There are still eight more episodes to go in the third season of Star Trek: Picard, which has been crafted to be the final season for the series and a send-off for the Next Generation characters. However, many of those actors still see a future beyond Picard for their characters, including star Sir Patrick Stewart and his season 3 wingman, Jonathan Frakes.
The unfinished business of season 3
In a wide-ranging profile for Emmy Magazine, Stewart and Frakes talked about season 3 of Picard and gave some background on the process of bringing in the Next Gen characters, with Frakes talking about how each actor worked with showrunner Terry Matalas:
It was exhausting, but it was worth it. These weren’t twenty-minute chats, but hours and hours. And Terry delivered the most exciting and ambitious season of Trek in decades, in terms of the density of character and the emotionality. Thank God for some of the levity that he infused into it!
Speaking to that emotionality, Stewart offered a hint of what is to come for Jean-Luc later in the season:
He loses control of himself at one point. I don’t think he has ever been this angry.
Stewart also talked about why he supported the idea of picking up on the story between Beverly and Jean-Luc with the introduction of their son Jack:
It always felt like unfinished business between them. I had been uneasy at the idea of a sentimental family story. But of course, it was more complex than that, as these things invariably are in life. The idea was in a context I felt I could support.
Patrick Stewart as Picard and Gates McFadden
A season finale setting up their next Trek
Stewart also talks about the season finale and opportunities beyond:
I’m not entirely sure that we said everything by the end of season 3 of Picard. The last episode is terrific— it’s full of love and affection and joy and respect. But there remain unanswered questions, and it might be a good idea to look at Jean-Luc Picard one more time in a different atmosphere, and then wrap him up with certainty.
Frakes is more explicit, picking up the idea of a spin-off suggested by Terry Matalas…
Frakes imagines a ship where the characters of Picard would serve together (and with the family ties, there would be ample room for more legacy appearances): Jeri Ryan’s Seven of Nine as the captain, Michelle Hurd’s Raffi as first officer, Jack Crusher on the bridge, Geordi’s daughter Sydney “Crash” La Forge at the helm and Riker and Troi’s daughter Kestra graduating from Starfleet Academy.
“I could be like Charlie in Charlie’s Angels, the admiral they check in with,” Frakes suggests.
Patrick Stewart as Picard, Jonathan Frakes as Riker, and Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine
The third and final season of Picard premiered on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., and Latin America, and on February 17 Paramount+ in Europe and elsewhere, with new episodes of the 10-episode-long season available to stream weekly. It also debuted on Friday, Feb. 17 internationally on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.
Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
Frakes accidentally spoiling Shaw’s fate?
not necessarily, he imagines “a ship” rather than the titan. Promotion to Captain tends to involve moving to a new ship – Capt “Ovnine” could take Crash with her
Not necessarily. Even if we take that as a hint as to where Seven stands at the end of the season, “a ship” doesn’t have to be Shaw’s Titan.
No, just they could start over with a Fresh New Ship. But i dunno if they name it “Enterprise”. Hmm, “Santa Maria”? No, it is still heavy combined with Columbus finding America (also his Background)
“Mayflower”? Could fit. It is a Ships name of new beginning in unknown Lands (Ask Uncle Google for Wikipedia) and their “Founders” (aka New Generation)
But perhaps an new Simple name that is catchy in the Minds would do, too
But, at first they need Green light for this kind of Spinoff, of course
The Plymouth Rock.
Not liking that.
And I think that it would be a disservice to make Seven a Captain by end of season, with less than a year as a commissioned officer in Starfleet.
She’s a longstanding character. Her arc shouldn’t be shortcut.
Besides I like Shaw and I a want to see more of him and Seven.
Well, Seven was also an Borg Queen (Bee Hive) in Picard Season 1. She is in my eyes a good Candidate to earn their Captain rank, IF you took her experience since Voyager (Janeway)+ Fenris rangers + Picard 1 + 2 into account, she worked under 2 “Legends” so far. Also if She gets “Admiral Riker” as supporter, nothing can go wrong. I think She would be good in the “neutral Good” Alignment chart. somehow. they are not Set in Stone
Perhaps Raffi could be her Anchor and vise versa. Because Seven can Bite or Kick Ass if its needed (Rifle Gun Ho!).
But this is only my Thoughts
It is kind of a short cut in terms of promotions but definitely not in experience. She has far more experience than Cadet Kirk in Star Trek ‘09 did. They could have done another time jump but they decided to promote him to first officer and then Captain part way through the academy. That was ridiculous, even though I liked the movie overall. I know Cadet Nog got a field promotion to Ensign in DS9, but that’s not Commander or Captain.
So Picard doesn’t die at the end of S3? :(
Honestly starting to feel like none of them die outside of maybe Worf or Lore.
