Which Episode Does a Captain Gives Riker a Bad Review

Star Trek: Picard Episode 7 Recap / Review - "Nepenthe"

Riker and Troi render.

Full spoilers follow for this episode.

At present that'due south how you bring back the Enterprise crewmembers.The return of Will Riker and Deanna Troi in Picard Episode seven, "Nepenthe," is pretty much a flawless thing, upending expectations and avoiding clichés while also packing the emotional wallop that this show has finally started to figure out how to exercise in the back half of its kickoff season.

While Star Expedition: Picard has purposely sent Patrick Stewart's title character off in a very non-Next Generation management, Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis' guest-spins as Jean-Luc'south beloved (erstwhile) first officer and counselor, respectively, provide a perfect reunion, pitiful at times, uplifting at others, and often simply obviously funny too.

That we merely get to come across one of the Troi-Riker children is the melancholy part here, as it slowly becomes credible that their son Thaddeus has already died at some point in the past. His illness is what led the family, plainly, to go out Starfleet, seeking the restorative powers of this planet they've settled on, Nepenthe. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, and the only fourth dimension we see Thaddeus is in a photo of Admiral Picard belongings him when he was a baby. This photo sits in the male child's room, where his belongings remain manifestly untouched since his death. Heartbreaking.

And then there'southward Kestra, the girl. Making information technology her mission to carry on her blood brother'due south legacy of language creation and world-building -- and what a nifty touch that is, that the boy who was born on a starship so yearned for a homeworld of his own that he made i up -- she nonetheless still "aches" over his death, every bit her mother puts information technology. But she finds a friend in Soji, who after all would exist a much more than highly-seasoned effigy to a teenage girl than an old man similar Picard. And Kestra turns out to be the all-time matter that could've happened to Soji in the wake of what she's just discovered almost herself.

The dynamic betwixt Stewart and his quondam friends, Frakes and Sirtis, super-charges this episode. Sirtis' commencement scene is simply beautiful every bit Troi'southward empathic abilities enable her to wordlessly sympathize not only that Picard is in trouble, only that he is gravely sick as well. It's never said out loud in the scene, but nosotros know exactly what is going on. And Riker, despite having no Betazoid powers, can also read much of what's happening with his old captain without a word being said. They merely know each other that well. And however, equally much every bit Troi and Riker want to help Picard, there's just and so far they can go now. They take Kestra to worry nearly likewise. "I'm non as brave as I used to be," Deanna tells Jean-Luc.

At that place'due south a familiarity between these three characters now that was rarely seen on Next Generation, with hugs and embraces and shoulder pats and all the balance of it. I completely purchase that they would've reached this point by at present, and I honey it.

Too terrific is the B-story with the unlikely pairing of Jonathan Del Arco'southward Hugh and Evan Evagora'south Elnor, who are attempting to stoke a rebellion from inside the Borg Artifact. That Hugh doesn't survive the first day of this uprising was perhaps inevitable -- this prove is happy to kill off supporting characters for the emotional proceeds of its lead bandage -- merely it works, as the former Borg drone has maybe, just perhaps, never lived as much equally he did in those final moments with Elnor. "I was that much of a hopeful fool again for a infinitesimal… thank you for that," he says with his final breath. His death scene is the stuff that inspires fan fiction the world over, and both Del Arco and Evagora sell information technology in spades.

And and so we have another B-story (I'm non sure that either of these count as C-stories) over on La Sirena with Rios, Raffi, and Agnes trying to shake the in-pursuit puzzle boy Narek, even while Agnes winds up attempting suicide because of what she did to Maddox… and perchance also because of what nosotros now know Commodore Oh showed her back on Earth. (Suicide in Roddenberry'south perfect Federation? Whoa.) [Update: Every bit some readers have pointed out, I may have missed the thread here and information technology could be that Agnes took that shot to neutralize the tracker she swallowed.] The episode opens with some other flashback to that meeting, depicting the Vulcan mind meld that Oh performed on Agnes… which apparently indicated that the globe volition end if the synths are allowed to "live." How or why that would come to be remains a mystery. Merely the question for the asleep Agnes is now whether or not that knowledge is enough to give the grapheme a laissez passer for the murder she committed?

Star Trek: Picard - The Essential Treks to Take Before the Show

Questions and Notes from the Q Continuum:

• The names of both of the Troi-Riker children have their origins in former Star Expedition episodes. Thaddius Riker (different spelling, yes) was an ancestor of Will'south who fought in the American Civil War (and was saved by a Q -- long story!). And Kestra was the older sis Deanna never really knew. The year Deanna was born, Kestra drowned in a tragic accident when she was but a girl.
• It does seem a tad contrived that the cure for Thaddeus' illness became unobtainable because of the synth massacre.
• The open flooring programme of La Sirena is certainly an interesting arroyo to starship design, if 1 doesn't mind a lack of privacy.
• Riker and Troi'south house is all tricked out with shields and everything!
• Information technology's great that Information'south memory has lived on via the stories his friends have told to their children.
• Why does Picard call Captain Riker Commander Riker?!
• "What about Elnor?" At least Agnes remembered the kid! But man, the Picard Squad weren't together for too long, were they, before scattering?
• Raffi'due south sober again?
• Is Kestra home-schooled?
• And at present it looks like we'll exist seeing Vii of Nine again…

Star Expedition: Picard reaches into the Adjacent Generation reserves to bring back two beloved characters -- and castmembers -- in Jonathan Frakes' Riker and Marina Sirtis' Troi, creating a peachy episode in the process that doesn't just exploit our affection for those players but too broadens and expands upon their stories and how they intersect with Picard too. That the episode also features strong side stories featuring Jonathan Del Arco'south Hugh and the coiffure of La Sirena only adds to the mix, making this the best Picard hr however.

For more on "Nepenthe," listen to Scott Collura's Transporter Room 3 podcast review here.

amazing

Riker and Troi return for the all-time episode of Star Expedition: Picard still.

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Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/star-trek-picard-episode-7-recap-review-nepenthe

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