3.02 Star Trek: Picard - Disengage

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Aided by Seven of Nine and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan, Picard makes a shocking discovery that will alter his life forever - and puts him on a collision course with the most cunning enemy he's ever encountered. Meanwhile, Raffi races to track a catastrophic weapon - and collides with a familiar ally.

IMDB score: 8.2 Runtime: 49 minutes

 

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Now I have thought about the boy and the dad issue for a few days and my money is on the boy being a product of Picard and Beverly relationship. It only makes sense to do so with the Main Character Picard and not with the supporting star Riker. And another thing is that it also happens in the real life. You make love and part at next day, then long time after it is revealed that sometime after the unexpected came out from it and the lady in question said nothing.

In a man point-of-view, it means that the lady in question didn't count you as dad material. You simply failed or then something weird happened, the lady simply wanted to have a child but not the relationship.

Would you stay twenty years in the deep space, hiding the fact? I don't know. I wouldn't.

Regardless, let's see how this episode unfolds.

So, two weeks before Picard and Riker finds the boy and mum in hiding, Jack was delivering weapons, liquor and medical supplies to Sarnia Prime. In my eyes, it makes him a free trader or a privateer. And he even claimed that neither him or the rangers were "saints." All he wanted to do was a make some profit.

The bribe worked, everyone was happy but Jack forgot that already corrupted aren't really the saints, so the ranger sold the boy's location to "a Marked Woman." Who is she? The owner of the alien vessels that's five times larger than Jack's Medical Vessel - Eleos XII.

Problem that she presented was a total destruction. Picard wanted to open the com-channels as per protocol. Jack wanted to escape with mum. The solution pack cryotube in the shuttle and hope that the enemy doesn't target them during the escape.

The interesting detail is that Riker claimed that Titan had left them, even though USS Titan was still in same orbit, not having moved anywhere, but still being unable to detect vessels in the nebula despite their advanced sensors. Only problem, Cpt Shaw wasn't willing to put his vessel in the fight, because they were "an exploratory vessel."

The interesting twist was that Eleos was able to take 3 hits from the photon torpedoes and still stay relatively intact, when the enemy opened fire and destroyed the shuttle.

La Sirena at M'tlas Prime. The newscast explained that the building was a StarFleet recruitment centre and not a HQ. And they blamed the act on Romulan rebels. The biggest surprise is that only 117 souls were lost, despite the destruction hit two locations.

Raffi wasn't happy on her position or the fact that the handler canned the operation, claiming that the StarFleet had identified the perpetrator. "They are pawning this on a Romulan triggerman who's never made it to anyone's most wanted list," she shouted at the com-screen. "Goes through heisting an ultra-secure off-site Daystrom facility?"

It smells, girl, to high heaven. Raffi continued, "Even if he did it, he purchased the weapon on the black market. There's a redacted statement from a lowlife black marketeer, a ferengi named Sneed. He said he brokered the sale..."

I am so happy that they finally brought the Ferengi's back. Raffi was livid. She wanted answers, even if she was going to get hurt.

Speaking of angry women, Seven told Cpt Shaw, "Sir, you could be the hero who saved heroes or you could be remembered for being the captain that let two legends die! It's your call, sir," before she walked out from his ready room.

In the meanwhile, Picard figured out that the enemy wanted the boy by introducing transport inhibitors in the Eleos bridge. Rebelling a boarding attempt, the enemy used a tractor beam, which USS Titan broke by hyperdriving in between them and the beam emiter. A super risky move that somehow worked. Thanks to an angry woman.

Not that it really changed anything as Shaw continued being an a-hole, just because he can. And because of it, he almost ignored the enemy hail as he was 'righteously' explaining to the legends on how much trouble they are in as if he was a school master and Picard&Riker naughty boys.

On the other side of the view screen, a third angry woman, and even though she looks like she's smiling, she was sheeting in anger. Captain Vadic knew everything, even the fact that Picard was appearing in a synthetic flesh.

She only wanted "Jack Crusher for violating a number of laws and protocols in and out the Federation Space." And she packed up her demands by lowering her shields and allowing Titan to scan her vast arsenal that included "an unknown technology loaded in the primary bay." To make her intentions clear, she slingshotted Eleos on Titan.

Shaw didn't want scratches on his ship and he got them anyway. Karma is a bitch, and he could have played his hand differently. StarFleet intel produced a half dozen alias on Jack and a rapsheet marking him as an interstellar fugitive. Shaw wasn't happy. He was willing to give up the boy and run everything after in a tribunal.

So the old man went to speak to the boy. The claimed to be a thief, while the admiral was willing to accept him as a freedom fighter. Although the narrative painted him a war profiteer. A black marketeer and a thief. The thing is the boy claimed that Beverly was the brains behind the operation and that she had thought the boy everything he knew.

The boy didn't knew who his father was, so Picard had to go to talk to Beverly. Or rather, Riker did, while the admiral negotiated with the angry woman and Cpt Shaw. Vadic revealed that her vessel is called the Shrike.

A minute left on the clock it was revealed that Jack was Picard's son. So it was a fight. In the nebula.

