Back in August, it was announced that Patrick Stewart would be reprising his role as the iconic Starfleet captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Stunning Trekkers across the world, the news had fans theorizing about what the new show will look like, what familiar characters we might see, and what kind of adventures Picard will get up to. We’re just as excited for another new Star Trek series — of course! — and here’s what we want to see in it. Starting with…

Beverly Crusher as a Series Regular

First of all, let’s get one thing out of the way – Gates McFadden must be a main cast member. Throughout The Next Generation, Dr. Beverly Crusher played a crucial part in some of the show’s most engaging — and important — episodes. The chemistry between Picard and Crusher was always on point. They never made their relationship official in TNG, though, and fans were left disappointed. After all, we love a good ship, even more so when it comes to fruition!

In “All Good Things”, the series finale of TNG, we did get to see an alternate future in which Beverly and Jean-Luc are divorced, however. But their relationship was never fully explored, despite it being obvious in this alternate future that the two harbored strong feelings for one another. Even if the two characters aren’t meant to end up together, Crusher and Picard are so closely intertwined that it would seem like a missed opportunity if Beverly is not involved in the new show in some capacity. In the new show, Picard and Beverly should be married, with a flashback episode unveiling the moment they finally admitted their love for one another. Without her, the new show will feel as if it’s lacking a critical part of Picard’s story.

Countless Possibilities With Guest Stars

Speaking of guest stars, there’s a wishlist of people we’d like to see make appearances on Patrick Stewart’s new show. There are countless characters in the Star Trek universe that would make excellent additions to the cast. But let’s focus on the Enterprise crew from The Next Generation. Fan favorites such as William Riker, Deanna Troi, Worf, and Geordi La Forge would be welcome in any capacity, but preferably as an integral part of the story. Data’s demise in Star Trek: Nemesis sadly precludes his inclusion. But if there was a way for Data to show up, even in a flashback, fans would be mad for it.

Miles O’Brien, Keiko, Guinan, and yes, even Wesley could all feasibly pop up too. Although Wesley had his haters during TNG, it would be good to see how his character developed. It would be a missed opportunity to not have Wil Wheaton guest star. The new show will reportedly revolve around Picard’s current life, which might mean that the Enterprise crew hasn’t been in his orbit for a while. Perhaps Troi and Riker have settled down and have kids of their own. Is it possible that Worf has mellowed out a bit over time?

The real potential with this new Star Trek show is the fact that it’s set so far in the future. Picard will likely be around the same age that Patrick Stewart is currently. Since so much time has passed, there are endless possibilities. It would be nice to see characters from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine again. What if Kira Nerys and Picard are teachers at Starfleet? Seeing Nana Visitor reprise her role would make fans extremely happy. If storylines from Deep Space Nine are built into the show, this is an easy way to also bring back the character of Worf, who was on both TNG and DS9 and continues to be a fan favorite.

More Ethical Decisions, Less War And Destruction

After watching the Dominion War in DS9, as well as the many Worf-centric episodes that revolve around war, it would be nice to see more ethical situations play out on the new show. The show will undoubtedly have conflict, as it should, but, in light of the current volatile global political climate, it would be refreshing to see a more hopeful vision of the future. War, betrayal, and conflict will likely continue in the show, as it does in life, but is it necessary for war to be the central theme?

It was with DS9, but we’re looking further into the future with this new show and hope should be central. Part of the appeal of Star Trek is in the ethical dilemmas the characters are put in, the decisions they make and the ensuing outcomes. Should they save a planet at all costs? Should they interfere in the lives of others? As great as it would be to see Picard in action once again, we’d love to see him debate the ethics of scenarios like he did oh-so-many times in TNG.

Picard In Space Or Picard On Land?

Should Picard be the captain of a ship 20 years old, or should he be based on Earth, with the story revolving around his life there? Why not some kind of balance between both? Picard will likely not be a starship captain. Nevertheless, we’re certain he’ll be front and center of everything Starfleet. Whether he’s training young cadets or teaching new students, Picard will surely be in uniform, one way or another.

In order to keep the show fresh and to stay true to Star Trek, space must always feature heavily. This means planets, ships, moons, galaxies, and more. Maybe Picard spends his time on a space station with Kira Nerys in some fashion? But hold your horses, shippers — we’re not talking anything romantic, more working as a team. Seeing this duo in action in this capacity would make for a fun dynamic.

Timeline Answers





When we caught a glimpse of the future in the finale of The Next Generation, the characters had mainly continued on their own, individual paths. With this new show, we’d like to see a clear-cut timeline because, well, the many timelines are confusing. Once you add in the wide array of novels, comics, and more, it all gets quite difficult to follow. For this Picard-focused series, it would be nice to address some of the unanswered questions. Such as, why is Data shown in “All Good Things” yet seemingly killed in Star Trek: Nemesis? No matter what you deem canon-worthy, the fact remains: it’s time for a few explanations in terms of the many timelines and time travel elements of the Star Trek universe.