Picard Season 3 - Franchise Saviour, Or Too Little Too Late?

Well, I've seen Picard Season 3, and its time to give my honest opinion. Is it enough to turn Star Trek around, or too little too late?
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[@XeniaChow]

Episode one should really have started with Picard waking up saying "I had a horrible dream..."

[@ANobodyatall]

In the shower.

[@kannnnn392]

should i watch first 2 season before watching this?

[@jasongrundy1717]

Exactly, which is why Drinker is drunk again. Sticking some garlic aioli on a crap sandwich is still a crap sandwich.

[@derosa1989]

@@kannnnn392 no! skip it, nothing happens, it's useless.

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

“Councillor, what is the date? I need to know the exact date.”

[@feralandroid]

It’s like meeting your childhood hero as an adult and he’s a drunk loser. Even if he cleans up his act, the magic is gone.

[@arioch2112]

Excellent summation of current state of things, for me that started when Nimoy told me in 2009 to forget about all that stuff in my house I bought and read and watched over the decades which was why Leonard was hawking a newer version. And what's worse? It never had to be like this.

[@ericjohnson7234]

Well life is terrible for everyone. As they say, never meet your hero

[@mem1701movies]

@@arioch2112 I read that “Prime” Spock or universe wasn’t even really the same universe as TOS.

[@iamdmc]

Stop telling us about your estranged father

[@chucksenhowzen9740]

@@stpblum00 we know that dad

[@drumguy1384]

In the first episode of Season 3, during the opening montage, as the camera slowly pans past the federation console, there is a golden tree woven from wire right next to it. That tree was created by my uncle, Kenneth Dean Phillips. Uncle Ken died from cancer a few months before the show aired, but I would like to think he would be proud to see it there.

[@Kiido11]

That's a really sweet story. Sorry about your uncle. How did his tree make it onto the show? Was he involved with production in some way?

[@drumguy1384]

@@Kiido11 In fact, he wasn't. He lived on a small farm in Arkansas and started making them as a hobby. He was always a business minded person. He worked for a few fortune 500s before retiring to the farm several years ago. He sold his trees on Etsy, and I guess someone at CBS saw them. He was approached by someone a year or two ago to buy one for a TV production. He and the rest of the family though it was pretty cool, but we didn't know what show it was for. It was quite a surprise to see it there, and it gave us all a nice warm remembrance of Ken. He passed away back in November.

[@roberto3151991]

Anyone making trees today?

[@rockscousteau]

I watched the first episode a while ago and thought it sucked balls compared to seasons 1 and 2. So I quit watching this. Is it wort it?

[@geley5285]

@@rockscousteau The setup in the first couple episodes is worth it, the later episodes tie things together elegantly

[@notabannedaccount8362]

“Don’t believe them! Don’t trust them! Let them die!” - Captain James T. Kirk

[@milea-carmaciumihai4288]

I swear, that was the first thing that came to mind when i heard ppl praising season 3

[@zoladkow]

​@@milea-carmaciumihai4288 😁 yup, same same 👍 and so far i don't disagree with that intuition 🤷

[@bartsullivan4866]

Such great dialog from Undiscovered Country. A far superior movie where even Kirk has to overcome his prejudice

[@TJFicarrotta]

The best captain ever in my opinion.

[@notabannedaccount8362]

@@TJFicarrotta Captain Jellico was pretty wizard.

[@miketeeveedub5779]

So we are expected to forget and forgive 15 years of abuse just because one show wasn't as abusive? Nope - my Star Trek is dead, and Nu-Trek wasn't made for me. This +50 year fan accepts that. I've buried my fandom. RIP Star Trek.

[@jackmesrel4933]

I would say this season is a fantastic work of taxidermi on a longtime rotted corpse. At first glance you could believe that it's almost alive, but at a closer inspection you can see the scars where the taxidermist had to sew the skin together again, if you touch it you feel the coldnese of the body and the artificial softness of the stuffing, and it's eyes had to be changed for crystal marbles. No matter how good of a job it is, a corpse is still a corpse, and while you can appreciate the job behind making it look as alive as possible, it's still dead.

[@wanderingwaypoints9809]

Watch The Orville

[@bassandtrebleclef]

@@wanderingwaypoints9809 Orville is closer in quality and idea to st.

[@spilchsaysstuff1427]

@Wandering Waypoints Orville is like that student that takes what their Professor has taught them, and did what Einstein said after someone said he was better than Newton. They stood on someone else's shoulders, and saw further. New Trek mocks old Trek and punches them in the shoulder.

[@humankirk9196]

@@bassandtrebleclef Orville at best is a parody. A better one than Lower Decks but still a parody. When they think they can do serious instead of parody, it rather falls flat. If you know TOS there aren't really many original episode ideas in The Orville

[@herekblood]

As a fun side note, my wife is a dramatic liberal, but also a deeply closeted conservative. I've started using the phrase "THE MESSAGE" in casual conversation, in much the same way that you do. And lo and behold, she has started using it unironically herself. Marriage really is better when trolling is there.

[@thereare4lights137]

I do the same with my son. Everytime we watch something with gross amounts of virtue signaling, I call it "The Message", lol.

[@moritz6241]

Made up Story + loser

[@cantdance3077]

You are my hero

[@barnabusdoyle4930]

Being a progressive person myself, I despise “The Message” and everything surrounding it. The censorship of people who’s ideas conflict with your own and the idea that you can’t do something simply because it may offend some other person is insanity. Covid was a great example of this and showed how the push to follow the narrative was simply people wanting to control the lives of other, in the same way that people who push for abortion bans do

[@rickyrayrosenberg420]

It's hard to not see the message at this point I feel like the weird socialists have got a megaphone on every kind of media and they're screaming into it constantly demanding people do whatever weird shit they think of today

[@pulpheroaudio8709]

Most Star Trek fans find continuity incredibly important and the fact that seasons 1-2 are still part of the continuity is probably the biggest hurdle to overcome no matter how much of an improvement season 3 may be.

[@DmNixegramThecriticaldrinker11]

Contact me for your Reward 🎁🎁👆👆👆.

[@HamiltonStIves]

AMEN...Like Drinker said (extremely WELL), this positivity will NOT make up for the repeated & UNcreative cultural marxist sodomy perpetrated upon star trek. I WILL watch it. And Enjoy it. But Later. When it's FREE for ME. Somewhere else. When the 2nd or 3rd generation of owners have purchased the copywright to stream it. And i won't have to SPECIFICALLY pay to watch it. That's the BEST they can possibly get from me, no matter how good it supposedly is.

[@StefanMortonmachinist]

Yes. My thoughts exactly.

[@pjparkjd]

I don't think I watched season 2. If I did, I don't remember it, but I watched the first episode of S3 and it looked like the same-old to me. Two doddering old men come up with the dumbest plan imaginable to hitchhike on a starship to a nebula. They are saved when an oppressed female officer takes drives the ship to their desired destination against orders and isn't immediately thrown into the brig.

[@fuzzywzhe]

I just don't consider anything beyond 1991 to be cannon. There. Problem solved.

[@Mistardmuster]

Drinker I'm begging you please do one more Picard review at the end of this season. this has been the first Star Trek series I've been excited to sit down and watch every night since they started churning out new content. This was the reunion we'd been waiting for for decades.

[@Mycr0bi]

I support this comment! This ending, left me with joy. It was an actual good story, and closure, but leaving open doors for another ST:Enterprise series! (Hopefully leaving the legends to rest.)

[@EliteGoosePlusOne]

yeah i'd like to see his full commentary without the spoilers. we rarely get smart commentary from people who actually know and love good Star Trek

[@chaost4544]

New Trek has kind of turned it around. I really enjoy "Strange New Worlds", "Lower Decks" is pretty entertaining, and Season 3 of Picard was excellent.

[@ponderingmonk525]

^^^

[@donnamofabrill4669]

Spoiler: the season also sucked

[@Roboticus_Prime_RC]

No, I will not be giving the gaslighting abuser "a chance." This is not Star Trek.

