AdelaideCate007

Really killer scenes between the guest last week and Picard (leaving their name out in case anyone has still not watched lol). Just such good emotion and the payoff was excellent. Nothing against the TNG cast and Jeri Ryan- all of whom are doing great work- but it was nice to see Patrick Stewart get the chance to act opposite someone who was a little more up to some serious acting. Never knew I need that pay off till now, but lad we got it all these years later. @Vee Good to see some confirmation on what Amanda Plummer's whole deal is. I figured as much, but it'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out. Now just wondering what Jack's whole vibe is with his visions. Thrilled that person is back this and I think we see Excited to see what they've got goin on with SNW. Not surprised about the lower budget, but they can make that work for SNW and a Titan/Legacy show for sure. I had no idea the costs for Discovery had ballooned up that much. Oof.

Nemesis should just be ignored outside of the first like ten minutes and I guess Data's death. So [!@#$%^&*] bad lol. I'm glad they're all getting a better goodbye together, even if everyone had to wait 20 years for it. @Vee The show runner talks here about why they didn't end up going with the bugs from Conspiracy and how they ended up on the Changelings instead. Super interesting that he said there was a few ideas they floated but couldn't use because it would meaning killing a legacy character. It's a good read. Some good stuff about Shaw in there too. https://collider.com/star-trek-picard-season-3-episode-4-spoiler-interview-showrunner-terry-matalas/ Also interesting that he hints at the back five episodes being Troi heavy. I assume they're definitely planning a show centered around Shaw, Seven, presumably Raffi, Jack, and whatever other legacy kids they decided to use.

Great episode and nice closure to the first sort of act of the season. I have to admit that the Riker and Deanna reconciling scene at the end really got me. The ending with the new life being born and the scenes of Beverly, Picard, and Jack convincing Riker of their plan were also stellar. I'll refrain from saying more till everyone has a chance to watch it but I have so many questions about Amanda Plummer's character and that whole...vibe lol.

@Vee

The episode description for episode 5 definitely gives you some hints about who at least one cameo this season will be.

If Riker's a changeling, then it would have had to have happened sometime right before the end scene because those scenes where he knew how to find Beverly and where he was talking to Jack and Picard about Troi and their kids were definitely supposed to be real Riker. Just going off what the actors and the show runner have said about the arcs for this season, it would really cheapen the story this season if he's a changeling at this point. I think he's just mad that his son is dead and he can't see him anymore while Picard's son is alive and he doesn't seem to care about seeing him. Plus now that he thinks they're dying, he thinks he won't get to make things right with Troi and their daughter since he hinted in the first episode that they're mad at him. I mean, maybe he becomes one later on or I'm way off base, but now, I don't think he is. Anyway, I loved the episode. The best of three so far. The villains being the changelings is a cool twist. I'm enjoying the Worf and Raffi stuff a lot. The Odo shoutout was a really nice touch. The Beverly and Picard showdown was wonderful and well acted. Yeah, they're definitely setting up a backdoor Titan or TNG Legacy show. Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes were even floating the idea of a show this week in interviews. A preview for the 5th, 6th, and 7th episodes accidentally aired early in some places apparently and there's a photo floating around from it that's pretty great.

@Vee I'd be for it too. Raffi isn't always my favourite character, despite Michelle Hurd being a great actress and giving a good performance, but they could toss her on there too. Again, it'd be very small universe syndrome, but they could even bring on one or two of the DS9 or Voyager kids that are floating around out there. I'm a Discovery fan also but yeah, the dialogue can be very 21st century cringe sometimes. I don't know what the answer is but there definitely has to be an in between there.

