2020 is a big year for Star Trek fans, kicking off with the latest series in the franchise, Star Trek: Picard and the return of one of its most beloved characters, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. As the trailers for the series have indicated, the former iral Picard has retired to a quiet life, far from the political calamities of Starfleet. A mysterious stranger pulls him back into the world he left behind and into the fold of the Federation, though we see the once intrepid captain is a reluctant hero.
The series promises to be full of familiar faces from several Star Trek series, but is it all one giant nostalgia-fest? Will new fans, unfamiliar with the intimidating lore of Star Trek canon be able to dive into Picard? The showrunners have promised that while paying homage to what's come before, Star Trek: Picard will boldly go where no Star Trek series has gone before. Here are five reasons it's not just for existing fans and five it is.
NOT JUST FOR STAR TREK FANS: IT HAS BROAD SCI-FI THEMES
Sci-fi fans who love Altered Carbon for its noir-like mystery will have no problem jumping into Star Trek: Picard. From the trailers we've seen so far, the series is going to showcase several broad sci-fi themes that don't require an encyclopedic knowledge of Star Trek lore.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard was one of the most lauded figures in Starfleet, and in the trailer, he's turned his back on that sterling organization as well as the Federation at large. There's Romulan detention ships, rival factions, slave revolts, and a mysterious runaway who may hold the key to Picard's past as well as his future. The good captain will no doubt monologue some exposition to get everyone up to speed.
FOR THE FANS: IT'S ALL ABOUT CAPTAIN PICARD
To get the most out of Star Trek: Picard, viewers will need to have seen Star Trek: The Next Generation. They will need to have tracked his growth over the series when Star Trek fans didn't believe anyone could captain the Enterprise like the beloved Captain Kirk.
Captain Picard emerged as a very different leader, more of a diplomat than a soldier, with strong convictions and principles. He has been through his share of horrors in space, from being captured by the Borg, to being responsible for the deaths of thousands of Starfleet officers under his control. The depth of Patrick Stewart's performance will only be enriched by an understanding of Picard's history.
NOT JUST FOR STAR TREK FANS: IT HAS SEVERAL NEW CHARACTERS
Far from being a typical Star Trek series, with actors in different colored Starfleet uniforms, Star Trek: Picard will take place in a variety of different settings. Instead of getting acquainted with another Starfleet crew, there will be a slew of new characters from all walks of life.
ing Picard in the next chapter of his life outside of the Starfleet iralty, there will be new starship crews, new Vulcans, Romulans, and even Borgs. Viewers outside of the fandom will be meeting fresh faces alongside the Trekkies.
FOR THE FANS: CAMEOS, EASTER EGGS, AND CALLBACKS, OH MY!
By now, Star Trek fans have picked apart every trailer for Star Trek: Picard, looking for all the Easter Eggs. From Romulan Empire sigils and Hugh the Borg, to the unexpected appearance of Seven of Nine, the trailers promise loads of references to Star Trek canon.
One of the most surprising cameos came in the form of Commander Data, thought to be long destroyed after he gave his life to save Captain Picard during the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Fans have taken to speculating he could be a hologram, another android unit (such as B-4), or an evil twin (like Lore).
NOT JUST FOR STAR TREK FANS: IT'S A STANDALONE STORY
The showrunners haven't given away many details about the series' overall plot beyond what is discernible from the trailer, but they've been very clear to explain that it is not a sequel to Star Trek: The Next Generation. It will stand on its own as a story to be enjoyed on its own merit.
Sir Patrick Stewart himself explained that the series looks at "a new world with new objectives, problems, and issues that could not have been raised when we were making The Next Generation." He has promised that viewers, especially long-time fans, will be "shocked" by the changes in many cases.
FOR THE FANS: IT HAS A TON OF TNG AND VOYAGER CAST
As soon as Star Trek: Picard was announced, fans eagerly anticipated which of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation might be appearing in it alongside Sir Patrick Stewart. When the trailers began to surface, they discovered that Jonathan Frakes (William Riker) would make an appearance, as well as Marina Sirtis (former Ship Counselor Deanna Troi).
Brent Spiner is returning as Commander Data as well, as is Hugh the independent Borg drone Picard chose to set free rather than destroy or return to The Collective. Alongside the TNG cast , we'll also see Jeri Ryan aka Seven of Nine, the reformed Borg from Star Trek: Voyager.
NOT JUST FOR STAR TREK FANS: IT WILL TAKE THE FRANCHISE IN A NEW DIRECTION
The latest series in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Discovery has proved divisive for the fanbase. Even with a well-respected showrunner like Bryan Fuller (Hannibal), longtime Star Trek fans felt that it veered too sharply from the Classic Trek aesthetic and themes.
Star Trek: Picard is said to be a combination of Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: The Next Generation, taking the franchise in a new direction, hopefully, to invite new fans into the fold. In true Star Trek spirit, it promises to boldly go where no series has gone before.
FOR THE FANS: IT'S STEEPED IN FEDERATION POLITICS
One of the aspects that has long intrigued fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation is the emphasis on Federation politics. The inner workings of the organization designed to bring peace, justice, and order to all quadrants of space have always been fascinating, but more so when challenged by Jean-Luc Picard.
On more than one occasion during TNG, Captain Picard defied orders from the iralty if they usurped his moral com, causing viewers to question the authority of a cohort (however respected) that challenged an individual's right to personal agency and autonomy. Star Trek: Picard seems to stir up much the same courage of conviction in the former iral.
NOT JUST FOR STAR TREK FANS: IT'S ONLY 10 EPISODES
For having hour-long episodes, most seasons of a Star Trek series have never been shorter than 26 episodes. Even Star Trek: Discovery, the latest series in the franchise, has an average of 14 episodes per season. Star Trek: Picard's first season will have just 10 episodes.
Most Star Trek fans will agree that every series has its filler episodes, so in order to maintain the budget that CBS is giving to this one, the season will be able to maintain its quality without making creative sacrifices. The brevity will also allow newly initiated fans to binge it in a couple of days.
FOR THE FANS: NOSTALGIA
With all of the references to Star Trek series past and present, it's clear that Star Trek: Picard will be all about nostalgia. However, don't expect it to get too comfortable with it - the writers have learned a thing or two from the Kelvin Timeline films as well as the Disney Star Wars sequels.
Nostalgia alone with nothing new added will always appear gimmicky at best, or like a soulless cash grab at worst. Acclaimed writer Michael Chabon, best known for his works "Kavalier and Klay" and "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" assures fans that the tradition of literary figures like Robert Bloch and Harlan Ellison of Star Trek: The Original Series steering the Star Trek franchise will still be maintained, he'll just be writing exciting new twists.