IR TV Review: STAR TREK - PICARD - EPISODE 3 (“Assimilation”) [Paramount+-S2]
The idea of pertinence of strategy comes down to the reasoning for certain modes of action. The texture of Season 2 of "Star Trek: Picard" is based on the aspect that Q adjusted things again but this time it is on a much bigger scale with no reasoning per. But that is not the point. Q always has a reason though there is a little bit of ghosting happening here...more than usual. But there is also a possibility of a ghost in the machine which has not be discussed. It is just a matter of what this means as a MacGuffin. The storyline as it heads into Episode 3: "Assimilation" is an interesting reversal in a way of "The Voyage Home" even down to certain terms of approach, response, societal structure, etc. There are certain character moments that have poignancy in this episode especially with Seven. This is an interesting transgression of what she may or might not be in this setting. The way this series is working even into this episode is more of a closed circuit which is interesting because it places these characters in a bubble where they know nothing. That is an unique place to be in terms of motivation.
Alison Pill, who has great dark instincts in character anyway, has some great moments here because we don't know her motivations, her stability, etc. even considering what went on last season. Her performance in one specific element says so much about the myth of Picard and his greatest loss while he is almost unable to reflect it. It is quite riveting that way because Pill goes with it. A unique balancing point is how conflict with Q in a way seems to revive Picard as a character even though he hates what the entity forces him to do. But it is a challenge. And it is that chess game in a way that Jean Luc Picard lives for. But it is an odd balance because of what he went through last season. Stewart does look quite frail but he wants to be there. Even Michelle Hurd's Raffi makes a slicing point against him that she likely would not have done last season. While the structure is moving slowly forward with "Picard", it has a much more interesting thematic structure which (because of the time travel-esque aspect about it) makes it feel more comfortable and nostalgic while still changing the story beats. Granted it depends where it goes but the character highlights speak of some growth to come. B
By Tim Wassberg