[@grandmufftwerkin9037]

Wesley Crusher was so terrible that Picard season 3 gave Beverly an entirely new son.🙃

[@angieoxford7092]

Was Wesley Crusher played by Wil Wheaton? I didn’t watch the series much, but enough to know that character is insufferable.

[@luna-hw9li]

I guess Wheaton is still super-excited about this...

[@leonardonovara9348]

Really makes you think, lol.

[@JustinHEMI05]

That was the funniest thing to me about this episode.

[@Zzyzzyx]

Wil Wheaton was a really gifted young actor (see: Stand By Me). It wasn't his fault his character was written to be so corny. And he had some good episodes toward the end of his time on the show.

[@namelessandsouless1]

Someone said something that I completely agreed with. They called season 3 of Picard, season 8 of TNG and I never knew I needed to hear that until it was said.

[@electrictroy2010]

TNG seasons were 26 episodes long. Picard S3 isn’t even Half of a TNG season.

[@dominicdudebromtl9380]

@@electrictroy2010 does the word 'whooosh' mean anything to you?

[@zoso1980]

TNG had stories... this was just a rehash for nostalgia feels and memberberries in the bleak NuTrek aesthetic. Don't agree with the "S8" at all. Even Stewart himself said you can't bring back iconic shows. Once you got past the nostalgia, the silliness of the story ark was just empty, it was about seeing faces again rather than an interesting storyline. Sorry, TNG would've never sunk to such a pathetic low.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@dominicdudebromtl9380 It sounds like what moderns do

[@evanbelisle8464]

@@zoso1980there were plenty of goofy ass nothing TNG episodes.

[@rodU65]

I was expecting to see Janeway, at least one cameo.😢😢 But I cried like a baby when VOYAGER showed up. So many memories. I can understand how fans are really Involved in the shows, I remember the VOYAGER crew as old friends , I really miss them.

[@KingCuba]

Holy shit, hearing drinker sign off a video without sounding completely destroyed and upset, is a real pleasure

[@MrMonsster]

I am confused as any man. I had the pleasure of watching the first 6 too (comes with the job) and I couldn't agree more.

[@Baldur1005]

Watch his review of Maverick or Arkane

[@dazza761]

His review of arcane was outstanding

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

EXACTLY! Seriously, it made me a little bit happy, because we ALL needed to hear that something GOOD was finally coming through the poop pipes.

[@Nostromo2144]

He must have run out of whiskey and had a momentary lapse of sanity, is all i can put it down to! 🤣

[@chucksenhowzen9740]

I remembered the line Drinker used for season 1 “Sheer F#cking Hubris” & thought nope, not giving it a chance

[@Uzarran]

You chose wisely.

[@TheRocco96]

Picard and everything TNG is still being disrespected, but it's more subtle now. Like how the Galaxy class modelship doesn't sell because 'nobody wants the fat one", or captain Shaw being rude during the diner scene. Picard is made to look silly when he suggests to inform the engine room about traveling at warp 9.9, or when he doesn't know DS3 has been closed for a year.

[@JelloTR]

4 episodes in and they’ve all been at least 8/10. This is likely the last outing for these characters and I’m pretty sure I know where it’s going to end up. It’s the Picard show I wanted. One last mission with the TNG crew to make up for the calamity that was Nemesis. The first two Picard series seemingly erased. They even dumped the intro and the music from that nightmare.

[@chaost4544]

The fourth episode vaulted up my list of favorite Trek episodes. The acting in the episode was phenomenal.

[@sharpie3811]

@@chaost4544 The last 2 episodes and “17 seconds” are some of my favorite tv episodes ever already.

[@electrictroy2010]

@JelloTR AMERICAN SHOWS say “seasons” not series because typically the show started September and ran until May (with no episodes during summer vacation). American shows are seasonal. So Picard had 3 seasons. TNG had 7 seasons. Et cetera. The term “series” refers to the whole show from start to finish.

[@electrictroy2010]

Well… you refering to Picard Series 3 is as uneducated as me saying Doctor Who season 3. Both are wrong

[@TheCmcyclist]

I just finished season three. I know it took awhile but holy cow, I loved this season. It was perfect. I love ST:TNG. This was the perfect end. Would love to see the adventures of the Enterprise G with 7 of 9.

[@XeniaChow]

For me, the consistent problem with Star Trek movies and TV shows since 2009 is characters talking and behaving like contemporary humans. Despite all the positive points this problem still remains, and has been my number one sticking point with nu trek.

[@mrbeans2425]

YES SO TRUE! We get enough current events as it is! Is it really too much to ask to just want my space fantasy to actually be fantasy!

[@Samael6685]

What contemporary human? I don't know enibody that behave like that.

[@stephenshelton4267]

Having watched TNG - ENT I never noticed that they talked in a certain way until it was gone.

[@NathanCassidy721]

As a guy who was the target audience for 2009 Star Trek, a Star Wars fan, I will give it credit for inspiring me to check out the old stuff. But what I appreciate about the older stuff is how much of it is NOT like Star Wars, a point that Bad Robot missed as nu trek tried to copy Star Wars.

[@kevesdancey]

I remember watching the trailer for star trek 2009 and having doubts. Once I watched the movie. I hated it and it has only got worries, it is toxic!

[@LeonDeLaMole]

Q: “What must I do to convince you?” Worf: “Die.”

[@davidwilliam9681]

What a great line, and what a great use of it here.

[@thetinylebowski4147]

We need Worf's solution to the message the way he handles medieval lutes.

[@piotrd.4850]

I still maintain that it was most Spartan and best delivered, vicious comeback in history of TV. Watching rest of cast trying to keep straight face was awesome.

[@chemoboy-dannypheleps9234]

eat any good books lately

[@sarahdebardeleben1536]

❤

[@fisharmor]

It's not a matter of having an open mind. It's a matter of having two things: the smallest modicum of pride, and also the knowledge that the more we patronize people who treated us like shit, the less support there is for other people who won't.

[@HamiltonStIves]

AMEN...Like Drinker said (extremely WELL), this positivity will NOT make up for the repeated & UNcreative cultural marxist sodomy perpetrated upon star trek. I WILL watch it. And Enjoy it. But Later. When it's FREE for ME. Somewhere else. When the 2nd or 3rd generation of owners have purchased the copywright to stream it. And i won't have to SPECIFICALLY pay to watch it. That's the BEST they can possibly get from me, no matter how good it supposedly is. For example, I won't congratulate a Marxist just because, TODAY, the bread line is shorter. Too little, too late.

[@Wistbacka]

But shouldn't you also then acknowledge when they correct themselves and do something good? Otherwise, what's the point of course correcting if you still gonna get shit for the bad things you did? Then you just may keep pumping out shit I boycotted EA for half a decade. But when they released Titanfall 2, a good, finished game with no significant/forced micro transactions. I bought it to show: "okay. You did good this time. More of this, please!"

[@SamusMcAslan]

@@Wistbacka I think this is an important perspective. If we still care at all about the franchise, we should reward them when they do things the right way. I don't see it so much as a "battered spouse" situation but more as a misbehaving dog situation. The bad behavior has gotten so bad that a lot of us have just started withholding our attention (and money), but when they do good, we can say, "Good boy, you get a treat and some pets," and some views/money. Complaints won't mean much to them. But if they see that season 3 makes more money and gets more views than the first two and more than STD, then they might go, "Hey, maybe we can make more money if we do it this way." And that *might* change their behavior going forward.

[@patrickschwabe7573]

Season 3 was the only season of Picard I watched. It' s almost perfect .

[@DerUnglaublicheFrank]

Perfect garbage

[@pr-tj5by]

@@DerUnglaublicheFrank Clueless.....

[@zoso1980]

@@pr-tj5by Defending nostalgia bait and memberberries is a bad look. Just sayin'. S3 was a joke, written for nostalgia feels with no future. Living on the fumes of good will from decades ago. Utter dreck.

[@pr-tj5by]

@@zoso1980 I'm glad I wasn't wasting my time like you were then

[@zoso1980]

​@@pr-tj5by There's always a place for those with low standards that just want a nostalgia romp, I suppose.

