The third and final season of Star Trek: Picard continues this week with the third episode. We have details along with new images, plus a clip.
“Seventeen Seconds”
Episode 2 of Picard’s third season is called “Seventeen Seconds.” The episode was written by Jane Maggs & Cindy Appel, and directed by Jonathan Frakes. It debuts on Paramount+ on Thursday, March 2.
Synopsis:
Picard grapples with an explosive, life-altering revelation, while the Titan and her crew try to outmaneuver a relentless Vadic in a lethal game of nautical cat and mouse. Meanwhile, Raffi and Worf uncover a nefarious plot from a vengeful enemy Starfleet has long since forgotten.
NEW Images from episode 3:
Ed Speleers as Jack Crusher and Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Patrick Stewart as Picard and Jonathan Frakes as Riker
Patrick Stewart as Picard and Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Patrick Stewart as Picard and Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Patrick Stewart as Picard and Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker
Previously released image from episode 3:
Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker
Clip:
A clip was shown at the end of the Ready Room (at 33:22):
The third and final season of Picard premiered on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., and Latin America, and on February 17 Paramount+ in Europe and elsewhere, with new episodes of the 10-episode-long season available to stream weekly. It also debuted on Friday, Feb. 17 internationally on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.
Keep up with news about the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com.
I’ve been enjoying the promotional push of this season so far- the updates and clips have kept the show on my radar (not that I needed the help!), but it’s great to get a Monday pick-me-up. Also, Terry Matalas, Dave Bass, and so many others from the crew and cast have been awesome on Twitter. I’ve interacted with a few of them, and it’s been a great privilege.
Wow, stretching this into three episodes might be a bit much. I hope it doesn’t go into four. This is already pretty much a third of the season.
Stretching what? I think it’s quite well-paced: each episode has one key plot point at least that moves the narrative forward, and usually one major change to the story that leaves you looking to the next.
Each one also has its own identity in a way, something previous seasons of PIC have lacked. While they’re not standalone episodes, there’s a very clear line of demarcation in the story each week.
When it comes to this brand of fatalism, expecting a bad episode before it airs, I’d urge you to listen to Guinan’s words of wisdom:
“When a man is convinced he’s going to die tomorrow, he’ll probably find a way to make it happen.”
Sure, a bad episode is a bad episode, but if you go in looking for it, you’ll find it even if it’s good.
Michael does have a good point, though. This will be the show’s third hour of ten, yet we still know nothing about the villain, nor what the plot even really is. We know very little about the new captain and nothing at all about his crew other than maybe their names. We know nothing about Geordi or Troi aside from what has been in the promos, and very little about what Bev or Worf were up to.
Meanwhile, Lore and Moriarty haven’t even been mentioned yet, and Picard’s son is one of those “big reveals exactly everyone knew was coming.” Michael’s right that it’s being stretched out, perhaps more than it should be. That’s not me being a hater, either. I’m pretty psyched about this season and I’m not disappointed by what I’ve seen so far, other than screen time being wasted on Rafi instead of the characters the audience really cares about.
But the simple math of it is this: if, as Michael worries, this week’s episode doesn’t greatly move the plot forward or bring in more of the cast members, then season three is effectively spinning in circles, turning what would be a very good six-episode arc into a dragging ten-episode one. It’s one of the same problems that plagued season one and especially season two. I had hoped this season would fix that problem, but while it’s a much better season so far, it is still spinning in place.
You’re right, of course, that we need to wait to see it before forming opinions. I completely agree with you about that. But if we don’t know the villain’s motive by the end of this episode–a third of the way into the season, three hours into the story–and we don’t know what’s going on with Bev having a 20-year-old son she told no one about, played by an actor nearly twice that age, then that means there may not be as much of a story here as they’ve been hyping it out to be.
We’ll have to see, I guess. I hope Michael is wrong. I hope I’m wrong. I want to come out of this season as excited as I am going into it. I want Picard to finally shine as a good show. But the cracks are already showing, and I remember all too well the disjoined mess that season two turned out to be, with half its dangling plot points still dangling by season’s end, despite a very strong opening couple of episodes.
