Jean-Luc Picard is one of Star Trek’s most iconic characters, portrayed by none other than Patrick Stewart over seven seasons of The Next Generation. Naturally, fans were excited when it was announced that the character would receive a new show dedicated to him after all these years.
However, in Season 1 of Picard, the controversial decision to transform him into an android, although a necessary move for the storyline upset many fans. Now, in an interview, Patrick Stewart himself addressed the controversy and spoke about his thoughts on the matter.
Patrick Stewart is Also Frustrated About This Unexpected Star Trek Decision Regarding Jean-Luc Picard!
Jean-Luc Picard is widely regarded as one of the most beloved characters to emerge from the Star Trek universe. In Star Trek: Picard, Jean-Luc’s mind was transferred into a new synthetic body, preserving his essence. Despite appearing older, this new body ages and functions like a human’s, needing sustenance and rest.
Now, in an interview with TrekMovie, Patrick Stewart, the actor behind Jean-Luc Picard, spoke out about this storyline and reflected on its impact on the beloved character and the broader Star Trek narrative. He revealed,
Yes, I think this android element is really irritating. I actually managed to find one spot, one little corner, when I could let it out. It’s about learning to live honestly, authentically, not hiding, not denying.
He further claimed,
When John [de Lancie] and I shot our last scene, and the director announced that it was goodbye to John, I found that we were both of us with tears in our eyes. And, in a sense, we were still being Q and Picard. Those tears represented history.
The decision proved to be both necessary and challenging, especially for the actor, particularly during emotional scenes with Q, where portraying an android proved to be extraordinarily difficult. Despite these challenges, he handled it gracefully.
What Is Exactly Going on With Picard’s Synthetic Body in Star Trek: Picard?
The choice is no doubt controversial, and thus to soften the blow, in Star Trek: Picard Season 2, the show cleverly addresses the uniqueness of Jean-Luc’s situation with humor and subtle nods. Characters like Dr. Agnes Jurati jokingly comment that Picard looks “positively positronic,” while Captain Cristobal Rios admits his confusion over the synthetic Picard concept.
Well, Captain Cristobal Rios isn’t the only one who has struggled with the concept when first introduced. As many questions fogged the viewers such as the necessity of these human-like traits and emotions. Additionally, the lifespan of this synthetic form was uncertain, raising questions about its longevity compared to Picard’s original human lifespan expectancy.
So what is exactly going on with Picard? After succumbing to irumodic syndrome in Season 1, Picard’s consciousness found new life in a synthetic Golem shell designed to match his 90-year-old appearance without any enhancements.
Picard’s synthetic body represents an evolution from Data and his brothers, Lore and B-4, whose golden-skinned appearance clearly marked them as androids. Unlike Data, Picard’s synthetic form includes organs and circulatory systems, functioning indistinguishably from a human body.
This setup not only maintains continuity with past characters but also explores new avenues in the Star Trek universe, which is pretty cool, to say the least.
Star Trek: Picard is streaming on Paramount Plus.
