"Star Trek: Picard's" second season comes to its conclusion with big reveals, some throwback
themes, and the return of a TNG cast member we weren't sure we'd see again.
These are the easter eggs you may have missed.
In the "Star Trek: Picard" Season 2 finale "Farewell" we get more than goodbyes, as we
also say hello again to a familiar face not seen in more than 20 years.
With Dr. Soong's genetically engineered daughter Kore left lost and confused, having sabotaged
her father's work, we find her struggling to make sense of her life when she is visited
by a friendly stranger.
We recognize him as longtime "Star Trek" fan favorite Wil Wheaton, reprising his role as
Wesley Crusher in a jaw-dropping surprise cameo that nobody saw coming.
"A long time ago I was known as Wesley Crusher.
But now I am a traveler of all of space and time."
Last time we saw Wesley was in "Star Trek: Nemesis" where he had seemingly rejoined Starfleet.
That was a surprising turn of events, considering that Wesley had previously renounced his commission
in the "TNG" Season 7 episode "Journey's End."
In that episode he'd grown tired of Starfleet and left his life behind to explore the universe
with the mysterious alien called the Traveler.
It seems now that "Star Trek: Picard" is treating his Starfleet return in "Nemesis" with a wink,
as Wesley announces that he has indeed become a Traveler himself, referencing the events
of "Journey's End."
But we also get a stunning revelation that rewrites more than 50 years of "Star Trek"
lore.
Because Wesley is more than just a Traveler – he reveals that he and others like him
are responsible for the Supervisors like Gary Seven, first seen in the "Original Series"
episode "Assignment: Earth."
In the final moments of the Season 2 finale "Farewell" we learn the identity of the strange
Borg woman who arrived on the Stargazer in the season premiere.
Revealed to be the Jurati Queen created through Picard's intervention in 2024.
She has arrived looking for help from the Federation.
According to her, there is a dangerous new threat that only the combined efforts of her
Borg collective and Starfleet can solve.
Once she declares the dangers, she brings up a star chart on the Stargazer's viewscreen
filled with plenty of "Star Trek" Easter eggs, from Benzar to Draylax.
But one stands out as particularly meaningful.
The star system Maxia can be clearly seen when the chart first appears, and it's a system
well known to Picard.
"Do you not remember the Battle of Maxia?"
As revealed in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" first season episode "The Battle," it's at
Maxia that Picard had a fateful encounter with the Ferengi while he was captain of the
original USS Stargazer.
In a brutal defeat, the Stargazer was seemingly destroyed, but Picard used clever tactics
to save his crew, including a deft strategy that became known as "The Picard Maneuver."
Eventually known by the Ferengi at least as "The Battle of Maxia," it resulted in Picard
being court martialed after the loss of his ship, leaving a major stain on his otherwise
impeccable service record.
Of course, he would be somewhat redeemed in "The Battle" when the Stargazer was discovered
intact, and used as part of a revenge plot by Ferengi Daimon Bok for the death of his
son at the Battle of Maxia.
Of course, the next Easter egg is what the Jurati Queen discovers as the danger to the
galaxy: a massive spatial anomaly that erupts with incredible energy.
Thanks to the use of the Federation fleet and Borg technology, they're able to avert
a catastrophe, but in the aftermath, something new and curious is created: a transwarp conduit.
Seven of Nine, being a former Borg drone, recognizes the phenomenon right away, a nod
to the events of "Star Trek: Voyager" where transwarp conduits were seen several times,
with Seven having expert knowledge of their fundamental nature.
Used by the Borg for interstellar travel, transwarp conduits can be created by Borg
vessels themselves to travel vast distances in an instant.
Seven of Nine notes that this new conduit is unlike any ever seen before, and it seems
that even the Jurati Queen with her centuries of collective knowledge is confounded by it
as well.
"What you see is a piece of the puzzle whose final image is unclear, but is tied to a threat,
one which requires close observation."
Who or what created this transwarp conduit, or for what purpose, remains to be seen, and
could form the basis for the upcoming third season of "Star Trek: Picard."
"Star Trek" isn't just known for its characters, stories, and one-liners, but also features
some of pop culture's most famous musical themes.
The original "Star Trek" opening title music has become indelibly etched into the public
consciousness, while the rousing march from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," aka "The
Next Generation's" theme music, isn't far behind.
For decades "Star Trek" has employed one of the movie industry's best composers, Jerry
Goldsmith, and "Farewell" features another of his "Star Trek" themes in its closing moments.
While Picard and his crew, along with his old friend Guinan, toast each other at the
end of the episode, we hear the unmistakable theme from "Star Trek: First Contact."
A recognizable tune, it played at the close of that film as well as when Zephram Cochrane
made first contact with alien visitors, a Vulcan survey ship.
Here it's used to good effect — in a scene that in some ways mirrors the final scene
of "The Next Generation" with Picard joining his crew in a casual setting — to say goodbye.
For decades, "Star Trek" has always pointed to Earth as a near utopia, with several episodes
and movies describing it as a literal paradise.
In "Star Trek: First Contact" the crew travels back to 2063, and it's said that in the years
that follow, Earth would cure many of its worst ills, from poverty and disease to pollution
and war.
Visiting Guinan at her bar on Earth back in the 25th century, Picard asks for an update
on Rios, who stayed behind in 2024 to be with Dr. Teresa and her son.
Guinan then tells Picard about the rest of Rios' life, how he died in a bar fight as
an old man.
But it's what became of Dr. Teresa's son that provides an answer to a longtime "Trek" mystery.
According to Guinan, young Ricardo grew up to be a scientist, and in concert with Rene
Picard's discovery of a unique alien organism on Europa, helped devise new ways of treating
and solving the Earth's pollution problem, healing the world and cleaning the sky.
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