Read Mixed User Reviews for Star Trek: Picard (2020)

4

DonutAFeb 20, 2020

Bad writing, bad acting! Why are these people allowed to ruin such a beautiful franchise?

Cringe worthy stuff. I have to force myself to finish an episode, IN THE HOPE that in the end it will all make sense.

26 of 30 users found this helpful264

All this user's reviews

5

BillybobagginsJan 24, 2020

The first episode was a disappointment, as a Next Generation fan I was hoping to see the show return to its roots. However I was greeted with another Discovery with the only discernible difference being that it was set on Earth. Much likeThe first episode was a disappointment, as a Next Generation fan I was hoping to see the show return to its roots. However I was greeted with another Discovery with the only discernible difference being that it was set on Earth. Much like Discovery it’s Cinematography was great and Patrick Stewart performance was, as always, well done and convincing. However if you missing the old days of Star Trek you are looking in the wrong place.… Expand

24 of 29 users found this helpful245

All this user's reviews

4

SupR_GJan 24, 2020

Once again, this is not the Star Trek many of us know and love. Gone are the days of episodic, problem-solving, character-building fun Trek and behold the days of wall-to-wall drama and action Trek. Old man Stewart looked like he was about toOnce again, this is not the Star Trek many of us know and love. Gone are the days of episodic, problem-solving, character-building fun Trek and behold the days of wall-to-wall drama and action Trek. Old man Stewart looked like he was about to keel over at any moment. I don't know where the story is taking us, but this episode was boring. I couldn't find myself caring about the 'stakes' that are being set up.… Expand

32 of 44 users found this helpful3212

All this user's reviews

4

EludiumQ36Jul 17, 2022

It's hard to recall such a polarizing series as Star Trek: Picard (S01, 10eps, 1hr, CBSAA). How can anyone read these reviews and determine whether to watch or not with so many 1s and 10s and little in between?! It's very reminiscent of andIt's hard to recall such a polarizing series as Star Trek: Picard (S01, 10eps, 1hr, CBSAA). How can anyone read these reviews and determine whether to watch or not with so many 1s and 10s and little in between?! It's very reminiscent of and has the rhythm of STNG. Patrick Stewart, showing his 80+ years, is one of almost ten EPs but also stars. Though he was run out of Starfleet, this is a very fawning treatment of Picard (and certainly by extension Patrick Stewart). I mean this show is designed to adore and deify him and that really takes away from its appeal. There's a large scale intergalactic story happening here, and as such with his hastily cobbled together rag-tag crew recalls the original Star Wars trilogy - there are definite similarities. A few more things I didn't like: there was a fight scene in ep3 that was just stupid with an unarmed Picard and other unarmed colleagues beating back an attack of armed/trained Romulans, so that was a scene-fail. The repeated treachery AND forgiveness of Agnes Jurati, then, the season finale was epic but feels like three episodes edited into one which kind of ruined it - seriously, key people die then are immediately resurrected with no complications/ill-effects, etc. Probably the biggest disappointment is that the predetermined protags-must-prevail trope was so obviously done just dispensing with any realistic conflict. The finale could've and should've been GREAT but it marched to a Disney-patented good-guys-prevail ending and then there's all of the social justice signaling/indoctrination which we're all just so over. I started to watch S02 but it's just more Picard fantasy porn. Other misc stuff, you'll see some of your favorite STNG characters return glad-handing Picard in good 'ole reunion style (so annoying), but they've aged and gotten fat.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

