TV Talk: ‘Picard’ gives ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ a fond, fan-friendly farewell

Fans of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” who were disappointed in Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Picard” should come back to the series for its third and final season.

Now streaming new episodes weekly on Thursday, “Picard” finally becomes the “Next Generation” follow-up most fans always wanted to see.

Characters from seasons one and two of “Picard” mostly are gone, and the focus is squarely on a gradual reunion of the “TNG” crew as “Picard” advances those characters’ relationships, even to the point of putting some at odds with one another in ways that feel honest and earned.

Best of all, the most unsung “TNG” character, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), finally takes a central role in a “Trek” story.

At the outset, Picard (Patrick Stewart) plans to kick back and write a memoir. Those plans get put on hold after his “TNG”-era communicator beeps with a distress call from Crusher. “Picard” acknowledges their past attempts at a romantic relationship and reveals none of the “TNG” crew have heard from Crusher in 20 years, which at first seems out of character.

Credit writer/showrunner Terry Matalas for coming up with a rationale that ultimately makes sense.

Soon, Capt. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Admiral Picard head to a familiar starbase with plans to persuade the USS Titan captain (Todd Stashwick, “The Riches”) to detour from his intended path to save Crusher.

Most fun for “Trek” loyalists, “Picard” takes familiar “Trek” tropes and puts a twist on them. There’s a hint of the “Star Trek III” shenanigans that involved Capt. Styles (James B. Sikking) and the Excelsior that echoes in Riker’s gambit with the Titan, but “Picard” avoids a rehash by taking the story in different direction.

“Picard” nods to past characters long abandoned by those overseeing “Trek” at different intervals (a shuttle is named Saavik after a terrific character the writers of the ‘80s-era “Trek” movies failed to fully develop). Past species of importance over the run of “Trek” make appearances – a Bajoran helmsman, a Ferengi crime lord and more.

This season of “Picard” is heavy on cat-and-mouse games and starship battles, but it also makes time for humorous moments and winning character interactions.

And, no, viewers do not have to go back and watch seasons one and two of “Picard” to appreciate this third season. There are only two carryover characters besides Picard: “Star Trek: Voyager’s” former Borg Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) and Raffi (Michelle Hurd), who’s still loyal to Starfleet even after Starfleet abandoned her.

This season of “Picard” has fewer story threads, delivering streamlined plots that, through the first six episodes made available for review, have just two independent but clearly destined-to-collide threads: There’s Picard, Riker, Crusher and Seven facing off against a villain (Amanda Plummer) and Raffi’s quest to uncover a threat to the Federation.

It would spoil the fun to reveal how the rest of the “TNG” crew work their way into the “Picard” plot, but, every time it happens, it’s a joyful moment.

That’s especially true in the fifth episode that brings back a “Trek” character whose inclusion has not been revealed thus far and won’t be spoiled here. That returnee provides one of the most emotional hours of “Star Trek” in decades. A visit to the Starfleet Museum and remembrance of starships past in episode six comes in a close second.

All-around kudos to showrunner Matalas, who clearly has a love of ‘90s-era “Trek,” for shepherding this heartfelt finale in a way that’s authentic to the characters, the franchise and the established stories. This season of “Picard” doesn’t feel like fan fiction; it feels legit.

‘Hello Tomorrow’

Usually, viewers tune in to a TV show for its characters or story. But the No. 1 reason to watch Apple TV+’s “Hello Tomorrow!” is for its production design, a compliment to the show’s amazing mid-century modern look.

Instead of selling a fake identity like Don Draper on “Mad Men,” Jack (Billy Crudup) sells false hope in the form of supposed homes on the moon in this series set in an alternate time and place with robot bartenders and moon subdivisions seem like a real possibility.

Crudup and his fellow traveling sales team, including his son (Nicholas Podany) who doesn’t recognize Jack as his dad, travel in hovercars — but where are they headed? It’s a show with an excruciatingly uncomfortable ticking clock: What happens when Jack’s promises crumble and all those Brightside Lunar Residence investors learn there’s no house waiting for them beyond Earth’s atmosphere?

Streaming Friday, “Hello Tomorrow!” addresses the obvious midway through the season as the seams in Jack’s Ponzi scheme begin to show. The series is better for it. “Hello Tomorrow!” becomes more bearable to watch and allows its characters to show more sides, especially Jack’s top lieutenant, Shirley (standout Haneefah Wood, “Schooled”).

Like many programs of the streaming age, this one probably would be better as a movie – Jack continues to find ways to kick the can of truth down the road into a potential second season — but, ultimately, “Hello Tomorrow!” made me hope the show will have enough tomorrows to reach an adequate resolution.

Kept/Canceled/revived

The BBC renewed “Call the Midwife” for its 14th and 15th seasons ahead of the 12th season premiere on PBS (8 p.m. March 19).

HBO canceled “Avenue 5” after two seasons.

Showtime ordered a second season of Neil Patrick Harris series “Uncoupled” after it was canceled by Netflix.

Channel surfing

Apple TV+s “Ted Lasso” returns for its third season March 15. … Netflix’s “Bridgerton” prequel series, “Queen Charlotte,” debuts May 4. … Yamiche Alcindor will exit PBS’s “Washington Week” Feb. 24 to concentrate on her full-time job for NBC News. … Digital subchannel Decades, available over the air in Pittsburgh on low-power Channel 61.1, will be renamed Catchy Comedy on March 27 with a shift to classic sitcoms including the original “Night Court” (9 and 9:30 p.m. weeknights) … New episodes of Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions’ puppet show “Donkey Hodie” debut next week on PBS (11 a.m. weekdays, WQED-TV).