Star Trek Picard (Season 3), Episodes 7 & 8 Recap

Star Trek Picard (Season 3), Episodes 7 & 8 Recap & Ending Explained: You miss one week in recapping, it would seem like an uphill battle in recapping the next two episodes back to back. And while it would be wrong to say this isn’t an uphill battle, the episodes themselves are again inextricably linked to each other while also managing to offset each other’s flaws to a certain degree. Picard never really brushes off its late-season curse of weaker episodes at the tail end of the season, but at least its payoffs and emotional poignancies hit harder this time around.

Star Trek Picard (Season 3), Episodes 7 & 8

Episode 7 – “The Dominion”

More than the name of the episode, which hearkens back to one of the best events of Star Trek history (“The Dominion War”), Picard’s episode 7 indeed manages to jump-start the viewers’ interest by opening with an appearance from Tuvok (Tim Russ). It opens with the USS Titan A hiding in the Chin’toka Shipyard, and Seven contacting her old friend Captain Tuvok, regarding the information on Riker’s whereabouts.

To figure out whether Tuvok is indeed the real deal or a changeling, Seven presses him for answers – whether he knows Riker’s whereabouts, and whether he had been in contact with Janeway recently. When both of these answers come off as non-suspiciously dismissive, Seven changes her questioning tactic by referencing the game of Kal-Toh she and Tuvok used to play. Part of the reason is also that the crew had been analyzing Tuvok’s voice to discern his identity and had been coming up “inconclusive”. When Tuvok reveals that Seven had beaten him countless times, she seems to be convinced that they are dealing with the real specimen.

She agrees with Tuvok to meet with him to locate new allies, suggesting the planet Akilon-VII, where she had her neural pattern stabilized to which Tuvok immediately agrees. Seven finally reveals her trump card, where she accuses Tuvok of actually being a changeling, as no Vulcan would ever set foot on Akilon-VII after the Anti-Kolinahr demonstrations and her neural pattern had been stabilized on the USS-Voyager by her real friend Tuvok. The changeling is exposed, smirks and Geordi LaForge warns them that their comm is being traced. Picard takes advantage of this opportunity to question the fake Tuvok about Riker’s whereabouts.

In a horrifying, deathly-looking transformation, The Changeling appears as Riker and declares that he is “as good as dead,” much like the rest of the Titan’s crew will soon be if they don’t turn over Jack. Indicating that Tuvok wasn’t their first ally, Geordi (LeVar Burton) warns Picard that they can’t keep doing this once the call ends, and Picard, at last, accepts the fact that they are now on their own.

Later, in the Ready Room, Picard asks Geordi whether they’ve heard from Worf and Raffi, who had left on their mission to rescue Riker, but there hasn’t been any fresh information on the issue. Nevertheless, Beverly warns that searching for a biological alternative is tantamount to genocide—which is something the Changelings had suffered during the Dominion War (the morphogenic virus introduced by Starfleet to incapacitate the Changelings) —and that there could be a method to leverage the Changelings’ distinctive physiology to stop them.

Geordi questions whether the theft of his original body from Daystrom Station and the Changelings’ attempts to apprehend Jack Crusher are related to a scheme to use their DNA in combination to produce a flawless genetic duplicate of Picard.

If Picard and Jack’s DNA is their own, as Beverly points out, why would they require the DNA of a relative to finish an unfinished DNA sequence? Picard acknowledges that they lack the full picture, to which Geordi remarks that Data might be the only one able to provide them with the necessary information.

Geordi and his daughter Alandra (Micah Burton) have been working on finding solutions to Data’s present Lore-shaped predicament ever since they brought him onboard the Titan. Even though this particular Data does recall his time in the Enterprise, Soong created him to contain both Data and Lore, which results in an odd case of competing personalities. Lore especially is still as acerbic as he was during his younger years, feeling disgusted at the current aged appearance of Picard.

