For the first time in almost 20 years, Sir Patrick Stewart will once again return to the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, one of the most beloved characters in the Star Trek franchise. Taking place nearly two decades after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, Star Trek: Picard reveals much has changed for the Starfleet captain, now retired and living a quiet life on his family's vineyard estate, until unusual circumstances and a mysterious stranger pull him back into the fold of Starfleet Command.
Star Trek fans have eagerly anticipated the return of not only Stewart, but many other familiar faces of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the Star Trek franchise. But what else can fans expect? Will the series have more in common with Star Trek: Discovery or something new? Here are five things we want to see in the sequel series, and 5 things we don't. CBS All Access will debut Star Trek: Picard on January 23rd, 2020,
WANT TO SEE: Q
One of the most beloved characters on Star Trek: The Next Generation happened to be the same one who put humanity on trial in the very first episode! Q was Picard's cosmic pain in the rear the entire time he served aboard the Enterprise, and their verbal repartee provided innumerable moments of hilarity.
His parting words to Picard were "I'll be watching. And if you're very lucky I'll drop by to say hello from time to time. See you out there.", so we're almost guaranteed to have at least a small cameo by John DeLancie, who was criminally underappreciated for his role in the series as the intergalactic trickster.
DON'T: MORE FIGHTING THE BORG
The Borg Collective, one of the most terrifying villains in the Star Trek Universe, provided many tense episodes for Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as Star Trek: Voyager. However, after many years of battling the biotechnical force, we hope Star Trek: Picard presents new foes.
We do see what looks like a Borg cube in the series trailer, but it appears to have been converted into a detention facility by Romulans. The trailer also shows Seven of Nine meeting with Picard on behalf of the Fenris Rangers, a sort of freedom fighting cohort, so it appears the good progress made with the Borg has been maintained.
WANT TO SEE: PICARD FINALLY HAVING A ROMANCE
Unlike Captain Kirk, Captain Picard didn't have nearly the amount of romantic encounters. What dalliances he was given on Star Trek: The Next Generation always met in disaster, and the very private captain's life was kept very private to viewers.
The only person he had some semblance of a chance with was Dr. Beverly Crusher, and while it was hinted at throughout the series their feelings were deeper than friendship, their storyline never progressed that way. Here's hoping that Picard finally gets his happily ever after, either with Dr. Crusher or someone new.
DON'T: TOO MUCH DISCOVERY INFLUENCE
Star Trek: Discovery, the most recent series in the franchise, has received a lot of derision over the years for its shocking departures from Star Trek canon. Whether it's making Klingons looking completely different, or a perceptively forced SJW agenda, some Star Trek fans aren't having it. Star Trek: Picard will reportedly be a "blend" of it and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Having popular writers like Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman never guaranteed Discovery's success in shepherding the Star Trek franchise. For many fans, some of their artistic choices prevented the series from having a Classic Trek feel, so hopefully Star Trek: Picard's writers will take note.
WANT TO SEE: THE AFTERMATH OF THE DOMINION WAR
The Dominion War was a conflict that took up the last two seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and saw Starfleet team up with the Romulans and Klingons to fight against The Dominion, a group of species not unlike the Federation intent on conquering the Alpha Quadrant.
The war provided gripping dramatic serial television, but as soon as DS9 ended viewers never found out about the fallout. It was the equivalent of WWII in the real world, so surely Star Trek: Picard will address the aftermath of something so geopolitically charged.
DON'T: TOO MUCH FAN SERVICE
While we already know that William Riker, Deanna Troi, and Data are going to return for the series, we really don't want to see every member of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation back in Captain Picard's life. It's been 20 years since the events of Star Trek: Nemesis and the showrunners have even said the series won't be a "Next Gen sequel".
In order for the show to chart its own course and not be steeped in nostalgia, it needs to not service the fans so blatantly. All the characters who show up need to be carefully integrated into the plot and serve a purpose, otherwise, their inclusion will just seem gimmicky.
WANT TO SEE: A NEW ENTERPRISE
The last several Star Trek series have premiered with a new ship design, and like Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard should consider doing the same. While it's been 20 years since Picard captained the Enterprise E, surely he'll take another iteration out for a spin?
The series might keep with tradition and introduce the Enterprise F, and like Han Solo returning to the controls of the Millennium Falcon, Picard would return to The Chair and lead a misfit crew off on one more idealistic crusade. At the very least, have Captain Riker (Admiral Riker?) show up with the Titan.
DON'T: PICARD'S DEATH
Sir Patrick Stewart only agreed to return to the role of Captain Picard because he felt the series was going in a new direction, not just rehashing previously tread material with Star Trek: The Next Generation. That gives us hope that the direction of the show will be new, exciting, and bold.
That being said, we hope that the series doesn't conclude with Picard's death. With a title like "Picard", when so many other Star Trek series have been named after ships in Starfleet, it indicates that he very well could pass, leading to an eventual ship being named in his honor.
WANT TO SEE: DYNAMIC NEW CHARACTERS
Though it's not expected to be full of characters in Starfleet uniforms, like most Star Trek series, Star Trek: Picard will introduce a variety of new characters to enrich the franchise. Alex Kurtzman has explained that like in Star Trek: Discovery, their appearance will vary depending on the region of space they're from.
Expect to see a few different types of Romulans, Klingons, and Vulcans, as well as reformed Borg who operate independently of The Collective. The Star Trek franchise has always been about its character development, so we can't wait to see how the new cast pans out.
DON'T: GRITTY REALISM
Captain Picard has always stood as the last bastion of reason, and a beacon of hope even when Starfleet Command itself wanted to encroach individual liberties. He always stood up for the underdog, and never pandered to fear hatred or myopic small-mindedness.
Fans are concerned that the new series will feature a gritty, dark, depressing storyline that will be completely at odds with what the Star Trek franchise represents; Gene Roddenberry's vision of a better future for humanity. Hopefully, it will find a happy medium between the altruism of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the dramatic storytelling of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.