Tag: Picard

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty, co-founder of One Stone Creative. In this series we will review the new television show Picardwhich is currently streaming on CBS. Today, Episode 9, “Et in Arcadia Ego”.
SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.
Episode 9, Et in Arcadia Ego. Picard’s brain condition has become terminal.  He is on his mission to find and save androids he believes to be Soji’s people.  The Romulans have now found the Synth homeworld.  Picard and friends arrived at this synth home world and meet Dr. Altan Inigo Soong, a previously unknown organic son of Noonian Soon; and a number of synths.  Picard attempts to contact Starfleet, reporting a first contact with the synths.  But a synth, Sutra  mind-melded with Agnes Jurati and was able to explain the real meaning of the Admonition which the Zhat Vash.  Sutra designed a beacon to summon the advanced synthetic life to save her people and destroy all organics.  Dr. Soong and Jurati took the side of the synths and Picard is led away under house arrest to end this Part 1 of a two-part conclusion.
Highlights, speculations and questions include:

1. Homage to the Picard Incident?
2. Some really big philosophical questions in this episode.
3. What is the role of Dr. Soong?
4. Sutra and Vulcan mind-meld?
5. Will the evolution of the synths lead to the annihilations of organics?
6. Moment between Raffi and Picard. Was it real for you?
7. Sutra and her manipulation?
8. Does Picard have any credibility regarding his offer to protect the synths?
9. Cookies

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty, co-founder of One Stone Creative. In this series we will review the new television show Picardwhich is currently streaming on CBS. Today, Episode 8, Broken Pieces.
SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.
Episode 8, Broken Pieces. A flashback shows Narissa’s initiation into the Zhat Vash on a planet with eight suns: she experiences the Admonition, a warning of the danger of synthetic life left behind by a long-extinct race. Most are driven mad by the knowledge, but Narissa retains her sanity.
Meeting Soji stirs up painful memories in Rios: he eventually tells Raffi that Soji resembles one of two beings whom Rios’s former commanding offer, Captain Vandermeer, was ordered to execute by Starfleet Security; Vandermeer committed suicide and Rios was forced to cover up the event. Raffi realizes that the two were synthetics from Bruce Maddox’s planet. Jurati awakens and admits that she murdered Maddox, explaining the vision Oh gave her; she promises never to harm Soji. Raffi explains her deduction that the Zhat Vash were behind the synth attack on Mars. Soji plots a course for her home planet; La Sirena is followed by Narek’s ship. On the Artifact, Seven arrives to rescue Elnor; she interfaces with the Queen’s cell to use the Borg drones aboard the cube to try to retake control, but Narissa has most of the drones jettisoned into space and sends a fleet to Soji’s planet.
Highlights, speculations and questions include:

1. Since the Borg collective is limited to this Cube, could a new Borg culture be created from the Ex-B’s?
2. Is there a potential Borg-synth alliance brewing? What will it mean for humanity?
3. How was 7/9 able to connect and more importantly disconnect from the collective?
4. What work does Annika have left?
5. How cool was Raffi’s interview of the five holographic helpers?
6. Was Oh behind Rios’ being busted out of Star Fleet?
7. Would you forgive Jurati so easily for murder? Was it temporary insanity?
8. Is Star Fleet dispatching the fleet to DS 12 for the right reasons?
9. Cookies

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty, co-founder of One Stone Creative. In this series we will review the new television show Picardwhich is currently streaming on CBS.

SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.

Episode 7, Nepenthe. A flashback reveals that Commodore Oh mind-melded with Jurati to convince her of the danger of synthetic life, and had her ingest a tracking device. Picard takes Soji to William Riker and Deanna Troi’s home on the planet Nepenthe. They offer Picard sanctuary, and their daughter Kestra tries to befriend Soji. Soji learns that she’s an android, and has trouble trusting anyone after Narek’s betrayal; but she tells them about her dream, and Kestra is able to learn the planet’s location from a family friend. Kestra convinces Soji to trust Picard. Meanwhile, Narissa kills Hugh and the other ex-Borg; before dying, Hugh tells Elnor that he needs a former Borg to activate the Queen’s cell and retake control of the Artifact. Elnor uses an SOS beacon Seven left Picard to call for help. La Sirena’s crew tries to get to Nepenthe but are being chased by Narek, who is following the tracker in Jurati. Feeling guilty, Jurati uses a neurotoxin to put herself in a coma and disable the tracker. La Sirena eventually reaches Nepenthe and picks up Picard and Soji.

