10 Times Star Trek Rewarded Audiences For Sticking With It
5. Nepenthe
Nepenthe was the closest thing to an eighth-season episode of the Next Generation as fans received during Star Trek: Picard, which is by no means a criticism. As the first series began, audiences were struck by the darker and more contemplative tone that this version of Picard offered, compared to the version that had captained the Enterprise-D.
There was a jarring change in how the future was viewed, leaning a little heavily on the action as the season went on. The introduction of Seven of Nine brought more classic Trek characters into the mix, yet the most obvious faces were conspicuously absent from Jean-Luc's life. Then, while escaping a Borg Cube and some Tal Shiar agents, he arrives on the Planet Nepenthe.
For one glorious hour, Picard was reunited with Riker and Troi. It was everything that the audience had been waiting for, and more. Riker was both his old jovial self, and a little wiser than he had been before. Troi was far more confident and relaxed around Jean-Luc, which was wonderful to see. Kestra was a very welcome addition to the family, rounding out the new group.
The episode is much closer to the more peaceful tone of the Next Generation, while still very much rooted in Star Trek: Picard's aesthetic. Audiences may not have loved Picard's first season, but Nepenthe has received almost universal acclaim.