Tag Archives: Jean-Luc Picard

Nov 7 2026

Remembering Sir Patrick Stewart 1940-2026

Make it so” Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation

The Worlds of Star Trek and Marvel are still numb and devastated by the news that Star Trek and Marvel Legend Sir Patrick Stewart passed away last week at the age of 86 following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy body dementia. The tragic announcement of his death on October 28, 2026 was a double gut punch for Star Trek fans and in many ways even more devastating news following the death of Walter Koenig a couple of days earlier. Despite the tragic loss, Stewart lived a full life and left behind a glorious acting legacy that was highlighted by his iconic performances as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) and Star Trek: Picard, and as Professor Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films.

Early Life & Career

Born in Mirfield, United Kingdom, Stewart developed a passion for acting when he was a child and studied drama. He soon participated in local theater and continued to develop his acting skills while working as a journalist. Eventually, he chose to devote his career on acting and made his debut onstage at the Theatre Royal, Bristol in a production of Cyrano de Bergerac. He then became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and honed his acting skills in several minor television roles and stage productions. Stewart preferred classical theater, even though he began to gain the attention of Hollywood thanks to his strong baritone voice and stage presence. Probably his best known work in the 1970s was his role as Sejanus in the BBC TV drama I, Claudius in 1976. He won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for his work in Antony and Cleopatra in 1979.

Stewart entered the realm of live-action genre with his small but impressive role in Excalibur (1981) and especially as Gurney Halleck in Dune (1984). One of the few highlights in that film was his character’s unexpected reunion with Paul Atreides in the battlefields of Arrakis. The moment when the two men hugged each other in the chaotic battlefield was quite heartfelt and emotional as it genuinely conveyed the deep friendship they shared. Stewart also appeared in the sci-fi/horror film Lifeforce.

The Next Generation Begins

When Star Trek: The Next Generation went into pre-production in 1986, there was an exhaustive search to find the right actor to play the Enterprise’s captain. During this period, executive producer Robert Justman saw Stewart giving a lecture about Shakespeare in UCLA and knew instantly that he would be perfect to play Jean-Luc Picard, though he was considered for the role of Data.

Stewart’s casting as Picard was not an easy road, as Star Trek creator and showrunner of TNG Gene Roddenberry did not favor Stewart. Roddenberry felt that Stewart, as a bald, middle-aged Shakespearean actor, did not fit the role of a virile starship captain and preferred Patrick Bauchau and Stephen Macht instead. It should be noted that other prominent actors like Yaphet Kotto and Edward James Olmos were considered. Thankfully, Justman persevered and finally convinced Roddenberry and other TNG executives that Stewart was the best actor for the role due to his auditions.

The rest as they say is history. When Star Trek: The Next Generation made its debut in syndicated television in the fall of 1987, many were skeptical that a Star Trek series without the original cast would work. Unfortunately, due to the tepid first season, those doubts were justified, but one thing that stood out in the early TNG episodes was Stewart’s performance. His Picard had a commanding presence with a confident and eloquent manner that quickly established that Captain Picard was a natural leader in a way that stood apart from Captain Kirk.

After a couple of seasons, TNG found its stride and gained acclaim by fans and critics as it ushered in the Star Trek Renaissance in the 1990s. Over time, thanks to Stewart and others, TNG became well regarded in many instances lauded as the best Star Trek TV series. Being that Picard and the other characters were quite different from the original Star Trek characters, the world and scope of Star Trek was able to grow into a rich and diverse universe with new characters that fans eventually embraced. During his tenure on TNG Stewart turned in some brilliant performances, notably in “The Measure of a Man”, “Family”, “Tapestry”, “Chain of Command”, “Darmok” “All Good Things…”, and “The Inner Light”. He also directed several episodes of the TV series.

picard takes charge

When the series ended after seven seasons, Stewart and the other TNG cast made their transition to films in 1994 with Star Trek Generations, which gave us the unforgettable moment with Captain Picard met the other legendary Star Trek Legend, Captain Kirk. The natural chemistry the two actors shared with each other was the best part of the flawed film and was delight for fans of the two series to watch. The TNG films ranged in quality but one constant about them was Stewart’s performances. Arguably his best TNG film performance was in Star Trek: First Contact where he emulated Captain Ahab (a role he later played in a television production of Moby Dick) in his obsessive drive to defeat the Borg.

