- Here are the nine episodes of Star Trek
you need to see before Picard.
Back in 2018 at the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention,
Sir Patrick Stewart announced
he'd be reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard.
And, it's no joke to say Trekkies and Trekkers alike
were instantly onboard for this upcoming series,
counting down the days, hours, and minutes
until its premier.
And, with Star Trek: Picard
set to hit CBS All Access this Thursday,
they're gonna finally get to see the continuing adventures
of one of the most beloved Starfleet Captains of all time.
But, it's been 18 years since we last saw Jean-Luc onscreen
in 2002s "Star Trek: Nemesis",
and even longer since Star Trek: The Next Generation
left our airwaves.
So, it's understandable if you're Next Gen knowledge
is a little Last Gen.
Like, do you remember who Okona was,
and why he was so outrageous?
It's a little Season Two humor for ya.
So, to help us prep for Star Trek: Picard,
we thought we'd name nine pieces of Star Trek history
to binge watch before Picard premiers.
Now, to be clear, this is not a spoilery episode
of Nerdist News.
All of these suggestions are based on what we've seen
in the trailers for Picard thus far.
Also, while these are some of the best episodes
of Star Trek,
this isn't a best-of ranking episode,
so please don't create weird replicas of us on the holodeck
on which to act out your anger.
We're lookin' at you Lieutenant Broccoli.
So, in chronological order, let's,
- Engage.
Our first pick is The Next Generation Season Two,
"Measure of a Man".
One of the things we were most shocked by
in the Picard trailer was the return of Data,
and this episode is both Picard and Data
on the top of their game doing what Star Trek does best,
argue ethical dilemmas.
Specifically, are androids individuals,
or are they the property of Starfleet?
It was a hugely important episode
not just for Picard and Data,
but for all of the Federation as well,
as their entire charter was, you know,
about seeking out new life forms,
and as Picard would say:
- Well, there it sits!
- Next up, we're counting a two-parter as one episode.
I know, we've already broken our own rules,
but hey, it's our show, suck it.
Of course we're talkin' about the Season Three finale,
and Season Four opener "Best of Both Worlds",
which is, honestly, Next Gen at its best.
It has one of the greatest cliff hangers
in television history,
and features long-time Picard Nemesis, the Borg.
We actually have a shot of a Borg Cube,
as well as Seven of Nine in the Picard trailer,
so we know they're gonna factor in in some major way.
Next up is Season Four, Episode Two, "Family".
Now, this episode deals with the fallout
of "Best of Both Worlds"
after Captain Picard is assimilated
into the Borg Collective as Locutus,
and he's forced to deal with the fact
that he's responsible for the deaths of over 10,000 people.
(tense music)
- I should have been able to stop them!
I should (crying bitterly).
- It shows that underneath his stern exterior,
he was still as emotionally vulnerable
as the rest of his crew.
Plus, we finally get to see the Picard Family Vineyard,
which appears heavily in the trailers.
Now from here, we warp over to Season Five with "I, Borg."
This one makes the list
not only because it furthers Borg lore as well,
or Lorg, as I like to call it,
but it also furthers Picard's own issues with them
because Hugh, the Borg who's been de-assimilated
in that episode,
has been confirmed to appear in Picard, as well.
Now, in addition to the Borg,
another of Picard's frequent adversaries are the Romulans.
To say that he has a storied past with them
is the understatement of the future.
From the Picard trailer, we know that he led the armada
that helped evacuate the Romulan home world
before it's destruction, which we saw in 2009 "Star Trek".
And, to see some of their shared history,
and one of the best episodes
that get into the minds of the Romulans,
we recommend checking out Season Six's "Face of the Enemy".
And, if that doesn't scratch your itch enough,
check out Season Three's "The Defector".
If you're still itchy after that, call a doctor!
Later on in Season Six, we have "Tapestry".
Now, this episode is a great look
at what makes Jean-Luc Picard tick,
and what in his past made him the captain
that he turned out to be.
And, for all the characters who wondered
if he was just heartless,
and only just horny for Earl Gray, hot,
turns out he's not.
He was just stabbed through the heart by a Nausicaan,
and had it replaced by an artificial one.
There's an important distinction there.
Legally, he has a heart, just not the one you expect.
The final Next Gen episode we're gonna recommend
is actually the final Next Gen episode, "All Good Things."
Now, besides just being a fitting end
to this excellent series,
this episode gives us a glimpse of a possible future
for Picard living on the family vineyard
with a glorious beard,
as well as for the rest of the crew.
I mean, a glimpse into their future,
not their glorious beards.
Hopefully we'll see that as well.
While we can't imagine the show
is gonna follow this future to the letter,
we're gonna bet there's a bunch of references
to this particular episode in Star Trek: Picard.
Now, those were seven episodes of Next Gen
to brush up on before Star Trek: Picard,
but we promised nine.
How could we only give you seven of nine
Next Generation episodes?
- What's so funny?
- (sighs) Well, because this next episode
is actually a Voyager episode
that focuses on, you guessed it, Seven of Nine,
who's also set to appear in Picard.
Now, if you somehow don't remember about the Borg
who regained her humanity,
check out her very first appearance
in the Star Trek Voyager two-parter "Scorpion"
in which Voyager makes an uneasy alliance with the Borg
to combat Species 8472,
which ends up resulting in Seven of Nine joining the crew.
Now, of course, there's one other thing
that we think is worth revising before Picard,
and that is 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis.
It is not just to see a young Tom Hardy
playing a young Picard clone working for the Romulans.
It's because "Nemesis" is technically the last that we saw
of The Next Generation era.
Plus, it dealt with the sacrifice made by Data
to save The Enterprise's crew,
which has to be addressed in some way
with Data appearing in Star Trek: Picard.
So, there you have it, folks.
Those are the nine pieces of Star Trek you should binge
before watching Star Trek: Picard
when it premieres this Thursday on CBS All Access.
But tell me, what do you folks think?
What's your favorite episode of Star Trek,
and why is Picard the best captain?
Also, who do you hope to see in Star Trek: Picard?
Let's discuss.
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