Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 9 - "VOX"Commander Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) receives a shock in Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 9 that changes the course of her Starfleet career and sets her on her destiny. Seven's remarkable story arc in Star Trek: Picard culminates in her surprise promotion to Captain of the USS Titan-A.
Seven has spent Star Trek: Picard season 3 dealing with her irascible Captain, Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick). Seven has also had a pivotal role in uncovering the Changelings' plot to attack the United Federation of Planets, and she has loyally stood by Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) throughout all the tumults on the Titan.
Right after she watched Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 9, "VOX," Screen Rant had the pleasure of interviewing Jeri Ryan about Seven of Nine becoming Captain of the Titan, her relationship with Shaw, Seven's overall story arc since Star Trek: Voyager, and Jeri Ryan's hopes for Seven of Nine in the potential spinoff, Star Trek: Legacy.
Jeri Ryan Talks Seven of Nine & Star Trek: Picard Season 3
Screen Rant: I know it’s not your ship, but how did you feel seeing the Enterprise-D again?
Jeri Ryan: What's funny is I texted Terry Matalas, the showrunner, after I watched [episode 9]. I didn't even watch Next Gen. I didn't even watch the old Star Trek, and I was choked up! So, yeah, it was pretty cool.
Let’s talk about another shocker: Captain Shaw’s death. That spinny chair is all yours. Congrats!
Jeri Ryan: [laughs] Indeed, it is! I shall sit and spin in his honor.
When he died, Shaw acknowledged her name was Seven of Nine and made her Captain of the Titan. Given their relationship, Seven must have very conflicted feelings about him.
Jeri Ryan: She was certainly not a fan at the beginning of the season when we meet Shaw. And over the course of the season, we saw them develop a begrudging respect for each other, and realize that hey needed each other's help and support. So it was a sort of push/pull kind of situation and a lot of butting heads. But that acknowledgment at his death was pretty powerful, I think, for Seven.
The audience really empathized with Seven being deadnamed and wanting to be called by the name she self-identifies as. Did you anticipate that or were you surprised by the support for Seven?
Jeri Ryan: No, I wasn't surprised at all. I loved it. And I loved that the trans community felt represented and identified with that, but I wasn't surprised by that.
Back in 306, “The Bounty” there was that scene when Seven talked about Voyager to Jack. It really tugged at my heartstrings. How do you feel about all the Voyager love, not just in Picard but in the other shows as well?
Jeri Ryan: It's great. I mean, that was four years of my life. And I love those people. So it's fun seeing it. I wish we could have had the budget, and the story time, and the number of episodes to be able to bring all [Voyager's] characters back get to revisit all of them. But that's just not the reality of television.
Tell me about filming that scene opposite Tim Russ as Tuvok. How did that work? Was he there on set? Or did you just do it against a blank screen?
Jeri Ryan: No, we didn't shoot that together. But he's phenomenal, of course. And yeah, I can't say anything else. We did get to chat. We did get to run into each other. And there might be another scene, perhaps, that you might see the two of them together.
It's kind of obvious because he was very vocal when he posted once his episode aired, but he's in two episodes. So yes, we will see him in Episode 10. Whether it is Changeling Tuvok or real Tuvok, I won't tell you, but yeah.
Season 3 has been so action-packed, Seven and Raffi have only had a few interactions. It seems we’ll get some resolution of their relationship now that they’re together on the Titan?
Jeri Ryan: I would say... yes? [laughs] I think... okay. Yes. I mean, resolution? Is anything ever really 100% resolved? There will be interaction, and there will be... Yes. There is, yes. There is some stuff.
Raffi and Worf were an amazing team, like Seven and Raffi in season 2. Were you a little jealous that Michael Dorn got to have Michelle Hurd as his partner this time around?
Jeri Ryan: [laughs] Well, I had my entire season with Michelle last year. I had her all to myself all season. So, you know, I guess it was time to share. She's amazing. And every time that we would get to have a scene together or run into each other on set, it was always like a party.
Seven’s friendship with Sidney La Forge was a highlight of season 3. I loved the payoff of how Sidney calling her “Commander Seven” helped save the Titan during the nebula escape. Seven is a character who really seems a little surprised when people reach out to her to be her friend.
Jeri Ryan: Yeah, she is! Her entire experience basically since she left the Collective, once Voyager returned home, was she was an outcast. Because her Borg technology is so visible and so apparent that it was always front of mind to everyone who interacted with her. So she hasn't had an easy time of it and has a lot of guards up for that reason. I think so, yes, it does catch Seven by surprise when people do reach out like that and are so respectful and open and accepting.
Compared to how you left her when Voyager ended, how do you feel about Seven’s growth as a person in the three seasons of Picard?
Jeri Ryan: Oh my god, I love it. I love everything about this character. I love how she's been developed. I love the stories we've gotten to play. I love the struggles that she's been through and overcome. And I love how resilient she is. I love it. Just wait till you see the end of the season. I mean, it's a beautiful arc for this character.
This is a ton of clamor online for Star Trek: Legacy. I hope you are in if it happens.
Jeri Ryan: I mean, I always hedge on this because there's a lot more to [it than] saying, "Oh yes, I'm into something" than the reality of shooting a television series and being a working mother. There's a lot more involved than just saying, "Oh my god! I'm in!" Story-wise, absolutely. Would I love to continue working with these people and this character? Absolutely! 100%. We could not be in better hands with Terry and this writing staff. They were phenomenal, and playing with these actors is just amazing, and this character is just a gift.
Yes, in general, I'd love to continue. But there's a lot more that has to go into that to make that a reality.
Of course. It's not just as simple as putting on the uniform and getting right back on the bridge. So, if Seven of Nine continues in Star Trek: Legacy, what are your hopes for her? Where else can she go? How else can she evolve, do you think?
Jeri Ryan: You know what? I have always avoided pitching ideas of what I want because I'm not a writer. Never have been. I have no talent in that regard. And personally, I would have never predicted Seven's season 3 storyline, having her in Starfleet, [and] having her become Captain. I would have never predicted that in a million years. That was a big surprise to me when Terry was telling me his ideas and what he saw happening this season. But I love it. It's so right for her, and it just makes her story that much richer. So I am in excellent hands if anything does continue, I have no doubt.
Let's play this game then: If Seven is Captain of the Titan, I’d love to hear who you pick as your crew. Drop some names. Who do you want on the bridge with you?
Jeri Ryan: I... can't... [laughs] The Titan bridge crew is amazing just as they are. I would obviously love to bring in some... some friends... on the bridge to supplement the already brilliant bridge crew that is there on the table.
Understood. I think we can all kind of guess. And actually, it's fun to guess who you mean.
Jeri Ryan: Exactly.
About Star Trek: Picard Season 3
The third and final season of Star Trek: Picard features Jean-Luc Picard during the 25th century as he reunites with the former command crew of the USS Enterprise while facing a mysterious new enemy who is hunting Picard's son.
Check out our other Star Trek: Picard season 3 interviews here:
- Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut for the premiere and finale
- Daniel Davis
- Gates McFadden
- Todd Stashwick
- Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Red Carpet
Star Trek: Picard Season 3's finale streams Thursday, April 20, on Paramount+.