I really loved Worf's introduction too and I'm happy that didn't drag out. He was never my fave back in the TNG and DS9 days but oddly enough, he's been the one I've been most interested in seeing again based on the trailers. I feel like he could have a really cool story this time around. @Vee I agree about the tone issues with the first two episodes. I'mr really enjoying but it does seem a little disjointed and off at points. The dialogue is a little rough in some places but that seems to an issue, at least for me, across most modern Star Trek outside of Lower Decks and sometimes SNW. It's a minor issue for sure but it's there. I wonder if the tone is a little all over the place because of filming inconsistencies. It sounds like they shot the first three or so episodes over time because half the cast couldn't shoot the first six weeks. They didn't even start filming with Plummer till the fifth episode and had to add in her scenes to the episode. Same with a couple of the others. I could be off base, but it's just a vibe I got. I enjoyed Amanda Plummer here though a lot. I still think she's just the face or the front person for something much bigger. My other minor quibble is how old Jack looks. I think Ed Speleers is doing a great job and I get why they wanted to have an older actor since it seems like there's going to be a lot of heavy acting. They also obviously want him to be a big part of the franchise going forward. If that was the case, then I don't know why they didn't do another time jump and make it closer to 30 years. Them pretending he's 22/23 and born right after Nemesis is a stretch when he not only looks much older, but then having Picard list off all the trouble he's been in makes it sound like he's been at this for years now. It's a minor thing and Star Trek has been rapidly aging kids for decades now, but still kind of oof when they keep repeating how it's only been 22 years or whatever since they saw Beverly. I saw people say that they didn't think he knew Picard was his father till he heard it on over the comms, but I think he already knew and just didn't say anything? The way he was reacting during the interrogation scene when Picard asked about the father, the part where he knew about the vineyard and him being a captain, the part of where he said 'it was nice to finally meet you' when they thought they were dying. I think we were supposed to assume he knew. Going off the description of the next episode, they're clearly doing some sort of parallel between Beverly and Picard's alive son and Troi and Riker's dead son. I just hope that they don't just have it be Riker and Picard dealing with that. I hope Beverly and Troi get some scenes out of that story and get to react to the situation at hand too. Also, still definitely getting a vibe that they want to do a next Next Generation show on the Titan with Seven, the new bridge crew, and all the TNG kids. It's a little small world syndrome but I think it could be a cool concept.

I've been guessing Lore or maybe Worf lol. I can't see them killing off Riker, Crusher, or Picard. The show runner said on twitter that we don't lose Deanna so I'm guessing that means she's safe too. I guess there's always Raffi or Seven but I think they want them for a spinoff. So basically that leaves Worf or Lore. Also, adding in fuel to the fire about what the villains could be involved in and someone we could see, I saw people mention that the show runner and the cast mentioned Preemptive Strike as an episode to watch to "prepare" for this season.

@Vee yeah, I'm interested to hear more about the cutting them off thing and why as the series goes on because I really can't buy her cutting off all of them. Geordi, Worf, even Riker maybe, I can buy but I have a hard time believing she cut off Deanna and Picard. Again, a minor thing but I'm interested to see how it goes. I've been thinking about the Conspiracy aliens too. If it's not those, then something in that vein. I feel like if it's them, then it's them and something else too. I won't post them here but the title of the fifth episode is already out there, along with a few IMDb spoilers that lend credence to all this. It will be interesting to see if it's a direct tie or something that seems more just inspired by that idea. The new trailer adds a few more interesting things and has a lot of stuff we haven't seen. I can't really tell where Deanna and Riker are supposed to be since that doesn't look like the Titan. Saw a few theories that that's Amanda Plummer's ship and that she takes them at some point. Also looks like Lore, Geordi, and Geordi's other daughter are on the Titan soon enough too. Also, what are you thoughts on the rumours that one of them might not make it out of this series?

Oh I'm not opposed to the idea or them doing it anyway they feel like they have to. I even think the scenes next week are really good. My only minor quibble is like I said that I'm not really wild about how farfetched they have to get to make it work and that they basically have to say "Beverly ghosted everyone for 20 something years" for it it fit. But again, only a minor quibble. I'm hoping that Beverly and Troi don't fade away as the series progresses. Beverly starts off strong and it sounded like Troi gets some good stuff once she joins. The few reviews I've read don't mention anything about it but I hope by the end they aren't basically reduced to running behind Riker and Picard like they did in the movies. If this really is the final hurrah, then I hope they all get a chance to shine. My surprise guest return theory is

