With news of Gates McFadden’s return for Star Trek: Picard season 3, a decades-old Star Trek mystery can potentially be solved. The Star Trek: The Next Generation actress plays Beverly Crusher, the Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D, and is a primary love interest to Captain Picard in the Star Trek franchise. Picard’s third season can finally address the will-they/won’t-they dynamic between Crusher and Picard and answer the question of whether they ever acted upon their romantic feelings or parted ways.
Gates McFadden’s last appearance in Star Trek was in Star Trek: Nemesis, the fourth installment of The Next Generation film saga. She assists Captain Picard in the Enterprise’s battle with the Star Trek antagonist Praetor Shinzon and is the character that confirms Shinzon as a clone of Picard by examining his DNA. From then on, her career and personal life following the film’s events have so far been canonically unconfirmed, though there are cut scenes from Nemesis which imply she becomes the head of Starfleet Medical. Beverly Crusher’s current whereabouts have not been specified in Star Trek: Picard season 3 as of yet, so there is a possibility the cut scenes are an explanation for her absence.
In Star Trek: TNG, Jean-Luc and Beverly’s relationship never extended beyond close friendship, except for in alternate timelines. The romantic tension between them was also not addressed in the four sequel films, nor has it been expanded upon in Star Trek: Picard, so Picard season 3 seeing Beverly Crusher's return may answer the question of whether or not their romantic feelings for one another were finally acted upon in the period between Nemesis and Picard, or if they can rekindle the ill-fated attraction they shared in the series. In The Next Generation season 7, episode 8, “Attached,” Jean-Luc and Beverly were given the ability to read each other’s minds, and this was one of the only times their feelings were acknowledged openly. After the intimate experience, Picard suggested they should no longer be afraid of exploring the connection they have, but Dr. Crusher argued that they should be afraid. Despite Crusher and Picard realizing they have feelings for each other, she was convinced it wouldn’t work. The scene left the status of their relationship open-ended enough to predict a romantic relationship could occur down the line if it hasn’t happened yet off-screen.
An alternate timeline in the finale episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, “All Good Things” divulged that they did marry in the future and ended up getting divorced, which boosts the notion that a relationship between them is destined to be doomed. However, there is a chance that by the era of Star Trek: Picard season 3, they will have matured enough to overcome the fears of losing each other’s friendship and respect. If not, Star Trek can at least put an end to the will-they/won’t-they debate at last. With Jean-Luc expanding his romantic horizons in Star Trek: Picard season 2, Beverly may return only as a friend, hopefully with answers as to why they could never work things out.
Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher are one of the more popular pairings in the Star Trek franchise and who unfortunately never came to be even after a history of build-up. The flirtations and overt sexual tension never wavers throughout their screen time together and it should be interesting to see if the creators continue on that same path in Picard season 3 or reveal that they have moved on. Either way, Star Trek: Picard finally has an opportunity to answer one of Star Trek’s biggest mysteries in its third season.
Star Trek: Picard season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.