Instant reactions: Nepenthe

As always, SPOILERS!

1. I accept and respect that TNG fans need and deserve a nostalgic episode where their favorite characters get to spend some quality time together. (For me, Riker is warmer and more endearing than I used to find him, and Troi is even less. But these have always been some of my least favorite ST characters, so.) But this season is chugging to a close a mere three episodes from now, and there's a lot of plot to wind up, so I can't help resenting this long detour away from the main story. Also, it doesn't really do Picard any favors that his first thought when on the run from the most dangerous secret police in the galaxy is to hide out at the quiet, bucolic home of his dear friends and their sweet kid. Yeah, Picard's arrogance is a thing in this series, but I don't think the writers were entirely conscious that this choice would make Picard look so much worse.

2. HUUUUUGH!!! Honestly, I enjoy a heart-wrenching character death as much as the next person, but really, this was a waste. If it had happened in Picard's presence, so that we could experience his reaction and see the effect on him, that would have been something. But with Elnor? They only just met. Worse, there's this weird vibe that we're supposed to feel like Hugh and Elnor became deeply bonded in, like, ten minutes, so we're meant to think Elnor was profoundly traumatized by this. But...nope. I got nothing, except for the sense that I really wanted to see more Hugh, and now I won't.

3. So Agnes -- not a synth (that's me wrong, yet again), but shown a synthpocalypse by Oh that freaked her out enough to just swallow a tracking thingy. Not that I can really blame her. A mind-meld apocalypse must feel like -- well, an apocalypse. But what is that vision? Is it a real future? Did some time traveler give the Zhat Vash future intel, which the ZV have dedicated themselves to preventing, like ENT's Sphere Builders did to the Xindi? Or is it a mythical future, some kind of prophecy? Narissa refers to ZV operatives all across the galaxy, so presumably, that includes Oh. Anyhow, I'm glad Agnes redeemed herself, even if she had to put herself in a coma to do it. OK, maybe "redeemed herself" is a little strong, given the whole killing Maddox thing. But then again, we don't know that Maddox wasn't going to cause a synthpocalypse, so maybe Agnes did the right thing? But is it ever right to kill someone to prevent a future event that might not happen? Paging Chidi Anagonye.

4. Did Rios really suspect Raffi, or did he suspect Agnes, and he was trying to get her to confess to being the one with the tracking device? I prefer to think the latter, but it's probably the former. Poor Raffi can't catch a break -- everyone is shitty to her. Also, if you suspect someone on your ship is being tracked by someone who's trying to destroy you, wouldn't you try to do something more effective than have a chat about it?

5. The best part of this episode: Soji. Her reactions and feelings seem authentic and really touch me. So it turns out Maddox probably did make her, and others, on the planet with two red moons. (In my previous speculation, I'd dismissed the idea that Maddox actually made Soji and Dahj because I neglected to consider that he'd been missing for a long time, and he would have had ample opportunity to continue his work after leaving the Daystrom Institute. Still, it's pretty crazy to think he made a lot of them. Why? Did he have an ulterior motive, or was it just because he could? Was he the one who gave them the false memories and let them think they were human? Isn't that unethical? Paging Chidi again.) So Soji is in a sense Data's "daughter." But was Dahj so strongly imprinted on Picard that she sought him out without even knowing him, while Soji remains suspicious? Is it just because Soji is more traumatized?

6. I'm starting to get the feeling that the Borg/synth connection isn't going to be some clever plot twist, but just a loose thematic parallel, more's the pity. Still, there must be a reason why the Borg can't successfully assimilate Romulans, and it must have something to do with why Ramdha called Soji the Destroyer. Mustn't it?

7. Can we pleeeaaaaase get Rios' backstory now?

Ten great things in Picard's "Impossible Box"

"The Impossible Box" is an instant Star Trek favorite for me. It’s about people trying desperately to connect with each other because of, in spite of, and through pain; about finding truth inside lies and honesty inside secrets; about imperfect healing, the nobility of perseverance, and the way suffering makes us human. It advances characterization and plot without a whole lot of unnecessary verbiage (kudos to writer Nick Zayas), and it’s beautiful to watch (ditto director Maja Vrvilo).

I was inspired to rewatch – twice – and make a list of ten things I especially loved about "The Impossible Box":

1. Picard’s PTSD: The amazing thing about Patrick Stewart’s performance is that he makes you feel what it cost Picard to keep functioning all those years with all that locked inside, and how the frailty of age makes it so much harder to keep battling the demons.

