Ok Picard finale.

Spoilers below.

My expectations were very low. I had made a list of cynical predictions. I was scared as deep down I was worried it would be even worse. I really thought they might kill off Raffi and I just did not want to see that.

So actually in a lot of ways going into the finale expecting it to be terrible, I wound up almost pleasantly surprised. It was still not good but it was much better than my worst fears, so I ended the episode as a bit of a puddle of relief. It could have been so much worse.

I loved that Raffi just pulled together a new invention of being able to shoot transport beams at people. She’s so smart I love her! I love that she got actual screentime shooting at people (I was expecting her to be sidelined the whole finale tbh), and she even appeared in shot with Seven a few times!

I am amazed that they managed to not shoehorn more Shaw in. I had pretty much convinced myself that Seven’s plot this episode would be all about him, so actually getting to see Seven doing her job, retaking the bridge etc. inspiring the other unassimilated who had been left behind, fighting the impossible fight for StarFleet… yeah that sure was something. I loved that the crew still called her Commander as it was new but Raffi – Raffi!! – was the first to call her Captain as Seven had that role. That’s what Seven was and I think it was important to acknowledge that. It was also so nice that they showed a very brief glimpse of the horror of assimilation and the “what did I do???” from Sydney and Seven hugged her because if anyone was going to understand.

Having Shaw appear at the end via hologram complimenting Seven as apparently something he said weeks ago… I side eye that so hard. So what he was a constant AH to her in person but in private he is redeemed because he actually said something nice? I could have done without that. Why Tuvok couldn’t have said something poignant like “the very qualities that you think disqualify you are the exact ones that give you strength, the ones that saved your crew.“ and convinced Seven that way but alas /sigh I guess Shaw had to have his moment.

I am surprised that Shaw is still dead. I was sure given Matalas’ comments and how rabid the fans are that they’d revive him somehow. I really didn’t want them to because if any spin-off happens with Seven and Raffi and they put Shaw in it, then it will become the Shaw show. I am not at all happy about Jack looking like he might be part of it for the same reason 🙁

I do love that it is finally, FINALLY, Captain Seven because everytime I heard Hansen I flinched. I have such an aversion to it I won’t reblog gifsets that have it written on. Just no. So finally.

Anyway in fact nobody died. When Deanna was looking at Riker as he left, it felt like she knew he wasn’t coming back. So I got worried for a minute there about Riker. I was pretty convinced Picard was going to die (I predicted his sacrifice) but nope he lived as well.

I think my only real cynical prediction that came true was the approximate “we are on our own” when Data said “we are the cavalry” and that Picard reached Jack through the dad bond. But it was blowing up the beacon that saved the day, so that was more about saving Jack.

I am amazed at how big the Enterprise is and that it just flew through the Borg Cube like that. Real Falcon and Death Star vibes. I laughed so hard when Deanna was like “I am sensing enjoyment” and Data was just smiling like pew pew I fly the ship haha.

I also laughed really hard when Geordi said he hadn’t done the weapons systems and Beverley was like “no problem” and just blew shit up and then the three of them all turned to look at her, like WTF? And she’s like “a lot happened in 20 years”.

I’m sorry my thoughts are all out of order and I am just writing them down as they come to me. Kestra! Oh for all the love of… I can’t believe they still never mentioned her!! Like seriously have Riker and Deanna forgotten they have a daughter??? All this love for biological families and no mention of that. Or you know Soji for Data? There was barely a hint of Geordi to his daughters either, I was expecting more there.

I also didn’t really appreciate or find funny that Deanna was only pretending to listen to Data and searching for vacations. She is seeing him professionally. Now she either needs to be strict about ending the session on time, and/or not booking them so often if it’s too much for her, or if she is going to let it happen she needs to be present. As someone who has had therapy I find it very uncomfortable and feel really sorry for Data. Yes he should be more aware of the time and not keep talking, but Deanna could wind the session to a close earlier. Honestly you’d think this wasn’t her job. It is making her look bad. Deanna deserves better.