Highlights, speculations and questions include: 

1.     Did Hugh have to die?

2.     What did you feel during the reunion of Riker, Troi and Picard?

3.     What are some of the cookies in this show?

4.     Does Kestra instruct us on how to deal with grief?

5.     Is Oh a Vulcan?

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty, co-founder of One Stone Creative. In this series we will review the new television show Picardwhich is currently streaming on CBS.
SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.
Episode 6, The Impossible Box. Soji is experiencing a recurring dream of her childhood. Narek believes that exploring her dream will reveal the location of her homeworld. Aboard La Sirena, Jurati tells Picard Maddox died as a result of his injuries on Freecloud. Raffi persuades a Starfleet contact to issue Picard temporary diplomatic credentials, so the Romulans will let him visit the Artifact and meet with Hugh. Narek continues sowing seeds of doubt with Soji about her identity; she scans her belongings and is shaken to find that none of them are older than 37 months. Narek helps her meditate to explore her dream, while his sister is secretly monitoring the room. In the dream, Soji sees herself as a doll; when she looks up, she sees two red moons and a stormy sky. That is enough for Narek and his sister to start looking for her planet. Narek tries to kill Soji, but she escapes and meets Picard and Hugh. Hugh takes Picard and Soji to an emergency long-distance transportation device, allowing them to escape the Artifact. Romulan guards try to stop them, but Elnor appears and kills them, before staying behind with Hugh to hold off the pursuers.
 Highlights, speculations and questions include: 

1. Have we been wrong about the Borg all along.
2. Does Locutus of Borg still exist?
3. What are some of the cookies in this show?
4. Is it just a job for Narek?
5. What are we to make of Hugh? Why did he tell Picard he would do anything for him?

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty, co-founder of One Stone Creative. In this series we will review the new television show Picard which is currently streaming on CBS.
SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.
Episode 5, Stardust City Rag. In a flashback, Seven of Nine mercy-kills Icheb, a fellow former Borg drone saved by Voyager, after his Borg implants have been ripped out by the black-marketeer Bjayzl. In the present, La Sirena arrives at Freecloud, where Raffi discovers that Maddox is being held prisoner by Bjayzl, who intends to sell him to the Tal Shiar. Picard’s crew plan to recover Maddox by staging a prisoner exchange, with Seven (and her Borg implants) as the bait. When Bjayzl recognizes Seven, Seven drops the charade and reveals her true intention: to kill Bjayzl to avenge Icheb. Picard persuades Seven to relent, and Maddox is safely recovered and beamed to La Sirena. Afterward, Seven returns to Freecloud and kills Bjayzl without Picard’s knowledge. In sickbay, Maddox tells Picard what he knows about Soji and Dahj, explaining that he sent them to Earth and the Artifact in order to discover the true motivation behind the synthetics ban. After Picard leaves them alone, Jurati tearfully murders Maddox, saying “If you’d seen what I saw”. Meanwhile, Raffi tries to reconnect with her estranged son Gabriel, who is married to and expecting a child with a Romulan woman but is rebuffed and returns to La Sirena.
Highlights, speculations and questions include: 

1. The humanity of 7/9 (and Picard).
2. Is Picard aging too quickly?
3. What are some of the cookies in this show?
4. Does revenge belong in the Star Trek universe?
5. What is Jurati’s agenda? Is she a plant on the team?

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty, co-founder of One Stone Creative. In this series we will review the new television show Picard which is currently streaming on CBS.In this episode we consider Episode 4-Absolute Candor.
SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.
Episode 4, Absolute Candor. Picard asked Rios to make a detour to the planet Vashti, where he helped relocate Romulan refugees before the attack on Mars. He calls on the Qowat Milat, Romulan warrior nuns who took in a boy named Elnor, whom Picard grew close to. Picard asks Elnor, now an adult, to join him on his quest; Elnor initially refuses but changes his mind when Picard is attacked by Romulans who resent Starfleet abandoning the evacuation effort. Picard and Elnor beam up to La Sirena, where Rios and Raffi are fighting a battle with a local warlord. A strange ship helps La Sirena win the battle but is damaged in the process, forcing the pilot, former Borg drone Seven of Nine, to be beamed over to La Sirena. Meanwhile, aboard the Borg cube, Soji is trying to find out more about the Romulan ship that was assimilated by that cube and about “the Destroyer”. Narek offers to get her information on the ship, but they have a falling out when he expresses doubt about her past. Rizzo tells Narek that he has a week to get the location of other synthetics from Soji before she switches to her own methods. 
Highlights, speculations and questions include:

1. Where did Rios garner his piloting skills?
2. Why did Picard drop his distaste of children for Elnor?
3. Should Picard still be apologizing for Star Fleet’s betrayal of the Romulans?
4. Did Picard basically challenge all Romulans by going into the Bar for ‘Romulans Only’?
5. Is Soji finally seeing through Narek?
6. How cool is it to see 7/9?

