Star Trek: Picard season 2 marks the successful return of Jean-Luc Picard played by the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart. Debuting today on Paramount Plus in the States and March 4th on Prime Video in the UK. In season one we saw a new side to the character after being absent on screen for over 20 plus years. It featured Picard now retired from Starfleet following the destruction of the planet Romulus and living on his family’s vineyard comfortably with his loving dog named Number 1 and his staff assistants. Picard is drawn into a new adventure and season two promises for more to come. Picard has a new crew, each a lost cause. They have a ship and a whole galaxy to explore the second season boldly goes where no man has gone before.

Before this review I was lucky enough to see the first three episodes of Star Trek: Picard season 2 and going forward will be reviewing and recapping each episode individually, but for now here are my spoiler-free thoughts on the episodes that I have seen.

I won’t delve into too many spoiler details but after vanquishing a Romulan threat in the first season, Jean-Luc is about to encounter another old enemy whilst on a time-twisting, mind-bending mission. Thematically Star Trek: Picard season two is quite the emotional experience, especially for the audience and Picard himself as he takes the road not taken. Picard is someone who seems to be broken by the experiences that he dealt with at the end of his career and now as a 94-year old, the Admiral is reflecting on the life he’s lived, the lives he’s saved, the galaxy’s he’s explored, and the regrets he holds.

Season two is about to explore some strange new worlds. Just what he’ll be discovering is his own love life. This new understanding relates to individuals and close relationships with people. The highs and lows of relationships are explored with every character in season 2, however when season 2 picks up we see a time jump and already relationships are getting complicated, with the amount of time that’s passed between seasons, each member of the crew is now in a different place. The time jump that happened off-camera between the releases of the first two seasons is a wise choice that provides fresh stories and fresh perspectives. Picard’s showrunner Akiva Goldsman says that the time jump in empty space allows the audience to play catch-up and gets us imagining.

This new Picard is the same man because of Sir Patrick Stewart, who himself has undergone some changes and drama in his life which has been intertwined with Picard’s own experiences. We see him in a new light as themes of mental health and trauma continue from season one. There is some kind of trauma going on that drove Picard to become an explorer in the first place, which we have yet to find out, especially since it was long before he encountered the Borg. Season two is about an older Picard who doesn’t have much time to come to grips with personal matters. The game is afoot, the trial has begun, and the clock is ticking.

The passionate and incredible writing and storytelling continue in season 2, especially throughout the three episodes I’ve watched. The first episode alone titled “The Star Gazer” re-introduces Picard as if we’re catching up with an old friend. The writers cleverly allude to upcoming narratives from the get-go as Jean-Luc is thrust back into the firing line. It’s a very cinematic and serialised show that spans one big storyline that blends 400 years from now with the present day. The advancements in filmmaking also astound me, as the production levels are sky-high and much easier than it was during the last twenty-five years, it’s made to look more real than ever before.

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 continues to explore uncharted territories especially seen in episodes two and three from the new season. Picard and his crew Agnes, Raffi, Seven of Nine, Rios, and Elnor all face a certain turmoil which gets stirred up, and what the outcomes of that is, well you’ll just have to tune in and see.

Overall, I for one am so excited to return to this world, especially since it brings a sense of belonging and comfort. I also love that it is universal and can enjoy watching with my dad who grew up with the original series and has been a Trekkie all his life, it was astonishing to see both seasons of Picard through his eyes and point of view as his childlike qualities came out when easter eggs and references from the expanded universe appeared. As a new final frontier dawns upon us I can’t wait to see what the remaining seven episodes have in store.

For more in-depth coverage of Star Trek: Picard Season 2 please stick around on Coastal House Media as I bring you recaps/reviews each week.

Created by Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Kirsten Beyer, and Alex Kurtzman, Star Trek: Picard Season 2 premieres March 3 on Paramount+ followed by a release on Prime Video March 4th in the UK.