When the TNG film series ended in 2002 with Star Trek: Nemesis, Stewart took a break from Star Trek and excelled in other roles such as Charles Xavier in the X-Men film franchise, although he reprised his role in the video game Star Trek: Legacy and lent his voice to the Star Trek: The Experience theme park attraction Klingon Encounter. However, he returned to the role that made him famous in Star Trek: Picard for three seasons from 2020 to 2023. The TV show had a mixed reception, but its third and final season was well beloved as it finally reunited the core TNG cast, as well as featuring other great Trek characters and plot lines. Given that he is no longer with us, it is quite fortunate that we were able to get a reunion of the TNG characters for one last trimuphant hurrah.

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Oct 30 2026

Two Star Trek Legends Lost: Walter Koenig & Patrick Stewart

“What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived.” Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek Generations

It has been a truly devastating week for Star Trek fans witht the sad news that Star Trek legends, Patrick Stewart and Walter Koenig passed away.

The Star Trek world and fans were shocked by the news on October 27, 2026 that Koenig died at the age of 90 on October 25 because he was one of the last remaining OG Star Trek actors, which just leaves William Shatner and George Takei as still being with us. But everyone was emotionally shattered with yesterday’s announcement from Stewart’s family that he passed away on October 28, 2026 after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy body dementia.

Both men contributed heavily to Star Trek and the sci-fi genre thanks to their iconic performances. In Stat Trek, Koenig portrayed the young Starfleet ensign Pavel Chekov who was the Enterprise’s navigator, and quickly gained a fan following with his Beatles wig (in an attempt by the show’s producer to lure in young viewers to the show). Meanwhile, Stewart elevated the world of Star Trek with his majestic performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, which redefined what Star Trek was capable of.

One thing to keep inn mind is that although both actors were very influential on the Star Trek franchise, they made significant contributions to other popular sci-fi properties, as well. Koenig’s best known non-Trek role was as the authoritative psi-cop, Alfred Bester, in Babylon 5. As most Marvel Comics fans know, Stewart appeared as Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films, with him reprising the role for the final time in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

The two Star Trek actors deserve the accolades they received as their work each distinctly left an impact with popular culture. There will be a post following this one that more closely examines Stewart and his impressive body of work. For now, let’s look at Walter Koenig and his work.

Walter Koenig came to the attention of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry when he guest starred in Roddenberry’s previous show before Star Trek, The Lieutenant. He joined Star Trek in its second season as the eager Russian Ensign Chekov which demonstrated how Earth’s cultures and nations became unified in the future. Being that Roddenberry wanted a young actor, he was partly chosen because of his resemblance to then-popular pop star Davy Jones of the Monkees. Right at the start, Chekov stood out from the many nameless extras who adorned the Enterprise bridge thanks to his thick Russian accent and comical banter with the crew, often attributing every Earth cultural development to Russia. Chekov became a fan favorite and a prominent member of the cast as he formed an easy comradery with his crewmate Lt. Sulu (played by Takei) and often joined Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock in their adventures.

After Star Trek ended, Koenig wrote several scripts for several TV shows, including Star Trek: The Animated Series, Land of the Lost, The Powers of Matthew Star, and more. Oddly enough, even though he wrote an episode for the Star Trek animated TV show, his character did not appear in it due to budgetary reasons. He also penned a few novels including Chekov’s Enterprise, a behind-the-scenes look at his time filming Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Naturally, Koenig returned to the role of Chekov for the first few Star Trek films, which reunited the cast of the original TV show. By this time, his character was a commander and his most prominent role as Chekov was in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, though his comical appearance in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was also outstanding. His last film appearance as Pavel Chekov was in Star Trek Generations which introduced the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation to the big screens. Koenig also appeared as Chekov in several Star Trek video games and Star Trek fan-made productions, with his best appearance being in Star Trek: The New Voyages episode “To Serve All My Days” and Star Trek: Of Gods and Men. He last made an appearance as a Chekov in the third season of Star Trek: Picard. This time as United Federation of Planets President Anton Chekov, the son of Pavel Chekov. Even though it was a brief voiceover work (warning people not to approach the Earth as it was under a Borg invasion), Koenig was able to stand out and delight fans.

Koenig appeared in several genre-related TV shows and films. He guest starred in the Canadian sci-fi series The Starlost, The Questor Tapes, and Babylon 5. He also had a main role in the sci-fi films Moontrap and Diminuendo; his last film appearance was in the 2024 film Raging Midlife.