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty. In this series we will review the new television show Picard which is currently streaming on CBS.
SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.
Episode 3, The End is the Beginning. A flashback reveals how, in the aftermath of the synth attack on Mars, Picard demanded that Starfleet either agree to his evacuation plan or accept his resignation. They chose the latter; his executive officer Raffi, who suspected Romulan involvement in the attack, was fired. In the present, Picard asks Raffi for help; she throws him out, but recommends a pilot for his mission, Chris Rios. Meanwhile, aboard the Borg cube, Director Hugh, a former Borg drone, takes Soji to see a group of Romulan former drones. One of the reclaimed Romulans declares Soji to be “the destroyer” and tries to kill herself; Soji uses her enhanced speed to stop her. Narek’s sister warns him not to get emotionally attached to Soji. Picard, Laris, and Zhaban are attacked by Zhat Vash operatives. They kill all but one, who also calls Soji “the destroyer” under interrogation, before dissolving in a pool of acid. Dr. Jurati is approached by Commodore Oh, who demands to know what was said during Jurati’s meeting with Picard. Jurati decides to join Picard on his journey. They board Rios’ ship, La Sirena, and find Raffi already there. She directs them to Freecloud, where she believes Bruce Maddox is located.
Highlights, speculations and questions include: 

1. How did Picard get his nickname?
2. This episode appears to be the end of the character development arc.
3. Why did Picard leave Raffi to wallow in self-pity for 14 years?
4. Why did Raffi wallow for so long?
5. Why are the reclaimed Romulans such outcasts?
6. Is Dr. Jurati a plant?

Welcome to a special series of Trekking Through Compliance, the podcast series inspired by my review of Star Trek, the Original Series. In this special series I am joined by another uber Star Trek maven, Megan Dougherty. In this series we will review the new television show Picard which is currently streaming on CBS.
SPOILER ALERT-Although we will review each episode after it appears, we will discuss each episode in depth.
Episode 1, Remembrance begins with former Admiral Jean-Luc Picard  in retirement tending to his vineyards on his family’s ancestral home in in La Barre, France. Picard has resigned his commission from Starfleet in protest of their failure to save the lives of Romulan citizens after the Romulan sun went supernova. Star Fleet made this decision, in no small part, because of an attack on the Confederated Martian Colonies and the Utopia Planitia Shipyards by synthetics. These attacks led to Star Fleet banning their existence.
In Greater Boston, Dahj is enjoying an evening with her boyfriend, when Romulan assassins transport into her apartment. They kill him, but before they can kill her, something activates in Dahj and she kills the assassins. She then has visions of Picard and seeks him out after seeing him being interviewed on the Federation News Network. Dahj finds sanctuary in La Barre but runs away after only night’s stay out of fear of bringing harm to Picard. Picard goes to the Starfleet Archives in San Francisco and discovers a painting Data made thirty years previous entitled “Daughter”, bearing a female figure resembling Dahj. Dahj tracks Picard down and reunites with him, but it proves to be a brief reunion. Romulan assassins beam to their location and kill her.
Picard then goes to the Daystrom Institute in Okinawa and meets with Dr. Agnes Jurati, who reveals Dahj may be Data’s daughter through an experimental procedure known as fractal neuronic cloning. This entails creating an android with an organic body but inserting a positronic brain. More significantly for the storyline, this process results in twins being created. The episode ends in a Romulan reclamation site where a Romulan named Narek meets with Soji Asher, Dahj’s twin. Most stunningly, the reclamation site is a partially constructed Borg Cube. 
Highlights include: 

1. Patrick Stewart is now 79. Can you have a senior action hero?
2. Picard retired from Star Fleet because “it was no longer Star Fleet. What happened?
3. Is the Prime Directive simply the “1^st Suggestion”?
4. What are the ethics around AI creation, or as Picard calls them ‘synthetics’?
5. Even in the 23^rd Century, organizational culture is critical.