As Alandra remarks on Lore’s vitriolic speech, to which she got a similar dose of vitriol in return, Geordi informs her that Lore’s concept of being human is a much more perverted one than Data’s pure one. Geordi tells Picard upon examining this positronic brain, he realized that the identity matrices of B-4 and Altan Soong exist only as memory files, but Lore and Data’s matrices are partitioned off, with both fighting for dominance, contrary to what Soong expected them to integrate more efficiently.

It’s a neat idea, but also a stupid one because it is effectively making an android with the brain of Albert Einstein and Adolf Hitler, and expecting both of them to reconcile, and become more human.

Data did indicate that there was some curiosity in Picard’s Irumodic Disease, even though it doesn’t throw any light on the current problem, in between Lore’s foul outbursts. As Lore regains control, Data begs Picard for assistance, which is too much for Picard to stomach because it makes him think of the Data who requested his assistance in dying (Season 1 finale).

Overwhelmed, Picard suggests that they might be able to release Data by removing Lore from the programme, but Geordi is hesitant given the way this version has been created. He fears that Lore would be too strong and manage to overpower Data’s personality, which Geordi refuses to accept.

Vadic discloses that Picard’s allies, Riker and Deanna have proven to be difficult to break and, with time running out, they’re not going to break nearly fast enough. This revelation is made when the Shrike is traveling across the galaxy. Vadic is harshly criticized for failing to apprehend Jack on the timeline that was agreed upon by the disembodied Changeling head, who appears to be the mastermind behind all of their activities. He also implies that she is nothing more than a disposable piece of pliable flesh. Vadic is ready to take any necessary action to help the Changelings win now that she has a newfound motivation.

Back on the Titan, Jack’s subplot regarding the red door and the spirit managing to control him is brought again to the forefront. Together with Sidney La Forge and other crew members, Jack is in the turbo-lift. He inquires about her quarters and whether they are nice when they are alone.

As an ensign, Sidney scoffs, “I have extremely small quarters.” Jack asks if she would want to “hang out” and notes that he has a “cracking fantastic suite.” Sidney questions whether he is trying to flirt with her in her head and asks if he might be more “subtle” about it by holding her hand or anything like that.

She is shocked to see him act in this manner right before the turbo-lift stops. She asks him why he did it as she turns to face him and muses on how he knew to do it. It’s clear that Jack’s powers are expanding, and now he can hear people’s thoughts. He’s once again confronted with the ominous hallway that dead-ends at equally ominous red door, while the turbo-lift takes him upwards to the bridge.

Of course, when he arrives, Starfleet makes another attempt to trace them and an incoming hacked prefix code, likely from Riker, interrupts them. Jack and Picard enter the ready room for a brief talk about Riker, during which Jack confesses his feelings of guilt regarding everything. He detests the idea that others are willing to sacrifice their lives for him. In the end, Jack doesn’t believe he is worthy of all of this, and a large part of it is because he believes there is something fundamentally wrong with him.

He ultimately acknowledges to his father that he can hear things, which worries Picard to some extent but not enough to fully inquire into what exactly makes him “different,” most likely because he believes this to be a side effect of the sickness Jack received from him. Instead, with the kind of confidence that comes from years of navigating challenging circumstances, Picard assures him that he is worth everything they are doing to defend him and shares his belief that they have an advantage over Vadic.

Vadic and her Changeling crew have located the Titan, but it is immediately apparent that Picard’s plan has been carried out. After getting into a fight with another vessel, the Titan is discovered dead in the water, according to a recording that the Changelings intercepts. Everything on board the Titan almost seems too nice to be true. As the Changelings first board the ship, they immediately run into Jack, who taunts them into pursuing him farther within the ship, where they will fall into the trap they have set.

The Changelings were then led on a joyride through the Titan by him and Sidney, who led them down various corridors and imprisoned the Changelings, including Vadic, behind force fields. Their little game, though, goes wrong when they unintentionally get trapped inside one of the force fields. Geordi tries to beam them out of the trap via the transporter, but Lore viciously shuts them out of the system, foiling his plan.

