Star Trek Picard — Series 2 Episode 10 — Farewell — A Review

26th August, 2022.

It’s a Friday evening: and … ?

I’m going to be having dinner: again!

Any minute now, in fact.

After that … ?

I’m going to do my usual thing: and watch another episode of Star Trek Picard.

It’s called Farewell: and it’ll be the last Picard episode I watch for a while, as it’s the last in the current series.

I’ll have my review up, tomorrow: and will see you then.

~≈🖖≈~

27th August, 2022.

Episode 10 — Farewell — opens with a summary of previous episodes.

Including the departing words from Jurati, the new Borg Queen.

There must be two Renées: one who lives, and one who dies.

The scene shifts: to show us the Admiral(Patrick Stewart) telling Rios and Tallinn (Santiago Cabrera, Orla Brady) about how the ruined Chateau Picard told him that the future seemed on course.

Seemed.   He’s not sure.

Tallinn may have an idea, though: one she’s not ready to share, just yet.

It’s only once the three are joined by Raffi and Seven (Michelle Hurd and Jerry Ryan) that they transport back to Tallinn’s base in Los Angeles.

And agree to split up.

Raffi, Seven and Rios will head for Soong’s office, to try and stop his plans: whilst Tallinn heads for the Europa mission launch pad … joined at the last minute by Admiral Picard, himself.

Post titles?

We see a long shot: pulling in through the solar system to arrive at the Europa base, where Admiral Picard and Tallinn have just arrived.

Tallinn is determined to save Renée: but the Admiral is determined that she not waste her life in what he feels is a pointless gesture.

Meanwhile?   Raffi, Seven and Rios have arrived at Soong’s base: only to find a few things.

• Soong has long since fled: where, they don’t know.
• Soong has also set up automated military drones: set up to track the Europa rocket and destroy it in orbit. 

Raffi, Seven and Rios?

Have only one, desperate, option.

To try and hijack at least one of the drones: to destroy the rest, before they destroy the rocket!

Back at the Europa base?

Soong has managed to persuade the Base Director to let him in: and pulled rank on her, to find Renée.

Soong … ?   Wants to met Renée … simply to shake her hand.

What Doctor Soong doesn’t know … ?

Is that Renée, the Renée he mets … ?

Isn’t who she seems … 

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Now … what did I make of Farewell?

And what did I make of the series?

First things first, the episode.

I have to admit, this is a very well written, directed and acted episode.

The twist?   That Tallinn has disguised herself as Renée and — effectively — sacrificed herself to save the latter’s life, and guarantee the future?

Was obvious, telegraphed … but extremely well done, none-the-less.

As was Tallinn’s death.

It helps we have a pair of heavyweights — in Brady and Stewart — playing that scene.

Then there’s the last scene between Q and the Admiral … again, that’s an emotional one.

There’s also that little scene: where Kore (Isa Briones) mets Wesley Crusher.

I had to admit: I loved finding out what Wesley Crusher has been doing, for the last few years.

It’s something that resonated for me.

Terry Pratchett fan that I am, Wesley’s people sound a lot like the History Monks: continually on the look out for the stuff that can make history unravel.

Overall?   The episode was great.

But … ?   And you could tell there was a ‘but’ coming.

My only concern is the reverse of a concern I had with the fourth series of Stranger Things.

With the recently watched fourth series … ?   I felt some of the episodes were possibly too long.

Instead of nine episodes of anything up to two hours in length?   It could maybe have had nearer ten to twelve episodes, up to an hour per episode in length.

This episode of Star Trek Picard was maybe ten minutes too short.

An extra five or ten minutes, minutes that could have been used to lengthen Renée’s story?

Would have been a good thing.

Does that spoil the episode for me?

No.

It’s still a good episode, and a good series finale.   Just one that felt a little rushed.

~≈🖖≈~

Does that spoil my enjoyment of the series?

Absolutely not!

It’s been a thriller of a ride: one I’ve throughly enjoyed, one with both genuine danger, and pathos.

And one leaves me looking forward to  the third season: due to be streamed in 2023.

~≈🖖≈~

Just as a last word … ?

You’ll have noticed I’ve finished watching both Stranger Things, and Star Trek Picard.

I’ll have Tuesdays and Fridays free for the next few weeks.

Quite what I’ll be watching next?

I don’t know: although I’ll have plenty of options.

I’ve a few series lined up: the first series of Star Trek Strange New Worlds amongst others, and one or two others.

There’s also the Jodie Whittaker’s last episode of Dr Who: due sometime in October.

And?

Frankly, I’ve a pile of movies I want to watch, too.

Please feel free to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You’ll see me floating past.

Until next time?

Be seeing you … !

~≈🖖≈~

Farewell.

★★★☆

Series 2. (Average Rating per Episode)

★★★⁹/₁₀