“Watcher”

Star Trek: Picard continues the adventure in 2024 with a race against time to find the mysterious “Watcher”.

I’ve previously mentioned that this season of Star Trek: Picard is playing out like something of a “greatest hits” of Star Trek. That in itself isn’t a bad thing as nostalgia can be great when successfully deployed though equally it can be shallow and pandering when used in place of good storytelling as a way to excite audiences by drawing on their connection to familiar elements. So far this show seems to be largely dodging the latter by delivering increasingly thoughtful content on the modern world through the characters in this show observing it.

Three out of the four main character stories have those involved interacting with the world of their past in different ways. Rios has the least to do in this episode with most of his screen time spent sitting in a cell waiting to be deported. There is a persistent threat of disappearing completely as most in his situation do and Rios isn’t able to get himself out of this situation because he needs official documentation in order to do so. A real opportunity existed to explore Rios’ reaction to his predicament on a very visceral level. Being someone who was born in the 24th century he won’t have experienced racism directed at him so in theory shouldn’t understand why anyone would be victimised on account of their race. It’s possible that he has encountered racism either during his time in Starfleet or during adventures on his own ship though nothing is explicitly stated either way. Frustration and impatience are his main moods because nobody is listening to him and he is met with constant disrespect. Beyond that he seems to have a grasp of what surrounds him outside of needing some things to be explained to him which limits the potential associated with this plot.

In a way it makes sense for him to be featured less and have very little to do in the scenes he does appear. It highlights how powerless he is and allows the viewer to empathise with the frustration of being left for a long period of time with no indication as to what comes next and no opportunity to argue against being imprisoned in this way. This could have been achieved while having Rios comment on this from the perspective of someone from a more enlightened future where this would be unthinkable. It really is a missed opportunity to do more with Rios’ valuable perspective. His plight makes for a strong mirror to his experience in the previous episode as he experiences the direct opposite of kindness while being trapped in the middle of a broken system.

Teresa only appears briefly but their dynamic remains engaging. It allows for a reminder of Teresa as a force for good in a world that doesn’t support people like her and reveals a little about her motivation for opening her clinic. It’s nothing groundbreaking but it’s earnest and believable while showing that hope for the better future does exist even if finding it takes some effort. She performs a very specific function in her two appearances so far and has a strong presence thanks to the performance of Sol Rodriguez.

Raffi and Seven are more active participants as they spend the episode trying to track down Rios. They hit major bureaucratic road blocks when trying to find them and react to this in different ways. Raffi is impatient because she is consumed by grief and wants to complete the task at hand as quickly as possible because she has convinced herself that doing so will make everything better. In her mind fixing the timeline will bring Elnor back so her mental energies are focussed on accomplishing that. This means she has no tolerance for complications and takes her anger out on officer at the desk who isn’t able to help. Seven’s approach is more measured because she recognises that the officer is making the best of a bad situation and that the world around them is complex. She understands that there are good people who are rendered powerless by broken systems. This applies in the sense of databases that don’t naturally link to other databases meaning that there’s no way to track down Rios and in the larger sense of those that govern the world. None of it works effectively which means that those who want to help and want to work to make the world a better place aren’t able to. How Seven came to realise that is unknown but it makes for an effective counter to Raffi’s standoffish attitude. Seven assuring Raffi that Elnor’s death isn’t her fault was a brief yet well placed offering of support even if Raffi isn’t in a position to believe it in her current mindset. It sends the message that Seven is there for her when needed which is more than enough for now.

Most of their scenes are taken up by trying to find Rios which allows the enormity of this problem to be displayed. Raffi naively searches for a Hispanic man and woman only to find the database is full of them. Michelle Hurd perfectly conveys the astonishment as Raffi realises how widespread this is and what non white people had to endure in this time period. In the previous episode she couldn’t understand how a society built on so many contradictions could function as long as it did and this acts as an extension of that. It also reinforces the powerlessness angle present in Rios’ contribution to the episode by making him a single individual among many. This draws similarities to the Borg who erase individuality in a very different way. Rios and everyone else in his position are listed by their race before being effectively erased from existence by being taken wherever it is they go when deported. It’s a clear example of devaluing a person and reducing them to being part of a collective; at least from an outside perspective. Seven may draw that comparison but even if she doesn’t it’s certainly there and underscores the importance of having identity remain intact.