Walter Koenig’s most prominent non-Star Trek role was as Alfred Bester because it was completely different than the amiable Chekov. Bester was a coldly villainous telepathic Earth agent who ruthlessly pursued other telepaths and often clashed with the main characters.

Even though Koenig was typecast due to his Trek role, he was able to stay engaged in Hollywood and turned to writing, directing and teaching throughout his life. He was also actively engaged with Star Trek fans and made numerous appearances at conventions and other venues, and he also engaged in humanitarian work in Burma. He died of natural causes in his home.

With Koenig and Stewart passing away, we are reminded of how legendary figures are only here for a finite amount of time and should be treasured. Even though we are saddened by their deaths, we should celebrate their lives and contributions to modern culture and the live-action sci-fi drama. Koenig and Stewart left their mark and their work will always continue to delight and inspire many fans long after they are gone. It is a legacy to be proud of as the two men take their place among the stars, which feel a little dimmer today without them being here with us.

José Soto

Mar 27 2020

Star Trek: Picard – A Season In Review

second picard poster

The first season of Star Trek: Picard has just concluded and it’s time to take a look at the season and the show itself. There will be many spoilers coming up, so if anyone has not seen the show streaming on CBS All Access or Amazon Prime then turn back. Otherwise, read on!

Star Trek: Picard naturally centers on the ongoing story of Admiral (retired) Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) as he left behind a tranquil existence at his French vineyard for one more grand adventure/mission which will reshape the galaxy.

The show takes place in 2399, twenty years after the film, Star Trek: Nemesis, and the death of the android Starfleet officer Data (Brent Spiner). Jean-Luc Picard angrily resigned from Starfleet fourteen years earlier and tends to his vineyard along with his Romulan employees, Zhaban (Jamie McShane) and Laris (Orla Brady). Picard meets Soji Asha (Isa Briones), a young woman who turned out to be a synthetic person and Data’s daughter. She is killed by Romulan secret agents but Picard learned that Soji had a twin sister, Dahj, and sets out to rescue her before the Romulans get to her. It turns out that Dahj is working in a deactivated Borg cube operated by Romulans and ex-Borg drones.

During his sojourn to find Dahj and protect her from the Romulan agents, a team forms around Picard who come in and out of his story. They include Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill), a cyberneticist; Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a former Borg last seen nearly twenty years ago in Star Trek: Voyager, and is now a space vigilante; Picard’s former crewmate Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd) who has a bit of an addiction problem; Elnor (Evan Evagora), a noble Romulan warrior devoted to protecting Picard; and Chris Rios (Santiago Cabrera), a former Starfleet commander who pilots his own private spaceship La Sirena and is a roguish space pirate in the Han Solo/Malcolm Reynolds mode.

sirena and old romulan ship

The Romulans secret agents are after Dahj because they believe her to be the fulfillment of an ancient prophesy that spells doom for all organic life in the galaxy. They hope to learn from her the location of her homeworld in order to obliterate it and prevent the prophesy. Obviously it is up to the nonagenarian Picard to get back into the captain’s chair and save Dahj and the galaxy before time runs out.

Star Trek: PIcard is another welcome Star Trek spinoff that effortlessly picks up the story of Star Trek after the events in Star Trek: Nemesis and parts of the Star Trek reboot. Doing this gives weight and meaning to the Star Trek Prime universe by exploring the ramifications of the destruction of the Romulan homeworld shown in the Star Trek reboot and the subsequent refugee status of many Romulans though their overall status of their government was unclear.It also gives a well balanced exploration of the Romulans themselves; something most of the other shows and films failed to do. Not all of them are one-dimensional, sneering villains.

The show is undeniably a sincere tribute to fans of the Star Trek Prime universe and of course, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Some may complain that it’s too much of a tribute with its numerous references, Easter eggs and cameo appearances, but they’re all just background layering for the uninitiated while rewarding for fans.

The show is clearly a Star Trek show, yet it isn’t. How can that be? Well, the show is not focused on current Starfleet personnel but on civilians and former officers. Freed from regulations and decorum the characters give us a feel for how life is like in the Federation and nearby regions for non-Starfleet people. The vaunted Federation is not as revered or as noble as presented in other Star Trek shows. In fact, there is an underlying notion that the Federation may be entering a period of decay; that it’s best times are past. Hence, one of the reasons why Picard walked away from Starfleet. Star Trek: Picard is edgier than the typical Star Trek show; there is a lot of cursing including F bombs. Most of the characters are deeply flawed including the humans, which goes vehemently against the idealistic and ultimately unrealistic Roddenberry future utopia where humanity is completely without fault. This will make some fans uncomfortable but it helps make the show more real and relatable to most viewers.

