IR TV Review: STAR TREK - PICARD - EPISODE 8 (“Mercy”) [Paramount+-S2]

The notion of circumstance and choice comes to bear in Episode 8 of "Star Trek: Picard" entitled "Mercy". With Jurati compromised and the texture of what she needs to accomplish her mission in sight, the ideas of the 21st century "Dr. Soong" as well as a variety of different variables speak to a larger idea. It also slightly brings to bear a bit more of Q's perspective although the reasoning is slightly puzzling. We see Q as old but he is not necessarily old so the aspect could be a trick in many ways. Unlike the brain perspective of Picard in a recent episode, we have not seen what truly this could mean for Q. As a result, the episodes of late have been more marred in reverie and less esoteric which is when the show tends to get more interesting (as did TNG).

Usually these angles are relayed in personal issues but we see less of that existential angst with Picard then we do with say Seven, who has been more muted in this season simply because, in this timeline, she was never Borg. The trigger point is spelled out pretty clearly but the essence of Soong always has popped up in most of every "Star Trek" and yet beyond Augments at certain points and of course Khan, we never saw the genesis of The Eugenics Wars probably because likely it was very one sided. "Mercy" does speak to the weaknesses of various characters but also inherently their largest strengths. Their actions, along with those on the periphery, lead to where this narrative will end. B

By Tim Wassberg