When it was first announced that Patrick Stewart would be returning to his iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard in the Paramount+ original series, Star Trek: Picard, fans around the globe were elated beyond measure, myself included. As the show came together, details signaling whether he would bring aboard his fellow legacy cast mates from The Next Generation, was highly anticipated, and desired, but unfortunately did not come to fruition other than a few appearances from Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis, and Jonathan Frakes. Granted, Stewart did say he signed on to the series because he wanted to tell a new story, but it still felt like somewhat of a letdown when more of our favorite crew members were nowhere to be found throughout the first and second seasons of the series.
But then, everything changed seemingly out of nowhere. A surprise announcement and trailer for season 3 showcased nearly the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation was coming back for one more triumphant adventure with Admiral Picard, including some long-lost friends in Worf (Michael Dorn), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Finally! All the friends were back together, which was what fans had desired from the very beginning. However, one lasting negative aspect from the final few seasons of TNG that followed into all 4 films that hung over this newest entry threatened to upend a good deal of fan expectation and enjoyment: the utter betrayal of Gates McFadden and Dr. Beverly Crusher.
TNG Later Seasons and Films Failed Beverly Crusher
Though prominent throughout the initial run of The Next Generation, save for that second season where the showrunners apparently went temporarily insane for a year, Dr. Crusher (McFadden), wasn’t really given much to do during the later seasons of the show or the following four-film franchise. She was basically treated as a generic background character, merely there to tend to wounds and be seen but not heard much at all. This was a betrayal to the character, the actress, and the fans. The chemistry between McFadden and Patrick Stewart was palpable throughout the show and was a major plot point for much of the series, playing the will they/won’t they narrative that never came to any real satisfying conclusion onscreen.
I recently caught up with Gates McFadden at a fan convention where we spoke a little about the films and life in general (by the way, the rumors of her being breathtakingly kind are 100% true). When I told her I was so relieved they brought her back and actually gave her a meaningful role in the reboot after how the films treated her, she remarked, “Yes, I agree. Sometimes I look back and realize, “Oh wait, I was in those?” Even though she knew they didn’t make the best use of her iconic character, a character fan had grown to love and admire just as much as any other. Beverly wasn’t just the ship’s doctor. She was a wit that often matched Picard, she was a compassion at par with Deanna Troi, she was a leader beyond measure like Riker, and a commendable force in intellect, rationality, and independence. She deserved better and thankfully, she finally got what was long overdue.
Yes, ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Redeems That TNG Failure
I’ll do my best not to spoil anything regarding the still-airing final season of Picard, but let me be clear: this season does finally redeem the betrayal of Dr. Beverly Crusher and then some. For instance, Beverly is the first character we see in the first episode of the third and final season. And she’s not running a medical facility somewhere, she’s not blending into the background of another important character, and she’s certainly not standing idly by while everyone else gets in on the action. Beverly is a hero, that’s made prominently known right from the get-go. She always was. But now she gets to show it. With this final season of Star Trek: Picard, Gates McFadden gets to make use of every bit of Beverly that was removed, downplayed, and wasted in the films and later seasons of TNG. Although it is a series, the show itself could truly come off as movie quality, something McFadden herself remarked to me during our brief conversation.
As someone whose watched the series since it began, I can affirm it hasn’t been without faults. It seemed a little strange to introduce a new cast and then one by one, seemingly cast them aside with somewhat meaningful conclusions. The first two seasons allow Patrick Stewart to explore who Picard is without the limitations of the flagship series and it does so in ways that are impressive and make for some truly entertaining television. But this season truly gives the fans of the show something worth falling in love with all over again. It brings about some true resolution to the Picard/Crusher romance, introduced a new Beverly shaped by the hard decisions she’s been forced to make over the years, and brings about a potential future rife with more stories, more adventures, and the ability to continue the legacy of so many beloved, iconic characters.
But best of all, it allows Gates McFadden to showcase the talent we all always knew was there, but never used to its full potential. It gives us hope for the future of the franchise, and for the future of women in Star Trek in general. The redemption of Star Trek may have started with Discovery and Strange New Worlds, but it firmly established itself with the long-overdue re-introduction of the magnificent Dr. Beverly Crusher.
Star Trek: Picard is currently airing its final season exclusively on Paramount+.