2. Elnor’s searing honesty: He tells Jurati that Picard “can’t see you’re also haunted by something you’d like to forget.” Later, to Jurati and Rios: “The obvious tension between you makes me uneasy.” Everyone treats Elnor like a child who is too naïve to understand what the grown-ups are talking about. But his lack of artifice gives him insight everyone else lacks, because he is so authentically present. OK, that sounds like self-help psychobabble, but fuck it, it speaks to me. “Was I in-butting?” “That time, yes.” I <3 Elnor.

3. The Rios-Jurati hookup: It’s incredibly refreshing to see two adults be fairly honest about what they want, and then just do it. Also refreshing: Writers not falling back on the cliché of dragging out sexual tension for a zillion hours on the theory that delayed gratification is good writing. Yes, I realize that Jurati is hiding a lot (like a murder and its motive), and Rios isn’t exactly an open book, either, but this encounter feels remarkably genuine. Given all that baggage, kudos to Cabrera and Pill for pulling it off. (Bonus: Cabrera showing off his actual soccer skills. Be still my heart.)

4. The whole Narek-Narissa thing: Now that is a new twist on the old UST trope, and I love it. Playing the sexual tension inherent in sibling rivalry is bananas ballsy. “That’s mine. Give it back. You’ll break it.” The banality of that line, which could be from any family sitcom, but is instead spoken by an adult brother to the adult sister who keeps coming on to him – soooo creepy. And then there's the sensual way Narek shows her how to play with his Romulan Rubik’s Cube, like the sex toy/murder weapon it is. Delightfully perverse.

5. Raffi’s bluff: In the midst of a bender, Raffi holds herself together to pull off the perfect con. It’s a work of art, both on Raffi’s part and Michelle Hurd’s. It’s all the more painful to watch because we, the audience, know why she’s hurting so bad, but no one in the scene does. So painfully relatable. And then she falls apart; watching her face collapse the moment the call ends is a gut punch. Picard’s applause – how clueless can he be? It’s Rios who tenderly tucks her in, hears her pain, takes her hand, and delivers real empathy: “No one gets all of it right, Raff.”

6. Soji frantically dating her possessions: Such a simple and devastating way to discover that everything you believe about your life is a lie. This happens to be a sci fi trope I love, because it’s so terrifying: the sudden realization that your reality is not real.

7. Hugh, Hugh, Hugh: His sincere affection for Picard. His instant willingness to help. His tenderness toward the ex-Bs. The fact that, other than Elnor, he’s the warmest, most open character in the entire series so far – and he is ex-Borg.

8. Picard’s realization that the Borg are victims: This is his Kirk Undiscovered Country moment, and it’s freaking beautiful. As much as we owe Roddenberry for creating Star Trek, he couldn’t see that having your protagonists realize they were wrong is the most powerful way of making a moral argument. It’s probably because Picard was too perfect in his original run that his revelation is so moving here. And it’s a powerful message at this moment in history, when we’re all wondering how we’re ever going to forgive the brainwashed masses.

9. Narek as Judas: He betrays Soji (human, but not human) with a kiss, tells her she’s not real, and weeps as he leaves her to die. Does that make him any less of a monster? Did Judas throwing the silver into the Temple absolve him of his sin? Something to chew on.

10. The Picard-Elnor reconciliation: “Elnor, I will not leave you behind again!” “It fills me with joy to hear you say that. Now go.” SOB.

On Picard, Vashti, and a very good start

The fourth episode of Picard drops tomorrow, and on this blog, I’ve posted…nothing. I keep thinking I need to produce a definitive review, a profound expression of the regard in which I already hold this series. Clearly, that’s not happening, so I’ll just go with some (pretty nifty, I think) speculation that hit me this morning, and some random, quick-and-dirty reactions.

My speculation about “Absolute Candor” and beyond:

Here’s the official episode synopsis:

“The crew’s journey to Freecloud takes a detour when Picard orders a stop at the planet Vashti, where Picard and Raffi relocated Romulan refugees 14 years earlier. Upon arrival, Picard reunites with Elnor (Evan Evagora), a young Romulan he befriended during the relocation. Meanwhile, Narek continues his attempts to learn more about Soji while Narissa’s impatience with his lack of progress grows."

Vashti. Hmmm.

Ahasuerus sends Vashti away
by Marc Chagall

In the biblical book of Esther, Vashti was the first wife of King Ahasuerus. She was banished for refusing to obey the king's command to appear at his banquet to show off her beauty. Vashti was replaced by Esther, the secret Jew who ultimately saved her people from the genocidal Haman.