[@Opusss]

I mean I think its ultimately too little too late. However the fact that they reached out to Drinker with an early screening speaks volumes. Did they fire the previous show runners and get new people? I was under the impression that this segment of the fandom was seen as villainous and everything that is wrong with society by the people making these shows.

[@jrus690]

All but one guy left to do different shows, one of which was Star Trek Strange New Worlds. The guy that remained was left with the creative freedom to do this, hence the huge change in tone.

[@romevang]

Show runner Terry Matalas seems to be one of the forces involved with the changes this season.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

They reached out to almost every You Tuber that has hated on modern Trek with the exception of Doomcock who seems super bitter over it.

[@Ma55ey]

I mean It's been a good strategy to give these guys early access the season... feels a bit like an olive branch from the studio.. some people would say they are desperate.. but to quietly reach out to the fandom menace and say take a look at this, feels like a change in tone from the studio to just calling them toxic like it's been doing for the past 6 years... some might say too little too late. But if paramount has listened and is now willing to make star trek for star trek fans not twitter influencers.. this could be a small step in the right direction..

[@looinrims]

It’s amazing to me how random people who just make videos get this treatment…

[@sirbeatdown999]

Doomcock warned us against this. Don't be fooled into giving them you loyalty. I'll wait until they have a history of good seasons before I watch anything Star Trek

[@klein2042]

This season feels like the TNG movie we always deserved

[@JavaBum]

Amen. 🤘

[@gottkomplex9211]

Absolutely

[@alnu8355]

Better than Generations, Insurrection, and Nemessis. Not better than 1st Contact, but to be fair that's a REALLY good Star Trek movie.

[@klein2042]

@@alnu8355 Oh yeah First Contact absolutely slaps. That’s probably why they used the First Contact theme for Picard S3

[@Treizez34]

I was almost done after Season 2; I couldn't believe what a drastic (and WELCOME) turn around Season 3 was. I never thought I could get emotionally invested into another Star Trek show the way I was here. They really need to continue this level of work on future project

[@georgevanhoose6333]

I wish "drag show at a kindergarten" was still some ridiculously unthinkable comparison.

[@notusedexer]

Agreed. Democrats have turned into Darth Vader.

[@simondaniel4028]

It is.

[@georgevanhoose6333]

@@simondaniel4028 It might be ridiculous but it's not unthinkable anymore.

[@spiritsplice]

@@notusedexer more like (((democrats)))

[@RogueFox2185]

As Gary well put it, this is the best it’s gonna get with Kurtzman Trek, it can’t save the series no more than Andor can do for Star Wars.

[@dragons_red]

It's not about "saving" anything. It's more about sending the message to Hollywood on what is good writing and what is shite woke nonsense. And contrary to CD, I agree with Dave Cullen that these franchises need to be put out to pasture anyway and start coming up with new stuff.

[@mac1991seth]

@@dragons_red The thing is, normally movies and TV shows should end with "happily ever after" (unless it's a drama, then it should end with "it is what it is" or "and then they all died"). But with sci-fi, you can always write a new captain, you can always make up a new ship, you can always add more planets, you can always come up with new stuff beyond the galaxy and worse case scenario you can give the old team kids and they're in the forefront now. Sci-fi shows get sequel'd and will continue to get sequel'd because deep down we want another Star Wars, we want another Star Trek, we want a new Doctor and we want another superhero thing (because at the end of the day it's sci-fi as well). So while I agree that all these things should just end and we should be happy that it happened, there will always be that part of humanity in us that asks "and what happened then?".

[@xminusone1]

@@mac1991seth I agree with you That's what sci-fi is meant to be. They don't have the constrain of the real world, it doesn't need to be realistic, only to be believable in the world they happen to be and things can always be turned around and with the right people involved it's definitely feasible. At the only condition that the studios won't interfere too much. (English isn't my language)

[@Robotrik1]

Except Gary was wrong, as Star Wars has had a number of diamonds in the past . I don't believe he watched any of the 8-9 years worth of animated series, nor has he read any SW books , making his knowledge of SW = that of the average cinema goer . SW also had poor or very much middle of the road movies -- so it has a very different hit/miss ratio than one that Gary knows about . TNG has a very different hit/miss history , and Picard cannot be corrected any more than Luke can after the Rian Johnson character assassination .

[@GhostLink92]

All Star Wars has to do is lance off the boil that is the ST. Problem solved. Everything else in comparison is fine, even BoBF. Trek has a lot more work to do.

[@PouchMaster]

I once met Jonathon Frakes. I'm the guy who asked him what it's like to "beam in". He laughs and tells people about my question to this day at comicons and autograph signings. He chews a phenomenal amount of gum.

[@basementbrotherscollectibles]

I’m gonna get my picture with him at comic con this year!

[@PouchMaster]

@@basementbrotherscollectibles The whole time he was there he was chewing gum, and I see him doing the same thing in videos I watch of him at like Las Vegas conventions and such. It's compulsive, like a cigarette habit, only with gum. Watch for it when you meet him lol.

[@RandomAccessDreams]

​@@PouchMaster I think he chews gum because he did smoke and is trying to kick the habit.

[@PouchMaster]

@@RandomAccessDreams Did he smoke? That's hard to imagine!

[@robbie_]

Haha great story.

[@paulbooth5197]

Nah, gave it a try. Was out when I saw Beverly reloading her phaser rifle like a pump action shotgun (?????) and then (NERD ALERT!) the enemy ship docked with her ship gets left behind when hers goes to warp, (EXTREME NERD ALERT!!!)when it would have been inside the warp bubble (ffs I'm a grown man) so would have stayed docked and gone with Beverlys ship. Almost as bad as season 3 of Discovery.

[@thewkovacs316]

the best thing about the series is that we find out that dr crusher hated wesley just as much as the rest of us

[@jeffkeenan5059]

I don’t know about that 🤔

[@phantom-ow4uf]

LOL, yep.

[@carlmiller8138]

Why??

[@jamesrobinson2086]

If my son was supposed to grow up into a tall, masculine iconic traditional male figure... but instead all he did was get a pot belly and grow a beard to hide his weak chin I'd be pissed too and try again

[@walter_the_wobot2349]

It’s 💩

[@silverscorpio24]

It's like an abusive relative saying sorry: until they show a willingness to seriously change, it doesn't matter.

[@Daemonarch2k6]

There have to be at least 5 full very good seasons that i'm going to think about to step back in

[@jimgoeddel5087]

@@Daemonarch2k6 Only five? I'll need 15 seasons to even consider watching any Star Trek. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Shaq2k]

Just finished this season now. And it was FANTASTIC! THIS is what we want! I had everything, good story, likable characters, excitement, fan service, etc. I managed to get goose bumps several times. And even some tears. Been a long time since a TV moved me so much. I hope they continue down this road.

[@shefudgrupa]

"Never come back" camp for life. Defeat is the best option here. I can always rewatch the old series, and that's great.

[@BasicShapes]

Honestly the old series are so much better than even Picard season 3. S3 might be better than 1 and 2 but it doesn't hold a single flame to TNG and DS9.

[@DigimontamerB]

Bad Robot put their best foot forward because their contract is about to expire. I truly believe if it gets renewed, Trek goes right back in the gutter.

[@rickydeldo8596]

I completely agree with that, you can't support them. Or they will get their contract extended and fu*k up ST for the next 20 years or so. They know 100% what they are doing.

[@humankirk9196]

Not watching any JarJar Trek until Kurtzman is publicly beaten with a batleth

[@humankirk9196]

JarJar and Kurtzman have to go, idgaf what they do. Frankly I would put them both in prison

[@maelstrom2313]

​@The Rotten💯 Exactly. This is what we call a catch-22. There's no guarantee that either choice will have the desired outcome. Personally, I choose to "let the past die," and pray the studios follow.