After observing how comfortable her longtime pursuer seemed, Beverly confronts Vadic. She acknowledges that although she had sworn to not harm, she was now seriously questioning that decision. Vadic thinks it’s “adorable” when she hears Picard arrive from behind. She finds Picard and Beverly’s respective good cop, and bad cop tactics to be boring.

Picard is aware of how they kidnapped his first body from Daystrom and they want to use it together with Jack’s blood to distort genetic testing and disrupt Frontier Day. Instead, Vadic takes advantage of Beverly’s line of inquiry regarding their highly developed physiology to make the point that Jack isn’t for her, just as “he wasn’t really for you either,” says Vadic.

Vadic has no escape route, according to Picard, who also acknowledges that his “insight” let him see the travesty of the Dominion War. Vadic recoils at the idea of comparing the horrors committed by each side. Furthermore, Vadic responds that it was vital to prevent the “solids” from being destroyed when Beverly informs her that the Changelings were the ones who initiated the conflict.

She responds with her own when Picard asks her to name a world “ruined” by “solids,” recalling how Starfleet had introduced the morphogenic virus. Vadic remarks how Starfleet had chosen to conceal the treatment from them and that it had taken one of their own to provide it to them. While she rants at them about how Starfleet fed her desire for their destruction and tormented her and the people she loved, she has flashbacks of a Starfleet science facility.

Vadic’s hands move like an orchestra conductor, asking her captors if they liked the symphony. Picard admits he wasn’t aware they had music in the Great Link, and Vadic confirms they don’t, but she and nine of her fellow Changelings had been held during the Dominion War at Daystrom Station, kept in jars on shelves.

She recalls it had something to do with “Project Proteus,” and the symphony, she remembers, didn’t have brass and strings, but the spinning of wheels down the hall, the sound of boots squeaking on concrete, the creaks of cage doors, screams of all tempos and pitches, and above all, whistling (the scientist whistles the chorus bars of The Three Blind Mice). She explains that she wears the face of the scientist that experimented on her and her family.

The work eventually yielded a chemical formula, which used thelomium-847 as a stabilizing agent, that enabled a Changeling to fully mimic the anatomy, physiology, and cell biology of any species, albeit at the cost of constant pain and a shortened life span. However, one of the modified Changelings (Vadic) killed the lead scientist and escaped with the other nine prisoners. The experiments were intended to make them into flawless, undetectable spies who could be employed, but they turned into perfect monsters instead.

Vadic assumes the identity of Jack as Beverly’s story comes to an end and teases her about losing another son—a reference to Wesley (Wil Wheaton) — just as she has lost her family. Picard takes Beverly aside and explains that everything Vadic has said to them has been done so with the express purpose of manipulating them. Vadic is motivated by retribution and acts as an executioner for her cause.

Beverly acknowledges that she is willing to sacrifice her moral code in response to Picard’s question about whether or not they have both undergone such profound change. Vadic’s presence on the Titan was death itself. Lore lowers the force shields around the ship just as they decide to kill Vadic, allowing Vadic to escape and setting off a chain reaction of events.

Despite knowing that Data is still alive and that second chances to say what one wants are uncommon in life, Geordi continues trying to persuade him. He feels that Data has improved him as a friend, father, and man. As he admits that Data’s death broke him but also helped him put himself back together, he starts to cry.

However, Lore ultimately takes over, mocking Geordi’s efforts to draw on his brother’s memories of their friendship. When Geordi asks Lore what he wants, he responds that his only priorities are his children’s well-being and the survival of the Changelings. The security fields are subsequently completely taken over by Lore, who also turns them off. Geordi’s breakdown during this moment is also a course correct from Season 1.

Season 1’s insistence on hyping up Picard’s importance towards Data felt disingenuous, as The Next Generation followers would know that Data’s best friend in the crew had been Geordi. Picard Season 3 finally acknowledges this with an emotionally compelling performance, lending validity to the claim that having his eyes covered by the visor did Levar Burton a significant disservice throughout TNG’s run. Because at this moment, his eyes emote in ways even the dialogues couldn’t do justice.

