Earlier today we brought you the brand new teaser for the final season of Star Trek: Picard. Released last night during the Star Trek Day broadcast, the footage gives us our first look at the returning cast members from The Next Generation.
Now we’re taking a closer look at the trailer, searching for clues as to what might be happening to bring the old crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise back together for one final adventure.
Crusher in Peril
The trailer starts out with a familiar face, the returning Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher. Approached by a masked enemy, Crusher raises a charging phaser rifle before the scene comes to an abrupt end.
The following scene, which sees Jean-Luc (Sir Patrick Stewart) pulling his old uniform and comm badge out of storage, is soundtracked by a call for help. Beverly’s voice rings out with a message only for her former Captain and friend.
Another shot from this particular scene appears later in the trailer during a montage of shots of the returning cast. Again Beverly looks concerned and potentially in danger. Could a call for help from the former Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise kick off the season and be the impetus for the group coming together?
An Attack on Starfleet
With Beverly’s message fresh in our ears the scene transitions to a large Starfleet building. It takes only mere seconds for a shockwave to pass across the landscape and for the building to collapse.
We’ve seen this level of terrorist attack on Starfleet headquarters before, particularly in the Kelvin-Universe films. Showrunner Terry Matalas and other members of the Picard crew have discussed a formidable villain for the finale season. We know that a familiar face will play the role but, as-yet, have no idea who this mysterious person is. It certainly seems they have a grudge with Starfleet though.
Could this be tied to a teaser at the end of Picard season 2? Fans will remember that Adam Soong (Brent Spiner) was confirmed to be one of the scientists working on the human augmentation which led to the creation of the legendary Trek villain, Khan. Perhaps the augments have returned to take revenge on the group who stranded them on Ceti Alpha V.
“I Need to Find a Ship”
After a brief shot of a Starfleet vessel being pursued by a number of unknown craft we catch up with Picard and another familiar face. The returning Jonathan Frakes as William Riker. The two meet in a bar, out of uniform and discuss teaming up for an undisclosed mission. The narrative thrust of the trailer certainly suggests that, with Beverly in danger, Jean-Luc will turn to his old colleagues to pull together a rescue mission.
Jonathan Frakes has been no stranger to Trek even since the final TNG-era film. Having made a previous appearance in Picard as well as Lower Decks alongside directing episodes on every Trek series from Deep Space Nine through the recently completed first season of Strange New Worlds.
Given that these two friends are meeting inconspicuously in a bar, could that signal that what they plan to do is either unsanctioned or being kept secret from their leaders in Starfleet?
During the Star Trek Day presentation, Michelle Hurd discussed how the final season will find Raffi exploring the “criminal underbelly” of life in the 25th century. A brief shot shows a hooded Raffi after an establishing shot of a futuristic cityscape. Could Raffi play a part in helping Picard, Riker and the gang to work under the nose of Starfleet?
Familiar Faces
With the scene set for a rescue mission, the trailer gives fans the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Our first look at returning cast members LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis and the above second shot of Gates McFadden.
The moments are brief and offer little context but we can read plenty from their outfits and expressions. First up is Geordie LaForge (Burton) who is seen still with the ocular implants which first appeared in Star Trek: First Contact. His expression appears to be one of fondness and familiarity. Perhaps a moment in which Burton’s own daughter will appear as LaForge’s on-screen child.
Beverly, as previously mentioned, appears in the same scene as at the opening of the trailer. Under attack and in danger. Let’s hope it’s only her kidnap and not her death with brings the gang back together.
A now white-haired Worf (Dorn) appears in what definitely appears to be more Klingon surroundings. He appears concerned and has someone leaning heavily on his shoulder. Could our unseen terrorist be making an attack on all the major species of the Star Trek universe?
We last saw Deanna Troi (Sirtis) in Picard season one, alongside her husband Will Riker and their daughter Kestra. Here it appears that the former counsellor may be back to work. Though she doesn’t wear a Starfleet uniform, she is clearly wearing a comm badge and also holding what appears to be a Starfleet PADD. Could her brush with Picard and Soji (Isa Briones) on Nepenthe have brought Deanna back to her original calling?
The Enterprise Returns?
After catching up with old friends our focus shifts back to Picard and Riker. The two share a shuttle journey inside a staircase. “Hello beautiful” says Riker to, presumably, a ship off-screen followed by a shot of Picard also staring fondly out towards the mysterious entity.
Much has been made of the potential for a version of the Enterprise to appear in Star Trek: Picard. None of the contemporary series set in this period (Lower Decks, Prodigy and the future-set Discovery) has directly addressed the status of the flagship. But various members of the Picard cast and crew has referenced shooting on a version of the legendary vessel. Some believe a version of the NCC 1701-D version, as seen in The Next Generation, will appear. Others believe a brand new Enterprise, NCC 1701-F, will make an appearance.
It certainly seems these two are looking out at an old friend. It’s also a this stage that the trailer may begin to subvert expectations by editing around potentially huge spoilers.
The USS Titan has a New Commander
The trailer wraps up with Picard and Riker arriving aboard the U.S.S Titan, to be greeted by its new Commander, Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). The current Star Trek: Picard comic series bridges the gap between seasons 2 and 3. That comic book opens with Seven, wearing operational gold and not command red, taking part in a version of the famed Kobayashi Maru exercise.
During the Picard presentation at Star Trek Day, Ryan discussed that although Seven is in command she still hasn’t quite found her place within Starfleet. The season will deal with her questioning where she belongs and how, with her history as a former drone and Fenris Ranger, she fits in the Starfleet hierarchy.
Many fans will, of course, recognise the U.S.S. Titan and Will Riker’s former command. This could tie in to the “hello beautiful” line earlier in the trailer. We get to see the ship in full as it exists from spacedock and heads out in to space (below). It appears the ship has either had a refit or is a new design based on its appearance in comics and in video games.
Full Trailer Gallery
Here’s our full gallery of stills from the excellent trailer.
What’re you looking forward to most? Make sure and let us know in the comments below!
The third and final season of Picard will see Stewart return alongside Ryan and Michelle Hurd who plays Raffi. The rest of the core Picard cast has now exited to make room for the returning TNG crew. They will also be joined by long-time Trek actor Brent Spiner. Spiner is suspiciously absent from both the trailer and the posters with producers clearly trying to keep his role a secret.
Star Trek: Picard will return to Paramount+ in the US on February 16, 2023. Here in the UK the final season will stream on Prime Video.