What we’re left with is a show that feels a bit like Firefly in that it stars roguish types who disdain authority. These are some truly interesting characters with their own complex back stories. Standouts include Rios and Raffie, who are both broken souls with troubled pasts and unwittingly gain redemption by joining Picard’s quest. It doesn’t hurt that both characters are well performed. Other characters like Elnor seek a just cause or for something to believe in. And holding the group dynamic is Picard himself, the moral glue that holds them together.

It goes without saying that Patrick Stewart puts in a bravura performance in the role that made him famous. As always, he eloquently portrays the bitter and defeated old man who finds a real reason to go out and make a difference in the galaxy. Stewart is so comfortable and elegant playing Jean-Luc Picard, it truly is a shame he has not done the role in so long. But at least he is back to usher in a new era of the Star Trek Prime universe.

Unlike most Star Trek shows, Star Trek: Picard follows a serialized format that is essentially a mystery. The payoff in the final episodes (“Et in Arcadia Ego, Parts I and II”) felt a bit predictable but it had its fist-pumping moments with cinema-quality effects and cinematography; one of those standouts was when Admiral William Riker (Jonathan Frakes, who also turned up in the season’s best episode “Napenthe”) literally shows up with the cavalry. Still, the payoff wasn’t as invigorating or as intense as “Such Sweet Sorrow” the second season finale of Star Trek: Discovery. Coming way from the finale its realized that certain plot elements were unresolved, which was annoying. Mother bit of a copout was how the show resolved the personal journey of Jean-Luc Picard. Without giving anything away, it was an interesting twist but it robbed much of the emotional impact of the fate of the former Starfleet admiral. Let’s leave it at that.

picard takes charge

Star Trek: Picard is a welcome return to the classic heyday of the uplifting era of Star Trek: The Next Generation and its immediate spinoffs. In these times, the show provides a much-needed reminder of the wonderful potential of humankind and what we should aspire to.

José Soto

Jan 25 2020

The Triumphant Return of Jean-Luc Picard

Star Trek: Picard showcases the return of the iconic Jean-Luc Picard to television after Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) ended in 1994 and the film Star Trek Nemesis in 2002 and has an older and somewhat bitter former captain who is in retirement at his family winery in France. Spoilers will be included in this look at the pilot episode of Star Trek: Picard, which is called “Remembrance.”

This show takes place about 20 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis, which featured the death of Data, an event that plays a part in what happens in this pilot episode. “Remembrance” tells us that Captain Picard led a rescue effort to save the population of Romulus from an impending supernova many years ago and was hailed as a hero for his actions. However, the episode also states that a group of synthetic humanoids went rogue and attacked colonies on Mars, killing thousands. This led Starfleet to abandon the rescue effort, which Picard saw as both dishonorable and criminal and he resigned his commission in protest, and also resulted in the Federation outlawing synthetic life forms. All of this is told during an interview with Picard during a commemoration of the rescue effort and shows Picard’s anger at Starfleet for their actions.

He is then visited by a mysterious girl named Dahj, who was attacked by Romulan assassins in Boston, but she fends them off and makes her way to Picard in France, who eventually finds out that she is the daughter of Data, which was accomplished through some kind of a cloning technique. The assassins eventually tracker her down in San Francisco where Picard was looking through his archives for information about Data. Picard later discovers that she has a twin sister Soji, who is a scientist working on a Romulan reclamation site, which at the end of the episode is revealed to be a Borg cube. All of this is setting up Picard’s return to action shown in the upcoming preview where he will attempt to help Data’s surviving daughter and unravel the mystery behind the assassins and along the way gather a new crew that will help him in his return to action.

Patrick Stewart’s return to his signature role is a real treat to see. He is much older now obviously but can still show Picard’s humanity and strength as well his regrets over how his life has ended up, after a self-imposed exile on Earth. The episode also has Brent Spiner returning as Data, in a dream sequence where Picard and Data are playing cards which is a nice shout out to TNG’s numerous scenes of the crew of the Enterprise playing poker and bonding. All of this hints that ideas like aging and a yearning for the past will be major themes that will be explored. This harkens back to previous Trek movies where Captain Kirk was struggling with his place in the galaxy after losing his ship and friend in Star Trek II and a return to form in later films. It will be interesting to see Picard go through this journey and show how he can get back to his younger, more idealistic self in a Federation that seemed to have lost its way.

