Star Trek: Picard (2020 — 2022)

Star Trek: Picard is an American television series created by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, and Alex Kurtzman for the streaming service CBS All Access (later rebranded as Paramount+). It is the eighth Star Trek series and was launched in 2020 as part of Kurtzman’s expanded Star Trek Universe. The series features a retired Jean-Luc Picard who has been deeply affected by the death of Data in the film Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) and the destruction of the planet Romulus in the film Star Trek (2009). Star Trek: Picard premiered on CBS All Access on January 23, 2020, and its first season ran for 10 episodes until March 26. The series was met with positive reviews from critics, who praised Stewart’s performance and the focus on character over action, though some criticized the series’ slow pace. Several tie-in projects were created for the series, including an episode of the companion series Star Trek: Short Treks.

The series begins in 2399, 20 years after Jean-Luc Picard’s last appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), and finds the character deeply affected by the death of Data in that film as well as the destruction of the planet Romulus in the film Star Trek (2009). Retired from Starfleet and living on his family’s vineyard, Picard is drawn into a new adventure when he is visited by the apparent daughter of Data, one of several new synthetic beings or “synths”. Picard fights for their right to exist and gives his life to save them in the first season finale. His consciousness is then transferred into a synthetic body. Picard goes on to face his old adversary Q in the ultimate trial during the second season. With Q breaking reality, Picard and his companions are trapped in the 21st century and must race against time to save the future of the galaxy.