen the final episode and having time to consider the whole season my opinion has come down somewhat. Spoilers for whole season ahead
I think that Picard’s death scene shouldn‘t have been done once they introduced the idea of mind transfer. It made a beautifully done scene cheap and pointless. If Picard had died and his last thoughts are the conversation with Data it would have been the most beautiful ending to a show possible.
The motivation of the mind meld android baffles me still. I am also confused that none of the other androids have an opinion? Aren’t they all children of Data? I expected more from them.
I agree about the 2 stories going on. I don’t think the writers had confidence in the Picard story so they added some action.
To me the classic Trek version of this story is the Picard crew and Bruce Maddox questing and finding the system with 8 Stars and the planet there. Dealing with what they find there and the Romulans.
They could have ditched shitty Romulan boyfriend and I wouldn’t have minded.
They glossed over the fact that it seemed the Federation was creating a slave race of the synthetics until the Mars attack. Data the unique individual and a species of Datas is an interesting question to explore.
I enjoyed this series while I watched it, but like most old people I don’t consider it own Trek. I don’t mind this state of affairs, I’m going to add some scenes of this series to great Trek moments in my memory and let the rest go as not for me.
Oops, forgot to add: Hugh and Icheb - wwwhhhhhyyy?! (To be clear, that's a sad why, not a sarcastic or angry why.) My heart feels pretty heavy with those losses.