5

mscsniperxApr 20, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoilers Below!!!!
I give it a five instead of a zero for the quality of the cinematography, screenplay and it was entertaining to (some degree). It IS deserving of a zero though for ripping off the name of and character while having nothing to do with the actual original source material.
There are so many reasons to flog this dumpster fire books could be written, but I would point out the most EGREGIOUS of them all.... Planting Picards Consciousness into a synthetic golem effectively nullifying death, soul, and the afterlife. There is so much wrong with that ability and the way it was treated and contradictions. So in this Picard universe, we see there is no belief in afterlife or immortal soul so it is somehow our short lives and ability to die that makes us special. So why revive him at all??? If the whole premise is true, are we supposed to believe that we are all so happy to just die into nothingness when we have lived an old age if we new it was Literally possible to be made into a new young body that would live forever?? So, they accomplished in science here what religious beliefs hold dear to but then just causally throw away the implications?? Oh, yea "I could have immortal life in a young body able to continue to love and explore..but nahh, I am just happy to die" Yea right. NO ONE who believed there was no afterlife, if given the opportunity to be made immortal into a young superhuman body would just casually disregard that. It's not just a game changer.. it's a game ender.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

4

ICTOANFeb 16, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The base layer, the foundation here is interesting. I can get behind a conspiracy plotline. I can get behind a corrupt Starfleet. I can get behind a post-Dominion Federation which is not the idealized version it was in the TNG era. The problem is that they are not handling any of it with tact, or subtlety. They keep answering things before the questions are ever even asked. It's silly, it's boring. Ep 1 - Daj has a twin sister and she's on a Borg cube!
Ep 2 - After NCISing this apartment we have figured out Daj's sister is in fact not on Earth.

Ep 2 - Commodore: "Attacking directly was stupid. There is no need for such actions no one believes him anyway."
Ep 3 - A super-subtle death squad storms the Picard chateau

Ep 1 - Daj blows up! In case it wasn't clear enough how fukken dead she is lemme show you Picard flying 50 feet backward from the shockwave.
Ep 3 - WHICH ONE ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS ALIVE OR THE ONE WHO IS DEAD

Except, in true hack fashion I actually believe they will bring back daj to be some hockey macguffin. The writing is typical of kurtzman and post Abrams trek. Bland, predictable, crammed full of unnecessary action (hey, an old man is close enough to an explosion to be blown backwards 20 feet! It's cool though, we brought him to his couch to recover. He's good now.) I had really really hoped Picard (excuse me, JL) would be a return to classic trek is some way. I understand that tv is different than 30 years ago. There would be some changes but this is just.... Stupid. Characters make decisions that don't make sense, they over explain everything, they answers questions before they're ever asked. It's just... disappointing. Already cancelled my subscription. I can read the wiki, I'll get the same amount of emotional depth. At least the actors seem to be really trying, trying to work with what they're given.… Expand

8 of 9 users found this helpful81

All this user's reviews

4

AlphaRebelJan 31, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. So the new Picard. 2 eps in and I’m not going to say it’s bad (although I’m far from hooked) it does however dismally fail the Trek test by utterly disregarding (or more accurately sticking 2 fingers up that are on fire ) Genes cardinal rules around how Starfleet should work. Also to prove how new and edgy CBS are making Trek, last year I was a little surprised when Discovery drooped 2 F bombs in 30 seconds well we have got to the point where now ADMIRALS are dropping F bombs. (And, come on given how much I swear it takes a lot for me to raise eyebrows at swearing) *** Potential spoiler alert ahead.... ***

I’m also getting the nagging suspicion that we are looking at an alternative play on “All good things” where some if not all of the data plot is the adventures of a crew of care givers giving an old man one last tour and the conspiracy is just the delusions of a dying brain, mostly at the fact that this guy who’s supposed to be in his 90s now was blasted of his feet by a building wrecking blast and just woke up in his own bed. (And comments from other cast members) which I find will be an ignominious end to Jean Luc.

*** end spoilers ***

In other sci-fi news, avenue 5 is a thing, it’s hardly setting the Bar super high but frankly I’m more interested in where it’s going then Picard right now.… Expand

12 of 15 users found this helpful123

All this user's reviews

4

notor12Apr 15, 2020

The writing of this show just completely ruined it. The episodes drag really bad to the point where they can't hold interest. Lots of completely pointless and unbelievable dialogue.

