The Future Of Star Trek Is In Picard, Not Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds got off to a successful start, but the future of the franchise lies in the upcoming season 3 of Star Trek: Picard.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds got off to a successful start, but the future of the series rests on Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. While Picard and Star Trek: Discovery have somewhat polarized audiences and critics alike, the first season of Strange New Worlds has been widely praised, not least because of its take on the classic Star Trek: Original Series" space exploration premise, and a weekly structure reminiscent of "Star Trek: The Next Generation". Most Star Trek episodes don't do well in their first seasons, but Strange New Worlds has a clear idea of ​​what it wants to do from the very first episode.

While not as controversial as the iconic Star Trek: Discovery, the first two seasons of Star Trek: Picard were decidedly mixed. Whether it's the surprisingly violent deaths in season 1 or the Europa Mission plot that didn't always make sense in season 2, Star Trek: Picard hasn't received as much attention as Strange New World at this point. The same level of flattery. In any case, it would be a mistake to assume that the future of the ever-expanding Star Trek universe will be built around strange new worlds Instead of Picard.

Why Strange New Worlds Is A Narrative Dead End

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gets so right about the final frontier that it's easy to assume the franchise will be built around it. But there's a harsh reality to the series that can't be avoided, and Strange New World is a prequel in which the fates of most of its characters are already known. Anson Mount's Captain Christopher Pike was a revelation, but he must inevitably give way to the events of James T. Kirk and TOS. Ethan Peck's iteration of Spock was fascinating, but it could never quite match the original version Leonard Nimoy played for six decades.

Not only is Strange New World's characters largely set in the future, but the show is set in an era already well covered by multiple projects in Star Trek. Part of the reason Star Trek: Discovery left the 23rd century behind in season 3 was to get out of the grip of the narrative because it was a prequel so close to the events of TOS. Part of the appeal of Strange New Worlds is that it embraces the aesthetic and spirit of TOS, but This virtue means that it ends up in a narrative dead end.

Picard Will Push The Story Of Star Trek Forward

Star Trek: Picard Season 3 is in the perfect position to expand the franchise on the small screen. While season 3 may be the end of Jean-Luc Picard's story, the 25th century adventure is still likely to continue with popular traditional characters like Will Riker and the Nine. Seven (Seven of Nine). As showrunner Terry Matalas pointed out, Picard season 3 isn't just a continuation of TNG, it's continuing the legacy of other '90s Star Trek shows like Deep Space Nine and Voyager number.

It is unclear exactly how Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard will advance the series' overall narrative. The show's plot is tightly guarded, and the storylines within it are much broader in scope than the relatively personal stories told in the show's first two seasons. But embracing the time frames and characters of TNG, DS9, and Voyager, arguably Star Trek's most successful era, seemed like an obvious way to push the franchise into new and original territory, while respecting what came before.