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
With time running out, Picard, Riker and crew must confront the sins of their past and heal fresh wounds, while the Titan, dead in the water, drifts helplessly toward certain destruction within a mysterious space anomaly.
Review
This week Star Trek: Picard is taking us to the brink as our crew fights for survival. In their darkest moments their demons threaten to tare old friends apart. But with showrunner Terry Matalas and co-writer Sean Tretta at the helm, “No Win Scenario” beautifully delivers a message about hope and family.
Similar to last week’s episode, “No Win Scenario” is bookended by a moment which underpins the character development for season 3. I noted in my review last week that the writers had picked up on aspects of Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) which feel incredibly organic to his character. That carries over in to what Matalas and Tretta are doing this week. The payoff at the end of the episode is somewhat predictable but not in a negative way. When the moment arrives the emotional components hit and hit hard and that’s thanks to Stewart and Ed Speleers’ commitment to their roles.
As Picard explains his own experience of no win scenarios we cut back to the bridge of the Titan and pick up right where “Seventeen Seconds” left us. With Picard and Riker (director Jonathan Frakes) at odds whilst the ship sinks powerless further in to the abyss of the nebula. The conflict between the two old friends is really the driving force of the episode. “No Win Scenarios” explores how each reacts to their situation and how, after forcing them apart, it brings them back together.
There are very few words to describe how outstanding Frakes has performed in season 3. Especially across episodes three and four, both of which he directed. Once again, “No Win Scenario” gives him the opportunity to play to his strengths, balancing injections of character in to high stakes action with huge payoff. A moment towards the climax of this episode recalls the time he took control of the USS Enterprise-E with nothing more than a joystick. But none of those fit pumping moments arrive at the detriment of the characters.
We are able to dive more in to his current state of mind and also the state of his marriage to Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). So far, season three of Picard has been rationing Sirtis to key moments. This weeks more dramatic appearance graciously counterbalances the comedy flashback to the bird of Thad last week.
As the crew of the Titan accepts their impending doom it gives Picard chance to sit down with Jack for a heart-to-heart. Sharing a drink in a holodeck replica of the Ten Forward bar ties in nicely to the episode’s bookend moments as well as allowing the two men a moment to connect. Even in this darkest of moments, Matalas and Tretta don’t lose sight of the hope that Trek instills and inject some humour in to events.
The MVP of “No Win Scenario” is without doubt Todd Stashwick. Cross the three preceding episodes Captain Shaw has been a thorn in the side of Picard, Riker and even Seven (Jeri Ryan). His sharp tongue and equally sharp wit have carved Shaw a great niche in Star Trek history. But this week it’s very much time for us to learn more about how he became the man he is and that moment is a highlight of the season as a whole. Tying Shaw to Picard in the most heartbreaking of ways and having that come to the surface just as Picard is connecting with Jack is fascinating viewing. Stashwick is pitch perfect in the moment and as he shrugs off the outburst to the assembled crew we really see the vulnerability Shaw has under the surface bravado.
Following those tense moments it does seem that Shaw turns a corner. Particularly in his relationship with Seven. As the two work together to help rescue the crew from certain doom it appears they have found a common ground. Whether that will stick for the rest of the season remains to be seen however…
Verdict
It’s another five stars from me as Jonathan Frakes directs his second episode of the season. The continuing theme of family is so inherently Trek and never more present and it is in “No Win Scenario”. Another episode which finely balances all of its elements for blockbuster viewing.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
