Picard’s not so bad.

I’m speaking of CBS All Access’s Star Trek: Picard that aired earlier this year. 

When I first heard they were doing the show, and that initially, Stewart didn’t want to do it but they talked him into it, it kinda sounded a bit like elder abuse.

Maybe done with smiles, arms around the shoulder and a truckload of money but passive elder abuse all the same.

I mean, the man is 80 for god’s sake and he refused. 

And the whole notion also sounded like desperation, as in CBS needed subscribers for their streaming service, which was very understandable but true. They were building this whole service around new Star Trek, a mountain of old CBS reruns and whatever other new shows they could cobble together to pad content.

The main new tent pole show was Star Trek: Discovery but it was a brand new Trek offering, and since that’s always iffy, they wanted some old school insurance. 

Thus, Picard.

I myself wanted nothing to do with desperation, elder abuse, and especially another streaming service. I really can’t encourage the multiplying business model/trend. I figured that if I heard enough glowing reviews, maybe I’d buy a season when it came out on Blu-Ray, or take advantage of a free trial. Suffice to say, I got the chance to watch the first season Picard for free. I WILL NEVER DISCLOSE OR CONFIM HOW I MANAGED THIS FEAT OF LEDGERDOMAIN!

Having done so, I can confirm that Stewart is indeed 80 years old and sounds like it, this whole thing does still smack a bit of desperation, there are somewhat gratuitous guest stars, and a fair amount of the acting is just so-so if your last name isn’t Stewart. Some well trod cliches are included as well and it’s a slow, somewhat boring build up. And, trying to be edgy, they drop lead F-bombs here and there and it usually sounds forced and really unnecessary most of the time, which is a bit lame and unfortunate.

But it’s Picard. 

We see Data. Will. Deanna. 

It’s good to see them for one last hurrah. As my friend John says, that alone is worth the price of admission. 

Over all, it’s not a bad season, but I think at this point, sir Patrick deserves a quiet life. Just a couple of years ago, Stewart starred in Blunt Talk on Starz as a talk show host and he still had every bit of fire he always had. Now though, his age has caught up with him. Frankly, he sounds a bit feeble, and that’s because he’s 80, playing a character that’s 95, just like in Logan, where he played a Charles Xavier in his ’90’s. Mind you, it worked better there, as his character was very feeble and the most powerful mutant mind on earth had a severe case of dementia which could level cities.

Now don’t get me wrong, I have all the respect in the world for Sir Patrick and his acting skills are unparalleled. That being said, the producers of Picard should have some respect and leave the guy alone next time he says no!

Of course they’ll keep asking him though because Hollywood douchebags. And he’s a big boy who can take care of himself, so he should do him. 

I think over all, the season was liked by the fans, which is a win. 

If I’m them, I stop while I’m ahead, because the thing IS.