[@RonRonin]

Couldn't agree more. Pure pandering to save their jobs, then right back to pure trash

[@truckasaurus9510]

Unless everything from the rest of Kurtzman trek is retconned out of existence and Kurtzman is fired and humiliated then it doesn't matter how "good" this season is.

[@01What10]

Exactly, the damage from the first two seasons is just too much for this to be worth a damn. Don't care about anything they do. Even if they improved everything, it is built on a foundation to total garbage.

[@I-ONLY-BUILD-MECHS-AND-DUSTERS]

Yeah I'm not touching anything from these people until I see some kind of apology. I'm not just going to forget about all the blatant attacks and all the stupid articles punching down at fans like they never happened.

[@01What10]

@@I-ONLY-BUILD-MECHS-AND-DUSTERS Couldn't agree more. The damage is so deep and just unforgivable... There must be a monumental gesture of humility before I ever give these people my time ever again.

[@kalashnikovdevil]

I'm glad I'm not alone on flipping these assholes the bird.

[@dhyde2025]

Just finished 10. Yup. Its good. Really good. And swords are fun.

[@JT-ii9qn]

One of the best seasons of any Star Trek series ever. Glad they didn’t give up. Love the nostalgia and send off.

[@electrictroy2010]

More like Half-season. My favorite seasons were a solid 24-26 episodes long.

[@digitalcurrents]

@@electrictroy2010 More like a full season with all the filler episodes removed.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

Riker and Picard sitting around by a lake and burning pizza was the best part of season 1.

[@dirkmasters7453]

No I feel it was terrible. They had Riker lose a child , why? No happy endings at all?

[@ianallardyce4222]

Exactly. It was the BEST part.

[@sleepinggorilla]

That was the only episode I liked.

[@davidm4566]

@@dirkmasters7453 You're both right. A terrible episode is still the best of that season. It was a very low bar after all.

[@Impulset0]

I disagree. Fat retired pizza chef showing up commanding the largest fleet in star trek history was the best part. In that I hadnt laughed that hard in years

[@walkertexasraymond]

It’s funny how Picard is a robot. Yet a frail 70 year old robot lol

[@archstanton9073]

Try 80.

[@mdanam]

Well that's because he's a bad robot

[@ptonpc]

@@mdanam 😂 I see what you did there!

[@harveytherobot]

The character is supposed to be 95.

[@ccrazool]

Battered spouses everywhere love season 3 of Picard. See? He's good to me sometimes.

[@swhorne]

they’re just that way 😂😂😂😂

[@klein2042]

I don’t know man, between this and Strange New Worlds it feels like we’re moving in the right direction

[@leonie7754]

Nah, Picard s1 and 2 are still rubbish. S3 feels more like TNG: S8. I don't think they will recapture that magic in the future, but what was made genuinely made me happy. It wasn't perfect, but it was very good and gave me a lot of feels I didn't think Trek could do any more.

[@ahmataevo]

I don't care if they have a season that's the best star trek ever produced, I will never forgive any of them for what they did before.

[@bigmediafan]

I felt the same. That being said I would actually describe this as a soft reboot of the series. Don't forgive, sure, but do yourself a favour and watch it. I was completely converted.

[@GibDozer1]

Yeah, I don't think I can watch it. Since Discovery Star Trek has been on my blacklist. I'm a pretty big Trek fan, but I'd have to finish season 1 and watch season 2 to get to season 3. Somehow idt it would be worth it to me.

[@Tvirus12]

@@GibDozer1 you really don't need to bother with picard season 2 for continuity. In season 3 Captain Shaw recaps it as 'that bullshit with the borg." he's not wrong

[@bigmediafan]

@@GibDozer1 skip them all. Absolutely no need to watch any of it.

[@hankmoulton436]

I was right there with you and other than this season alone the rest is hot garbage. This one though I think is a hail Mary and they are pulling out all the stops. It's a shame this is what season one should have been

[@Jagent]

Glad to hear about the upgraded writing, but I'm going to wait until Kurtzman and Bad Robot are not associated with the franchise before returning to it.

[@Great_White_Shork]

That's the only way I'm coming back.

[@kerravon4159]

Me too, Kurtzman is never getting a single penny of my money or time.

[@jordanrob999]

I don’t think I’ve ever started watching a series by skipping the first two seasons, but Picard might be the first show where I do just that lol.

[@Scripture-Man]

It's not really one series at all, it's two completely different shows which happen to share the same platform and title, but other than that it's a new show.

[@EssentialComment]

Just thinking the very same

[@donhawthorne8493]

Me, too!

[@Rorschach.]

Thank you Drinker - this review (and RLM) persuaded me that Picard S3 was that rarest of things - a recognition of the wrong path and an astute course correction. Didn't ever see that coming in 2023. This is my Trek and I watched the whole thing transfixed in 2 sittings. I've no idea what the idiots at CBS will do now the TNG story has been so well concluded but for a moment there, all good things returned. I'll even forgive Terry Matalas naming a planet after himself - he's so richly earned that right.

[@sharpie3811]

The producers actually named that planet for him way back in Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4

[@Rorschach.]

@@sharpie3811 Indeed they did. I discovered this not long after posting but thought I'd leave it as it is, as it's meant as a compliment. 👍

[@electrictroy2010]

Enterprise Season 4 was a reboot of sorts. New show runner took over & had Archer say “No more time war or travel. Enough is enough!” .

[@electrictroy2010]

But it was too later. UPN was already planning to cancel the show. It only got a 4th season, because Paramount needed 100 episodes for the rerun market.

[@nwrob1]

I'm really glad I watched this review because I had no intention of watching season 3. Episodes range from decent to absolutely fantastic. And Michael Dorn was so deapan hilarious, I dont know how the cast made it through some of those scenes without busting up laughing. Just great stuff. Frakes especially was a joy to watch again... great stuff. A number of things to criticise, but the overall effort is so enjoyable and such a huge improvement over its predecessors that I don’t have the heart to complain. It's worth a watch for sure.

[@dearthofdoohickeys4703]

I saw the first episode, and yeah it was pretty decent. I think Nerdrotic put it well: they haven’t reinvented the wheel, they just found it again.

[@randomhuman97]

Nerdrotic? Oh that mom's basement dwelling rantman who hates on IPs for a living. Yup. Totally reliable source.

[@MLAGG10N3]

You call that shit decent? 😅

[@humankirk9196]

@The Cheap Normie as long as JarJar Abrams and Alex Kurtzman are still in charge -- which they are -- this show is dead and it does not matter how much lipstick they put on Star Trek's rotting carcass

[@MsHojat]

Not really, because Picard is not TNG. Although I guess it could kind of be like Enterprise (I didn't see much of Enterprise, but I think it was vaguely like this kind-of sometimes)

[@thebadtemperedbrit]

I'm still wondering how Gary's got to see the entire season, just saw Red Letter Media & even they have only seen ep1. Saw Az joking that Gary's part of the main stream media now lol.

[@TeleologicalConsistency]

People have become like battered wives. You get abused repeatedly by the shit show and then the moment the abuser shows you some kindness you think everything has changed. Until the people writing, directing, and producing the show have been totally replaced nothing will truly change.

[@kalashnikovdevil]

Yeah weird how many people are so excited to run right back after 'he' promises not to hit you anymore this time. Honest!

[@charlesjmouse]

Well said.

[@thewilhelmscream7912]

It's an interesting dichotomy that we face, we can watch stuff that ultimately is bad and causes damage to the memory of things we've enjoyed, yet we still hope for things connected to those good memories, you made a very good analogy, and just like people abused, you can understand why they do it, even if in your own opinion it's crazy, and it is, people do crazy things for love, even if it's only a memory of that love...but I like me some lazers, so I'll maybe watch it if I can for free at a library or something, I'm not paying for propaganda if I can help it.

[@ronsargeant8371]

It has a second level. Other things that we wouldn't have considered attractive now become watchable purely on the lack of messaging. It's like swapping a violent husband for one who is a stoner slacker - "at least he doesn't hit me!". It's upped my viewing of Korean output ( I liked it before), they don't do woke shit.