Sidney and Jack had just been liberated from the force barrier that had been holding them, and they come face to face with the Changeling’s brutal strength, and things swiftly go awry. Jack leaps into action—and Sidney’s body—after she temporarily loses consciousness. He seizes control of her physical form and manipulates her movements to murder the Changelings with a level of competence she wouldn’t have on her own.

Jack gives up the reins when the Changelings are defeated, and Sidney pulls her blaster on him. Despite her reluctance, it doesn’t take much of an explanation to win her back, and they set off to find Beverly and Picard in sickbay.

Beverly researches “Project Proteus” in the Daystrom archive and learns that thelomium-847 is a stabilizing agent with a 100-year half-life. Theoretically, Vadic and her crew would have trace amounts of it in their bodies, making it possible to locate them.

On deck 9, Vadic and her lieutenant are discovered. Picard orders Shaw to keep them away from the bridge access lifts after finding them. With a security squad in tow, Shaw is already on the way and opening fire on the group. Shaw stops the lieutenant from vaporizing the security squad, but he doesn’t do so for good since he reorganizes behind the captain and throws him into the turbo-lift beside Vadic. Despite Shaw’s orders, it is already too late to disable the turbo-lift.

Shaw drops to the deck with his face covered in blood, but the lift is otherwise empty. But when the remaining Changeling boarders leave the meeting room, Vadic and her lieutenant quickly reassemble from the floor and seize Seven by the throat. Vadic opens a channel and addresses the entire crew, stating that although everyone had shown themselves worthy, their battle had been in vain.

They had been forewarned that things would get to this point and that if they had simply complied with her sooner, they could have avoided all of this difficulty. They are now in the position they were always meant to be in to deliver Jack to the location he required the most. Jack and Sidney arrive in sickbay at that precise moment. As Vadic sits in the chair, she taunts Jack by revealing to him that she has the answers to his true nature and it is time it came to light, as the episode ends.

Star Trek Picard (Season 3), Episodes 7 & 8

Episode 8 – “Surrender”

This episode opens with Vadic lording over the crew of the USS Titan-A, in the wake of Picard’s failed plan to capture her in the last episode. She orders the crew to take out the “crew’s eyes” as they lock down the ship’s controls. Meanwhile, Geordi disconnects the Data-like android (currently under control by Lore) from the system. Vedic then takes “the ship’s ears” by disabling communications and taking out the crew by ambushing them. She then takes “the very road ahead of them” by sealing the doors herself, forcing the prisoners to listen to the screams of the tortures of their comrades.

Picard and Beverly attempt to bypass the locked security system but are unable to. Meanwhile, Jack Crusher finds himself getting overwhelmed, eyes glowing red and he can hear Sidney wondering silently about his current predicament. His focus spreads, and he can hear the thoughts of the rest of the crew, before getting inside the mind of one security officer, and through his eyes walks down the corridor, through the bodies of the dead or injured crew-mates, before that security officer is shot dead by one of Vadic’s crew, breaking Jack’s connection.

Jack then reiterates that Vadic is in control of the ship now, and it is useless to break through the system. His thoughts are echoed by Vadic, who taunts them through the comms, reminding them that she could kill them creatively by tweaking the environmental controls of the ship if she so pleases. And thus, she “asks” Jack to come up to the bridge.

Riker had been taken hostage by the Changeling back in Episode 6. We finally get the reunion between Riker and his “Imazadi” Deanna Troi in a holding cell aboard the Shrike, with Troi trying to clean Riker’s injuries. He jokes that he missed his Imazadi, to which she jokes back that she should have taught him a bit more of the Betazoid language, perhaps a new word other than “Beloved”.

It is beautiful seeing the chemistry between Deanna and Riker feel so organic and yet evolved. They are still able to maintain the banter, but also acknowledge Riker’s own experiences which had allowed for a change in his worldview at the present moment, especially with how he had stared at death in the Nebula. Troi reveals that she had understood that these crew members were imposters, even before she had discerned they were changelings. At the same time, she realized that these changelings were different, which Riker concurs with having different physiology. Troi also wonders whether they made the right choice in sending out the prefix code. However, Riker admits he made the choice to stop her from being tortured, and also believes in Picard’s ingenuity to pull them out of this mess.