These images sure look like Beverly is going to tell Jean-Luc the whole story.
There is a lot going on if you’re willing to investigate a little. The breadcrumbs are everywhere if you approach it with an open mind. The writers have let the strings show. I’m amazed there isn’t more chatter about some of the clues that are there to find.
Not only that, but these two are deciding that “we know nothing about the villain through three episodes” without having seen the third episode. Just laughable.
Yeah, it’s a mystery. They are not going to lay it all out by episode 2. Anyone who needs all the answers now will not like this season. They may as well give up now.
The writers have done something very interesting and impressive with their narrative. They’ve actually given sharp eyed viewers a lot to work with, but they’ve been sly about it. I’m not giving it away, but the reveal is going to be very cool. I haven’t read spoilers, I don’t have inside info, but I believe I’ve caught their little sleight of hand.
Folks paying close attention to the first two should be a little ahead of the game before the curtain is officially pulled back. It’s a fun game. But you have to be willing to play.
You guys are entirely missing my point–and I think it’s on purpose. Whaever.
We’re trying to nudge you in the direction of where the answers to your questions are, but you’re too busy being fatalistic to notice.
I get what you’re saying. I read the synopsis for episode 4 on IMDB (Picard, Riker and crew must confront the sins of their past as the Titan drifts helplessly in a mysterious space anomaly.) and that kinda sounds they’re STILL in that nebula.
The thing is, no one likes a Debby Downer and we all want this to be the best season of Trek ever, but sometimes you get hurt so badly (by season 2 in this case) you kinda put up a wall to not get hurt again. Yeah I know, kinda dramatic LOL!
And as much as they’ve tried to not make this a reunion, it’s like Frakes said: it kinda is. And we’re all waiting for that around-the-table scene with everybody there, right?
I constantly tell myself to ‘just enjoy it’ and to ‘not expect anything’, but that’s hard with that much self-hyping by the show’s makers. So I get why people get disappointed quickly. I did to some extent by the first two episodes. But I’m looking forward to the rest of the season very much!
OMG! Alfred Hitchcock has chimed in with his expertise. I bet you hate WW, too.
Surprisingly, I’ve read that Alfred Hitchcock loved cheap, schlocky cinema. He was as low brow at times as he was high brow. A brilliant filmmaker who could appreciate all kinds of stories, even ones that weren’t as smartly told or well-written as his own.
“nefarious plot from a vengeful enemy Starfleet has long since forgotten”
Let the speculations begin! I just hope that Moriarty isn’t the man at the top :))
In all seriousness, Conspiracy aliens don’t strike me as a vengeful enemy, which were the biggest contenders in my book for this seasons villain.
Sela, maybe?
I think they could be vengeful; they had a “love of theater” and were cunning and melodramatic.
Everything was melodramatic in S1 :))))
It could be them, it’s just that I wouldn’t necessarily assign that kind of emotion to a bug (Insectoid) species.
That being said it won’t be too far a stretch if the queen parasite in Reddicks body was a super important member of their society, like an actual Queen. If that is the case, than I can see them coming back for vengeance.
The Horta are back, and they’re pissed!!
…and some really, really mean tribbles!
Hey, you guys are 2 people, who knew!
I’ve seen a video on YouTube that theorises that it’s the elachi
So we get two vengeful enemies this season?
Well there’s no indication that Vadic is driven by vengeance. All I got so far is that they are bounty hunters on a gig to deliver Jack Crusher to someone.
Both Seven and Jack said that there’s no way Vadic is a bounty hunter. Given that she wants Jack specifically, it’s really hard to move past “vengeance.”
You mean other than the season’s trailer featuring her saying that she will have vengeance?
As I replied to a previous poster, I forgot about that line in the trailer.
However, we’ll see the context of that sentence.
The Conspiracy creatures strike me as very vengeful and dangerous, this really would be an unexpected and interesting season-wide menace. I suspect this may not be it however, the pieces don’t quite add up completely.