This loosely links into Jurati’s interactions with the Borg Queen. Jurati has the thankless task of remaining on La Sirena so that she can work on repairing the ship. She’s very badly damaged so it’s an uphill battle but the Borg Queen is on hand to offer her conditional assistance. This follows on from their connection in the previous episode giving the Borg Queen plenty of intimate information she can use to manipulate Jurati. She preys on Jurati’s insecurities but builds her up instead of tearing her down. One of her tactics is to suggest that she isn’t valued by those around her even though Picard makes it clear that she is good under pressure and great at what she does. The Borg Queen looks to make an alliance with her the more attractive option because agreeing to that would provide her the validation she sorely lacks. She tells Jurati that she’s remarkable and she will be truly recognised if she buys into what the Borg Queen offers. As with the previous episode this is an insidious form of manipulation as it takes full advantage of things that Jurati struggles with every day and offers to solve them. It’s the opposite of what I would have expected from the Borg as my prior perspective was that they would break someone in order to make them more malleable but this method adds weight to the notion of adding distinctiveness to their own. Jurati’s brilliance is presented as a valuable asset and something the Borg Queen pledges to nurture rather than stifle. She makes the point that Picard and the others keep her in her place where the Borg Queen would allow her to reach her full potential.

Jurati isn’t at the point of giving in but it’s clear that she struggles to dismiss what the Borg Queen has to offer. Annie Wersching is excellent in this role and has a great dynamic with Alison Pill. There is a constant push and pull between the two actors as they both fight for control of the relationship. The Borg Queen’s ability to manipulate is tempered by Jurati being able to control her access to La Sirena’s systems so they are both able to exert influence in their own ways. The Borg Queen invites comparisons to the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. Assimilation is that forbidden fruit that Jurati knows she shouldn’t take but the temptation is strong because Jurati is vulnerable enough to begin to believe in what the Borg Queen has to say. The promise of power is powerfully delivered through lines like “it’s how you teach the choir to sing” and mentions of leading an army. She promises unimaginable power and influence which oozes into the cracks in Jurati’s emotional armour. More of her resolve fades when she promises to exchange stories with the Borg Queen in exchange for help repairing the ship. There is a kinship between them as two lonely people. Jurati’s loneliness has been previously addressed through her broken relationship with Rios and the Borg Queen is obviously lonely with no Borg Collective behind her. It’s painful to see the trajectory of this relationship being mapped out in this way and perfectly understandable that Jurati would be so affected.

Picard heads into Los Angeles in an effort to track down the Watcher. There he encounters a younger Guinan (Ito Aghayere) who is packing up and leaving because she has lost all faith in Humanity. After centuries of witnessing Humanity getting worse she decided they are beyond redemption and decides to get out while she still can. A number of questions are immediately raised by Guinan’s appearance. The most obvious is why she isn’t played by Whoopi Goldberg as The Next Generation two parter “Time’s Arrow” featured Guinan in the 19th century played by Whoopi Goldberg. A possible explanation can be extrapolated from Guinan’s reference to El-Aurian’s being able to choose to age in the first episode of the season but for fans of The Next Generation the casting does stand out. The casting isn’t bad nor does it take away from her purpose in this episode but it is glaring. Another question is around why she doesn’t recognise Picard. They met during the events of “Time’s Arrow” and prior to Picard travelling back in time, Guinan told him he has to do it otherwise they will never meet. As above it doesn’t ruin what this episode is looking to achieve but it’s another Elephant in the room.

Guinan and Picard’s conversation is geared around social commentary as well as making use of their connection. Their conversation is a mirror of their exchange in the first episode of the season with Picard acting as the voice of knowledge and experience looking to free her of the uncertainty. He encourages her to give Humanity the chance to be better and urges her that change is on its way but never comes when it’s expected or supposed to. Guinan’s perspective is that she has given them more than enough time and witnessed things get progressively worse so has lost all hope in positive change. Her line around taking off hoods and putting on suits is a powerful description of how racism has changed and evolved in ways that allow it to remain hidden but still at the root of society. The points she make about killing the planet, fighting one another and failing to work together are very much the headlines of the major issues but her words are enhanced by Ito Aghayere’s performance fully selling that she has lived this and arrived at these conclusions through bitter experience. Relying on an actor conveying emotional heft allows arguments to be made without relentless exposition and adds a profound personal touch to them.

The concept of Picard’s privilege is brought up through the differing perspectives on the world around him. His privilege factored into the previous season in terms of the having a strong backup when made to leave Starfleet where Raffi didn’t. It’s used differently in this episode through Guinan’s observation that it’s easy for him to preach about patience because he’s white and can safely wait for change to happen where Guinan is black and therefore on the wrong end of all that needs to change. To her mind she can’t afford to wait and has to escape while she still can. Picard is naive in that he has a blind spot to what people truly have to deal with which makes him come across as unintentionally pompous when encourage hope and patience. He will never be put in the position where he will be directly endangered by the broken systems that crush those who look like Guinan so isn’t really equipped to comment. It’s a fascinating timely commentary on severe problems that exist within society backed up through a powerful performance from Ito Aghayere who excellently conveys someone on the receiving end of the worst Humanity has to offer.