Seven and Shaw are still at odds about how to deal with this situation on the bridge, with Seven adamant that she wouldn’t alter a single decision she’d made that led them to this predicament because she doesn’t believe in “selling lives.” Seven is quick to correct Shaw when he accidentally calls her Hansen again. Although their lives are in danger, she is adamant about getting his respect.

Vadic warns that she will begin killing crew members at intervals of ten minutes if Jack doesn’t appear on the bridge. Jack, as a result, tries to escape sick bay, but Beverly won’t let him, especially since Picard is certain that Vadic would destroy the ship even if he did turn himself in. Jack believes that Vadic is planning to take him to the Great Link, but Picard reminds him that she wanted revenge, so this seemed a lot more complicated.

Adamant, and finally at the edge of his proverbial rope, Jack angrily points out that he isn’t a changeling. He ultimately breaks down in front of both of his parents, revealing that his verbosity is a distraction from recognizing that something is wrong with him. Before he can complete the sentence, both Picard and Beverly agree to listen to his statement without judgement. Nevertheless, even as Jack tries to explain how he can control other people through their eyes, Beverly continues scanning him to ensure he isn’t hallucinating. Jack’s statement is strengthened by Sidney’s corroboration, who reveals how Jack saved her life by taking over her.

Picard explains that with the right override code, they might be able to retake the Titan by having Jack take over the body of one of the officers on the bridge. With one minute remaining on Vadic’s countdown, Jack leaps into the body of Lt. Mura.

Unfortunately, Vadic quickly foils their scheme, cancelling the override code and surmising that Jack has taken over the lieutenant’s body. Understandably, Jack is astounded that Vadic is even aware of what he is capable of—and his shock is palpable as Seven and Shaw’s as the consequent horrifying incident occurs.

Vadic fulfills her pledge to carry out an execution when she runs out of patience. Lt. Mura and an emotional Ensign Esmar are the two people who could be killed as a result of Jack’s heroic attempt. But after making a show of getting Mura to talk about his son, Vadic immediately kills Lt. T’Veen (Stephanie Czajkowski), leaving Seven to announce the victim over the intercom. Vadic taunts Jack once more, saying she will keep killing crew members until he gives in now that she has proven she isn’t bluffing.

Aboard the Shrike, Riker believes the Titan’s strategic advantage will not last, and that they are still outgunned; he and Troi may perish. He was concerned that their daughter Kestra would lose everyone she cared about. Troi bluntly asks him if he’s giving up again, noting that he left the second Picard, putting half a galaxy between them.

She knows he was upset with her after Thad died, but she believes he gave up. Riker admits while he didn’t give up, he did feel numb because he had to process the grief of their son’s loss. Troi thought he was draining away from them as the pain overcame him. He responds by saying she pushed herself into his skull using her Betazoid abilities to relieve the anguish, and when that didn’t work, they both gave up.

She, as opposed to Riker, was able to feel the sorrow of everyone. He accuses her of trying to dissolve his last link with Thad; she responds that she had attempted to help him carry it. She had, however, overlooked the essential fact that all counselors must keep in mind: they cannot fast-forward through the healing process. They manage to bridge their issues with each other when Deanna admits she hates where they’re living and desperately wants to return to the bustle of city life. Riker too admits he hated living in Nepenthe, and how even the front steps groaned at him.

Worf (Michael Dorn), who has come to save them, arrives and breaks up their reconciliation. The reunion between Worf and Deanna is humorous since he makes a big deal out of how she helped him mature and adopt pacifism, much to Riker’s displeasure. It does manage to remind you of the weird decision by the TNG showrunners in the final season to craft a Deanna-Worf relationship. It was an interesting choice, but it didn’t work, as the movies inadvertently went back to the Riker-Deanna dynamic.

