10 Times Star Trek Gave Fans EXACTLY What They Wanted

The moment that Star Trek Picard was announced, the question of whether or not the original cast would feature was raised. While everyone wanted to see Jean Luc again, they also badly wanted a sequel to the Next Generation. For most of the season, they were left wanting. And then along came Nepenthe.

The seventh episode of Picard's first season sees the captain find his way back to the people who were with him throughout his time on the Enterprise. This is exactly what fans had been clamouring for since the pilot episode, teased along the way by name dropping and suggestions. In what is potentially the strongest episode of the season, the action slows to a halt and we get to spend time watching these old friends reunite.

A valid criticism of this episode would be the placement within the season, as it comes on the heel of a daring escape from the Artifact. But that is a small price to pay to watch Picard, Riker and Troi get back together again. There are moments of sheer beauty - Troi's dressing down of her old captain, Riker sparring with Jean Luc over a glass of wine and their conversation on the jetty by the lake.

This episode was the closest in tone to the Next Generation that Picard season one offered. While if the show is to survive, it needs to press on with new ideas, revisiting the past was very welcome, very wanted and very much appreciated.