So is this story, in which the fate of the Romulans features prominently, in some way a parallel to the book of Esther, about the fate of the Jews, exiled from their homeland and living as unwelcome strangers in a hostile land? It might sound farfetched, were it not for the presence of Michael Chabon. Because if there’s one thing we know about Chabon, author of The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, it’s that he knows how to weave Jewish texts and lore into amazing speculative fiction.

According to interviews with Evan Evagora, his character, Elnor, whom we'll meet in "Absolute Candor," was raised by a sect of women known for their extreme honesty and integrity. Like Vashti, they have been forced from their home world and had to settle elsewhere. Meanwhile, Soji’s true nature is hidden, Esther-like, waiting to emerge at some key moment. If this parallel is correct, she will save an entire people. The ex-Borg? The Romulans? Both? (And wouldn't it be cool for Vashti and Esther to team up?)

So if Soji is Esther, is Narek Haman, the villain with the secret plan to destroy an entire people? Or is he Mordechai, the guy who’s going to activate Soji/Esther’s secret at the key moment to save an entire people?

Or am I crazy? I tend to pick up on Old Testament references and then carry them much farther than the writers ever do. I guess we’ll find out.

But whether any of this pans out, of this I'm certain: Ever since DS9, Star Trek has been trying to do "misfits, freethinkers, and outlaws try to change a broken system from within," but it’s never quite worked. Sometimes they couldn’t really commit to telling that story; sometimes they just failed to come up with a compelling story to tell; sometimes they got bogged down in moral grey areas. I’m thinking Picard might be the one to finally do it right.

My standing-on-one-foot review of Picard thus far: 

This is the Star Trek that Patrick Stewart has always deserved. It’s still about having a strong moral compass and the courage to act despite the odds – but without TNG's hammy acting, excruciatingly dull speechifying, pollyanish world view, and mystifying portrayal of the corporate board room as a beacon of hope for the future of humanity. More to the point, a decent actor should get to deliver dialogue that isn't cringeworthy, and Picard's is far from it.

The new characters:

I’m particularly fond of the way the new characters have been introduced, with enough clarity to feel like we can get a handle on who they are, but not so simplistically as to be 2-D caricatures.

Raffi Musiker: Like a lot of fans, I fell in love with her instantly because her flaws are so relatable. She was so right, trying so hard, and got so shafted. Now she’s damaged, and it shows. Plus she ticks my biggest box: a woman over 50 not identified or limited by her age. That said, though, I would appreciate if, now and then, Star Trek's tough women weren’t characterized as formed by trauma and in need of healing. (See: Tasha Yar, Kira Nerys, B'Elanna Torres.)

Cristóbal Rios: Coming into Picard as a Santiago Cabrera fan, Rios would have had to be a colossal disaster for me not to stan him, but I’m pleased to say that so far, he’s made it easy. Rios, having obviously been through hell, has literally compartmentalized himself, consigning his vulnerable, open, hopeful, trusting side to a virtual surrogate, and I love him all the more for it. What's not to love about the loner intellectual with a mysterious past who wants nothing more than to believe in something again?

Agnes Jurati: Picard’s answer to Discovery's Tilly. She's just so likeable. Too likeable, some might say. In fact, some seem to think Raffi’s suspicions are a tip-off that something is amiss with good ol' Agnes, but I think she’s exactly what it says on the tin: brilliant and dedicated, but naïve. She's barely entered the story when she's shaken to the core by her first killing, so either she's a great liar, or we're seeing the scales fall from her eyes. 

Soji: Right now I'm betting on this Esther thing, and I won’t be surprised if she’s part of the intrepid crew by the end of the season. Picard needs his Data. But obviously there are a lot of plot twists to get through first, and I could be dead wrong, because I usually am.

Last thing:

Much as it pains me to say it, Picard has so far proven more intriguing, thought-provoking, and just plain fun than Discovery, which has gone along by fits and starts. Discovery's moral compass in season 1 was having trouble finding north, and remained wobbly in season 2. It has great characters, but they often feel weirdly detached from their story. (Why anyone is dealing with Mirror Georgiou as anything other than an existential threat is beyond me.) Being a much bigger fan of DS9 and ENT than TNG and VOY, it feels odd to prefer Picard to Discovery, but there you have it. I suspect this has everything to do with the fact that Discovery suffered from show-runner turnover in its development, while Picard benefitted from stability and -- well, Chabon.