‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, Episode 5 Recap: Old Friends Return

In this week’s “Picard,” Jean-Luc encounters a familiar face. And he must contain his anger.

Send any friend a story

As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.

By Sopan Deb

Season 3, Episode 5: ‘Imposters’

I am rarely truly surprised when it comes to television, but my jaw literally dropped when Ro Laren, played by Michelle Forbes, appeared as one of the Federation officers sent to upbraid Jean-Luc and Riker for their antics.

A genuinely stunning callback. The last time we saw Ro, she had become a traitor to the Federation by joining the Maquis in their fight against the Cardassians. This was a betrayal so cutting that it left Captain Picard speechless in one of Patrick Stewart’s stronger acting moments. That wasn’t supposed to be the last we saw of Ro, one of the more storied occasional characters in Trek lore. “Deep Space Nine” wanted Forbes to resurrect Ro as part of the cast, but she turned it down.

What made Ro a brilliant character is that she was one of the rare figures in “Next Generation” who didn’t automatically buy the righteousness of Starfleet hook, line and sinker.

She notes to Jean-Luc during their tense reunion: “Blind faith in any institution does not make one honorable.” 

Ro questioned the status quo and valued her personal identity — as was signified by her insisting on wearing her Bajoran earring, which Jean-Luc astutely notes is missing when we see her again. This makes her the perfect person to tell the captain she once turned on that Starfleet is compromised at the highest level. Ro, on some level, has always believed that Starfleet is corrupt — just not as blatantly as it is now.

Source: Read Full Article