Man they would never kill off Worf. That would be insanity.
A. Picard already died at the end of season one. Why do people keep forgetting this lol.
B. It’s been obvious for awhile he wasn’t going to die (again) since Stewart has been the one pushing for a TNG movie or even another season for months now.
In other words, most of the crew are offspring of the TNG crew. No, thanks.
(And Kestra is about ten years too young for this setup.)
Sorry, Elnor, we have to age up Kestra instead of using you.
Though it certainly wouldn’t be my first choice, i’m not sure why there wouldn’t be room for something like that.
Wonderchild like Wesley. But the Kestra’s Kid Actor should know the “fate” of become someone like Wheaton
I’d rather see a next season with Seven as captain of the Shrike and Jack Crusher on her crew there.
I bet before it is over we will see a new enterprise,
NCC 1701-F with TNG of TNG
Matalas already said the Enterprise F is being retired on the show. And there are leaks out there that makes this very clear.
I think the idea is to present the next Enterprise and possibly put them on that ship.
Yep! I think that’s exactly what they are setting up and why the F is being retired.
To his (acting) credit, Frakes was on Charlie’s Angels ten years or so before he ever became William Riker… so we can get behind him being Charlie lol
>He loses control of himself at one point. I don’t think he has ever been this angry.
It is okay, if the Friends around him help to calm him down or Riker prevent Picard from doind things he would regret it the rest of his Life, then it is okay. That’s why Friends are about. So i do not mind if Riker has to yell back to Picard to stop doing things in Rage and cloudy Mind. The Trust bond of this many Years should hold it out
But he or they should keep then in Mind that they are “stepingstones” for the New Cast to grow or help them getting their own Wings in Star Trek. Perhaps if this Spinoff is successfully they could have some “Remember the old days” or “what would <Insert Name> do in my place?” Flashbacks or Holodeck Avatar like Holo Janeway in Prodigy Season 1. These “Legends” are about to pass the Flame to their new Generation, there is no turning back
I want WORF in that chair !!
No. He’d be looking to ram his ship into every enemy vessel he can’t defeat 😂
Is there any continuity between Picard’s Titan and the extended universe novels, for example Star Trek: Destiny?
No. Picard contradicts the events of those novels.
I suspect Shaw either dies in a redemption story, or he is one of the conspirators. Either way they probably want to open up the chair on the Titan.
or Shawn get promoted or get an New Ship that needs an Experience captain as him. He must not needed to Die, just get moves away, let it be a new Ship, Promotion or “far away” on some Lonely Communication Relay Station *caught*
Redemption for what? So far he has been a professional and responsible captain.
He may have made sound military decisions but he’s been anything but professional. Unlike Jellico, who was purely a pro, and treated even those he hated — like Riker — with respect, Shaw is a rude, disrespectful jerk. I love him that way, don’t get me wrong, but that’s not how anyone should behave at any job let alone as captain of a ship towards two highly decorated flag officers.
If he doesn’t want them on his ship or to follow their orders, or if he believes they are acting outside the bounds of protocol (ie: stealing the ship) there are proper ways of handling that. He doesn’t: he’s an a**hole and I love it.
as long he found out himself what Jerk he has been to Seven and want to change, that alone would fitting for me. Sure, he do not like “Legends”, but he still give in when Picard said “Because he is my Son!”. He could dismiss Picard’s authority with emotionally compromised. But he gave Picard his Okay to Command the Titan
So, if he want to change to the better with Seven and others he is Pissing Off, then it’s fine for me
From what we’ve seen so far I wouldn’t mind Shaw-less show, but please don’t make Seven a captain.
Her character works best when she has an authoritative figure beside her to put the ramps when she wants to do things “her way”.
That struggle in her between what’s efficient and what’s protocol (or the Starfleet way) is where her character shines.
If this season is as good as others are saying I truly hope we get a spin off show. It was obviously a no-brainer either way but it’s better when it’s something people are really begging for because they are honestly excited for it. I think that’s a huge reason why S31 stalled, no one was really that excited about the show; certainly not like they were with SNW. If this season ends as well as it started (for a change ;)) then I definitely see SNW level of excitement going forward with the next show.
In theory, a spin-off show could be good, but it could go so many ways. I’m not a fan of Raffi remaining nor having Riker’s severely underaged daughter. Just wait and see I guess.
I think both of those things were Frakes musing off the cuff, not talking about concrete plans/
But we all should be realistic how hard this can be on their Shoulders, depending of their Age. Also perhaps someones just want to have an fitting ending and others want to press on. Sure, nothing against Dreams. But we should also take the reality (Are the Actor’s up to it? Mental and Physical?). I do not think i want to see an “older” Picard jumping around with an Rifle Gun and doing Pew Pew, Peng Peng with his Buddy Riker