The group returns to where Picard’s body is being examined by Raffi, who discloses that the Changelings only required a portion of Picard’s body. It was, of course, the area of his brain affected by the Iruomodic Syndrome. Hence, a tonne of fresh hypotheses about their motivations for wanting Jack is generated.

Sidney observes that, back on the Titan, it would take more time to break into the system than is humanly possible—especially with such a small window of opportunity to do so. This makes Picard consider the only non-human creature who could generate the necessary code swiftly. Geordi and Alandra (Mica Burton) are in engineering as Picard, Beverly, Jack, and Sidney arrive there. They quickly establish that neither party is a Changeling, with Picard referring to Geordi’s wine preferences as “pedestrian,” and then start formulating a strategy to rescue Data from Lore’s grasp.

Inside the android’s mindscape, Lore notices that the wall is crumbling and makes fun of the crew’s belief that Data will triumph over Lore and assist them in taking back control of the ship. As he remembers a conversation he had with Geordi many years earlier about how Holmes had a place for everything in his office, Data starts to remember his memories and finds himself grasping Sherlock Holmes’ cap.

Lore makes fun of Data for amassing “trinkets,” saying that his head would be filled with images of might and conquest, which are, in his opinion, the only objective indicators of a life well-lived. As Data responds that the “trinkets” were his memories, the only logical way to gauge the value of life, he holds Holmes’ pipe.

As the barrier collapses, Lore steps right up to Data’s personal space, ranting about how Data was “showered” with love and devotion while he was left alone and abandoned, calling it a waste because he couldn’t even feel it. Data starts to glitch as soon as Lore takes the pipe away from him. He appears afraid when he inquires about Lore’s actions, to which Lore smugly says that he was merely outnumbering him, as he always could- one life form taking the place of another. “Evolution, my dear Watson.”, Lore sneers with malice.

A few memories, including those of Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) and playing poker with the rest of the Enterprise crew, are first relayed to Lore by Data before he switches to one final recollection of his pet cat Spot. Spot is the last piece of himself that he has to give, he says, and he is the one who taught him how to love.

Back in engineering, Geordi breaks the heartbreaking news that it appears Data is losing as Lore grabs Spot and Data starts to disappear. This was Data’s method of getting past the rule that forbids him from harming anyone, but it was a far cry from surrender. Lore now starts to glitch as he cradles Spot in his arms, and Data reappears. The red of Lore’s matrix is replaced by Data’s matrix, according to the positronic brain scan of the android. Now terrified and bewildered, Lore questions what has transpired. Lore had claimed that Data’s memories held no significance for him, but because they did for Data, Lore was compelled to take them as mementos.

This is the mistake in Lore’s deception, Data informs him. By appropriating the elements of Data, Lore transformed into Data. He gives his brother one final hug as they say their goodbyes. This entire interaction transforms this moment into the emotional crux of the whole episode, while also making you remember how cavalier Star Trek Nemesis had been in dismissing and dealing with the death of Data. It also made me realize how Lore could have been a perfect villain for a Star Trek film. Anyway, this moment, albeit simplistic works in tying the Lore story-line in a neat little bow, while bringing Data back without destroying or retconning continuity.

Jack has devised a precarious strategy to buy them some time. He approaches the bridge and approaches Vadic, but there’s a catch. With a detonator in his hand, Jack plans to blow himself up to prevent Vadic from ever winning if he doesn’t free the bridge crew. He tells her there is no sense in resisting with a snide remark, but he means it.

Vadic falls for the bluff hook, line and sinker. Vadic deems Seven’s decision to remain on the bridge rather than go to safety with the rest of the crew as “appropriate.” Jack begins pestering Vadic about his gifts and what she wants to do with them to keep her attention on him. In response, Vadic addresses Jack’s loneliness and claims that his mother’s “mission” to help others may be motivated by guilt. Continuing, she mentions the crimson door and asks him whether he has “heard them” after all these years. Unfortunately, Vadic’s mocking remarks raise further questions.

