Can a trio of story lines set in the year 2024 explain why Star Trek: Picard season 3 reunites the entire primary cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation? Patrick Stewart took a few buddies with him as he made his highly-awaited comeback in Star Trek: Picard. Data (Brent Spiner), Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Q (John de Lancie), and Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) have all joined Jean-Luc throughout the last two seasons. Unfortunately, the cast listed above only appeared as guests, or as cameos in certain cases. Rios, Jurati, Raffi, Elnor, Rios, Jurati, Raffi, Elnor, Rios, Jurati, Raffi, Elnor, Rios, Jurati, Raffi, Elnor, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios, Rios
In Star Trek: Picard season 3, the status quo seems to be shifting. The full cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation will return for Jean-last Luc’s adventure, according to a statement from Paramount. That implies that, in addition to Spiner, Frakes, and Sirtis, Worf (Michael Dorn), Geordi LaForge (LeVar Burton), and Beverly Crusher will return in Star Trek: Picard season 3. (Gates McFadden). Furthermore, Michael Chabon (showrunner of Star Trek: Picard) has clarified that they aren’t little cameos, but rather significant comebacks. As a result, Star Trek: Picard is in a bit of a pickle. How will these new (ancient) returns fit in with the current cast?
Star Trek: Picard season 2’s 2024 timeline may hold the solution thanks to three distinct plotlines – the first concerning the Seven of Nine. Though she left the Borg life behind long ago, Seven’s ocular implant proved impossible to remove, and since returning to Earth in Star Trek: Voyager‘s finale, that facial marker has prompted endless discrimination. In Star Trek: Picard‘s alternate timeline, Seven was never assimilated, and she has greatly enjoyed the freedom an implant-free face brings throughout season 2’s adventures. Seven isn’t alone in finding perks of the past either. Cristobal Rios has committed the cardinal sin of time travel by falling in love with someone from another century. James T. Kirk is no doubt looking on proudly as Rios grows closer to Teresa – a local doctor helping undocumented immigrants.
There are currently two Star Trek: Picard characters with compelling reasons to remain in the past… but there’s a third as well. Dr. Agnes Jurati has fused with the Borg Queen solely by chance. Though Agnes would want to return to her original timeframe, her Borg companion seems to be comfortable in 2024. Seven may stay in the past to escape discrimination in the future, Rios might stay behind for Teresa, and Agnes might not have a choice if the Borg Queen flees into space. There are some time travel wrinkles to iron out here, but with Q around, nothing can be ruled out. If the stories for Star Trek: Picard’s Seven, Rios, and Jurati continue on their present paths, Jean-Luc and Raffi may look forward to a fairly tranquil return to the 24th century. And if Star Trek: Picard leaves that three in 2024, they won’t likely return in season 3, freeing up a few cast seats for Star Trek: The Next Generation’s returning heroes.
Dumping a few current characters in 2024 is one approach to make room for Star Trek: Picard season 3, but it’s important to tread carefully. Although the imminent Enterprise-D reunion is exciting, the current cast of Star Trek: Picard should not be overlooked in favor of old favorites. Using time travel as a plot device to write Seven, Rios, and Jurati out of season 3 would jeopardize their recent character development (which has been much enhanced in Star Trek: Picard’s 2024 setting) and create an unwelcome franchise precedent. Humans, after all, are mired in the past.