So she played the only card she had and contacted her ex-hubby for an introduction. Hubby presented her a choice, son or the mark, and Raffi chose the job over her life. Such is a life of a field agent.

Thanks to it, we got a scene with a Ferengi that loves retro Earth technology. And money. Smart as they are, he played Raffi's weakness of chemicals against her. The woman didn't yield. She didn't give out her handler. Instead, she stabbed Sneed's hand reaching to crap the money, and then passed out just before Worf decapitated the b*stard.

What a scene, but where was the blood? Surely there's a lot of blood going towards those big ears and that Ferengi brain.

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What an episode. I'm going to give it 9/10.

 

[REBerg]

Worf! High point of the episode for this fanboy.
I thought Raffi was being rescued by her estranged son. I also thought her "handler" was a Starfleet A.I.
Perhaps this was a good day for my speculation to die.
Along with everyone else in the galaxy, I wasn't surprised by young Jack's paternal parentage. So, Wesley has a half-brother, or is Jack a full-brother?
Nice try, Beverly, naming this one after your late husband.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Worf! High point of the episode for this fanboy.

Love that Klingon!

 

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I thought Raffi was being rescued by her estranged son. I also thought her "handler" was a Starfleet A.I.

I too believed that the Handler was a Section 31 Ai. I don't even know how Worf could have found the place all on his own. He was so convenient in his action and the first strike was a stabbing through the chest that I thought he'd been there for a while. Stalking in the shadows like an assassin, and waiting for a perfect movement to intervene.

Orion's Clans are not going to be happy as one of their brokers is down, and their drinking establishment is getting Fed attention.

Along with everyone else in the galaxy, I wasn't surprised by young Jack's paternal parentage. So, Wesley has a half-brother, or is Jack a full-brother?

Let's not bring Wesley in the picture, although I suppose he's going to turn up anyway, since he was already in the first season. But why Picard's fatherhood didn't surprise you?

 

[REBerg]

But why Picard's fatherhood didn't surprise you?

Converging inferences.
In the opening episode, Laris and Picard had a brief conversation about he and Beverly trying to be lovers. The seed was planted, so to speak.
In this episode, Jack showed a Picardian ability to take command of a situation and tossed out a couple of "mon amis". When Riker questioned Picard's ability to see the obvious and told him to "do the math," I was convinced he was Jack's old man.

 

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Jack showed a Picardian ability to take command of a situation and tossed out a couple of "mon amis".

Tell why Jack would have French vocabulary strongly associated to his speech patterns? He was born in space, never set foot on Earth or even spent any meaningful time in Picard vineyard.

 

[REBerg]

Tell why Jack would have French vocabulary strongly associated to his speech patterns? He was born in space, never set foot on Earth or even spent any meaningful time in Picard vineyard.

They were out of place, which made them seem to be hints to me -- the writers toying with us?

 

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They were out of place, which made them seem to be hints to me -- the writers toying with us?

Maybe, but they must have had this same conversation in the writers room as we do now. It's just in my eyes, Jack is opposite to his alleged father. He is the chaos and Jean-Luc is the harmony. Jing and Jang.

I'd understand the French vocabulary, even more if he'd been born in the New Orleans or in Canada. But he wasn't. He spent his time with mum, in space, learning to be a space pirate ... according to his words. That is darkness that Picard never had in him, and I don't think it came from mum either.

So in my mind I'm expecting a twist instead of Picard fully accepting that he's the dad. Although boys often do become the opposite of their dads. And even if they try to step in the shoes, it doesn't go like it's imagined.

Were you surprised when Picard used, "Admiral's orders," and started barking orders as if he was in command? Because I certainly was, and I didn't expect him to find that strength in him. Even Shaw seemed a bit shocked on the show of power.

 

[REBerg]

Were you surprised when Picard used, "Admiral's orders," and started barking orders as if he was in command? Because I certainly was, and I didn't expect him to find that strength in him. Even Shaw seemed a bit shocked on the show of power.

Good moment. Shaw needed to be put in his place. Picard made it so.

 

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Good moment. Shaw needed to be put in his place. Picard made it so.

He most certainly did.

What about Worf? I was thinking about him this morning as I was watching Snowfall, and the way he introduced himself, he was like a ninja master. I just can't get rid of that image of bat'leth tip coming through the bouncer's chest and him dealing with the opposition with ease.

I've always thought that Klingon's were brutes and liked to show power, and stealth is opposite of that. And him showing that pure white beard, a true alien ninja master.

 

[farntfar]

They do all seem to appear, as if by magic, at the best possible moment though.
As if they were all trailing Picard round the universe, but keeping just far enough away so as not to be noticed.
Do they all keep a quantum entangled beeper with them, so that as soon as he leaves the chateau they get a message saying, "He's on the move again. Operation Deus EX! Take up your hidden positions with your starships in stealth mode to follow him and not get seen until needed."

 

[REBerg]

Never underestimate an elderly warrior.
I loved the snippet of Klingon theme music that came with the revelation.

 

[Dave]

I also thought her "handler" was a Starfleet A.I.