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

All this user's reviews

4

lixicusFeb 9, 2020

Doesn't feel like a Star Trek series as in the fact that it goes against everything The Next Generation was all about ... the show is ok, love the acting and the actors but the plot and story is just ... bad and inappropriate.

13 of 17 users found this helpful134

All this user's reviews

5

JTMONEY22Feb 7, 2020

Meh. Nothing about this show makes me care about it either way. Just kind of blah. Maybe I’m just getting tired of shows being “dark & grritty.”

8 of 11 users found this helpful83

All this user's reviews

5

Honest-YanJan 29, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. (Reviewing first episode) SPOILERS! This is clearly a vanity piece for Patrick Stewart, but I'm fine with this considering he is the character I want to see. They introduce an unnecessary superhuman female character early on, then kill her off, then she has an identical twin. Seeing as they had not bothered to develop the first twin in any meaningful way before killing her, she stands as the same person. This death and subsequent identical twin scenario is terrible writing to say the least. I enjoyed seeing Steward reprise the role. I also liked seeing data again in a cameo, which I am guessing will be the first of several. Stewart appears to be one of few 79yr olds who can survive being blown back by an explosive shock wave but perhaps he has a cyborg hip or something? The superwoman is not the reason I tuned in, but seeing as Stewart is (or at least should be) too old to do fight scenes, I'm ok with her doing a bunch of stunts to liven things up, hopefully they'll develop the character in a meaningful way throughout the series. Although, there is a setup in this episode for thinly veiled preaching about the political views of the writers, so far it isn't in-your-face-obnoxious like Discovery was. Overall, this offers much promise but, considering the poor pedigree of the writers I am less optimistic than I would like to be.… Expand

7 of 10 users found this helpful73

All this user's reviews

4

Tyrole86Mar 10, 2020

This is even worse than STD to be honest... I don't see anything of the character Picard in this show. The Federation seems to have thrown all ideals out the window. The Romulans are depicted as desperate unorganized refugees, but they alsoThis is even worse than STD to be honest... I don't see anything of the character Picard in this show. The Federation seems to have thrown all ideals out the window. The Romulans are depicted as desperate unorganized refugees, but they also have more secret government organizations/projects than ever before? Absolutely nothing makes sense, and not much happens in each episode. I don't think the writers of this show have ever seen an episode of Star Trek.… Expand

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

All this user's reviews

4

ShaManaJan 30, 2020

Discovery is fine. Different people, different times and ideals. Picard is not. Aside from a fairly boring story and the generous use of over exposition, the characters don't make sense. This is not Picard, and that's not Star Trek. The plotDiscovery is fine. Different people, different times and ideals. Picard is not. Aside from a fairly boring story and the generous use of over exposition, the characters don't make sense. This is not Picard, and that's not Star Trek. The plot is just not engaging, they try to create a familiarity with the characters like we've seen them for years, but even the one we recognize don't feel right. They are nothing like their counterparts from previous shows and movies. And all new ones are just generic, burly rouge captain, a martial artist with anger issues, a snappy female companion that feels the need to explain everything to everyone in great detail. I'm sorry to everyone involved but's it's simply a bad show.… Expand

6 of 13 users found this helpful67

All this user's reviews

4

yekimevolMar 29, 2020

Nostalgia 9/10, This was the greatest part of this show for a fan just getting to see your old friends again.

However I'm not going to measure nostalgia in my overall score. Audio 7/10 Acting 6/10 Effects 3/10 Plot 2/10 Script / characterNostalgia 9/10, This was the greatest part of this show for a fan just getting to see your old friends again.

However I'm not going to measure nostalgia in my overall score.

