IR TV Review: STAR TREK - PICARD - EPISODE 3 (“Seventeen Seconds”) [Paramount+-S3]
The context of the title for Season 3 Episode 3 of "Picard" entitled "Seventeen Seconds" is an interesting parable on the notion of parenthood and responsibility. It is an interesting breather of an anecdote in an otherwise heavy-handed but intrinsically engaging episode (not surprisingly directed by Jonathan Frakes). This episode has a sense of the dramatic while also placing in certain stop gaps that nicely progress the reason all the characters are floating around each other at this point in time. What is interesting is instinct versus panic versus being right which comes to a head towards the end of the episode between two specific characters. There is also some interesting irony and tic-for-tac simply because at some point (which it didn't really feel before in this season), the danger becomes real. There is an exchange between Picard and Beverly that is a long time coming....the reasoning makes perfect sense, the loss is palpable but with one line, Picard shifts again as a character with shields up. It is an interesting paradigm, especially with what happens later in the episode.
The parallel story with Worf and Rafaella is almost too far removed for this main story though it does connect later in last quarter of the hour. It seems though like their own buddy series but the evolution of Worf versus what what provided in "All Good Things..." in 1994 is an interesting transmutation all in itself but that is true for all the characters. Jack Crusher in this instance is only a catalyst for a bigger issue but the episode knows how to pull the heartstrings without completely overdoing it. The issue right now is loss and if that can be registered. The feeling inside Data's consciousness when Picard visited him at the end of Season One registered that...a loss that can never be rectified. It is about whether the intention here in the final season will take the necessary steps or simply balance itself over hallowed ground. B+
By Tim Wassberg