Outside of social commentary, Guinan exists as Picard’s link to the Watcher. She puts him on the path to a meeting that begins with him talking to those the Watcher possesses before they meet face to face. The Watcher looks like Laris which stands out though it’s unclear if that’s the true form or if the Watcher simply chooses to look like someone familiar to Picard. There’s a sinister quality to the way the Watcher sets up the meeting and the concept of stolen identity comes into it through possessing people against their will.

It remains unknown what the change to the timeline that allows the Confederation to exist will be and there’s an added mystery through Q losing his powers following a monologue where he exhibits deep contempt for Humanity through using the woman he is observing as case study. The unanswered questions are intriguing and the episode has plenty to find intriguing but the pace of storytelling is a little too slow and the social commentary is weaved into the narrative inorganically. The episode comes to a halt in order for characters to detail their views on the world around them. It’s strongly handled and highly relevant but the loss of narrative propulsion is undeniable. Despite the shortcomings there’s more than enough to capture viewer interest with the unanswered questions being captivating in their own right.

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Verdict

A good episode that provides some thoughtful social commentary, delivers different spins on the theme of identity and continues to develop a refreshingly new take on Borg Assimilation. Three out of the four main character stories have those involved interacting with the world of the past in various ways. Rios has the least to do with most of his screen time spent in a cell waiting to be deported. There is a persistent threat of disappearing completely and Rios is unable to get himself out of this situation. A real opportunity existed to explore Rios’ reaction to his predicament on a very visceral level. Being someone who was born in the 24th century he won’t have experienced racism directed at him so in theory shouldn’t understand why anyone would be victimised on account of their race. It’s possible that he has encountered racism either during his time in Starfleet or during adventures on his own ship though nothing is explicitly stated either way. Frustration and impatience are his main moods because nobody is listening to him and he is met with constant disrespect. Beyond that he seems to have a grasp of what surrounds him outside of needing some things to be explained to him which limits the potential associated with this plot. In a way it makes sense for him to be featured less as it highlights how powerless he is. The drawback is that this approach limits his opportunities to develop. Teresa appears briefly but their dynamic remains a strong one and the whole plot acts as a mirror of the previous episode with him encountering the opposite of kindness in this episode. Raffi and Seven are more active participants as they hit major bureaucratic roadblocks when trying to find Rios. Raffi is impatient because she is consumed by grief and has convinced herself that Elnor will come back. This means she has no tolerance for complications and takes her anger out on the officer at the desk. Seven is more measured and understands that the officer is making the best out of a bad situation. The world is complex and good people are rendered powerless by broken systems. It’s unknown how Seven came to realise this but she acts as an effective counter to Raffi’s impatience. Seven assuring Raffi that Elnor’s death wasn’t her fault was a brief yet well placed offering of support. Their difficulty finding Rios allows the enormity of this problem to be displayed. Raffi naively searches for a Hispanic man and woman only to find there are lots of them. The astonishment is beautifully played by Michelle Hurd with the realisation supporting her views expressed in the previous episode.

Jurati’s interactions with the Borg Queen are excellent. The Borg Queen manipulates Jurati by building her up and leading her to believe that she isn’t valued by those around her. Submitting the Borg Queen means being appreciated and being allowed to live up to her potential. It’s an insidious form of manipulation as it presents her with the validation that she sorely lacks which makes for a tempting prospect. The Borg Queen is like the Serpent in the Garden of Eden with Assimilation being the forbidden fruit that Jurati knows she shouldn’t take. Strong dialogue powerfully delivers the promise of power and the two actors carry this plot beautifully. Picard’s encounter with the young Guinan opens up a number of canon questions that don’t impact her role in the episode but are worth observing. Guinan has lost all faith in Humanity and is preparing to leave completely because she feels they are irredeemable. Picard is the voice of hope and the promise of a brighter future encouraging Guinan to give it more time. It’s a mirror of their conversation in the first episode of the season that works really well. Some great points are raised as headlines with Ito Aghayere’s performance adding texture through the suggestion that these realisations have come from bitter experience. Picard also has his privilege challenged with his limited point of view directly called out. Outside of the social commentary, Guinan is Picard’s link to the Watcher. The Watcher looking like Laris and possessing bystanders is an intriguing mystery and feeds into the idea of stolen identity woven throughout the other plots. As good as the elements were the social commentary is weaved into the story inorganically with the plot stopping entirely to pass comment on the world around them. This robs the episode of some of its momentum though there is enough to retain viewer interest.

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