Today Star Trek: Picard hits North America as the first episode begins streaming on CBS All Access. Tomorrow Admiral Picard and his new cast will hit international shores when the series premiere’s its first episode via Amazon Prime Video.
Keeping it light on spoilers for the we’re getting you up-to-speed with our introduction to the series’ main cast – those who appear in the first three episodes at least – and we are, of course, starting with the main main himself…
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart)
For seven seasons and four big screen adventures Jean-Luc Picard captained both the Enterprise D and E.
His years aboard the Enterprise began at Farpoint Station where he first met the man who would become his foil for years to come, Q (John DeLancie). The two would spend much of the next decade sparring over humanities decision to explore the stars.
During his time abroad the Enterprise D he was capture and assimilated by the Borg, turning him into the Federation liaison known as Locutus. It was here Picard met the Borg Queen (Alice Kridge) who would go on to torment him in the later film Star Trek: First Contact.
During his final mission aboard the Enterprise D, Picard met the legendary Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) with whom he partnered to save an entire star system from the evil machinations of Dr. Tolien Soran (Malcolm McDowell). It was during this mission that Klingon sisters Luisa (Barbara March) and B’Etor (Gwynyth Walsh) brought down the Enterprise D.
Picard would return to the Enterprise when the E was later commissioned and he would captain this ship through the end of The Next Generation franchise.
We last saw Jean-Luc in 2002’s Star Trek: Nemesis where he is confronted by Praetor Shinzon (Tom Hardy), a clone of himself raised on Remus. Following the events of that film we know that Jean-Luc was promoted to the rank of Admiral and later left the Enterprise E and became leader on the Federation ship the USS Verity.
Whilst serving on the Verity his first officer was Raffi Musiker (see below). The two were involved in a mass evacuation of the Romulan system as the sun was revealed to be turning in to a supernova.
When the Federation decided to stop the rescue efforts Picard seemingly retired from Starfleet and returned home to Chateau Picard in France, where we find him at the beginning of the series.
Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd)
In the year 2385, Raffi Musiker was serving as first officer aboar the USS Verity under Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (see above).
A skilled pilot and hacker, she was part of the mission to rescue millions of Romulans displaced from their homes by the impending supernova in their system. Musiker was Starfleet’s leading analyst on the Romulan Empire and was integral to Picard’s rescue mission.
When the Federation pulled Starfleet out of the Romulan sector Raffi’s career suffered a similar fate to Picard’s, whom she affectionately calls “J.L.”, and she was last seen living away from society and succumbing to her many vices.
Dahj (ISA Briones)
When Star Trek: Picard begins we are quickly introduced to Dajh, a promising student working in A.I. who has recently been accepted on to a fellowship at the Daystrom Institute.
But a series of terrible events lead Dajh to seek out the help of Admiral Picard for reasons unknown to both parties. Her origins and her motivations remain a mystery but they quickly learn that she may have ties to an important part of Jean-Luc’s past.
It seems that Dahj, or protecting her, is the catalyst which brings Picard in to the middle of a Federation consuming conspiracy.
Narek (Harry Treadaway)
Not much is known about the Romulan Narek. We first encounter him as part of a Romulan expedition exploring a very surprising location of great importance in the galaxy.
He appears, at first, charming and engaging but we think there’s a lot more to this man than meets the eye. We could tell you but… spoilers!
Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill)
Dr. Jurati is a brilliant scientist currently working in theoretical robotics at the Daystrom Institute. She trained under the brilliant Bruce Maddox (see: TNG episode “Measure of a Man”).
When Maddox disappeared Jurati found her work hindered by Federation policy and now she finds herself wishing for a world that once was.
She quickly finds herself caught up in Picard’s latest adventure.
Hugh (Jonathan Del Arco)
Hugh was once a member of the Borg collective, rescued by the Enterprise D he soon found himself regaining his individuality when befriends Data (Brent Spiner), Geordi (LeVar Burton) and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden).
The Enterprise returns Hugh to the Borg collective hoping his individuality may help soften the deadly villains. When they next encounter Hugh he is fronting a group of rebellious Borg all struggling with their new found individuality.
In the intervening years it seems that Hugh has been able to regain even more of his humanity but he is still seeking out a greater understanding of his one-time oppressors.
Cristobal “Chris” Rios (Santiago Cabrera)
Little is known about pilot Chris Rios. A former Starfleet officer he now pilots his own ship and is a captain for hire.
Rios has connections to Raffi and it is she who puts Rios in touch with Picard when his mission requires him to go off-world under the radar of Starfleet.
Star Trek: Picard is set to star Patrick Stewart, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Isa Briones, Harry Treadaway, Alison Pill, Jeri Ryan, Jonathan Del Arco and Evan Evagora. The series debuts on CBS All Access on January 23, 2020 followed by a release on Amazon Prime in the UK and internationally on January 24.
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