The USS Enterprise is expected to appear in Star Trek: Picard season 3, but it can't be the ship Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the reunited crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation takes command of. The trailer for Star Trek: Picard season 3 not only showcased the return of Captain William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Worf (Michael Dorn), and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), but it also reveals the USS Titan-A. The new Titan appears to be the starship Picard and his friends will command on their final mission to save the galaxy.
Of course, Jean-Luc Picard is as synonymous with the Starship Enterprise as Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is. Picard commanded the Galaxy-class USS Enterprise-D for seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the film Star Trek Generations, where the D was destroyed. For the next three TNG movies, Picard led the Sovereign-class USS Enterprise-E in missions against the Borg, the Son'a, and the Remans commanded by his clone, Romulan Praetor Shinzon (Tom Hardy). Picard left the Enterprise behind in 2385 upon his promotion to Admiral to lead the United Federation of Planets' mission to relocate the Romulan people when their star went supernova. In Star Trek: Picard seasons 1 and 2, Picard's starship was the non-Starfleet La Sirena, which was purposely to differentiate the new series from The Next Generation. However, the TNG crew coming back together one last time in Star Trek: Picard season 3 calls for a Starfleet ship - but not the Enterprise.
The logical reason that Admiral Picard can't take back the USS Enterprise in Star Trek: Picard season 3 is that the Enterprise is the flagship of the Federation, and Jean-Luc's time in its Captain's chair has long since passed. Whether it's the E or the F, the Enterprise will have had a new Captain and crew for many years. Meanwhile, Admiral Picard retired from Starfleet, although he became Chancellor of Starfleet Academy prior to Star Trek: Picard season 2. True, Picard could use his rank to take command of the Enterprise as he did the USS Stargazer in Picard season 2, but it's not clear just how much the Enterprise will be seen in season 3. Meanwhile, Will Riker is still an active Starfleet Captain and the Titan was his previous command. Riker led the Titan after he left the Enterprise in Star Trek: Nemesis and some of his exploits were seen in Star Trek: Lower Decks seasons 1 and 2.
Where Is The Enterprise In Star Trek: Picard Season 3?
Star Trek: Picard's producers have hinted that the Enterprise - and possibly multiple versions of the flagship - will be seen in season 3. This could mean that a replica of the Enterprise-D is now a museum, or it could be seen through other means like a flashback or via holodeck. It would also be disappointing if the newest Enterprise isn't seen in Picard season 3, even if Jean-Luc doesn't command it. As the Federation flagship, however, the Enterprise is always performing the most important missions, including its primary duty of exploration to seek out new life and new civilizations.
Meanwhile, it's no coincidence that the USS Titan-A has been designed to resemble the Enterprise, with its saucer section and vertical rear nacelles. Riker's previous Luna-class USS Titan was of a different design, but the Titan-A's new look is purposely meant to evoke the Enterprise in every way but its name. After all, if Star Trek: Picard season 3 can't have the real Enterprise, the USS Titan-A led by Captain Riker and, possibly, Commanders Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), is the next best thing.
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 premieres February 16, 2023 on Paramount+.