The android wakes up and scans his surroundings. Geordi cautiously inquires if they are speaking to Data, and he replies in the affirmative. The ship was in jeopardy, says Picard. As he logs into the ship’s systems, Data, who now seems more assured, takes over. They can re-establish contact with Riker on the shuttle Emerson and resume communication. Sidney clarifies the situation and permits them to dock.

Meanwhile, Data now addresses the ship, saying that the “friendly positronic, pissed-off security system” was back online, and was initiating an “immediate shift change”. While this line feels like an out-of-character moment, even for Data installed with an emotion chip, this line perfectly works as a fist-pump moment, as the tide begins to turn. We see Raffi standing in the traditional action shot in a long corridor, as Vadic’s henchmen attack her and she starts mowing them and cutting them through, courtesy of the moves learnt during training with Worf. Simultaneously we hear Data signal Jack, and he presses the detonator, which turns out to be a mini-forcefield protecting him and Seven.

As they stand in front of the turbo-lift, with a bewildered Vadic looking at them, Jack orders Picard to open the hatch, and Picard opens the hatch of the bridge to open space, thus ejecting a dejected Vadic out of the Titan. As Picard finally closes the hatch, the frozen Vadic floats through outer space before hitting the mouth of the Shrike and splintering into shards. The turbo-lift opens, and Shaw and the rest of the crew enter. As Shaw takes the Captain’s chair, he hands Seven the conn, and Seven with the utmost pleasure, orders Mura to fire at the Shrike. The Titan fires a volley of photon torpedoes at the Shrike, finally destroying it.

The reunion of Data with the rest of the crew is a sweet one. Data expresses hope that the crew would be able to locate their friend within this conglomerate of characters Data is currently formed off, and is thus irrevocably changed.

He also expresses satisfaction as to how his wish of expressing the totality of the human experience is finally coming to fruition, having already experienced death but as he finally cricks his neck and experiences contraction, he remarks, “This is new”. What is also new, as Data explains to Geordi later as they walk towards the ready room, is how he can experience and deliver humor as well, as a result of being a composite of Lore, B4, the additions by Altan Soong along with Data.

But as he explains to Geordi (in a beautiful and emotional scene), he does “feel”. And as Geordi expresses gratitude for having his friend back, Data reiterates that his gratitude for their friendship will forever remain constant.

Meanwhile, as Deanna comes aboard the Titan, she is overwhelmed by the “all-consuming darkness” within the ship, which points to the current predicament facing Jack. As the crew sit around the ready room, a deliberate choice which perfectly works in tugging in your heartstrings, with even a version of Data “Back from the Dead” albeit having a certain joire de vive. There is even a hilarious moment of Worf explaining that he had wanted to send the heads of all the enemies he had decapitated over the years to the crew, but he was told it was “passive-aggressive”.

Star Trek Picard (Season 3), Episodes 7 & 8: Ending Explained

Data finally brings up the elephant in the room and Deanna chimes in saying that whatever the Changelings have planned for Frontier Day is directly related to Jack. Picard observes that Jack’s problem has worsened, apparently indicating a connection to the impending disaster. The darkness, according to Deanna, isn’t so much inside of him as it is around him, however, he does have an ancient voice inside of him that isn’t his own. Neither of those things sounds favorable. Deanna declares that she wants to see Jack as the episode winds down.

Deanna manages to get through to Jack despite his reservations about letting her into his head. Jack acknowledges that he has no desire to open the menacing red door—the talking door—because he fears what might be on the other side, afraid of what might be on the other side of it. She then asks him about the door, and he describes it as being ominous and red. As Deanna holds Jack’s hands, and they both link each other’s minds, Jack is prompted by Deanna to open the door. Intending to unlock that door, they enter the eerie, black tunnel together, as the episode ends.

Context clues point the way, there is a possibility that whatever is controlling Jack is very much involved with the big event supposed to happen on Frontier Day. Could it be the Pah-Wraiths possessing Jack, thus bringing in and strengthening the Deep Space Nine further? Will we see more surprising appearances in the final two hours of this season? However it ends, Picard Season 3 has been the strongest Star Trek has been in years, and I hope to be there when it finally sticks the landing.