[@mattsmith1859]

Wow... that's an idiotic way to look at things.

[@Semeyaza]

I don't really know what you guys are watching. The first three episodes were NuTrek through and through. Sure, dialogues are a little bit better, but with the first two seasons having set the bar so low... it was not really that difficult.

[@dd_zzero6827]

I just finished watching season 3. Amazing! The best Star Trek I have seen since Next Gen, DS9 and Voyager and Enterprise. Just an amazing achievement that came out of nowhere. I loved it! I never watching the first two seasons because I didn't want to ruin Star Trek for myself. I really hope they do a spin off with Seven and the new crew, AND keep it as good as this 3rd season was. Great review by the way. Totally agree on everything. Writing was great. Every episode felt like a movie. LOVED the characters, especially Riker. Everyone had their time in the sun. Just an amazingly well made series. I was so happy, I didn't know what to do. lol!

[@NathanCassidy721]

It’s too little too late. I love a good redemption story but the time for a second chance has long since passed for Star Trek. We as the CUSTOMERS are not obligated to support franchises and companies that have spat in our faces in the past. We can give credit where it’s due when they do right but don’t expect us to show up after a pattern of bad behavior.

[@elenabob4953]

Next generations started being interesting in the third season so it is not like we aren't used to it but it was the first time when in the first two seasons they assassinated us with wokeness and a bleak future.

[@HaleFire7]

This is so fucking juvenile. NuTrek has been awful, yes. And your position is that no matter how good, no matter how close it resembles good Trek, the franchise is dead. It's not EVER redeemable? Even if we reincarnated Roddenberry himself, it's best if we just let the franchise burn. Too little, too late after all. "We can give credit where it's due" and "don't expect us to show up after a pattern of bad behavior" are two statements that literally cannot both be true. You folks have been fighting the wokeness for so long you've become a mirror of the same evil, toxic thing you fight. You've completely lost sight of the big picture here. Your thought process ENSURES NuTrek continues and guarantees that good Trek will never be seen again. Personally, I think it's shameful to throw your hands up and quit like that.

[@NathanCassidy721]

@@elenabob4953 Stop making excuses for crappy TV. There’s a vast Grand Canyon difference between a good show that understands it’s identity by the third season and a shitshow that should have been canceled before then. Picard and Next Generation are not the same thing.

[@HelloChief117]

If anything, all the praise I've seen this season get makes it a bit sad to think about how the entire show could have had this level of quality from the start.

[@Scripture-Man]

Not necessarily. If Matalas had done 2 more seasons, the quality might not have held up. He got 1 season and he's packed all his best ideas into it, so let's just enjoy this for what it is - 10 new Star Trek episodes, the first in 20 years.

[@tonya3916]

@@Scripture-Man He got 2 seasons actually

[@UltraMAGAKing2024]

SAME

[@auturgicflosculator2183]

How good were the first two seasons of TNG?

[@prakharkirtijajoria5314]

@@Scripture-Man we got strange new world's, which was pretty awesome imo

[@EdgarFriendlysCivicsTeacher]

I finally got around to it, because I never wanted to lose Next Generation it was too important to me so I put it off, but that was incredible. I really missed these characters and it felt like they were back. I loved it.

[@Arclite02]

In addition to everything else, I think I speak for damn near everyone when I say that the people behind this show have my undying gratitude for Hangar Bay 12. When that silhouette first loomed out of the darkness, I actually cried. Hearing the theme swelling in the background as the spotlights revealed that ship code... It honestly broke me in such a perfect way.

[@boba6890]

Seven of Nine is straight. In Voyager Harry Kim puts subtle moves on Seven. It backfires spectacularly/hilariously when she asks if he's in love with her or only wants to "copulate"; she wants to copulate and commands: "Take off your clothes; don’t be alarmed I won’t hurt you". Harry freaks ending it (idiot). Seven later corners Harry, says "resistance is futile", pushes him to the wall kissing him. Seven and Chakotay fall in love; we see Seven as vulnerable, feminine, when she's in love with a man. Seven ends it upon learning in a likely future she dies and grief-stricken Chakotay kills himself. Even when Seven was fully part of the Borg Collective she was straight. Seven discovers in "Unimatrix Zero" she used to be able to visit Unimatrix Zero, which the Borg Queen could not control, and that she was in love with a man there, Axum, but was forced to forget him. Axum makes contact with Seven when she is on Voyager so she can help him and all those in Unimatrix Zero secretly resisting the Borg; the arc ends with Unimatrix Zero under attack meaning Seven will be separated from her love Axum again; Seven vows to do everything in her power to be reunited with Axum, her lover, who is a man. Seven is only gay now because Kurtzman and Goldman pushed an agenda and made her gay. It makes no sense, but why should that matter? (Do I really care if a character is Gay? No. I have no problem at all with Gay or Bi characters. I only care because what they did to Seven made no sense and because none of it was earned, meaning they messed-up one of Star Trek's most beloved characters. If any think this is just my thing, think again; Look at the interviews of Jeri Ryan where she talks about how she totally freaked out when she got the scripts for Picard S1 because nothing of the original Seven remained. Seven had become so unrecognizable that Ryan said she totally panicked because she had no idea how to even begin to play the retconned character).

[@ReasonablySkeptic]

True, and until they remove all the toxic vile they've pushed on the "reboot" it's not worth watching.

[@boba6890]

This is the dialogue from the end of Unamatrix Zero, where despite Unamatrix Zero being destroyed Seven runs into her alcove to try to be with Axum even if it means her death. (Seven appears in Unamatrix Zero as it is almost entirely destroyed). AXUM: "You shouldn't be here." SEVEN: "Neither should you." (They hug.) SEVEN: "I've wasted our time together." AXUM: "No, you didn't. It gave us a chance to fall in love again." SEVEN: (Frantically): "We've lost our only way to be together!" AXUM: "No. I'll find you." SEVEN: (Voice trembling): "Axum!" AXUM: "I'll find you." (Axum disappears, then Seven wakes up, her eyes are damp). Remind you of anything? "This is true love... you think this happens every day?" "(We) are joined by the bond of love and you cannot track that, not with a thousand bloodhounds, and you cannot break it, not with a thousand swords." The Princess Bride. Did Kurtzman and Goldman not watch Voyager, and if they did, how could they possibly even pretend that Seven is gay?

[@gamingweasel4633]

@@ReasonablySkeptic I'm not going to whine about it, if I can see Jeri Ryan making out with another woman. Just saying...

[@hulking_presence]

Kurtzman and Goldman you say...

[@VernCrisler]

That death of Seven of Nine, and Chakotay's subsequent heartbreak, only occur if the original mission continued on for several years. Future Janeway, however, in cooperation with Present Janeway, stopped that future. So, there was no reason for Chakotay and Seven not to get married. Turning Seven into a lesbian is just more in-your-face wokeness by the spawn of Satan who infest Hollywood, not the natural development of her character arc.

[@KiltedCritic]

I'm in the too little, too late crowd. I can't give them the viewing numbers on principal. They've had 14 years to make their material appealing to the majority of Star Trek fans. That should have been the starting point when they took over, not a desperate last roll of the dice move after failing to pull in the Game of Thrones crowd. It's still the dark, dreary, and contemporary spoken JarJar verse. Once that and Bad Re-boot are out, I'll consider new Star Trek material then.

[@Eulerpi23]

I am with you!

[@joseywales7463]

Don't give them the numbers. Sail the high seas.

[@origami83]

I feel exactly the same way. Halfway during season 1 of STD i was out and never looked back. Still rewatching the older shows about once a year.

[@AndrasMihalyi]

There are always ways to watch the series and not giving them viewing numbers. Har-har-har

[@davidsandeman9837]

Just finished episode 4 of series 3. Awesome return to form, despite Picard emulating a tortoise that’s lost its shell

[@hongpingmike]

he's 80.

[@andrewmccarrick1036]

I had a tear in my eye at the end of the season everything a fan of star trek wants

[@spartybrearly7221]

Didn’t get everything I wanted e.g. Jeri Ryan in her brown catsuit, Jem ha’dar or Kazon. Also disappear we didn’t get a cameo from Robert Picardo as the EMH.