I too believed that the Handler was a Section 31 Ai.

I thought there would be a person hiding behind the illusion of a Section 31 AI, but I was foolled by the female voice into thinking it would be a human female. I never expected Worf.

Nice try, Beverly, naming this one after your late husband.

But why Picard's fatherhood didn't surprise you?

I'm expecting a twist instead of Picard fully accepting that he's the dad.

While it isn't definite, Picard himself believes it. We also discussed it last week, so hardly unexpected. No, what I don't understand is the son not knowing, never asking, and being happy to follow his mother in space for 20 years without a question (or getting the answer he gave that his father wasn't present.)

French vocabulary, even more if he'd been born in the New Orleans or in Canada. But he wasn't. He spent his time with mum, in space,

I missed the French words. Obviously, clues just to play with us (that I completely missed) but I agree, it isn't like language runs in the genes. Why would he? Supposedly, the language spoken is Federation Standard not English. It might have elements of English - probably more Spanglish (a mix of English and Spanish) or a mix with Chinese. But then (just as you complained about sounds in space last week) I don't get the Universal Translator and accents. Why does Checkov speak with a Russian accent in TOS (apart from the humour it supposedly creates)?

As for genes, surely in the far future, a paternity test would be something very simply to take, by just getting hold of something Jack had touched? i.e. a cup or a door handle.

I'm not sure about the Bounty Hunter as the villain. Firstly, if there are Bounty Hunters and the Federation uses them, then they are legal. Jack Crusher and his aliases are wanted, so they should cooperate with her. Secondly, why does she need such a powerful and weaponed up ship to go after petty criminals. She could take on a fleet of Orion Pirates with that. Instead she's chasing Jack? Is he really worth that much? The crew seemed large, and those weapons must be expensive? Going up against a Starfleet ship for a low value fugitive is a poor decision.

Still, it is a fun ride. If we get one more TNG crewmember back every week then we'll have them all by the end. I wonder is Deanna will sense something, but won't know exactly what it is, and come looking for Riker too?

 

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I'm not sure about the Bounty Hunter as the villain. Firstly, if there are Bounty Hunters and the Federation uses them, then they are legal. Jack Crusher and his aliases are wanted, so they should cooperate with her. Secondly, why does she need such a powerful and weaponed up ship to go after petty criminals.

The problem is that we have no real good idea about the current borders and interactions with the galactic races. They take us to these locations, but to a normal viewer it means nothing. They have no real reference other than they have believe that he illusionary border is real and beyond that is wild lands.

Maybe the bigger surprise is that they are essentially recreating Khan fight in the nebula, and the lead villain is a human equivalent to the great Khan. She is smart and ruthless, and she knows how to push the proverbial buttons. But the interesting take is that humans or Khan like 'superhumans' are out there, willing to pick a fight with the mighty Federation.

I assume that Cpt Shaw is by-the-book type, and he cannot think outside the box. Like so many military types, and to win this fight they need creativity, and open to take it to the edge. But the thing about the bounty hunters is that they might have backup, while Picard's crew has nothing.

Also again ST shows a weakness by still not using fighter type of crafts and motherships. Bounty Hunters should use all sorts, and therefore, a nebula shouldn't cause problems. But to ease the situation it's a one-on-one fight, with a possibility of Titan getting away.

What the Angry Woman has is that the nebula seems to be her home field. After all, they were waiting in the nebula for the shuttle craft to make a docking, before they moved in and destroyed the escape. It all speaks of her knowing the field, and the only option Picard's crew has is to use hyperdrive and run away.

I have no recollection from Jack Crusher. Who is he?

 

[REBerg]

I wonder is Deanna will sense something, but won't know exactly what it is, and come looking for Riker too?

Riker's comment about Deanna and Kestra(?) being fine with time away from him made me think that Marina Sirtis might not be aboard for the final season.

 

[Dave]

Riker's comment about Deanna and Kestra(?) being fine with time away from him made me think that Marina Sirtis might not be aboard for the final season.

I heard that but thought it was to create a surprise.

Spoiler

. I’ve seen a promotional photo of LaForge so expect he will show up.

 

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Two episodes into Picard season 3, it’s unclear if Jack Crusher will have a similar impact on his surprise daddy. He carries the name of Crusher’s first husband, Jean-Luc’s one-time close friend who died while serving under Picard on the USS Stargazer. Picard’s guilt about his role in Jack’s death was the primary reason that he and Beverly never stayed together, so Jack’s presence can either heal that rift or exacerbate it. But there’s no question that his newfound son will further change the erstwhile captain.

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After reading that piece, I'm not really sure Jack is Picard's son. It could be Beverly playing the old man, saving Jack for whatever reason we haven't found about, yet.

 

[Elckerlyc]

They were out of place, which made them seem to be hints to me -- the writers toying with us?

Or is Jack playing with Picard? Beverly never said a thing. Aloud, anyway.

 

[REBerg]

Or is Jack playing with Picard? Beverly never said a thing. Aloud, anyway.

The French I noticed came during the cargo inspection.
I don't remember Jack saying anything in French in Picard's presence. I might have missed that.