In "Picard" episode 7, Cristobal Rios seems to break the Temporal Prime Directive and
the regular Prime Directive at the same time – and he's not the first member of Starfleet
to do it.
These are all the easter eggs you missed in "Picard" season 2, episode 7.
Episode 7, "Monsters," starts us far away from where the previous episode left us.
Though the former Enterprise captain is still in his tuxedo from the Europa Mission gala,
he's now aboard some sort of space station and being interviewed by a mysterious therapist
played by "Battlestar Galactica" alum James Callis.
While he speaks to his patient as any therapist would, there are other clues that something
is not quite right.
These irregularities include the therapist's outdated Starfleet uniform and combadge, along
with a confusing array of relics on the desk behind him.
There, we see display models from different points in "Star Trek" history.
This includes the space station K-7, from the classic episode "The Trouble With Tribbles,"
and what appears to be station Regula I, seen in "Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan."
We also get a glimpse of an unidentifiable starship saucer, as well as what could be
the USS Excelsior.
It seems like these might even be store-bought model kits, but whatever the case it's a nice
trip down memory lane and another clue as to the truth of the scene.
During his therapy session, Picard recalls events from his childhood and the time he
spent in the family estate's arboretum with his mother.
During that time, Picard and his mother painted the glass walls with elaborate scenes from
mythology, which she then used to teach him important lessons.
One of the lessons taught by Picard's mother, "there is no better teacher than one's enemy,"
ultimately comes to have great importance in the episode.
She also interrupts the cosplay to give him lessons in leadership.
"You must learn to lift people up in times of grave danger, to lead them with inspiring
speech."
One of Picard's defining attributes is his penchant for big, inspiring speeches.
Whether it was to make a case in defense of a friend in "The Measure of a Man" or to lecture
a young officer in "The First Duty," Picard is perhaps the greatest speech giver in "Star
Trek" history.
Q once noted this about Picard himself, in the TNG episode "True Q."
"Sometimes I think the only reason I come here is to listen to these wonderful speeches
of yours."
By the end of "Two of One," it looks like the Borg Queen has successfully taken over
control of Jurati.
The Queen has wormed her way into the young scientist's mind, accessing her memories and
establishing an ability to communicate directly through her subconscious.
By manipulating Jurati, the Queen gets the chemical release she needs to take over her
body, and now it seems that there's a quasi-Borg Queen loose in 2024 Los Angeles.
At the start of "Monsters," we see the Queen-Jurati hybrid strutting down a major thoroughfare.
We know that to survive the Queen needs a rush of endorphins, and we see her smashing
a window to get that rush.
However, when the scene moves to the inside of a dive bar, viewers see a woman singing
with a band to entertain patrons.
Those in the know will recognize that woman as none other than Patrick Stewart's real-life
wife, singer Sunny Ozell.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Ozell said,
"My appearance as a bar-band singer in Patrick's show was entirely his idea.
When he first proposed it to me, I have to admit I was a bit reluctant ... But when I
learned that CBS Studios and the episode's director, Joe Menendez, actually wanted me
to sing one of my own tunes off my most recent record, 'Overnight Lows,' I couldn't resist
the opportunity."
Since first meeting Dr. Teresa , Rios has clearly been smitten.
Now, the feeling doesn't seem as one-sided as it once was.
Though Raffi warned Rios about getting involved with a woman from another century -- and he
has tried to resist -- it seems there's no holding back the attraction between them,
Temporal Prime Directive or not.
With Picard experiencing a coma of sorts, it's up to Tallinn to use a jury-rigged mind-meld
to enter his subconscious and attempt to pull him out.
However, Picard still needs help from outside, which is where Teresa comes in.
Using a 25th-century medical device, Rios helps her through a procedure to stabilize
Picard, at which point Rios reveals the truth of his origins.
When Teresa asks if Rios is from outer space, however, he responds with a line that may
sound familiar.
"I just…
I work in outer space."
This is a clear reference to a memorable line in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" where Captain
Kirk, stuck in 1986, sparks a relationship with another young doctor from that era named
Gillian Taylor, a biologist at a marine center.
"Don't tell me – you're from outer space."
"No, I'm from Iowa.
I only work in outer space."
While Taylor laughs off the comment, Teresa believes Rios, especially after he transports
her aboard the La Sirena.
Meanwhile, Seven of Nine and Raffi work on the La Sirena to locate Jurati and the Borg
Queen.
They discover that the Borg Queen has locked them out of the ship's systems, and it's up
to them to break the lockout, track down Jurati, and stop a Borg takeover of the 21st century.
While getting down to business, Raffi prepares a couple of cups of strong coffee, setting
one down on Seven of Nine's console.
However, the former Borg drone keeps working, to Raffi's surprise.
"You haven't touched your coffee.
You never don't touch your coffee."
Though Seven of Nine was not one to consume caffeinated beverages during her days in the
Delta Quadrant, this seems like a nod to her former "Star Trek: Voyager" captain, Kathryn
Janeway.
Janeway, who was a role model for Seven of Nine, was well-known for her love of coffee.
"Coffee: the finest organic suspension ever devised."
In the "Voyager" episode "Hunters," Janeway even claimed that coffee was essential for
her to beat the Borg -- so perhaps Seven of Nine would be wise to take a few sips to help
her stop the Borg Queen from taking over Jurati and escaping Earth.
Heading into Season 2 of "Star Trek: Picard," fans wondered if they might finally get some
answers to one of "The Next Generation's" biggest unresolved plotlines by exploring
the rivalry between the El-Aurian bartender Guinan and the god-like trickster Q. In "The
Next Generation" episode "Q Who" Guinan and Q come face to face, and it's clear there
is some history between them.
"This creature is not what she appears to be.
She's an imp, and where she goes, trouble always follows."
Guinan even makes a unique hand gesture that seems to be a defensive maneuver, suggesting
that her people can resist the powers of the Q continuum.
In "Monsters," fans finally get the first piece of that puzzle when Picard seeks out
the 21st-century version of Guinan for help in contacting Q. Guinan explains that her
people and "the denizens of the Q Continuum" have been engaged in a long and brutal cold
war, but have now reached a truce.
She also describes more about her people's powers, including the ability to literally
bottle a moment in time.
This confirms her people are not just familiar with the Q but have fought them, which is
an intriguing new detail in the "Star Trek" universe.
Beyond that, it also confirms suspicions that El-Aurians can defend themselves against the
god-like powers of Q.
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