[@denniswillman7575]

It’s too little, too late. To each their own, though.

[@rhedosaurus2251]

Here's the thing: Let's say this is good. What is preventing Kurtzman, Chabon, and Goldsman from using this as a pretense to come back and giving us more bad Trek? I know that the 5 year contract extension Kurtzman got last year was supposed to have his power removed, but if Shari Redstone was foolish enough to give him that extension in the first place, why should I think that she wouldn't give him his power back? Sorry, but unless unless Kurtzman is gone for good, there is no coming back.

[@4203105]

Hollywood is a game of failing upwards. You have to fail really hard to even get sidelined and get your power striped with a face saving contact like this. There is usually no way back from that. So I'd say he's well and truly out. That being said, I'll be weary of any new star trek show for years to come.

[@rhedosaurus2251]

@@4203105 But what's the point of renewing the contract while taking away direct power at the same time? It would have made far more sense to just let it expire and start off where DS9 or Voyager ended instead. Not only that, but even somebody who's had direct power taken away can still wield considerable influence. And Kurtzman's right hand man, Chabon can simply take power for himself as well and sideline Kurtzman too.

[@RobFalcon141]

I agree with your commentary. I felt that Season 3 was overall worth my time, and do recommend it to folks hesitant on New Trek. Honestly, I think the showrunners kinda recognized the issues. Season 3 gives reminders of the approximately two-and-a-half things you need to remember from Season 1. (Only thing missed is Raffi's background with Jean Luc, so folks just joining in will probably be lost as to why everyone knows her already.) I couldn't say if there were reminders of Season 2 as I didn't watch it.

[@ambda]

As a true TNG fan since -90 (when the show reached scandinavia), I'm so happy to finally see the story and crew getting the ending they deserve. It's been a long time coming.

[@pendragnx]

shocking.. would never have expected this show to get any better also, I hate how the lighting is sooooo dark ... i loved how much light there was in TNG

[@lostalone9320]

Part of the Federation aesthetic is that everything is lit like an Apple advert. Even in DS9, where it is a bit less, Federation stuff is clean and well lit and looks all business. Changing that is stupid. It looks like they are on ships stolen from another speicies.

[@amezzeray2]

you know, when the Kelvin movies came out... my biggest gripe? Lack of carpets. Same with Discovery. I like my TNG-era carpets. And now I can add lighting to list. I've kinda gotten used to both now, but still

[@purefoldnz3070]

its not any better though.

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

I agree. It's the nihilism that pervades modern America. It's everywhere. Do they have Fresh Market grocery stores where you live? I call it the shop in the dark grocery.

[@BlazingOwnager]

@@lostalone9320 It's an interesting dilemma. DS9 looks far, far better than any of the other Trek shows of that era precisely because the Cardassian stuff allowed for more cinematic lighting and shadow.

[@kevinarmstrong478]

To think we could have had Han and Luke done in a similar way

[@shovelollipopincatassandsell]

I don't think that can happen plus harrison Ford dont care about solo that much

[@bitw00f]

Yeah, this season finally felt like the proper ending Picard and his crew deserved!

[@brijor6ff7]

I really enjoy season 3. I even called my mom to chat about it for almost 45 mins. We use to watch TNG together when i was a kid.

[@ethreix800]

The 2001 Enterprise with Scott Bakula was great. I'd love if they continued that.

[@theoneneo5024]

I’ve been rewatching it on Amazon Prime. The writing isn’t the best but it is worlds better than the crap we’ve been dealing with over the last 10 years.

[@alexanderackerman3807]

I really liked the last season of Enterprise and thought it was cancelled just when it was really getting good. I would be happy if it was continued but now it's twenty years too late.

[@yozarou.]

@@alexanderackerman3807 I heard if season 5 happened, the enterprise would’ve got a major refit

[@polla2256]

100% agree, with the right team behind it that show could have gone much further.

[@br8801]

I couldn't get past the theme...too Dawson's Creek for me.

[@djblackprincecdn]

Too little, too late for me while Kurtzman is around

[@wildtony79]

Well bugger me! I’ve just watched the first seven episodes of season 3 and the unthinkable has happened, it’s actually good! Even better, it’s really good. I can barely remember season 1 and skipped season 2 altogether so no need to wade through the dross to dive on in. It feels good to be excited about trek again.

[@JavaBum]

I think you may be that inured, uncaring viewer that doesn't like anything new because it's new. The good ol' days weren't always so good. I think you should take the fact that you enjoyed it and ride it, accept it, and appreciate stuff that isn't garbage from the onset. Picard *tried* to be about TNG, and never really deterred from that. At least they tried and made a good show of it. Point in case: I grew up watching all Trek shows. I personally loved TNG. But I'm not above saying the new stuff had some good things to it, and that they were worth watching, even just once. Today's opinion is that everything has to cater to every single individual, but gets panned for trying. Bullshit is bullshit, I agree. But let's stop the needless bashing of something simply because it didn't cater specifically to you.

[@zmaila1131]

Did we watch same show? Ok Im on episode 3 and what happen on Bridge just not really mature stuff from profesional comanders, engineers and so on.... "Go away . you just killed us all" Sure there will be plot twist in next epizode, but what is this for screen play? Why would you attack Much more powerfull ship head on in your crippled ship after you saw it has portal stuff on their disposal. Also fire all we have means 3 torps? They dont have lasers these days. Oh no it would not fit portal tech.... OMG why....

[@viewsandreviews180]

For me it’s too little too late but that’s true of most “entertainment” since around 2010. While I’ve watched portions of some “entertainment” I’ve rarely been able to endure a whole movie or episode of anything made since that year and we all know we had plenty of “spare time” three years ago. On the upside I’ve rediscovered a love of creating my own adventures in wilderness areas and that’s satisfying in a way I’ve never had from any other “entertainment”; and out there nobody really cares where you urinate as long as it’s not on the campfire they’re using so drink up.

[@____chris]

Too little too late but let's be real Alex Kurtzman should never have had control over this series in the first place.

[@PerryCS2]

Season 3 is actually really good. I really enjoyed the antagonist and I found myself trying to watch as much as possible as quick as possible.

[@DanielNunnelley]

After episode two I am no longer optimistic about this season. Yes, it is better than most of the other series but rolling out one violent dimly lit scene after another then hiding a ship in a nebula to avoid a superior enemy to protect Picard's son makes me die a little on the inside. There are clever callbacks then there are crutches and Star Trek at times cannot tell the difference.

[@CommanderPowers]

I could've watched Riker and Picard catching up on old times at the bar for a whole season. Great stuff.

[@andywarda1481]

Even if Star Trek can be fixed this show is dead. No matter how good the story and writing is if Picard is still a robot I can't ignore that. Only thing that could bring me back is if they start with a fresh show in the proper timeline and ignore all this garbage.

[@peregrination3643]

The only reason why I watched Event Horizon a few years ago was because Drinker keeps bringing it up, and I had never heard of it. I had no idea what I was getting into though, lol.

[@rimmerblues1586]

Thanks again for this write-up, Drinker. However, as well as not having any of the streaming services this show is available on, as a guy who watched TNG & DS9 in adolescence and later i just can't get into _new Trek_ , I mean the whole thing is bent, like WTF Picard a 'bot and all in the style of the "Kelvin Universe". I suppose Picard season 3 could be seen as an extended movie or something... anyway it will be a long time until I'll see it, if ever, which is a pity as it would've been cool to see more of these characters of old.

[@basementbrotherscollectibles]

P3 is a Star Trek fan’s attempt to give a wounded fandom something to enjoy in spite of what Kurtzmann’s SS from Bad Reboot did to Trek. The guy who made P3 understands what happened previously and tried to make the best of a no-win scenario. Very “Trek” if you think about it. 🖖🏼

[@seabuck4]

I'm trying desperately to find a single thing about this show and season that doesn't make me want to cry in agony, seeing my once beloved childhood friends trotted out as ancient old folks to recite lines and play roles that appear to have been written by 5-year olds

[@nobody-yr8tl]

There is no way back for me. Sadly previous seasons did happen and I cannot simply wipe them from my mind - nor the fact Picard died and some kind of android replica is the main star now. But for all who still are able to enjoy the show - I'm happy for you.