Audio 7/10
Acting 6/10
Effects 3/10
Plot 2/10
Script / character development 2/10

40 out of a 100 that's a D in my book. Nothing that happens in the show truly mattered as by the end of it your back in the same situation as prior to watching Picard. Tonally the show runners and writers somehow managed to veer further away from Roddenberry's progressive family friendly Star Trek vision than Disco did which was very surprising, adding grotesque violence, drug used and to quote Spock himself colour language.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

All this user's reviews

5

CrunchzillaMay 10, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "Picard" is not a bad show, and it has sometimes been excellent, but season 2 was a convoluted disappointment. The premiere season showed great promise and had some great moments and episodes, including the final Picard/Data meeting. But season 2 was an undercooked and overloaded failure, with character behavior and creative choices that offered surprises but ultimately made no sense. (Spoilers coming.)

Season 1 introduced some truly interesting characters into Picard's world, including many Romulans and Vulcans, and turning Seven of Nine into one of the most dynamic figures of any Star Trek series. And there was Cristóbal Rios, a strong enough character (and a fine actor) to carry his own Trek spinoff. So what kind of insanity led the creators of this show to close season 2 by basically marooning Rios in the past, where his story is already complete and (centuries later) he's inevitably deceased (from an old man's bar fight?) in the Picard timeline. His choice to stay behind is nonsensical. Suddenly this skilled pilot no longer wants to fly? Staying in the 21st century for him is like you and I choosing to live in the 18th century. Why not just bring his new family into the future?

The show's device of using actors in different roles when the crew goes back in time makes no real sense. The connection between the identical twins in different timelines is never explained. Other than some vague emotional effect on Picard himself, why are Laris and Tallinn identical? Coincidence? Are they related somehow? We never really find out, probably because it was never truly figured out.

The special effects and most production values are excellent. Some of the forced drama and emotional breakdowns between the main characters (Raffi, a season Starfleet officer, is often alarmingly irrational for no reason) undercuts and clutters up the storytelling. There's just too much to get into here. (Like the transformation of the Borg.).

Season 1 would get a deserved high rating from me, but Season 2 was ultimately such a washout that my overall rating is mixed.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

Augustus75Mar 21, 2020

It's not bad. Some good acting. I can see how the trek fans might not like it. It seems very different in atmosphere and pacing compared to previous series. Perhaps the single narrative spread out over episodes is the cause.

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

All this user's reviews

4

Kai82May 6, 2022

Firstly it is not TNG and does not want to be it as they made this clear. Why name it Picard and use TNG Characters and lore would be my question. Also to be fair that TNG and DS9 started weaker too (but not on this low level to be fair).Firstly it is not TNG and does not want to be it as they made this clear. Why name it Picard and use TNG Characters and lore would be my question. Also to be fair that TNG and DS9 started weaker too (but not on this low level to be fair). Lets go to the first elephant in the room. I will not enter the debate if this is even Star Trek anymore but say I can see the validity of the argument. I am still thinking this is set in a darker parallel timeline or universe as I do not recognize how things could develop like this. I mean Starfleet, the Federation, many characters and choices. For example I say the antagonist have valid reasons and this comes from someone who would fight for Data’s and the Doctors rights even putting his live on the line. Both are favorites of mine and are more human than many biological humans. Again to be fair I would also say this also if the roles were reversed. You could however argue about cause and effect. It ends not there as Picard would never have Sometimes I thought it reminds me of the dirtier more grubby Star Wars look. The character or performance is a bit mixed. Patrick Steward as Picard is amazing and even haters acknowledge this. Jeri Ryan as Seven is hindered by the script and this weakened her. I must say that I am a fan of her and Seven of Nine was the best addition to a cast I can think of. Isa Briones surprised me positively and I want to see more of her. Michelle Hurd as Raffi is also handicapped by the script. I can see her being truly awesome if they put more effort in the writing. The rest is fine but I repeat many established characters are mishandled and this leaves a sour taste. Overall this is a weak first season with some good moments.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

5

abm0Mar 23, 2020

Overall, this is a disappointment. Once I accepted, based on the trailer, that this would be yet another dark and conflict-focused show, I did like what they came up with as the focus of the conflict, because it was a new type of being, whichOverall, this is a disappointment. Once I accepted, based on the trailer, that this would be yet another dark and conflict-focused show, I did like what they came up with as the focus of the conflict, because it was a new type of being, which is good for a "Star Trek". And I allowed myself to be pleasantly surprised by the way they used somf of the old ST technology we were used to in some new ways (like for a certain fight scene).

