Captain Picard is widely regarded as the best of the Enterprise captains, often even more so than the iconic James T. Kirk. He was a legend for many reasons, not the least of which was his authoritative, yet morally superior personality. Picard was a poet, an artist, a scholar and a gentleman rolled into one. Wise to a fault, his actions not only helped the Enterprise escape danger on countless occasions, but build new relationships with a multitude of alien races.
He wasn't perfect, however. Picard has had his fair share of cringe-worthy moments over the years, mostly due to his stubborn personality quirks. In some instances, he's acted like a complete jerk to those around him. Here's five instances of that, plus five of his absolute best moments in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Worst: "Shut Up, Wesley!"
It's no secret that Captain Picard isn't fond of children. While that view did soften over the years, it was a facet of his career-first approach that stuck with him for the long haul. This manifested itself early on in the show when young Wesley Crusher was brought on board the Enterprise along with his mother, doctor Beverly Crusher.
From the very first moment, Picard was both impressed and irritated by the young man's personality. When Data's evil twin Lore assumed his identity and raised Wesley's suspicions, he stepped out of line a bit too far, prompting Picard to shout "Shut up, Wesley!" It was definitely one of the good Captain's worst moments.
Best: Encouraging Wesley
At the same time, Picard admired Wesley, possibly because he saw a lot of himself in the young man. Both were green-bellied kids with dreams of soaring through the cosmos and discovering new worlds and civilizations. Both were un-tempered and reckless at times, in different ways.
Picard knew that Wesley would need guidance, patience and encouragement as he walked the difficult path from adolescence into adulthood. It was a bumpy journey, but it's hard to imagine Wesley succeeding at all, if it weren't for Picard's wisdom, and some truly wise quotes.
Worst: Being A Bad Patient
Captain Picard was obsessed with his own personal image, and anything that made him appear weak or fallible to his crew was unacceptable. Unfortunately, this made him a horrible patient who frequently butted heads with both Dr. Crusher and Dr. Pulaski over the years. It was nearly impossible to get Picard into an examination room, to say nothing of more serious procedures.
Case in point - his artificial heart. Picard protested the idea of returning to Starfleet medical to undergo replacement surgery, all because he was afraid the crew might find out about his condition. This must have been immensely frustrating for Dr. Pulaski, who only wanted the best for him.
Best: Overcoming His Dislike Of Children
As mentioned earlier, Picard's dislike of children managed to soften over the years, thanks in large part to a few positive experiences. This first began when Picard met his nephew Renée, whom he humorously referred to as "uncle." Picard saw a lot of himself in the boy who dreamt about becoming a Starfleet officer.
Later in the series, the Enterprise was struck by a quantum filament, causing extreme damage to the ship which isolated parts of the crew away from one another. Picard led several children out of danger and earned their affections, which helped changed his attitude significantly.
Worst: His Vacation
Season three found a frustrated and overworked Picard in need of some shore leave, but being the typical bad patient, he was reluctant to take it. Dr. Crusher formally ordered Picard off the job in order to get some much-needed R&R, and he decided to head to Risa for his vacation under recommendation by Commander Riker, who had a somewhat nefarious plan for his Captain.
From the moment he arrived, Picard wanted to be left alone on a planet known for its social (and sexual) interaction. He was rude, insufferable and stubborn - all qualities that simply didn't fly on Risa. Why he didn't bother to do a little research before heading there is anyone's guess.
Best: Trusting His Own Moral Compass
When the minds of the Enterprise crew were wiped by a mysterious alien energy field, they struggled to figure out who they were, and what their mission was. The computers were manipulated to show that the Enterprise was at war with an opposing race of unimaginable destructive power. In truth, it was all part of an alien race's plan to have the technologically superior Enterprise wipe out their long-time rivals for good.
The Enterprise strolled casually through the "enemy's" defenses before facing down a woefully outgunned space station. Its destruction would have signaled the alien race's victory, once and for all. Nevertheless, Picard trusted his own morals and refused to fire on what he knew to be defenseless people.
Worst: Trying to Change His Past
It became apparent that Captain Picard did not start out as the hero audiences knew. His temperament and moral fortitude were forged in the fires of chaos, especially during his youth. In fact, it was his own recklessness and petulance that led to him being knifed through the heart during his cadet days.
When he died on the operating table of the Enterprise medical bay, the powerful entity Q gave him a chance to go back and right the wrongs of the past. In reality, this caused far more harm than good, and Picard was forced to swallow a very difficult pill. He came to realize that one's mistakes are what helps us grow to become better people.
Best: Defending Lal
Picard had already put his reputation on the line when he defended Commander Data in a court of law to establish his rights as a sentient life form. This battle would flare up again when Data created Lal, an android who he viewed as his own daughter. Starfleet immediately took notice and sent an Admiral to the Enterprise to secure her transfer off the ship.
Data protested, but the Admiral issued a direct order for him to comply. This time, Picard put his career on the line by outwardly defying the Admiral, while telling Data to hold his ground. His response was simple, and truthful - "There are times, Sir, when men of good conscience cannot blindly follow orders."
Worst: Hiding His Feelings About Vash
The Captain had a lot of trouble sharing his feelings, and he would only do so in the company of a select few, most notably Counselor Troi. Outside of her space, Picard presented himself as a model of poise, professionalism and strong character. That also made it immensely difficult for him to get romantic.
During his trip to Risa, Picard met the exciting and rebellious Vash, whom he was immediately attracted to. Vash popped up in Picard's life again, prompting Q to construct an alternate reality where he and the Enterprise crew were dressed up as Robin Hood and his merry men. The plan was to get Picard to admit his feelings for Vash by putting her life on the line, forcing Picard to charge heroically to the rescue.
Best: The War Timeline
When the Enterprise-C emerged through a rift in the spacetime continuum and emerged in the future, it changed the entire timeline. The Federation suddenly found itself at war with the Klingon Empire, and it was losing the fight. In this reality, a battle-hardened Enterprise crew knew only war, and how to wage it.
Picard was no different, but when Guinan convinced him that his reality was not correct, he set aside his personal views in order to enact a plan to send the Enterprise-C back through the rift so it could fulfill its destiny. Under his command, the Enterprise fought off multiple Klingon warbirds while protecting its predecessor. With most of the bridge crew dead, Picard manned the weapons station and kept fighting until the very end.