Season 1, Episode 3: ‘The End Is the Beginning’

The first three episodes of “Star Trek: Picard” feel like a long pilot unto themselves. We establish what Picard has been up to. We establish several new characters, the central conflict and the circumstances which led to the conflict; in this case, Picard’s efforts to rescue Romulus from the supernova. By the conclusion of “The End Is the Beginning” — an apt title — we have our central arc: Picard has formed a ragtag group of outsiders to solve this thing on their own.

It’s telling, once again, how much Picard links his identity with Starfleet. The thought of mounting a rescue effort without the Federation’s backing is out of the question for Picard, as he notes to Raffi Musiker (played with charisma by Michelle Hurd) Which is what makes the arc a novel one for our dear captain. “Picard,” as a show, wants to make clear that we are not watching “The Next Generation”; this is something totally new.

And yet, Picard still values Starfleet somewhere deep down. Note the way he recruits the swashbuckling pilot Chris Rios (Santiago Cabrera). He exhorts him with “You are Starfleet!” because his ship is clean. Picard doesn’t even consider that Rios doesn’t care about the ideals of Picard’s old haunts. Maybe, Rios just likes to keep things efficient.

Raffi, in particular, knows how to cut Picard deeply. “I saw you sitting back in your very fine chateau,” she says sarcastically, while Picard grimaces. “Big oak beams. Heirloom furniture.”