Star Trek: Picard season 3 streams new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+ in the US and on Paramount+ and Prime Video in the UK on Fridays.
Synopsis
Picard grapples with an explosive, life-altering revelation, while the Titan and her crew try to outmaneuver a relentless Vadic in a lethal game of nautical cat and mouse. Meanwhile, Raffi and Worf uncover a nefarious plot from a vengeful enemy Starfleet has long since forgotten.
Review
It’s convergence week on Star Trek: Picard this week. Only one third(ish) of the way in to the final season and the series’ plot lines are revealing some major connections. Continuing its outstanding legacy nature, the final season is also expanding its connections to Deep Space 9 continuity as more of the latest threat to Starfleet is revealed.
Once again, “Seventeen Seconds” is heavily serialised and picking up moments after the end of episode two. With the USS Titan still stranded in the nebula and Vadic’s ship – the Shrike- breathing down their necks. As the synopsis alludes, “Seventeen Seconds” really is a cat and mouse game between the two ships. A game which is enhanced by the desperation of the Titan crew and the gleeful reactions of Vadic.
Raffi (Michelle Hurd) fans have a lot to enjoy this week. Whilst events on the Titan do drop breadcrumbs toward the wider plot, it’s Raffi and Worf’s (Michael Dorn) investigations which really slot the pieces together. Hurd and Dorn have excellent chemistry. Scenes featuring the two together absolutely pop and sizzle. It’s also great to see Dorn playing Worf with a comedic edge. He’s absolutely recognisable as the man we left in Star Trek: Nemesis. But much like Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden), he’s so much more dynamic at the hands of episode writers Jane Maggs and Cindy Appel.
“Seventeen Seconds” keeps the stakes high. When we’re not running around M’Talas Prime chasing after terrorist Titus Rikka, we’re watching the Shrike’s continued attacks on the Titan. It might sound potentially one-note but it certainly isn’t. The mix of large scale ship battle versus hand-to-hand combat is ultimately very satisfying. It’s also illustrative of how the whole season balances character against space action.
As for the characters themselves, those on the Titan are still reeling from the reveal of Jack’s (Ed Speleers) parentage. Those revelations certainly reverberate around the ship. But the reactions are always as you may predict. As has been proven, I think, across all of Star Trek: Picard to-date, there’s a depth and nuance of character which was always missing from the classic series.
Admiral Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) himself has an interesting reaction. Given the fraught scenario the crew finds themselves in, his reactions feel true for a man who has dedicated his life to Starfleet. Magg and Appel have tapped in to something about Jean-Luc’s approach to life which goes all the way back to TNG and leads us in to a gut punching moment you’ll see in episode four.
The episode is bookended by scenes which give context to the title of “Seventeen Seconds”. Finally we get a (comedic) first glance at Marina Sirtis returning as Deanna Troi. But pulling back and taking in the wider picture, they are moments which define family for both Picard and Riker (Jonathan Frakes). It’s also worth noting that Frakes directs this episode and it plays perfectly to all his strengths. This passion both in front of and behind the camera are applaudable.
“Seventeen Seconds” ends as it begins, in the middle of a jaw dropping cliffhanger. One which introduces conflict between Picard and Riker which will carry over in to next week. This one may be the biggest cliffhanger of the season so far!
Verdict
“Seventeen Seconds” underpins the huge scope of season 3 both emotionally and in terms of the action. Emotionally fraught, action-packed and hugely satisfying.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