Meticulous, patient, scrupulous? Sure. I didn’t get vengeful vibe. Could be me of course.
That being said, it’s a 35 year old, one episode only villain. They can definitely do lots of cool stuff with them.
Also remember that in non-canon material, the parasites were revealed to be genetically engineered Trill symbiotes used by the Iconians to infiltrate the Milky Way galaxy. Could be a way to bring DS9 and TOS plots, it can also expand Trek to other galaxies, which I have been dying for personally.
Aside from some cute easter eggs, none of the new shows has picked up any non-canon story ideas even though they have Kirsten Beyer as EP, Dayton Ward and (I think) David Mack as consultants. Really doubtful that they will do so now. But the Trill twist, does sound intriguing
In any case, that’s what’s exciting about the Conspiracy bugs, they are a clean slate, they can take them any way they want. For all we know, a Soong created them and Moriarty is their PR guy, like Locutus was for the Borg :)))
As for your last point, not sure if it’s other galaxies, but they are hinting that this season will ‘change’ the Star Trek world significantly, something that I’m extremely excited to see.
I agree they probably won’t weave in stories from books, but I wouldn’t rule it out either. Matalas in particular seems to be showing great respect particularly to STO.
Since you’ve seen ep 1-6 not sure how to interpret your ‘wouldn’t rule out’ comment :)))
As for non-canon and STO in particular, design implementation/inspiration, sure. The Enterprise F and Titan on LDS are good examples. But when it comes to stories, creators want to use their once in a lifetime opportunity to tell their own stories. And it’s completely understandable.
Nothing I say will ever give anything away or be a clue to anything, I can assure you of that. But for example, the design of the Ent-F that we saw in the trailer was taken from STO.
Also worth noting that I haven’t read a Trek book since “Q Squared” and would likely have no idea if any story is pulled from other sources unless other fans pointed it out.
I commend your restraint and thank you for not spilling the beans.
Agreed on the F, also Titan’s design that showed up in LDS came straight from the design contest that was run for the Titan novels.
P.S. I encourage you to get back to the novels, especially the post-Nemesis ones. I’m still making my way through the litverse but there are great stories there.
Never been a huge fan of Trek literature, though I am personally friends with a Trek author… Fiction in general is not really my cup of tea (more of a nonfiction reader). I did enjoy Peter David’s early work back in the day, particularly Imzadi.
It’s rare, but the books do influence occasionally.
Prodigy’s use of Peter David’s Brikars is clearly due to Mack’s influence, and SNW has made novelverse Una’s first name canon.
Discovery used the idea of Control running S31 which is a long running novelverse throughline as well.
Still haven’t reached the S31 arc. Just finished the Destiny trilogy.
Using this list as my reading guide.
https://startreklitverse.com/simple-post-nemesis-reading-list.php
I added a Chapter Zero with the A Time To… series and the DS9 Avatar books.
So to get back on the topic, can’t comment on the DSC’s S31 connection with the books, but the Brikar and Una thing, I would classify them more in the Easter Eggs category as opposed to taking a story from the novels and adapting it for the shows.
Control has its origins in the novels? That’s fascinating, because so many fans seemed to hate the concept in DSC, yet are always urging new shows to pull from currently-non-canon sources.
There was an AI named Control that was influential in Section 31 in the novels, but that was about where the similarities ended.
In the NYCC trailer she tells literally tells her crew “we will have vengeance.”
Good point, forgot about that line from the trailer.
Bok
The origin of the Moriarty hologram was as a foil for Data. That might well set up a partnership between Moriarty and Lore if it gave him a fascination with the Soong-type androids. They’re also both artificial intelligences that emulate humans, which gives them something in common. That doesn’t answer who Vadic is though.
Yeah Moriarty is definitely a head scratcher. Although I suspect that Lore and Moriarty might not be playing villains after all. Two “geniuses” called upon to help the heroes in exchange for XYZ. Especially if the Conspiracy bugs end up the big bad villains. Having artificial life forms on your side (The Doctor?) that cannot be affected by the parasites could be a great asset.
