After submitting the behemoth of a draft for my next New Yorker story, I finally got around to watching the first five episodes of Star Trek: Picard. In the interest of disclosure, I have generally been annoyed by all TNG Trek since 1996 (the last film I enjoyed was First Contact), and absolutely all Star Trek since 2005, when Enterprise ended. (Even then, I only loved the first season and absolutely adored the final, Manny Coto-led fourth season.)
Discovery is so abysmally written as to be literally unwatchable with the sound on, at risk of brain aneurysms. Picard Season 1 was a train wreck, and I gave up on season 2. It like both seasons were written by people that someone tried to describe Star Trek: TNG to, but never actually saw it. Under no circumstances was I going to watch Season 3.
But friends whose opinion I respect started suddenly to come alive with talk that this season might be different. So I decided to go for it, under protest.
At the end of the first episode of Picard, Season 3, I was speechless. Not only was it true to the characters, but it was a compelling setup, and filmed with restraint. It felt like Star Trek: TNG! After episode 2, I actually teared up and had a sort of momentary release of emotions that was half laugh, half sob, that gentle, brief convulsion that accompanies a deep emotional relief. (I wasn't weeping or anything. It was just a profound experience.)
Beyond Star Trek stylistically and culturally, I was most profoundly moved by the fact that on television were characters in their 60s or older, written like characters respectful of their advanced ages. I have often found (especially in Picard seasons 1 and 2) that inexperienced or weak writers tend to write "old" characters as brimming with uncontrollable regret at everything they have ever done in life, and lacking entirely the wisdom and comfort that accompanies living a long time. In other words, a 25-year-old writer thinks someone in their 60s will be miserable, and so writes them as either miserable basket cases, or as, well, 25-year-olds with crow's feat.
I'm in my mid-40s, well into middle age, and there are profound things I regret in life—things I know I will never get over. And I do sometimes get melancholy. But I also feel a great sense of joy in comfort at better understanding the world around me, and the nuances of human behaviors, and when losses come along, life has prepared me for many of them. Moreover, I am very good at my work and a master of my craft, and know generally how to handle myself in most situations in ways that do not escalate, and when escalation is required, I know how to do so confidently and respectfully, with empathy for the other person. When I am in an uncomfortable situation, I can always rely on those things, and my wit.
In my 20s and 30s, aging terrified me. But what I have found in recent years has astonished me: I enjoy getting older. It can be an ugly thing, of course—the loss of parents, the failing of one's body—but it is also beautiful. The greatest journey of my life. I have made many mistakes in life, and learned from them. So you can bet that when I make new mistakes, they are at least very interesting!
I say all this—and can say so much more about it, and will, in time—to say that the characters in Star Trek: Picard, Season 3, are older. But they are unapologetically older. I find it so refreshing and moving to see older characters on screen, wrinkles and all, and to see them written with dignity and an earned wisdom. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan did this beautifully, and is probably my favorite film about coming to terms with middle age.)
I hope the season comes to a graceful conclusion with the power, gravitas, and nuance that characterized the first five episodes. It is just beautifully written, with a compelling plot, excellent, character-accurate dialogue, and a Federation that is absolutely consistent with the one Gene Roddenberry left us. I do not say this lightly: Terry Matalas, this season's showrunner, might prove to be Roddenberry's heir.
I am so grateful that CBS finally got it right, and hope that the best Trek is yet to come.
Star Trek: Picard, Season 3 is highly, highly recommended.
#startrek #picard #season3 #trek #tng #enterprise #worf #riker #crusher #aging #maturity #life #art #newyorker #writing #streaming #television #series #space #thesearethevoyages
@dwb
I've been waffling on weather or not to watch it, having enjoyed all the Star Treks up to Voyager.
This only puts syrup and strawberries on my waffles. Can I skip the crappy bits and just start on Season 3?
@JKrotkov Yes! Aside from two insignificant lines and one character, it is fully self-contained. You can go straight from “All Good Things” to Picard season 3 and miss nothing at all. It’s masterfully done.
@dwb
oooh, goody! And we have a snowstorm coming, during which I can stay indoors watching Picard!
@JKrotkov Perfect snowstorm watching
@dwb
Haha, how surprising. I get to read a #Startrek review because I follow you in the Fediverse.
I'm no #trekkie so I certainly wouldn't have clicked a link to your review.
But here within the Fediverse I gave reading it a go.
An enjoyable read. Thank you.
I don't quite get why you added the middle part, the one about your live experience from today's mid-40s-perspective. But it's the part I found most interesting.
The words you choose to describe the things don't suggest humbleness at all, I noticed. And I was wondering whether you can imagine yourself "Down and Out" ("in Paris and London), like for instance, George Orwell, and whether such experiences might then kindle a humbleness in a future description of your past live experiences and past personality development.
If humanity and civilisation were on a linear track, chances would probably be low of you finding yourself in such a personal deep trough. Then parents' deaths or loss of body functions, the events you listed, too,
would be the only psychological triggers for an utter loss of self-confidence.
But with the biodiversity and climate clusterfuck going as it is going, who knows, there might be many more triggers ahead.
Yet then I'd probable not get the chance to reading the version of your future mid-50s perspective on your life. Being either dead or if still alive, lack of internet would leave me devoid of news or essays.
But it'd be worth reading.
If you survive the first famine waves that kill all urbanites, make sure to write your personal perspective on your life experience when you're in your mid-50s or so.
On paper. Using a pen.
And handing it to your survivor community's librarian. So people might read and enjoy it in their spare time.
@dwb if you like this season on picard, check out strange new worlds. Its probably the next best trek out there atm
@TheDinosaurDave You are the second person to make that suggestion. I will give it a go, cautiously.
@dwb I would also suggest struggling through season 1 of Orville, its rough. We see the potential in season 2, then it starts to properly reach it in season 3. Im sad we probably wont get a season 4.
@TheDinosaurDave I keep hearing how that show became the Trek we wanted but not the one CBS was willing to give us.
@dwb, yeah. It was weird watching orville season 3 and strange new worlds at the same time. Both were very TNG, but orville s3 had better writing, but it relied on the previous seasons for the biggest payoffs.
But over all, both are worth the watch.
If you want hard scifi with good writing, check for "for all mankind" on apple tv. Its not trek, but its really good.
@TheDinosaurDave For All Mankind is extraordinary. I cannot wait to see what happens next season. Just a magnificent show.
@dwb I feel this post so much.
A) Had high hopes for Discovery. Went in open minded. The storytelling in the first few episodes was so senselessly poor it swamped the good ideas. I just gave up.
B) I haven't watched Picard yet but heard similar comments about seasons 1-3. I'm curious if I can get away with just watching S3. I miss TNG, real TNG.
C) Many have noted it's so en vogue to have sad, regretful older heroes. Logan was wondering but that isn't the right end for every character.
@dwb The sad old characters trope reminds me of Pixar, where many films (for kids) center around the regrets and disappointments of middle aged men. They work at Pixar! I guess I don't know what that's like, but they seem much more concerned about being office drones than I, a true office drone, do.
I miss being young. It was full of excitement and possibilities. But I also love the perspective I've gained now. Life was unstable and scary then. Growth is good.
@dwb 👍thanks for sharing your view , I can agreed on - and will give #startrek #picard #season3 a try