I’m glad that Deanna got to do semi-something in that she sensed Riker and that’s what saved them. I still wish that Deanna had more agency beyond being a love interest. But I can be soppy on occasion and the thought of their love being powerful enough to be felt so she could find them, that is kinda sweet. Like a love conquers thing. Not very realistic but sweet.

Jack as special ships counsel is a big WTF? I am guessing that’s a bit like ‘officer without portfolio’ so they can plug him in wherever needed as a Jack of all trades – ha pun not intended. But ugh I did actually predict his joining StarFleet and getting fast tracked. I’m glad it wasn’t quite as bad as I was cynical but I am still not thrilled. I don’t like him as a character and if they were kinda setting up a potential spin-off then he is part of the crew and just ugh, would rather not.

As for Q’s appearance at the end… dear Trek writers I am begging you please create something new. What is the point in ever concluding a story arc if you are just going to bring them back and do it all over again? Allow for new characters, new stories. Let it rest.

Worf leaking Raffi’s service record to her family was nice. The Worf and Raffi friendship this season has been one of the few bright spots. However I am… I had always thought that the narrative was they knew Raffi had saved the day, that she was right about Mars etc. and her family didn’t dispute that she was a hero, just that she was never around for them. The old “you put the world first and us second, and that’s great for the world. Someone has to sacrifice but why you? Why us?” and that kind of pain knows no logic. Feelings can be complicated. Being told “oh she’s a hero so you have to accept being second all the time” is not easy. There’s guilt for feeling selfish but wanting it to be different. Anger, resentment and that’s just for the job. Remember Raffi also had addiction problems, probably triggered as a coping mechanism because of the job but that addiction will also have hurt her family. And to wipe that away with “oh they never actually knew it was worth anything and now they love you” like it’s nice that Raffi can have her family back. Raffi is a good person. She made mistakes and she cares a lot. But it’s too easy and too trite and it feels hollow. Like they decided to slap a happy ending on it which just doesn’t fit.

Also not going to lie as much as I do love the Worf and Raffi friendship. They knew each other for a matter of weeks. Seven and Raffi have known each other much longer, been romantically involved for an unknown length of time within those years. If it was so easy to fix Raffi’s family. I can’t believe Seven wouldn’t have leaked the file years ago. It feels like if that was going to be a moment, then it should have gone to Seven and not Worf.

Speaking of Seven and Raffi’s relationship. Not a hint, not a nod, not any kind of anything? Like the epilogue skipped a year and they are Captain and Number One on the Enterprise-G (side note what happened to the Enterprise-F that was seen last episode with all the fireworks?). So yeah they are working together. The shots were practically beat for beat how the season 2 finale went down. They are ending up as Captain and Commander how they were headed then but it’s now 2-3 years later and they are broken up? Or not? Like what is up with that?

As predicted the changelings barely got a sentence wrapping up their involvement. Just a “Beverley worked out how to find them with the transporters as they were de-borgified”. Side note does that mean the changelings were also assimilated? How would that even work?

Still no mention of the Jurati borg? Or Elnor? Or LARIS?? I mean poor Laris. What a waste. Continuity I don’t know you.

Ok I am sure I am forgetting things. But one last comment on the lighting. It was extra bad this episode. Like really couldn’t see a damn thing on occasion. No exaggeration, literal nope. If they do a spin-off please for the love of Trek make them light the damn thing. I can not take anymore of this no lighting. It’s ridiculous.

Oh! The end scene with the poker. That’s the kind of fan service I don’t really mind. There was some warm fuzzies there.

This was probably the best episode of the season, which given how terrible the season was doesn’t really say much. I have overwhelming relief that Raffi didn’t die and I am also very thankful that the season is over. Each episode I was like “so how bad is is going to get?” And yes there is always fanfic but something being canon can be miserable even if it’s firmly ignored.

For all that I would like a Seven spin-off I don’t trust them in the slightest to do it any justice. I would rather they didn’t make it. Than make it and absolutely butcher their characters, queer-bait the relationship, stress me all out and just generally make me super unhappy about something that should have been joy.