In Star Trek: Picard Season 3, The Jean-Luc And Jack Crusher Dynamic Is So Much Better Than It Has Any Right To Be
This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Picard."
The "long lost son" arc isn't a particularly graceful addition to any media. At best, it reads like a soapy, blindsiding revelation. At worst, it's a choice that undermines a perfectly good story. Ironically though, it's something that fans of "Star Trek: Picard" have been anticipating for some time — and with the introduction of Jack Crusher (Ed Speelers) in the series' third season, "Picard" has finally made good on years of speculation.
With Jack, "Picard" had an opportunity to develop its titular admiral (Patrick Stewart) in areas that few "Star Trek" projects had explored before. Jack's presence in Picard's life stirs up all manner of unfinished business: it addresses decades of self-denial for Picard — decades spent in service to Starfleet — and has the guts to asks whether it was all worth it. Surprisingly enough, it all works to the advantage of the story. There's enough interpersonal drama to go around in the third season of Picard, but it's never too much to distract from the developing plot. Jack is also much more than a physical manifestation of lost potential for Picard. He's still his own person, his own very unique character, and it's just one of the reasons why his dynamic with Picard works so brilliantly.
The elephant in the room
After Jack's harrowing near-death experience in "Seventeen Seconds" — and with the USS Titan facing certain destruction in "No Win Scenario" — Picard finally has a moment to get to know his estranged son. Things kick off just as awkwardly as one would expect, but Jack manages to break the ice by asking about the fate of his hairline. The seeds of a relationship are planted in that first exchange, and though it's undeniably a bit awkward, it's also carried by a shocking amount of chemistry.
Seeds of that chemistry were first planted in "Seventeen Seconds," especially when Picard confronted Jack about his extensive criminal record. Unlike Picard's confrontation with Beverly, in which they candidly unloaded years of bitter truths, Picard's first real conversation with Jack is defined by the things they're afraid to say. At this point in time, Picard doesn't know for sure that Jack is his child, but he seems at least marginally aware of the possibility. His own confusion and fear — along with Jack's frustration — adds layers of varied, charged emotion to this scene.
The tension between Picard and son felt palpable in that exchange, but it's easy to feel electrified at the sight of two people bickering. Stewart and Speelers manage to carry that same charge into their quieter, more cordial moments as well, now that both know what they are to one another, and it's a brilliant exercise in tension all around. Watching Picard grapple with the fact that he has a son will always be compelling, but watching him grapple with the idea that this son chose not to make himself known — all while Jack dances around this issue — is another thing entirely.
The face in the crowd
Even with the seeds of a relationship beginning to form here, Jack and Jean-Luc's dynamic is still very much about the angst. "Picard" season 3 does a great job in addressing the life Picard could have had, the one he habitually sacrificed in order to serve Starfleet. It's been interesting to see that juxtaposed with William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), who managed to start a family while helming a Starfleet vessel. For one reason or another though, Picard never wanted the same; the family he found with the Enterprise crew has always been more than enough. He even says as much to Jack — and a group of Starfleet cadets — at a bar in San Francisco, years before the events of "No Win Scenario."
Of course, Picard had no idea that his stirring address was actually alienating a real member of his family. He doesn't even remember it happened until much later. But once he does, he understands exactly why Jack chose not to get to know him, and it's that irony that only elevates their dynamic further.
"Picard" has never been shy about bringing its hero face to face with his own foibles. But this third season has been addressing the bulk of it with a level of sophistication and heart that wasn't really seen in seasons prior. It's wild that they've managed to achieve so much with a trope that's been so hit-or-miss in other media. — but when it works, it really does work.