Sir Patrick Stewart has talked about the recently concluded Star Trek: Picard Season 3 and apparently, it had in fact an alternate ending. For those who haven’t seen the series, much of the information in this article may be considered as spoilers so please be advised that SPOILERS ARE AHEAD.
Star Trek: Picard was a series created by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Kirsten Beyer, and Alex Kurtzman. It streams on Paramount+, which was previously known as CBS All Access. The first season was released in 2020, and then the second season arrived in 2022. The latest season has just concluded, and fans of the series have everything positive to say about its end.
The fact that the series brought the original crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation for the finale season was enough to, in a sense, power the ship to light speed again.
While the series did not pick up where the movies left off, it showed Stewart as the retired Starfleet Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. In season 1, Picard has already retired and was working in his family’s vineyard.
The season did not show any of the original cast but introduced a synthetic offspring of Data. Still affected by Data’s death, as shown in 2022 Star Trek: Nemesis, he finds himself wanting to fight for the existence of new “synths”.
Credit: Paramount Plus
The season that followed heralded the return of Picard’s old foe Q, who traps them in an alternate world. Brent Spiner also came to join during the second season. True to the original TNG series, Spiner portrays the role of all male members of the Soong family, the family where Data’s creator Dr. Noonian Soong came from.
In the concluding season of the series, Picard suddenly learns of the existence of his son with Dr. Crusher. He inadvertently passed a somewhat Borg gene to his son, which became a major factor for him to be the focal point of the story. Picard gets his old crew back together to protect him and prevent another impending assimilation on Earth.
The third season brought the Next Generation cast members LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, and Marina Sirtis back together with Stewart and Spiner. The season delivered the most satisfying end to the series.
An end that, according to Stewart, could have been different but he was relieved they ended the story the way they did. The actor also happily relayed that he would be very open to doing more Star Trek in the future. But…
Patrick Stewart Reveals Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Might Not Be His Last
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According to a recent article from Variety, there would be a specific condition for him to do more Star Trek projects in the future. When he was asked if he would be open to returning to the franchise, the actor answered:
Yes. The circumstances, as it was with “Picard,” would be the important factor in all of that. But certainly, there is a wonderful future for Ed (Speelers) there, I’m sure of it. And if I can occasionally crop up to offer a little bit of comedy myself, then I shall be happy to do that.
This comes from the fact that in the beginning, he was even only willing to meet with the creators years ago to say that he wasn’t interested. But, learning the premise of the Picard series made Patrick Stewart change his mind. He said:
One of the greatest pleasures I got watching for the first time was that everyone had investigated what would have changed in their lives and their manner and their being. I found all that intriguing.
It will be the one thing that might lure me back to do another season or other episodes, simply that it was so interesting. Everyone were such good and committed actors that we were able to bring this freshness to what we were doing. We were not really the same people.
Patrick Stewart Wishes Star Trek: Picard Stands Independent From TNG
Credit: Paramount Plus
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Patrick Stewart also emphasized that the series acknowledged the many years that passed since their last movie. Because of it, new untold and unexplored experiences have happened for the Enterprise crew, not just for Picard. The things that each crew member had gone through brought a new set of philosophies and beliefs to the table when they did the last season. Stewart said:
Everyone had been affected by time that had passed, not just physically in appearance, but in one’s relationship situation, in what activities people were involved in, what had become of them, and so forth. I found that one of the best elements of the show, especially when we began to assemble again.
More than just meeting old castmates again, Stewart wanted Picard to offer something different for the viewers, not just a series of easter eggs and tribute of what the original series had. The Picard actor shared:
We were not just celebrating a reunion. Not remotely. It was absolutely vital that this group of people came together because of the contribution that they could make, and the necessity of their being there.
I think that supported the whole of this three-season series. We could examine what has really happened to Riker, and so many things that happened to Data.
That’s what gave it, I felt, in “Star Trek” terms, a very, very independent feeling. I hope that it will be seen as something which will stand alone, not just “Next Generation Part 2.”
Credit: Paramount Plus
Talking about what could have been the end of the final season, Stewart said:
We’d had one idea for ending “Picard,” which I think now would have been a mistake. But it would have ended the show with a huge question mark.
I liked that in terms of how it could have sent our viewers minds racing and questioning and puzzling about what was this question mark exactly and what did it mean? We didn’t do it.
Despite not sharing more detail about the alternate ending, he assured everyone that what end that was delivered in the series was the best route for the character. Patrick Stewart emphasized:
I can’t talk about it. I said I wouldn’t talk about it, because it was a complicated situation. I went with what the producers wanted.
I was not comfortable with it, but watching the final episode the other night, I realized that what they had persuaded me we should do was absolutely the best thing that could have happened.
I have yet to see someone who has finished the entire series say anything negative about it, especially for this third season. It won’t be much of a surprise if news breaks out that a new series is in development from Kurtzman and Goldsman spinning off from Star Trek: Picard. The one that will put Ed Speleers’ Jack Crusher doesn’t sound too bad as well.
If the cast and crew have a positive experience with the series that they are open to working on more projects under the franchise, what stops them from making them? Considering that the fans love what they are delivering, it could just be a matter of time.
What do you make of this news that Patrick Stewart actually initially wanted an alternate ending for Star Trek: Picard? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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