Star Trek Picard: Every Major Character Ranked

Zhaban, combined with Laris, serves to show to the audience the relationship that Picard has built up with the Romulans he tried to save. This is important because much of the rest of the series does what it can to show that their race almost universally hates him. Zhaban also serves to explain away the inconsistency of the Romulan forehead ridges - he's a Northerner, of course!

The character on his own is somewhat quiet and contemplative, closer in his actions to his Vulcan cousins that to his Romulan wife. Given more screen time, it would be well worth exploring the backstory of this relationship. We know from the prequel comics that both he and Laris were ex-Tal Shiar, and defected to help Picard. He, in fact, was the slower of the two in switching sides but once he did, he fell into place as a firm supporter.

The only issue with his character to date is that we the audience need to see more to get a true understanding of what makes him tick. For example, are there any more relatives out there, potentially offering another temptation to switch again? Through Zhaban, there is the chance to truly explore what is left of the Romulan Empire. We know from the finale that there are at least 218 vessels out there - so where are they staying? Zhaban can be our guide if the producers make the (correct) decision to bring him back for season two.