But beyond that it's been disappointment after disappointment, and I haven't been able to watch most episodes without some fast-forwarding. First of all, most of the character writing and acting is bad, everyone's "too cool for school" and throwing snappy replies all over the place, just like the totally obnoxious characters from Discovery. Picard himself is unrecognizable, there's no serious and dignified attitude anymore, he never wears the uniform, never stands up for Starfleet's high principles, spends time with some ragtag band of misfits, which is completely un-Picard-like, and worst of all he's the focus of some strange "Picard Cult" the writers have created INSIDE the universe. WTH is that?! There was never any premise for that in TNG. He was just one of many Starfleet captains with healthy attitudes and principles, there was no reason to make him out to be this great hero that everyone knows about. He's a great hero for US THE VIEWERS, not in-world! It's very tiresome to keep seeing characters give all kinds of extreme reactions on finding out who he is, that was never what Picard was about - being a galactic rock star.

Really the only likeable character in all this is dr. Jurati, because she has some realistic non-superstar modesty and is well acted. The main female character, while she does have some humility, is not well acted at all, the actress they picked does not have enough emotional range, even though she's almost passable because she's at least not acting like a superstar all the time.

And while I fully expected there to be some throwbacks and a conversation or two about the good old days, it turns out that there's almost no episode without some sitting around the table scene, having a boring conversation about how things used to be and irrelevant stuff that happened in the past that does nothing to move the plot forward. This is just bad writing.

Then on the tech side they also failed to make this a "Star Trek", with the most annoying part being the ship interfaces, which have nothing whatsoever to do with the LCARS we used to know. I could forgive the fact that they went with this popular stupidity going around these days of making the GUIs transparent and therefore unnecessarily hard to read, but they could have at least preserved the general "okudagram" look, to make them feel like "real Star Trek interfaces" to us TNG fans. But no, they threw that part out as well.

Bottom line, there is no trekking, nobody's seeking out new life and new civilizations (we're practically served the new life on a platter in the first episode), and this is not Star Trek. Thank Seth we have The Orville, which I can't wait to see continue.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

All this user's reviews

5

NdemusNov 21, 2021

Absolutely love it! Watched it 3 times over already and rewatching TNG now to get ready for season 2

0 of 15 users found this helpful015

All this user's reviews

5

bjmetacriticJun 16, 2022

It had some enjoyable moments, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was watching mediocre fan-fiction. Moreover, the entire show seemed unnecessary as the series finale of The Next Generation tied up Picard's story well enough. To quoteIt had some enjoyable moments, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was watching mediocre fan-fiction. Moreover, the entire show seemed unnecessary as the series finale of The Next Generation tied up Picard's story well enough. To quote some classic Star Trek, "Let us redefine progress to mean that just because we can do a thing, it does not necessarily mean we must do that thing."… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

4

r3506Apr 14, 2023

No puede ser positiva la valoración de este mediocre espectáculo que arruina el legado de ST TNG. En lo visual, gracias a la técnica, podemos permitirnos su visionado, pero ya está... solamente para pasar el rato pero sin dejar un buen saborNo puede ser positiva la valoración de este mediocre espectáculo que arruina el legado de ST TNG. En lo visual, gracias a la técnica, podemos permitirnos su visionado, pero ya está... solamente para pasar el rato pero sin dejar un buen sabor de boca. Nada que ver con Star Trek, nada que ver con los ideales básicos de la serie... nada que ver con la decencia cinematográfica... nada que ver con el arte. Solo política woke, política inútil y política barata para imbéciles que se deleitan con semejantes patrañas.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews