I am a loyal Star Trek person. I have watched all the shows, all the movies, all the crap.  When Picard came out a few years ago, I was genuinely excited. The first season was boring. It was a tangled plot about androids, rebellion, Borg, and some Romulan guy having sex. Does anybody want to watch Romulans orgasm? That is a hard “no.” While the season climaxed satisfactorily, it was not the best first date.

Then season 2 came. The first two episodes were exhilarating romps. What started as a fun story about a fascist future, meandered off into some yawn-inducing tale of a sad mom and singing Borg. Terrible acting, convoluted motives, pointless violence, all to tell a story that was barely poignant. Q showed up for a while, but his motives were limp.

Then Season 3 was announced, and on paper it all looked promising. The original Next Generation cast was coming back and Terry Matlas, of 12 Monkey’s fame, was running the show.

Did it work? Is revenge a dish best served cold? 

Season 3 blows the rest of Picard, and even some other new Trek out of the water. Precisely because it sticks with what Trek does best: cool ships, morally conflicted enemies, and the crew we love solving problems. It does not skimp on fan-service, which for better or worse, is what us Trek people want. We want to see old Constitution class ships and call backs to TOS era.  We want to see NCC-1701 (F, D, G, whatever). We want a full photon spread, Mr. Worf!  

Thankfully, Picard Season 3 boldly goes exactly where it needed to go, and that is awesome. We get to see the old crew back in action. Data acts like Data. Worf kicks ass, like he should. Geordi is a miracle worker, like all starship engineers should be. Riker swings that leg over a chair and takes command. Crusher outsmarts everybody. Troi saves the day. And of course, Picard is in the chair saying “Engage!”

And when the Enterprise D swings out of space dock in the final episode…chills. It was pure Trek orgasmic joy. 

This was why Seasons 1 and 2 were so disappointing. The payoff was dull because we had nothing invested in the plot. Also, nobody wants to watch Romulans hump!

The quality of acting is lightyears better as well. The new actors added this season, such as Ed Speelers, Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut, and Todd Stashwick, all act. They do not merely wander through their roles, as if this were another day at Kroger. Stashwick shows some genuine pathos about his past. Speelers deftly swings between charming and troubled. Chestnut has a little snark blended with daddy issues. Weak acting was plentiful in Seasons 1 and 2. Alison Pill, Evan Evangora, Michelle Hurd, and Isa Briones all turned in mediocre performances. I am still unsure who Evan Evangora was or why he was there.

Amanda Plummer’s Vadic is a deliciously good villain. She delivers a solid mix of nuts and rage in her performance.  She also brings back a baddy from Deep Space Nine, the changlings. 

And the old crew? Effortlessness comes to mind. They know these characters so well; they could sleepwalk through the show, and it would still be awesome. Frakes and McFadden are particularly adept at reclaiming their mojo. Spiner and Burton snap right back into form. And Worf complaining about phasers never gets old.

While I am gushing, the soundtrack for this season is pure Trek glory. Jerry Goldsmith’s themes from the Next Generation (which was actually the theme for the 1979 Star Trek: The Motion Picture) as well as 1996’s First Contact are peppered throughout the season. This is another way Season 3 gives fans something they want. Hearing the First Contact theme, or the Klingon theme when Worf shows up, makes my Star Trek pleasure nubs tingle. If that image disturbs you, then I can go back to discussing Romulan’s copulating.

If I had to gripe about anything, it would be too little screen time for Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Ryan has the most satisfying character arch in this season. She starts the show disillusioned and frustrated and ends the season idealistic and energized.  Ryan also gets the last scene all to herself, and it is awesome if not a little frustrating. I want to see where Seven and her new crew boldly go. There is a movement to get Paramount (or whoever owns Trek this week) to green-light Star Trek: Legacy and continuing Seven’s story along with Jack Crusher (Speelers).  I’d buy that for a dollar.  

All good things must come to an end. Picard Season 3 is a satisfying consummation of the Next Generation story. I only wish they had started the show with this season. Nevertheless, Star Trek does one thing well, they learn from their mistakes.