That’s a cool sick bay. Just needs the random beakers of red and blue goo.
But we saw quite a bit of the Titan so far. By my count, we have seen:
–The Bridge
–The Observation Deck / Ready Room (are they the same on the Titan?)
–Corridors
–Turbo Lift
–Transporter Room
–Sick Bay
–Crew Quarters (presumably for cadets since it had bunks)
–Captain’s Mess (might be a re-dress of another set)
–The Brig
Any others?
Makes me think… do they have bigger plans for the Titan post S3
Indeed, but also worth noting that the bridge and observation lounge seen in trailers appear to be a redress of the Stargazer bridge built for Season 2. But i’m with you, investing so much in a ship set, they have plans for more: if not the Titan, than another ship that will allow them to reuse these — obviously very expensive — sets.
I don’t think so. A few are partial build sets I think (like the transporter room and sickbay). And the brig was made out of the corridor set if I’m not mistaken. Pretty clever use of sets with a smaller budget for the ship.
That’s pretty standard when it comes to Star Trek! Perhaps that’s why Matalas brought back so many of the people who worked on TNG.
One of the previews shows an observation lounge set with the TNG crew sitting at a long table, although I’m sure this might be a re-purposed set as well.
I believe the brig was made out of the corridor set (closed off).
Liking the season so far, but if episode three ends with Picard and co still under threat from Vadic inside the nebula, with no other significant movement in the plot, I’m going to be really pissed.
Still better than 21st century Los Angeles 😉
Well I can’t argue with you there. But the problem for me is that I’m enjoying myself so much that I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is a Secret Hideout production after all. But yeah, wait and see I guess.
Yes, determine your feelings now! Good strategy.
I don’t understand people saying there’s no movement. These episodes are densely packed with information. Little easily overlooked moments foreshadow major twists.
The rewatch value of these two episodes is extraordinary.
Problem is people mistake narrative and character movement for physical movement. They want the ship to go to a new part of space, while completely ignoring the character story and the larger drama that is clearly moving forward.
It’s the same problem with fans screaming “STAR TREK IS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD!” and thinking that means new shows have to go linearly further into the future of the timeline.
Do you not understand what an “if/then” statement is?
I sure do. But he’s predetermined that he’ll be angry if one specific criteria isn’t met, without any regard to all the other things that could happen in the story.
It’s might be fine to say “I’d like to see them out of the nebula,” or even a more passive “I’ll be disappointed if they don’t get out of the nebula” but outright over-the-top predetermined anger? Patience people!
What I’m eager to find out is what induces Shaw to leave Riker in command. Maybe he decides he’d be more helpful at the moment in engineering, trying to figure out some doo-dad or something that will get them out of the nebula safely.
Is it me or does it look like someone switched the lights on finally
It has been mentioned that the show uses 2 different directors of photography, and apparently episodes 3 & 4 were shot by the other one. It’s also a different director.
Wouldn’t it be funny if it was a conscious choice to light the bridge like TNG whenever Riker is in the captain’s chair! lol
Especially given that he’s the director of this episode (and the next).
My reaction exactly. I can actually see them in the photos.
I was watching a random Voyager the other day, “The Void,” and I did get a chuckle out of noticing how their running on low power with minimal lighting was the equivalent of standard lighting on Starfleet ships in the 25th century.
Maybe it’s a massive energy conservation effort.
It’s better, but still dark… and grey and muted… compared to past Star Trek, and even the Mandalorian, where we actually see a galactic world in full color and its full alien variety realized!
Anyone else noting how much brighter these production stills are from the show?
Are Geordi, Lore, and Deanna even in this season for more than an episode or two? They’ve hyped this up the final TNG reunion and all I’ve seen so far is Crusher, Riker, Picard, and heaps of Terry Matalas’s 12 Monkeys friends plus a 35 year old son for Picard and hints of Seven, Raffi, and Worf. Not really going to be happy if they’ve been going on and on about a TNG reunion and it’s mostly Crusher, Riker, and Picard acting out General Hospital in space while an insane version of Honey Bunny chases after them.
