Star Trek: Picard showrunner Michael Chabon has explained the reasoning behind popular character Hugh's death in the series. The ex-Borg ("xB") drone died from a blade thrown by Romulan spy Narissa in Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 7, “Nepenthe” while covering the titular Jean Luc Picard's retreat.
Hugh's reappearance on the show was one of the most cherished events among fans of the franchise. Picard reunited with the xB in Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 6, "The Impossible Box" after their last encounter, which dated back decades, when he led a resistance against Lore, the twin brother of Data. Picard was welcomed by a different-looking Hugh when he arrived on the Borg Artifact in the aforementioned episode, with the former Third of Five cracking a smile on a characteristically emotionless face before telling Admiral he would help him in any way he could despite being unaware of Picard's intentions.
Chabon recently revealed why Hugh had to be killed in an interview with THR, admitting he "felt very sad" when he helped write the episode. The showrunner was the one who scripted the part where Hugh was killed by Narissa and, being a huge fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, he claimed to be well aware of the fact that killing beloved characters like Hugh could go either way with viewers. He said writing the death was necessary and "the best way to go," albeit a very difficult task emotionally, as Hugh wasn't an initial inclusion where the story of Picard's first season is concerned.
The Pulitzer prize-winning writer explained that dying wasn't always part of the plan for Hugh, but it felt like it would be best to have things go in that direction when the story was being fleshed out. Also, the original story did not include another xB (Star Trek: Voyager's Icheb). Icheb died in Star Trek: Picard season 1, episode 5, "Stardust City Rag" and Chabon indicated having the two characters as part of the show was crucial. He said:
So once we sort of committed to a big part of our season being about the lives of former Borg - Ex Bs, as we call them - and exploring how their lives are traumatized [from that experience], how they have or have not dealt with that trauma, and how they remain these objects of fear and hatred even though they were victimized by the Borg, to put Hugh in the center of that lead to what felt like a dramatic way to service the character's end.
Star Trek: Picard has done well to feed the fans' nostalgia, although that was always going to be the case with such a series. The reuniting of Admiral Picard with his former first officer William Riker and Counsellor Deanna Troi must have been particularly gratifying. Hugh's return was likely just as big of a hit with viewers. The former Borg's reappearance was indeed short-lived and, while the showrunner has offered up a very good explanation, it might not be readily accepted by every fan, despite the possible need for closure in some form.
Star Trek: Picard airs Thursdays on CBS All Access.
Source: THR