Star Trek Picard has somehow managed to do a complete u-turn in quality. Season 1 was a dull, plodding adventure in which Picard didn't feel like a key character and was simply there because Patrick Stewart agreed to turn up. I haven't watched the second season in its entirety but most say it's even worse, so I don't think I have missed out on much. Season 3 is fantastic, the band coming back together for one final, high stakes adventure full of twists and inspiration not to mention love and care for the lore of Star Trek.
Season 3 aims to right the wrongs of modern Trek. Everything down to how officers address each other on a ship to the portrayal of Picard himself, it feels very reminiscent of The Next Generation with just the right amount of earned spectacle we've come to expect from Modern Trek. Every character is done justice, the whole TNG crew are given satisfying ends and arcs with my particular favourite being Data and Brent Spiner gives arguably his best performance as the character. All the performances are top-notch. The new characters are also excellent with particular props to Todd Stashwick and Ed Speleers.
This season is full of fan service and it is, for the most part, earned and done in new and interesting ways. The new antagonists are pretty good and the ultimate reveal of their plan and who their working for while feeling familiar, heightens the tension and is done in new exciting ways. There are some gratuitous moments of fan service that is simply there but those are few.
Overall, as a whole, Star Trek: Picard is the epitome of a mixed bag. A fantastic third season likely doesn't wash the sour taste of two bad seasons. Yet, I highly recommend people check out the third season as it is all a Trek fan could want. It gives me hope that there could be more good Trek going forward if the right people are in charge. You do not have to watch the previous seasons to watch season 3, it is what this show should have been.
Season 3 aims to right the wrongs of modern Trek. Everything down to how officers address each other on a ship to the portrayal of Picard himself, it feels very reminiscent of The Next Generation with just the right amount of earned spectacle we've come to expect from Modern Trek. Every character is done justice, the whole TNG crew are given satisfying ends and arcs with my particular favourite being Data and Brent Spiner gives arguably his best performance as the character. All the performances are top-notch. The new characters are also excellent with particular props to Todd Stashwick and Ed Speleers.
This season is full of fan service and it is, for the most part, earned and done in new and interesting ways. The new antagonists are pretty good and the ultimate reveal of their plan and who their working for while feeling familiar, heightens the tension and is done in new exciting ways. There are some gratuitous moments of fan service that is simply there but those are few.
Overall, as a whole, Star Trek: Picard is the epitome of a mixed bag. A fantastic third season likely doesn't wash the sour taste of two bad seasons. Yet, I highly recommend people check out the third season as it is all a Trek fan could want. It gives me hope that there could be more good Trek going forward if the right people are in charge. You do not have to watch the previous seasons to watch season 3, it is what this show should have been.