Season 1, Episode 3: ‘The End Is the Beginning’
The first three episodes of “Star Trek: Picard” feel like a long pilot unto themselves. We establish what Picard has been up to. We establish several new characters, the central conflict and the circumstances which led to the conflict; in this case, Picard’s efforts to rescue Romulus from the supernova. By the conclusion of “The End Is the Beginning” — an apt title — we have our central arc: Picard has formed a ragtag group of outsiders to solve this thing on their own.
It’s telling, once again, how much Picard links his identity with Starfleet. The thought of mounting a rescue effort without the Federation’s backing is out of the question for Picard, as he notes to Raffi Musiker (played with charisma by Michelle Hurd) Which is what makes the arc a novel one for our dear captain. “Picard,” as a show, wants to make clear that we are not watching “The Next Generation”; this is something totally new.
And yet, Picard still values Starfleet somewhere deep down. Note the way he recruits the swashbuckling pilot Chris Rios (Santiago Cabrera). He exhorts him with “You are Starfleet!” because his ship is clean. Picard doesn’t even consider that Rios doesn’t care about the ideals of Picard’s old haunts. Maybe, Rios just likes to keep things efficient.
Raffi, in particular, knows how to cut Picard deeply. “I saw you sitting back in your very fine chateau,” she says sarcastically, while Picard grimaces. “Big oak beams. Heirloom furniture.”
The not-so-subtle implication: You changed after quitting Starfleet in a huff, while I suffered. Picard swallows her anger, knowing he deserves her resentment and that she’s right. He’s been faking it for years. But Raffi’s biggest point of contention is that fact that Picard never called.
If you consider Picard’s actions throughout the decades that he’s been on our screens, this makes sense. Starfleet came first. His entire life was about serving the Federation. That’s it. Once he left Starfleet, he had no purpose, and no reason to interact with Raffi since they had no work to do together anymore — Picard was never one for nostalgia and sentimentality.
He also wasn’t suited to be cooped up at a vineyard, as he tells Laris. He’s a space explorer. As Laris says, “I suppose you’ve always had one eye on the stars.”
But Picard also a sweet talker, so you knew Raffi was eventually going to come on board.
This episode was a series of introductions. We got our first glimpse of Hugh, the former Borg drone who won over “The Next Generation” fans in episodes like “I Borg.” Jonathan Del Arco plays him again here — this version is unrecognizable from the original series, which makes the character the perfect callback for a series looking to explore fresh ground. He’s familiar to Trek fans, but not too familiar. Hugh is far more human now, perhaps an aspiration of his, but unhappy with where he’s ended up — much like Picard.
Then there is the curt Rios, apparently the “Star Trek” answer to Han Solo. He’s of course the best pilot around and he doesn’t care about rules, lawyers or his holograms. He’s a welcome addition to the “Trek” franchise. Picard has historically been a man who loves order and regulations, and I’m sure this will eventually rub Rios the wrong way.
Meanwhile, Soji the android is in a strange position. Everyone seems to know what she is except her. She interviews a Romulan named Ramda, who was once a former Borg drone, who tells her, “I remember you from tomorrow” and asks her repeatedly which sister she is. Ramda is an expert in ancient Romulan mythology, which surely ties into the attack at Chateau Picard, happening simultaneously on Earth. (I’m not sure where this story line is going, but the implication is that there is a prophecy involving Soji and Dahj.) Soji is getting suspicious of her own abilities, though, realizing that she has knowledge she’s not supposed to have. The manipulative Narek is unaware of what Soji knows.
Let’s say a quick word about the attack on Chateau Picard by the Zhat Vash, the old Tal Shiar sect, mentioned in last week’s “Maps and Legends.” It is one of the most delightfully choreographed fight scenes in “Trek” franchise history. (Note how many “Next Generation” fights simply involved an open palm punch.) Picard, Laris and Zhaban defend themselves gracefully, with an assist from Jurati. The scene is shot beautifully — and no character does anything beyond their abilities. Picard has won many fights he probably shouldn’t have over the years but in this one, his actions made sense.
Both Ramda and the captured Romulan refer to Soji as “the destroyer.” I haven’t seen any episodes past this one, so I feel free to speculate. I’m predicting that Soji and Dahj were created long before Jurati thinks they were and discovering Maddox on Freecloud will illuminate this. I’m guessing one of them was created as a weapon that the Romulans somehow discovered.
I’m also typically wrong about everything, so take this prediction with a grain of salt.
Source: Television - nytimes.com