[@woodrunner51]

same, but also looking back at it (major grin channel), it became a sort of comedy, like how far can they take it xD

[@shawncarter7188]

I'm sadly not happy for people who are enjoying it. The reason is selfish. Kurtzman is STILL Executive Producer. Goldsman is still involved too. This nonsense about a new showrunner is BS. Until they're gone, I will not support it. And if this succeeds they're going to still be there

[@seventy18]

@@shawncarter7188 Jews

[@HamiltonStIves]

AMEN...Like Drinker said (extremely WELL), this positivity will NOT make up for the repeated & UNcreative cultural marxist sodomy perpetrated upon star trek, unless it remains consistent - and it won't. Yes, I WILL watch it. And Enjoy it. But Later. When it's FREE for ME. Somewhere else. When the 2nd or 3rd generation of owners have purchased the copywright to stream it. And i won't have to SPECIFICALLY pay to watch it. That's the BEST they can possibly get from me, no matter how good it supposedly is. For example, I won't support Marxism just because, TODAY, the bread line is shorter than yesterday. Too little, too late hollyweird. Besides, PlutoTV is streaming TOS, TNG, and DS9 for F R E E.

[@tnl-warrior3218]

he aint a robot tho

[@Hushey]

check out "into the night" it's a masterpiece about a plane that has to fly around the world as the sun has exploded and raining radiation on earth, killing everyone - but the plane must land for fuel and food and water for the people on board.

[@joseywales7463]

Snowpiercer in the air.

[@Hushey]

@@joseywales7463 youd think but its different

[@lefr33man]

You know, 4 episodes Later, I'm starting to get the feeling that Drinker was fucking with us.

[@BasicShapes]

Yeah no kidding. Either he sold the fuck out or he simply gave an overly positive review to help out friends on the inside. Either way, his take on S3 is hot garbage.

[@jadewolf1024]

Could you develop that sentiment a bit? I'm finding it great!

[@seabuck4]

OMG, thank GOD I'm not the only one!! My wife and I have been trying to get through it, and we can't make it more than about 15-30 min before nearly choking on my own puke. It feels NOTHING like Star Trek whatsoever. I'd be happy to develop a list of 150 examples of what I mean, but that would require far more of my time than this shitshow deserves

[@mveytia]

I have a lot of nitpicks, but I thought the season has been decent. It's fanservicey for sure, but I'm not bored to tears like the first 2 seasons.

[@seabuck4]

@@mveytia curious: were you a massive TNG or DS9 fan going back to when those shows were airing? I wouldn't be surprised to see a difference of opinion split between the old school hardcore fans and those who are a bit newer to Trek. Just a hypothesis though

[@Brent_Mosey]

I wasn't going to watch season 3 until your review. I'm on episode 4 now and I'm REALLY intrigued! The whole thing between the Captain of the ship they're on and Picard was awesome. The only thing that kinda threw me off (not logical) was that they had to shut down all non essential services but they left the holodeck on? Anyways, so far so good. Loving this show. And those references that you said were fan service... maybe they were but for me they were great! I mean c'mon, the reference to "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra" was fantastical!

[@rogershore3128]

Unless they are prepared to undo those other 2 seasons zero interest.... That's a major and serious stumbling block to me..... And therein lays the problem. Having suffered 100% shit since 2009 I've simply had enough... Too little way too late.... Also all the problems and issues are still there and glossed over... But they won't go away especially with what was done to Picard..... That was unforgivable......

[@LeArtisan]

I hear yah, but even in the first episode they are trying to bury that shit pronto, worth your time imo.

[@iAnasazi]

@@LeArtisanInsane if true (since both seasons were produced at the same time).

[@rogershore3128]

@@LeArtisan Sorry nothing can undo the damage done to the characters and the garbage dished out over the past few years..... Totally unforgivable....

[@MensGroomingAdvice]

I've only watched the first couple, but two things were very clear: (1) This is the best Star Trek show for years, and (2) Jeri Ryan is an absolutely babe, even in her fifties!

[@nonapejase]

Why is it so suprising that a woman in her fifties could be a babe?

[@sleepalaska]

her and Marissa Tomei are ageless

[@KaijinD]

I discovered your channel with a Star Trek review. Your passion and care for the show was evident. You sounded hurt at how bad Star Trek had become. So your review is eminently believable and impossible to ignore for someone like me who grew up on TNG and DS9 and was saddened at how bad it had become.

[@shathriel]

Was pleasantly surprised by STP s3, was like watching a ST;TNG 9 hour long movie with an absolute ton of Easter eggs and returning characters, 9/10.

[@thisisderricksilk]

Even if this season is magnificent it won't change the fact that we still have Picard's first two seasons all of Discovery, Prodigy and Strange New Worlds woke garbage to remind us that we have a long way to go before the fans return.

[@FlyingKipperEh]

Shareholders, studios and producers are starting to see that "Go woke, go broke" is real phenomenal. Hopefully, in coming years we will see less and less that.

[@humankirk9196]

You forgot Lower Decks, which took a beautiful TNG concept and made utter sh!te out of it.

[@thisisderricksilk]

@@humankirk9196 Never heard of it. Must've been since I haven't seen one advertisement.

[@lordzed83]

oi Strange new worlds is not bad !!!

[@BullGator-kd6ge]

I tapped out of Discovery immediately after Season 3 but I’d hardly call SNW or Prodigy “woke garbage”. Prodigy is a show for kids but also serves as the Voyager sequel we never got. I hope it gets the Clone Wars treatment as a show for kids that simultaneously fleshes out legacy characters. And I’d say SNW’s first season is probably the most consistent in terms of overall quality.

[@propheinx2250]

I'm not about to say I've 100% totally given up on Star Trek, but 1 step int he right direction isn't enough to change my tune.

[@beefgoat80]

Shaw was a pleasant surprise. At first, I thought he was going to be another generic 2D character. But the writers actually thought about the character's background and motivations. Initially, I didn't know if I could trust it having been burned by the previous two seasons. And I won't say anything else just in case there's still any Trek fans who haven't seen it yet.

[@__R_E_K_O__]

Talk about some of the best Star Trek I’ve seen in a long time. The story line is incredible and so much respect to the legacy characters. It’s a shame they couldn’t do the same for Star Wars. ( Rian Johnson 😡😡😡) Picard series 3 has exceptional writing .. well done..!!

[@AggressivelyMediocre]

Two season of insulting trash and one season is all it took for you to forgive them? Gonna take a lot more for me. Best I can give this series is I am willing to pirate it (something I didn’t even bother doing for season 1 or 2) and see if it’s worth tuning into whatever they make next.

[@robsdroid6856]

Well said

[@fredmachine]

I mean, he *literally* says that one good season does not make up for over a decade of utter shit. He just says that season 3 is a first step back towards Star Trek being not shit anymore.

[@ptonpc]

Someone get the toilet duck away from Drinker, he's over dosed.

[@ptonpc]

​@@drt1605 **Dr T Dr T 8 minutes ago @PTONPC ooh you're soooooo funny and original! Man who has published series of books and adopts funny persona to build YT profile gives views you don't like and you resort to ad hominem attacks...... Sheesh.... ** I'll explain it slowly for you. The Drinker has himself referred to drinking toilet duck in a humorous way. No one who is a functioning adult should think he means it seriously. This is a thing called 'Earth humour'. Specifically humour for a certain demographic of the Earth's population. Specifically Scottish people, (Do I need to get more specific for you?) The Scottish sense of humour can often considered a bit on the dark side. Thus I am referring to the 'toilet duck' meme. As in 'Someone get the toilet duck away from Drinker, he's over dosed.' Which, within the context of previous jokes made by him, commentators, and other people who understand the joke, will take it in the light hearted manner in which the comment was made. Now, you can either nod your head, pretend you too understood the joke or you can protest about me being a terrible person. Suits me either way, YT classes this as engagement with the video, thus making it more likely to promote it.

