I’ve seen the first three episodes of Season 2 of “Star Trek: Picard,” and I would love to tell you about them. Unfortunately, the folks at Paramount+ won’t let me until Thursday at 1 a.m. MT, when their embargo lifts.
That’s also when Season 2 of “Picard” starts streaming.
This embargo seems pretty foolish to me. It’s the kind of thing people do when they know that their program is bad.
I can’t tell you if that’s the reason here, because of the embargo.
I can tell you a few things. Patrick Stewart returns as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, former captain of a couple of U.S.S. Enterprises (NCC-1701-D and NCC-1701-E). He’s joined by the supporting cast from Season 1 — Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, Alison Pill as Agness Jurati, Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker, Evan Evagora as Elnor, Isa Briones as Dahj, Orla Brady as Laris, Santiago Cabrera as Cristóbal Rios, and Brent Spiner as Data.
Wait, you’re saying. Data died, seemingly once and for all, in the first-season finale of “Picard.” How is he back?
There is a logical explanation. It isn’t even a spoiler, really. But I can’t tell you what it is because of the embargo.
(Trae Patton | Paramount+) John de Lancie as Q and Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard of the Paramount+ original series "Star Trek: Picard."
I can tell you that the omnipotent Q (John de Lancie) plays a significant role in Season 2. (In case you were wondering, Q previously appeared in eight episodes of “Next Generation,” three episodes of “Voyager,” and one episode each of “Deep Space Nine” and “Lower Decks.”)
I can also tell you that Whoopi Goldberg returns as Guinan. (She was in 29 episodes of “Next Gen” and two movies, “Generations” and “Nemesis.”) And the Borg Queen is back, played by a different actress — Annie Wersching. (Alice Krige originated the role in the movie “First Contact,” played her in the two-part series finale of “Voyager,” and voiced a holographic simulation of her in an episode of the animated “Lower Decks.” Susanna Thompson played her in three other “Voyager” episodes.)
(Nicole Wilder | Paramount+) Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan and Sir Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard of the Paramount+ original series "Star Trek: Picard."
And it’s not a spoiler to tell you that — like many of the best “Star Trek” episodes and movies — Season 2 of “Star Trek: Picard” involves time travel. “Picard must enlist friends both old and new to confront the perils of 21st century Earth in a desperate race against time to save the galaxy’s future – and face the ultimate trial from one of his greatest foes.”
That’s direct from Paramount+. Those aren’t my words.
Hey, I’m grateful to Paramount+ for sharing screeners. I have been and always shall be a huge “Star Trek” fan, and I watched the first three episodes of Season 2 of “Picard” just as quickly as I possibly could.
I wish I could tell you about them. I REALLY wish I could. (I’m trying to make it so you can read between the lines, people. Work with me.) Not that I want to give anything away — I hate spoilers — but to let you know if it’s worth watching. You know — to do my job as a TV critic.
I’m not holding my breath, but I’m hoping that at some point the folks at Paramount+ will rethink their embargo policy.
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OK, that’s an exaggeration. But when was the last time anybody who was on this show — anybody who won — became even a minor star?
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We’re told Season 4 will be the last, which is a good thing. It would’ve been a much better thing if this had ended in 2018.
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The cast includes Uma Thurman as Arianna Huffington, Hank Azaria as Apple chief Tim Cook, Ben Feldman as Google cofounder Larry Page, and Quentin Tarantino narrates.
“Super Pumped” is an anthology series that’s already been renewed for Season 2, which will focus on Facebook.
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Interestingly, they were shooting the series while Holmes was still on trial.
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