Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: The Next Generation have provided glimpses into various versions of Guinan throughout the centuries. Played by Whoopi Goldberg, Star Trek's Guinan is the iconic, enigmatic, El-Aurian bartender of the Ten-Forward lounge who was introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 1, "The Child." Star Trek: Picard recently depicted a younger Guinan bartending in Los Angeles during the 21st century. This version of Guinan, portrayed by Ito Aghayere, is quite dissimilar to her depictions in Star Trek: The Next Generation, particularly when compared to the character that the Enterprise-D crew met when they traveled back in time to 19th-century Earth.
Guinan's long lifespan, combined with Star Trek's use of time travel, makes her a character rife with opportunities for reinvention. On Star Trek: The Next Generation, Guinan is established as a member of the El-Aurian species. These humanoid aliens age much slower than humans, so they live for centuries. El-Aurians are also listeners who scatter the galaxy, and they have an acute sense of empathy and an innate awareness of the proper flow of time. After the Borg attacked Guinan's people, she found her way to the starship Enterprise-D, where she became the bartender of the Ten-Forward lounge. Aboard the ship, she became an invaluable asset, providing advice and a sympathetic ear while occasionally aiding the crew on missions.
Guinan has remained Captain Jean-Luc Picard's oldest and most trusted friend throughout various timelines, centuries, and catastrophes (which is why Guinan returned for Star Trek: Picard). Viewers first encountered Guinan as a 24th-century bartender on the Enterprise-D, but in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5 episode 26, "Time's Arrow Part 1," and season 6, episode 1, "Time's Arrow Part 2," the Enterprise-D crew finds a younger Guinan who has yet to meet or understand anything about the Federation. In Star Trek: Picard season 2, viewers see Guinan in between these events when Picard travels back in time to the 21st century and asks her for help. Her character is not depicted linearly but is instead shown sporadically, and looking at how Guinan differs in each century builds an even more compelling version of the character in full.
What Star Trek's Guinan Was Like In The 19th Century
The crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation time travels in season 5, episode 26 "Time's Arrow Part 1," and season 6, episode 1, "Time's Arrow Part 2," wherein they meet Madame Guinan in 1893 San Francisco. Guinan was hiding from her father on Earth and spent her time as a socialite who charmed high society earthlings at parties, like the writer Samuel Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain, with her open-minded ideas and charming wit. These episodes show the youngest version of Guinan, and although she is still an attentive listener, she appears more carefree. This is likely due to her youth and the fact that the Borg had not yet attacked her people. However, when the Enterprise-D crew comes to Guinan for aid, even though she doesn't yet know who they are, she still risks her life to help them.
Why Guinan Was Disillusioned In The 21st Century
In Star Trek: Picard season 2, episode 4, "Watcher," Picard and his friends time travel to the 21st century to find "a Watcher" to help save their timeline. Instead, they find Guinan as a 21st-century Los Angeles bartender. She has become jaded by humanity in this century and is about to abandon Earth. Unlike 19th century Guinan or 24th century Guinan, 21st century Guinan doesn't want to listen anymore. After hearing about so much suffering on Earth, she becomes convinced that there is no saving humanity. While Picard needs Guinan's help fixing the timeline, she also needs his help in believing that there is still hope for the future. Although 21st century Guinan appears to be at her lowest point, she still reluctantly agrees to help Picard.
How Guinan Had Found Wisdom By The 24th Century
By the 24th century, Guinan had explored much of the galaxy, suffered much loss, and finally found a home on the starship Enterprise-D as the Ten-Forward bartender. While there are a few moments when Guinan must confront some of her inner struggles in the 24th century — as seen in episodes like Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 23, "I, Borg" — she ultimately serves as the crew's confidant. This Guinan is grounded in her belief in humanity and her hope for the future, showing that with time and experience, she learned to become the best version of herself. As she says to Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 26, "The Best of Both Worlds": "When the Borg destroyed my world, my people were scattered throughout the universe. We survived, as will humanity survive. As long as there's a handful of you to keep the spirit alive, you will prevail, even if it takes a millennium."
Why Guinan Is The Perfect Star Trek Confidant
Now that the Guinan character has been seen at three different stages of her life, in three different centuries, in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard, the reasons why she is the perfect confidant become clear. Her many lifetimes of experience have allowed Guinan to mature into the wisest and calmest presence on the Enterprise. She has evolved from carefree innocence in the 19th century to angry disillusionment in the 21st century to sage understanding in the 24th century. Guinan's development over the centuries mirrors the stages of growing up, which Guinan has had hundreds of years to experience. Therefore Guinan has the most experience and the most wisdom to share regarding the phases of life.
Due to Guinan's extended El-Aurian life span, any iteration of Star Trek can revisit the character at different centuries and reveal a life that viewers never expected to see her lead and show more of Guinan's skills and knowledge. As seen with her arc on Star Trek: Picard — which is far from over — future iterations of Star Trek may reveal an entirely different side of the character. Despite her many different appearances on Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: The Next Generation, one thing has remained constant: no matter the century, Guinan is one of Picard's most trusted allies.
Star Trek: Picard Season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.