It can’t be overstated how much better Season 2 of Picard is compared to Season 1. It’s only the second episode, and already there is a clear mystery, clear stakes, and clear character motivations. It’s like a breath of fresh air! Could Star Trek actually be back?
Synopsis of Picard 202 “Penance”
Picard finds himself transported to an alternate timeline in the year 2400 where his longtime nemesis, Q, has orchestrated one final “trial.” Picard searches for his trusted crew as he attempts to find the cause of this dystopian future.
This episode hits the ground running as Q sets the tone. In spite of Star Trek: Picard’s modern serialized aesthetic, the premise of this particular episode feels as though plucked from the original NextGen series. Old Q is in perfect lockstep with young Q and is portrayed with a welcome helping of gravitas and darkness not present in TNG.
As they should, they’re keeping Q’s intentions and mischief close to the vest this early in the show. Of course, he’ll return to wreak more havoc, but hopefully in a fashion not too “member berries”.
These podcasters are hopeful and optimistic this season will shed some light on the past history and relationship of Guinan and Q, and maybe a bit more clarity on that scene in TNG when they’re reunited on the Enterprise in 10-Forward; the part where she holds up her hands in defence as though she could have some effect on the omnipotent being.
We excitedly rub our hands together in anxious anticipation. . .
There are a few caveats to our enthusiasm. Raffi doesn’t know who Q is, which seems impossible given her adjacency to Picard. Aggie is an entirely different person than she was in the first season.
Granted, she had a lot of crap going on at the time, and the new Aggie better is arguable much better than last season’s, but it wouldn’t be The Measure of an Episode if there wasn’t some griping going on.
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Picard airs on Paramount+ in the United States, and on CTV Sci-Fi Channel and Crave in Canada. Outside of North America, the series is available on Amazon Prime Video
