The latest episode of Star Trek: Picard, “The Watcher” introduced us finally to the one our gang has been sent to find in the past!
But it seems they have ties to a pre-existing character we already know of in the Star Trek: Universe,
so let's finally talk about… Gary Seven!
Yes, this is the mysterious man first featured in Star Trek: The Original Series, via the episode “Assignment Earth”.
His run in with Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew certainly caused a stir,
but does till spell trouble for Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and his crew in the past, if the Watcher is the same as Gary?
Well, let’s explore Gary Seven and his role in the Star Trek Universe so far!
SPOILER WARNING, this video will cover Star Trek: Picard Season 2 and Episode 4 “Watcher”, you have been warned.
Welcome to Trek Central! I’m your host, _Captain Jack_, and let’s get into it!
Look, the Transporter Door Thing, that’s what I am calling it anyway since I don't think we have a technical name for i
is certainly the same as Gary Seven’s from the Assignment Earth episode.
But are Picard’s Watcher aka Laris and Gary Seven from the actual same organization
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Okay, engage!
So let’s start off with, who actually is Gary Seven and why is he so Interesting?
Gary Seven was an operative for an unknown organisation, which spread supervisors across the galaxy in order to protect people and species and ensure their destiny?
Yes this is as vague as it sounds, but it seems like these agents are temporal agents of some kind, or at least getting their orders from a temporal being,
such as the illusive man giving orders to the past to ensure the proper timeline in Star Trek: Enterprise.
Gary Seven himself however was Human, though his ancestors were abducted from earth around 4000 BC and taken to another planet.
While there, his ancestors and eventually himself were bred and conditioned which allowed them to have completely healthy and flawless bodies, and also made them extremely loyal to their assigned missions.
Because of his training, Gary Seven was even immune to the effects of the Vulcan Nerve Pinch,
which even the Augment Khan Noonien-Singh was not completely immune to.
So whatever manner of training or experimentation Gary Seven or his ancestors underwent, made them incredibly resilient to a multitude of things.
Gary Seven was listed as Supervisor 194 within his organisation, and given the rank of a Class 1 Supervisor,
which seemingly was a high rank, as this allowed him to override previous instructions on high level equipment used by the Organisation,
such as the Beta 5 Computer.
He was given the mission to prevent mankind from destroying itself with Nuclear weapons in 1968.
This mission was previously assigned to Agents 201 and 347 from the organisation, but after these agents lost contact with their supervisors,
Gary Seven was assigned to find out why and dispatched as soon as he was ready.
Unfortunately these agents were killed in an automobile accident, and Gary Seven assumed their mission to protect mankind from itself and the oncoming Nuclear Weapons crisis.
As previously stated, Gary Seven was equipped with highly advanced alien technology, such as the Beta 5 Computer.
This was a highly advanced computer system, with artificial intelligence.
It not only contained databases containing knowledge of other planets and of the history of earth, but was able to connect to new broadcasts over the world and even decode government messages.
This computer was also connected to a transporter chamber, which instead of having a beaming effect that wrapped around its target,
such as the transporters used by the Federation, but would enclose a cube around its target,
with blue gaseous like energy appearing inside this space.
This transporter would also be seen used in the year 2024, at a point in time where the timelines might have diverged.
Gary Seven was enroute from his organisation's planet, at least 1,000 light years away from earth in a transporter beam. Such a beam persisting over such a long distance was unheard of, even by the 23rd century, and such a technologically advanced species also used their technologies to hide their planet.
Mister Sevens transporter beam was accidentally intercepted by the USS Enterprise, who were in 20th century Earth from utilising the light-speed breakaway factor,
aka slingshot effect, in order to monitor earth communications and find out how it survived problems in the year 1968.
Gary Seven would go on to cause the malfunction of an American nuclear missile, using the Beta 5 computer.
The missile veered off course and exploded 104 miles above ground, and would help the world powers of the time to reassess the risk of Nuclear Weapons and their uses.
His involvement and cleaning up of the Nuclear affair would see him remain on Earth to carry out other missions.
He was even joined by a few well known friends, along with his Cat Isis, who was rather mysterious.
Gary Seven’s adventures would also continue in the Star Trek extended canon as well.
He was heavily featured in IDW Publishing’s Star Trek: Year Five comic book series, which followed his run in with the USS Enterprise once again and the incidents it would cause.
His adventures in the extended canon did continue to revolve around Earth and Humanity. Gary even met up with Jimi Hendrix at the Woodstock music festival.
I’m guessing you likely didn’t see that one coming.
Assignment: Eternity saw Seven creating a wormhole that brought the USS Enterprise from Federation space into Romulan Space.
This incident backfired, when Gary found himself stuck on a planet used as the base of operations of Agent 146.
He was stuck here with James T. Kirk, Sulu and Chekov.
Eventually the situation resolved itself as assistance was found in the form of Seven’s own associates, like the Tiger-Like Osiris.
Gary Seven actually saved Spock during the Khitomer Conference in 2293.
This was where Romulan agent Commander Dellas killed Septos, aka Agent 146 and then Osiris,
before targeting Spock.
Luckily the Romulan was stopped by Seven, who sent her into the past with his servo.
Gary and Captain Kirk had the chance to chat and share information, with him later returning the Enterprise to Federation Space, resolving the incident.
The Eugenics Wars saw Seven’s involvement. Some would view Gary Seven’s involvement and dealings with Khan Noonien Singh as a controversial decision.
His own companion, Roberta Lincoln, questioned if they had unleashed Khan on the Universe.
We know how well Khan would eventually go down in the galaxy, certainly not a good one.
Gary Seven eventually departed Earth, leaving it under the watchful eye and guard of his protege.
Looking to the future, will Gary Seven appear in Star Trek: Picard? Well, this does depend on how our Watcher fits into the storyline for Season Two of Star Trek: Picard really?
If i had to theorize, maybe the Watcher is Gary Seven herself?
Just taking a form that is more friendly to Jean-Luc Picard?
Some theories have ranged from Laris being Isis, Gary Seven's Cat?
or maybe an underling of Seven himself..
Even in Beta-canon, Gary Seven did depart Earth at some point and leave it under the watchful eye of his protege.
Maybe this is his protege and she is directly connected to Gary Seven himself.
So, what do you think of Gary Seven?
Will the man himself make an appearance in Star Trek: Picard, or will our current Watcher aka freaky Laris be the only person of this mysterious agency to make a dent in the past?
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For now, I’ve been Captain Jack, thanks for watching and we’ll see you next time! Live Long and prosper my friends!