Could Lore's (Brent Spiner) presence in Star Trek: Picard season 3 secretly be a means to resurrect Data? The addition of Dr. Noonien Soong's original, evil positronic android in Star Trek: Picard season 3 was a big surprise. Of course, Lore shares a long history with the reunited crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the android joins a triumvirate of villains in Picard season 3 that includes Professor James Moriarty (Daniel Davis) and Vadic (Amanda Plummer), the new, mystery Big Bad.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 is the hotly-anticipated reunion of Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard with the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Yet, it's not quite the full crew of the USS Enterprise-D and E because Data died in Star Trek: Nemesis and was laid to rest in Star Trek: Picard season 1. This is what makes Lore's participation in Star Trek: Picard season 3 so curious because he may be billed as a villain, but Lore's real purpose could be to serve as the vessel to bring Data back. In Star Trek: Nemesis, Data attempted to transfer his memory engrams into B4, but his 'brother' was a defective and inferior android. Lore, however, is Data's equal in design, although he was always malevolent thanks to his emotion chip. Theoretically, Lore could be killed off in Picard season 3 and replaced with Data's mind in his body. Lore represents a convenient means to finally bring Data back to life and add the missing piece of the TNG reunion if Star Trek: Picard season 3 pulls that trigger.
Why Picard Season 3 Resurrecting Data Could Be A Mistake
If Data is resurrected in Lore's body in Star Trek: Picard season 3, would it invalidate Data's death in Star Trek: Picard season 1? Arguably the best part of Picard's first season is that it gave Data a poignant swansong because the android perished in an explosion while saving the Enterprise in Star Trek: Nemesis. Picard season 1 allowed Jean-Luc and Data to have a touching final moment together, and it was the android's wish to be allowed to complete his journey of humanity by experiencing death. Picard season 1 closed the book on Data, but is season 3 planning to reopen it?
Star Trek: Picard season 3 may bring Data back to complete The Next Generation's reunion. Further, the TNG cast has blatantly dropped hints that Picard season 3 doesn't have to be the final time they're all together, and Brent Spiner would want to be part of that (but likely not as Lore or a villainous Soong). Whether it's a fifth TNG movie, a Picard spinoff, or a fourth season, The Next Generation's legacy actors obviously want another spin around the galaxy together. And, if Brent Spiner is willing to don the yellow makeup again to play Lore, it's not a reach to think he would want to be Data again in order to join his TNG cast mates in Picard season 3 or whatever may come next.
Data's (And Lore) Real Next Generation Is Soji
Star Trek: Picard season 3 is reportedly designed to pass the torch to "the next generation," but Data and Lore's real next generation is Soji (Isa Briones). Soji and her late twin sister Dahj were created from one of Data's positronic neurons, and Soji is a more human, evolved synthetic. Yet, Isa Briones isn't part of Star Trek: Picard season 3, which is disappointing and strange if the theme of the season is to give credence to the next generation of TNG. Brent Spiner and Briones played father and daughter Adam and Kore Soong in Picard season 2, but Data still doesn't get to meet his daughter in Picard season 3 if he is indeed resurrected. And even if Data stays dead, Soji not meeting her evil 'uncle' Lore in Star Trek: Picard season 3 is also a lost opportunity.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 premieres February 16, 2023, on Paramount+.