IR TV Review: STAR TREK - PICARD - EPISODE 4 (“Watcher”) [Paramount+-S2]

After the intriguing aspect of Dr. Jerati and the Borg Queen in the last episode ("Assimilation"), it is interesting that this aspect with the center of the ship has become the most dynamic which means that something is brewing. Alison Pill is now also the 2nd title card even ahead of Jeri Ryan as Seven which is telling. This episode of "Star Trek: Picard" entitled "Watcher" [Season 2 Episode 4] has a double meaning in the title for sure even though that is not specifically alluded to. This episode like the one before it is directed by "Back To The Future" alum Lea Thompson which is a great and welcome irony. Her love of the genre while also highlighting throwbacks in certain scenes (a bus specifically) really plays through the idea.

While the secondary plot in a way that plays to the throwback is less interesting yet sociologically prevalent than the former, it does serve its purpose. The story revolving around Picard and a certain character is puzzling though in certain ways, both in how it is played but also how it doesn't take into account a certain TNG episode that featured Mark Twain. While this slip might be intentional, it is odd. The build on the back end speaks to something we haven't seen before, and yet Q is somehow in the mix through we don't understand what he is up to. That said, it is again the possible instability of Pill's character who is the wild card while the notion of memory still rings prevalent. B

By Tim Wassberg