[@ptonpc]

@@drt1605 No worries. It's hard to gauge someone's tone with just text. Hope your weekend is a good one.

[@arazilsongweaver]

It is really hard to "forgive and forget" after 14+ years of disappointment. This is the most hope that I have had for the series in a long time, but I can't ignore the fact that the principal players (Bad Robot) and setting (the "Kelvin Timeline") are the same. This new season reminds me of a four tier wedding cake made out of scat. On one hand, it's an impressive technical achievement but on the other... You can't ignore the rotten core hidden underneath all that icing and presentation. At this point, I think nothing less than a total reboot of the entire franchise (like what they did in the 2009 movie but with actual talent and skill this time around) will get me to come back.

[@muxx2810]

Don't get me wrong, I think all of new trek is complete garbage, but literally none of it takes place in the kelvin timeline except for the movies.

[@jrus690]

We do not need a reboot, we need something like a professional level Orville. A show with a different name and so avoids confusion on the timeline mess. You cannot fix the Star Trek timeline the way it is.

[@deanfirnatine7814]

Keep in mind if they make a genuine effort to do what we wanted and we still tell them to eff off the likelihood that they AND others in Hollywood will change course is next to zero, when a dog finally sits after 50 attempts you do NOT swat him on the nose, you reward him if you ever expect to get that behavior consistently.

[@Ma55ey]

The thing for me as a star trek fan is all I want is a good show to watch.. I'm not here to wage an ideological war with Hollywood.. I'll watch what I like and ignore what I don't.. I've ignored star trek for the past few years.. preferring to re watch tng through to voyager.. but if I'm honest i don't want to be watching repeats that are 40 years old.. I'm not going to pretend like this show is a return to classic trek.. but it was good enough for me to enjoy it.. and want to watch another episode... and that's more than discovery, the earlier seasons of picard and strange new worlds did.. its a low bar indeed... but at least there is a bar now..

[@Miluielle]

@@deanfirnatine7814 Hollywood is not a dog, nor a human it's a corporate entity/industry. It is not owed a reward for making a supposed u-turn. If it is genuine effort then those involved should keep on without a reward - pride in a job well done has kept many a creative going without monetary compensation or praise. Let their work speak for themselves and garner in those who they haven't already been angered, offended or alienated.

[@DaBrain2578]

That is why I like the Drinker. He is not just complaining, but also honestly admit that something is good. Even after years of tourture by New Trek. ;)

[@SapperUSMC]

Nice to hear the writers for Star Trek may have found their voice again... but there is no way I'm going to sit through two seasons of Picard, The Rainbow Chronicles, to watch season three.

[@DmNixegramThecriticaldrinker11]

Contact me for your Reward 🎁🎁👆👆👆.

[@roboguy75]

As far as I know you don’t have to have seen the first two.

[@SapperUSMC]

@roboguy75 not gonna risk it 😒

[@goldenguy3000]

The 3rd season is like a whole different show. You really don't have to see the first 2 seasons. I would recommend season 3. Cheers.

[@jadewolf1024]

Don't have to watch s1 and 2. All you need to know is the Picard android situation which you can Google.

[@SumDumGy]

Still baffled over how Annika is a Commander and First Officer here when, as of last season, she had never even attended Starfleet Academy.

[@4203105]

Janeway is an admiral and unlike Picard still in active service. So I can fankwank this as her pulling strings to have 7s years of service on voyager to be considered.

[@shaggyalonso]

@@4203105 Thank you for introducing me to the term 'fan wank'. Genuinely, it's a very helpful description of something I see all the time from neckbeards coping about why the writing in a show doesn't make sense.

[@israelcontreras5332]

Yup…but im sure people will defend it just like they defended kirk and spock commanding a ship out of the academy in jj trek.

[@neil3202]

Field comissions are a thing, both in Star Trek and real world militaries. Wesley Crusher, Nog, and Tom Paris all received field comissions despite not attending or finishing the academy. Given her experience and capabilities (and a close personal relationship with a flag officer), a field comission to Commander is perfectly reasonable for Seven.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Direct commissions are possible. They are only given to uniquely qualified individuals.

[@thelastminuteman7513]

Honestly that's great that they realized what a dumpster fire the first to seasons were and hired some competent and passionate writers(I'm guessing). But as much as I want us to win back our culture I have to say feel like a battered spouse who's partner quit drinking and seemingly cleaned up their act. I don't think I can forgive them nor do I think one good season of a show is enough for them to have proven themselves. I don't think I can do it and I'm ok with that. TNG was my favorite show during my later childhood years and I'll leave it at that.

[@HamiltonStIves]

AMEN...Like Drinker said (extremely WELL), this positivity will NOT make up for the repeated & UNcreative cultural marxist sodomy perpetrated upon star trek, unless it remains consistent - and it won't. Yes, I WILL watch it. And Enjoy it. But Later. When it's FREE for ME. Somewhere else. When the 2nd or 3rd generation of owners have purchased the copywright to stream it. And i won't have to SPECIFICALLY pay to watch it. That's the BEST they can possibly get from me, no matter how good it supposedly is. For example, I won't support Marxism just because, TODAY, the bread line is shorter than yesterday. Too little, too late hollyweird. Besides, PlutoTV is streaming TOS, TNG, and DS9 for F R E E.

[@eezaak21]

This perfectly sums up my relationship with Star Wars. "It will be different this time!" /smack

[@mickk8519]

Well, I'm done with Star Trek, been done with them for quite a while now. I'll never forgive them, same with every other show I once loved that they've destroyed. I'll never go back, I'll never forgive them, and they'll never earn a penny from me.

[@bartsullivan4866]

Kind of like a reformed felon who is now a Born Again Christian. Uh sorry for all the hurt I did, stuff I stole, trama I caused, we're all good now right. Reminds me of Brother Where Art Thou where they get baptized and all there sins are forgiven but the State of Mississippi might think differently. I would rather remember the old TNG show how it was I don't have the time to try out this new show.

[@TheFailedmessiah]

It’s too late…

[@lilletrille8998]

As a fellow Whisky drinker - I am not surprised you came back for yet another series Sir. I just watched a TNG episode today while drinking and eating dinner - finished that and was looking for something to watch while driking my daily glass of whiskey and I found you. I gave up on new Star Trek sometime last year while drunk on whisky...

[@SamusMcAslan]

I'm one of those who has given up on not only Star Trek, not only the other franchises that have already been ruined, but any future franchise that modern Hollywood decides to reboot/remake/continue. But that was a pretty glowing recommendation, and TNG *is* my favorite TV show of all time, pretty much. So I'll probably try to check out season 3. If I can do it at some point without giving Paramaount a sub. Maybe wait for it on video.

[@hamburgaler6123]

As much as the writing was better in episode 1, there is one thing that I can't get over....Why are all the lights off! I have no idea what the bridge of their ship looks like because, for some reason, all these people work in the dark.

"Darker and grittier"

[@trolleriffic]

Space electricity is really expensive and they've got one of those meters you have to put money in. Picard's sick of never having any change because he's fed it into the meter so he makes them keep the lights off.

[@danieldickson8591]

@ A whole generation was brainwashed into believing dark=cool. But TNG was always about bright hope and idealism. All darkness equals is not being able to see the damn show.

[@kungfreddie]

It's cheaper to make the sets that way.. no lights and u can't see all the flaws.

[@Stone7C1]

@@kungfreddie oof, thats so dumb.

[@coldsnap5742]

I love how you made "go away now" sync up with the "engage/make it so" gesture.

[@NckMrrtt]

Damn I didn't see that you had already written this comment. Cheers.

[@Antisocialnerd2]

Way too little.....WAAAAYYYYY too late this is the last spark before the fire goes out forever

[@pepelepew2690]

Star trek has been basterised, no coming back from that