Does Star Trek: Picard subtly refocus Jean-Luc’s legacy as a Starfleet captain… and is a certain Christopher Pike partially to blame? Few within Starfleet’s upper echelons boast a career quite so decorated as Jean-Luc Picard. Played by the evergreen Patrick Stewart, Picard’s in-universe reputation is built upon his exceptional command, his first contact missions, his ambassadorial work for the Romulans and Synths, and his contributions to Starfleet Academy as an Admiral. For Star Trek‘s audience, however, Jean-Luc Picard is remembered chiefly for one specific chapter in his career – captaining the Enterprise during Star Trek: The Next Generation and ensuing movie spinoffs.

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When Star Trek: Picard season 2 begins, our titular tea-sipper is enjoying a much better relationship with Starfleet compared to season 1, where he was practically exiled as a guilt-ridden conspiracy loon. Consequently, premiere episode “The Star Gazer” provides a much clearer picture of how Admiral Picard is viewed among his Starfleet underlings and comrades in the present timeline. There’s respect, admiration and reverence by the bucket-load, sure, but whereas Star Trek‘s audience might assume Picard’s legacy as a captain resonated strongest on the Enterprise, Star Trek: Picard suggests the ship he’s most associated with in-universe is actually the Stargazer.

The Stargazer was referenced numerous times during The Next Generation, and plays a vital role in building Picard’s pre-Enterprise backstory, but only appeared onscreen once, and has been decommissioned by the time TNG begins. Star Trek: Picard season 2’s “The Star Gazer” – beginning with the episode’s very title – goes several steps further, introducing a new-look Stargazer (under command of Captain Rios) that’s steeped in Jean-Luc’s legacy. Dr. Jurati comments on how Rios has big shoes to fill, and the captain responds by mimicking Jean-Luc’s classic “make it so!” catchphrase. Bidding farewell to Elnor, Picard gazes wistfully at a digital image of the Stargazer, then reminisces to Raffi how the ship was his very first command. When Jean-Luc finally steps aboard the vessel, Rios’ crew fall over themselves to show their respect, giving the Admiral a formal guard of honor, and in a more questionable (hopefully accidental) tribute, the Stargazer has also been imbued with Borg technology – not entirely unlike its most famous captain.

In these moments, Star Trek: Picard is making a huge effort to remind viewers that Jean-Luc’s legacy as a Starfleet captain extends far beyond just the Enterprise alone.  In fact, anyone using this episode as their Star Trek entry point (which would be odd, admittedly) would be forgiven for thinking the Stargazer was Picard’s main vessel. Aboard the Stargazer, Picard is a veritable God – the figure Captain Rios most has to emulate, and the captain Starfleet cadets immediately think of upon hearing the ship’s name. That’s not the case for Picard’s other famous captaincy, where the honor of association is shared (both in-universe and out) with James T. Kirk. And perhaps that’s why Star Trek: Picard season 2’s premiere pays Jean-Luc’s connection to Stargazer such heed.

Ever since Picard first warped into Star Trek canon, fans have debated whether he or Kirk was the better captain, and that battle will rage indefinitely. In 2022, however, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will promote Captain Christopher Pike from a TOS background character to a main Star Trek protagonist played by Anson Mount. Kirk is unmovable as an Enterprise legend and Pike will shortly find himself enjoying greater Enterprise spotlight, so maybe, rather than all three main characters sharing the ship’s legacy, Star Trek: Picard‘s Stargazer emphasis is designed to reinforce how Jean-Luc is not defined solely by his Enterprise years. Indeed, as far as Starfleet is concerned, his name is dropped just as often in relation to the Stargazer – a ship no other Star Trek captain can lay claim to.

Despite how little Star Trek has revealed of Picard’s Stargazer years, it makes absolute sense that the ship would be just as important to Jean-Luc as the Enterprise. Patrick Stewart’s character captained the Stargazer for around 22 years, and spent even longer aboard at lower ranks. By contrast, Picard captained the Enterprise (through two separate incarnations) for approximately 15 years. In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6’s “Relics,” Picard even admitted to missing the Stargazer, despite his Enterprise-D being technically superior – a feeling Scotty compared to “the first time you fall in love.”Regardless of whether Star Trek: Picard‘s Stargazer focus is a response to Captain Pike getting his own show, Jean-Luc’s emotional connection to the ship in his twilight years provides a better perspective of his entire captaincy career – not just the bits we saw in The Next Generation.

Star Trek: Picard continues Thursdays on Paramount+.

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Craig Elvy
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Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig’s interest soon turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own.
Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS.

Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer.
Jim Carrey is Craig’s top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy.

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