The preview for later episodes also show both Will Riker and Deanna Troi returning to help Picard and is something to look forward too, as well as Seven of Nine, the former Borg from Star Trek: Voyager. Her role in all of this is unknown, but the revelation of the Borg cube at the end of the episode obviously means that TNG’s ultimate villainous race will have a role to play and Seven’s history as a Borg will no doubt be a major part of this.

Ultimately, it is great to see a sequel to TNG and to see the Star Trek timeline move forward after many years of series that were set in the past. This show is supposed to take place in 2399, so we will finally see the 25th century in the Star Trek universe, which is something new and highly anticipated. Having the Federation and Starfleet in a different place than what was shown in TNG is also interesting and timely. Meanwhile, Picard’s role in bringing them back to their original idealistic version should be a highlight for Star Trek: Picard.

C.S. Link

 

Aug 5 2018

Make It So! Jean-Luc Picard Returns To Star Trek!

make it so

Star Trek fans were pleasantly surprised and excited when the news came out that Sir Patrick Stewart will reprise his role of the legendary Jean-Luc Picard in a new Star Trek series.

The announcement came during a Star Trek convention held in Las Vegas this weekend. Stewart appeared on stage and made the official announcement along with showrunner Alex Kurtzman, who was one of the execs behind Star Trek: Discovery and the the J.J. Abrams rebooted Trek films.

As fans roared with approval over the news, Stewart gave few details about the new show, which will stream on the CBS All Access service. One thing he did point out is Picard will be at a different point in his life, meaning he won’t necessarily be a Starfleet captain. This is quite exciting to learn because it demonstrates that the new Star Trek show won’t be a retread of the familiar Trek trope: a starship and its crew exploring space.  So, it won’t be a new version of Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) where Captain Picard commands the Enterprise and runs about discovering new worlds and new civilizations. If the show will not be about a Captain Jean-Luc Picard then it can mean that the character will have a new role, a different post-Starfleet career.

Picard may very well be an ambassador and the show could be more political in nature a la Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and this is very fascinating. The world of Star Trek has always entranced fans who were introduced to different alien cultures such as the Klingons and the Romulans. Some of the best episodes of the various shows were about exploring the uniqueness of the alien races and the political intrigue such as the succession of order in the Klingon Empire in “Redemption” or the birth of the Federation in “United”. It is easy to see an older PIcard running around the galaxy trying to forge alliances or hold a fragile peace. Hopefully he won’t be doing it onboard a new version of the Enterprise visiting the same old places. Let’s have new ships and worlds, it’s a large galaxy, after all.

old man picard

If he is not an ambassador, then the other logical career choice is that of a Starfleet admiral. He could follow a similar role as an ambassador with the same political intrigue, but with a more military angle as he brokers peace or wages war from a flagship or Starbase, though it is likely that Picard won’t be a warmongering type.

Of course, being that Patrick Stewart is nearly 20 years older since his last appearance as Picard in Star Trek: Nemesis, it stands to reason that his character will be older, too. And so will be the Prime Star Trek universe. We will learn about new developments in the Prime universe, which is something that many fans have ached for ever since the last TNG film in 2002. This also alleviates the concerns that many fans had about the original Star Trek universe. Ever since the rebooted films came along with Star Trek: Discovery, the impression has been given that the original universe was wiped out from existence. This notion came from a plot point in the first Abrams Star Trek film where Romulans time traveled and altered history. Despite the proclamations from characters and behind-the-scenes people that the alteration did not erase the original timeline, there was an uneasy feeling among many that this was not the case. Now, we can rest easy knowing that the original timeline is alive and well in the new series.

Will this also mean that we may see other characters from the Prime universe? Older versions of Riker, Crusher, Worf and even those from other shows such as Kira, Seven of Nine or the Doctor can appear in the new Star Trek show. Sure it may be too fanboyish, but it will be fun as hell to watch.

The return of Jean-Luc PIcad is certainly welcome news and demonstrates that Star Trek is alive and well. No reboots, no remakes, no reimaginings, but a logical continuation of the original Star Trek timeline. What is open for debate is how good will the new Star Trek show be, but we’ll have to wait and see when it streams, hopefully by 2020. However, no matter what happens with the new show, it will be a thrill to hear the great Sir Patrick Stewart utter at some point, “Make it so!”

Lewis T. Grove