Now that everyone has seen the first episode, I'll mention the two minor issues I have with it. Troi/Riker- him saying her and the daughter would appreciate the time away from him just seems like a way to cover Marina Sirtis not being available to film the first few episodes of the season. I'm sure it'll be fine in the end and lead to some nice scenes. I just feel like they could have come up with something better than relationship drama we know will be resolved in a few episodes once she's on the ship. I'll put the reason for why they're having issues in spoilers. The new Crusher son- Again, I'm sure this will be fine and the actors seem extremely happy about it, but I still feel like it's veering a little to into fan fiction territory. Especially given who the obvious father is and how much she pushed Wesley on Picard and wanted him to be a father to Wesley. I know everyone could see this plot line coming a mile away though so whatever lol. I'm just interested in seeing what her explanation is for ghosting Picard and the others for over 20 years and taking off with her son is. Overall I really liked it. I think I liked the second one more, which has a little less nostalgia bait and fan service. Really excited to see the last eight episodes. Also theories and some mild spoilers-

@Vee I don't know how much she gets later on, but you'll be happy with how much Crusher there is at the beginning. Also, this isn't really a spoiler, but you see Riker, Crusher, Picard, Seven, and Worf pretty early. Sounds like Geordi and Troi don't show up until the back half of the season. A few general spoilers but nothing big, just about where the characters are-

No spoilers, but I got to watch the first two episodes for a press thing today. I liked what I saw a lot. FWIW, I really liked the first season and I thought the second season had some good ideas and was fine for the most part considering all the backstage drama and Covid. This from what I saw is better than those two. I feel like a lot of people will be happy since I assume this is what they always wanted from this show in the first place. My only quibble so far is that I think it might veer a little too far into nostalgia and I guess fan fic mode (when you see the episodes, you'll know what moments I'm talking about lol). That's a small worry though and since that seems to be what people wanted for the most part, I think it'll be well received. I guess the US premiere was earlier today and most of the press either had screenings today or got screeners (of the first six episodes I think) and I'm already seeing big spoilers on twitter so avoid all that if you don't want to get spoiled on something big that happens in the first two episodes.

Some interesting stuff in these articles. Nothing spoilery specifically but you can get a few ideas-

Sorry, I didn’t know if we were supposed to spoiler spec or not lol

@Vee I think they're implying that it's that I had to drag my way through series 2 too, but very much looking forward to series 3. Stranger New Worlds though is also my favourite of the new Trek shows, although I've been liking Lower Decks too. The DS9 episode was really well done.

Rumours and basically confirmation of what this "life changing" event is for Picard and Crusher is out there if you just look but I think what he says here is interesting about how it might go down. If the rumours are true, I'm interested to see how it all plays out. Some more mild spoilers and interviews as the cast kicks off promo for the show-

thrilled for everyone in the US!

I don't know this works out numbers wise but people on my timeline are saying that this is basically saying the Dem in Nevada is going to win.

Indeed! I usually avoid Sky News of course but I just had to take a look at how they were handling the news. They had even sent Rita and Laura Jayes over to cover the news in person. Another fail from Murdoch and his media. Hate to see it! 😄

I don't know if any of the other Aussies here check in on this thread, but I took a look at Sky News to see how they were handling the results and Rita Panahi is despondent and in shambles. It's glorious!

This is basically a miracle for the Dems, right? I haven't been following super closely but the past few days I saw people basically expected them to get slaughtered and have a red wave. Looks more like a red nothing lol. Any real reason or ideas why this happened? I assume abortion is a big one.

Australian news seems to think Democrats are going to either win Georgia outright or it goes to a runoff which the Democrat would most likely win. How do the other Senate races look? Doesn't look like much of a red wave overall lol.

It's officially been called now, thank god. It's been mentioned on Twitter but good on leaders like Macron, Biden, Albanese, Trudeau, and the other leftists leaders in Latin America coming right out of the gate congratulating Lula and legitimising the results. Makes it way less likely Bolsonaro will try something or attempt to claim it was rigged against him.