Keiran McEwen
Keiran McEwenDeux deviennent un, since everyone wants to pretend they know French during the Olympics. Once again directed by Frakes we’re continuing with Cindy Appel but joined by Jane Maggs this time, and I believe this is where Matthew Okumura got a promotion. I’ve no idea why, he’s been terrible at keeping consistency, but he becomes executive story editor while Juliana James is promoted from staff writer to story editor. Don’t worry, it changes again for season three of Picard, when we get something good building up. The other staff writers for the season will get their moment to shine.
Well, that spoils my opinion on the season as a whole, but “Two of One” is a strange episode. Not only does it reintroduce jumping back and forth in the timeline; showing something towards the end and jumping back to where we left off. It also does the whole “I’m possessing you, no one can see me” trick and does the heist thing without there actually being a heist, it is just about protecting Renée Picard. And you know what? I don’t hate it.
I’ve watched the episode a couple of times now and it is still the one that stands out the most, it is the most enjoyable, and it is a solid bit of TV. Star Trek may not, but I think we’ve given up the pretext that Picard for this season is about Star Trek and is more about trying to add to the backstory of Picard himself. I’ve said it countless times already, so maybe three times, where I’ve noted Patrick seemed to have had a contracted “I’ll do the season if you let me dictate this, this, and this. The rest, go buck wild.”
Opening on a shot of Jean-Luc in a hospital bed, he’s been attacked or is having some sort of attack. It is later noted as both, as the old man who’s had everything replaced and become an android with human memories is having a heart attack he doesn’t want to wake from. We bounce back and forth between this after the party business and we go back to the party itself, trying to protect Renée. However, Data’s angry Tesla-owning grandparent is hell-bent on stopping Renée to help Q bring about this Confederacy from several weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the best bit of Star Trek: Picard is Agnes being possessed by the Borg Queen, freeing her to take control and use Agnes’ endorphins to power herself up. I know I spent a season bashing Pill and her tropey characters, but this is a bit refreshing. Of course, I need to heap the obligatory praise on Annie Wersching because she perfectly played that role, right down to the mannerisms. It is evil distilled, bottled, and consumed by an alcoholic for evilness.
As much as the episode is about JL having this heart attack and is about protecting Renée, it is also about Agnes finding herself and not trying to stay in the shadows. That dress is a perfect example (respectfully,) of course. Though being serious for a moment it goes beyond that, the Queen gives her extra strength, confidence, and in one case, takes Kim Pine out from behind the drum kit to sing Pat Benatar reasonably well.
Despite that and my “this isn’t actually Star Trek” nonsense, there is a solid few minutes of optimism and looking to the future, the very thing Star Trek is. While Pill is singing her little heart out and Data’s wrinkly forbearer tries getting JL kicked to death, the team organizes it so that Renée and the old man can have a chat. Much like last season’s proper Star Trek, particularly Jean-Luc Picard’s segment in “Absolute Candor,” we get a character using their special skill to resolve a problem in the plot.
When I have to phrase things like that it makes it sound almost childish, but when so much of Picard is not doing that, it feels “special.” It almost feels like “Oh, so you do know how to write a TV show? What’s your excuse the rest of the time?” I’ve mentioned it before but I’ve got broad notes about the season next to me as I write. One of them is this very problem with Picard in general: What’s everyone’s special skill and how do they use it?
Picard’s has always been his ability to talk, Annika’s thing is her ability to be physical and resolve Borg-based tech issues, Rios’ skill is that he’s a good pilot, and Raffi’s is that… What exactly is Raffi’s skill? What’s not-Laris’ skill? I don’t want to spoil too much, but next time out we see more of Guinan’s special skill than we see of Raffi’s and that’s not to say I don’t like her, I do but she’s more concerned about Elnor than anything else. There are weak links in the cast and it shows.
“Two of One” is a very breezy episode that I quite enjoy, not because it is Star Trek through and through, but simply because everyone’s decided to pick up the pace. There are parts of it where I’m left wondering “this again?” but generally it is one of the lighter, quicker episodes of the season and one that’s memorable. Ultimately, we’re building to that Borg Queen-Agnes crescendo that makes season 2 more enjoyable and is some actual character at work. Far from one of the all-time great Star Trek episodes, but it is certainly a decent and entertaining one with Jean-Luc Picard being Jean-Luc Picard for a few minutes.
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Star Trek: Picard "Two of One"
Pros
- Picard using his special skill to solve a problem.
- Agnes and the Borg Queen are great.
Cons
- So Q has to just get relatives/old-friends to get involved?
- So Renée flies under the French flag but speaks with a blend of English and Australian accent?