I liked the first episode okay but this going downhill fast for me and I really fail to see how this is the great second coming of Star Trek that people have been hyping up.
I for one really wasn’t expecting it to be that way. Ever since the “good old fashioned road trip” comment in the trailer, I figured Riker is in it throughout. But I was pretty much expecting the others to arrive one by one over four or five episodes until the whole gang is back together for the last four or five episodes. Beverly got Episode 1 and Worf got his big entrance in Episode 2, so I think the show is on schedule. Geordi will probably be next in Episode 3 or 4.
Most of the reviews don’t even mention Geordi, Troi, or Lore so I’m not even sure they’re in the first six or seven episodes people saw, outside of maybe a quick appearance for a minute or two. All the reviews just mention Riker, Crusher, Picard, Shaw, and Jack and cameos from non-TNG Trek stars with a little Worf, Seven, and Raffi.
I wasn’t expecting a full reunion right off the bat in like episode but selling this as a TNG reunion and having everyone hype it up as one and most of the cast being in two or three episodes at best is a little disingenuous.
But Seven and Raffi have large roles in the first two episodes, so if the reviews only said a little about them, that doesn’t mean Geordi and Troi won’t have as large a role in later episodes.
I don’t know why most of the reviews have just been glossing over Raffi and Seven, but the point I was making still stands, even if I could have made it better.
Most of the reviews mention that Lore has basically a scene or two at best so far. A few reviews specifically say Troi only has two scenes the whole first seven episodes. Geordi maybe three. And that they’re not all together as a group yet in the episodes reviewers have seen. I’ve seen people say the same thing on Twitter so it’s not just reviewers perception. That’s all well and good, but that’s not exactly how they’ve been promoting this nor does this exactly sound like the big TNG farewell thing they’re acting like it is.
I didn’t expect or need a full reunion in like the second episode. However, I’m also not sure I want to sit around and see half the crew get a few scattered scenes here and there and them all not be in a scene together but once or twice towards the end. From the way Terry Matalas has talked, I’m definitely getting the vibe he was only interested in telling a story for and about Crusher, Riker, and Picard and maybe Seven.
To me there’s value in how they are handling it with Worf – developing a bit of a separate storyline with him before the big reunion. Adds some development on top of building anticipation for when he comes back.
I’m kinda over it already with the 12 Monkeys people poping up everywhere, in font of or behind the camera. It takes me out of it tbh.
Ow wow, that’s worrisome.
Patrick Stewart has been pretty adamant that this is not a reunion. They never said that all the TNG crew would be in all the episodes.
So you’re complaining you’re not getting something that was never promised.
I know Matalas said Troi survives but I still can’t shake the feeling one of the other six or Raffi is going to die. Half the cast not even being in the first half of the episodes just reinforces that thought. I’d love to be wrong though.
Half the cast is already in the first 2 episodes so what are you talking about?
So when does Q show up? Hopefully not at the end of the season snapping his fingers and everything is reset,lol.
Yeah, I seem to recall de Lancie mentioning he’d done some work in season three.
Exactly! He said he’d filmed for season 2 and 3,so I was just curious as to why it’s not mentioned anymore,lol. Or if he’s still gonna be in season 3 at all.
He did?? Well in that case it may be time to talk about Jack saying: “Mon ami” in episode 2. A very Q thing to say right?
Oh DEFO! Mon ami mon capitan. lol
Well this is all centered on the 250 Anniversary of “Going Boldly ” So 250 years ago who was the enemy who has been forgotten since then ? Has to be The Suliban
Interesting. I loved the Sullivan. Matalas worked in ENT, and that would explain the double helix in the opening closing credits.
I like the way you think. An excellent hypothesis.
Off topic, but still upset that we didn’t get a reference to Buck Bockai last season when they were in 2024. Maybe someone commenting on how excited they were that the London Kings had just signed an all-star player out of Seibu.
Lol yeah I forgot about that.
He was a rookie in ’15, I think.
More starship p@rn in the preview screenshots, please!