Sometimes the best thing to do is throw in the towel, but is that what we’re doing in today’s episode of Star Trek: Picard? As much as I enjoy Star Trek: Picard episode 3×08 “Surrender,” I still feel like we really don’t know what’s going on. With only two episodes left, there’s still much to consider. Let’s dig into my full thoughts on Star Trek: Picard episode 3×08 “Surrender.”
A Bold Takedown
One of the highlights of “Surrender” for me is Jack’s takedown of Vadic. I’m sorry that it was not soon enough to prevent the death of Lt. T’Veen. Threatening Vadic with a bomb/not bomb is a pretty gutsy move. Also, you’ve got to be 100% certain that the forcefield is going to work, otherwise, you’re frozen in space. Gross.
But there’s one thing of note that Vadic says before the forcefield reveal, and to be frank, the only real reason I can see for Seven of Nine to be there with him is Vadic saying, “How fitting it is for you to stay and witness this.” I missed that bit on my first viewing. Having caught it on my second viewing, I have to wonder, is Vadic working with some segment of the Borg? The other theory I’ve seen floating around is that Vadic has been working with the Pah-wraiths, which would line up with Jack’s red eyes, his abilities, and what Deanna describes as an “ancient evil” that she can feel on the ship.
My issue is that we only have two episodes left, which means we’ve got one episode to figure out what’s behind the Close Encounters of the Third Kind door and Stranger Things red vines. Then there’s only one more episode to wrap up the entire series. Unless these are double-length episodes, I have my doubts as to whether or not this can be done successfully without handwaving everything into place like they did last season. I sincerely hope this is not a handwaving finale, but I suppose there’s nothing to be done other than to wait.
Data vs. Lore
Another highlight of Star Trek: Picard episode 3×08 “Surrender” is watching the showdown between Data and Lore. I love Data’s compassion for his brother. That compassion has always been present, even in a being that is without emotion. “I’m giving these to you because I have had everything and you have had nothing,” is a gorgeous bit of a dialogue delivered expertly by Brent Spiner. And cue the waterworks too. I definitely shed a few tears watching Data embrace Lore, both literally and positronically. And now our crew is complete.
Rescue from the Shrike
Worf & Raffi’s rescue mission is quick and easy. The prevailing theory I saw online before “Surrender” aired is that Deanna is a changeling, but that’s not the case. Good thought, but it’s one I’m glad didn’t pan out. However, I do have a few hangups with this B-Plot of the episode. First, where’s Kestra? How did she manage to escape these Changelings? Surely they would have taken her too. Second, Riker interrupting Worf telling how he’s grown and changed in part with Deanna’s help is frustrating to me. It smacks of one of the biggest issues 80s/90s Trek has, which is the refusal to deal properly with emotions.
Yes, some of this is related to the episodic nature of the shows then, but folks complain about it when Star Trek: Discovery spends an episode dealing with real emotional trauma. How about modern Trek start learning to deal with emotions instead of saying, “Eww gross” and then playing it for laughs? I’m weary of my fandoms pandering to whiny, entitled fanboys who would rather do literally anything than go to therapy.
I get that maybe the thing they were going for here was Worf’s previous crush on Deanna, but the man has been married since that time. Deanna’s married to Riker, and Worf’s someone with too much integrity to be a homewrecker, especially when they are both his friends. But goodness, is Riker actually lacking in self-confidence and trust in his wife that somehow Worf might steal her away? This is stupid. Don’t do this again, okay? Apologies, fam. Rant over.
Final Thoughts
Star Trek: Picard 3×08 “Surrender” didn’t give me the answers I was hoping for. In fact, I’m left with more questions. Did Raffi, Worf, Deanna, and Riker take Picard’s body or did it blow up with the Shrike? If it’s the latter, then why on earth did we waste all that time breaking into Daystrom Station? There are other ways to have rescued Data or simplified that part of the story.
I’m also frustrated that we are yet again closing in on the finale and we still don’t know anything more about why Jack apparently has Picard’s Professor X powers and then some. Also, I know we all saw it coming, but seeing the full Star Trek: The Next Generation crew around the table again is some nostalgia that didn’t land with me. Maybe it’s because I expected it, but it didn’t hit me in the feels like I’m sure it did others.
My frustrations with the writing aside, I don’t want that to diminish the fantastic performances we are getting from our cast. A dynamic cast can do much even with weak writing. My concern is that the Star Trek fandom at large is too nostalgia-obsessed to notice that the writing is weak. I say this as someone who is a certifiable nostalgia addict. We’re hanging our emotional beats in Star Trek: Picard on nostalgia cues and not fresh storytelling, which is concerning to me. I will happily be proven wrong if that changes in our next two episodes. Until then, I wait with trepidation.
What did you think of Star Trek: Picard episode 3×08 “Surrender”? Leave me a comment and let’s talk Trek.
The next episode of Star Trek: Picard will air on April 13, 2023, on Paramount+.