Monsters did not advance the plot in any way! This episode was a BAD cross between Harry Potter movies and Pirates of the Caribbean. All the characters are literally running around acting stupid, with completely changed personalities, and no Star Trek Sci-Fi in sight. (I did enjoy the psychologist, the only one who did any actual acting!) My husband insisted on giving this one last episode a try, but even he agrees now that this Picard thing is a deplorable POS. We. Are. Done!!!