by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

Star Trek: Picard returns this week for the seventh episode of Season Three, “Dominion”. This installment, directed by Deborah Kampmeier and written by Jane Maggs, will finally shed light on the newly evolved Changelings as the crew of the Titan get up close and personal with the shapeshifting threat. 

Spoiler Warning Below! 

For those fans who have been clamoring for more interaction with other characters from the TNG / DS9 / VOY era, you are in for a treat. Following the daring escape from Daystrom Station and the rescue of Data, our heroes seek out help from old friends. Viewers will quickly find that Seven has reached out to one of the people she trusts the most…TUVOK! Tim Russ reprises his role from Star Trek: Voyager as Captain Tuvok, leading to an enjoyable exchange between old friends from the Delta Quadrant. Without going into detail, the conversation quickly sours as the revelation of how far gone Starfleet truly is becomes even more evident. Back on the run, the Titan crew devises a clever plot to bring Vadic to them and stage a rescue for the recently captured Captain Riker.

Good news everyone! The aftermath of the Dominion War is addressed in greater detail, including a deep dive into the moral conflict surrounding the virus that was used on the Great Link. Georgi and his daughter Alandra (go Mica Burton!) work to revive the new version of Data (recovered at the end of the previous episode) as we are given more insight into his upgraded form. Jack continues to spiral as his visions continue to escalate, but he manages to work around those issues while hitting on Geordi’s daughter Sidney. Don’t worry, our new favorite pairing (we totally ship “LaCrush”) share the spotlight with several amazing moments throughout the episode. Vadic and her crew arrive right on cue, but the Changeling invaders will quickly find that the Titan was several steps ahead. Beverly finds herself face-to-face with those that had been hunting her family, and we finally learn the origin of these particular Changelings and Vadic herself. Just when it seems like our heroes may finally have the upper hand, Lore decides to take advantage of the chaos, providing Vadic with the perfect opportunity to take over the Titan! But what happened to Will and Deanna? You’ll have to wait one more week…

To simply say that this season of Star Trek: Picard has been enjoyable would be a massive understatement. Led by Showrunner Terry Matalas, the creative team and talent on Star Trek: Picard Season Three have designed the perfect story that honors these impactful characters as well as the franchise in its entirety. This story and the interactions feel elevated beyond what we have experienced before, ensuring that each plot element hits just right in order to stick the landing. Beyond the astonishing story arc and character choices, each episode has featured impressive callbacks, easter eggs and musical cues that will make even the most casual of viewers feel like a kid again. Like LOST and Game of Thrones, the series has taken on a life outside of the single viewing experience, leading to engaging discussions, analysis, and speculation about what will happen next week. More importantly, each passing episode further demonstrates that the next-next generation of characters are ready for their own spin-off. We fully support #StarTrekLegacy as the next logical iteration of the franchise and are ready for more adventures featuring Captain Shaw, Commander Seven, Jack, The La Forge Sisters, Raffi, and the crew of the Titan. Hopefully we can get an official announcement before the final episode of this season airs in the coming weeks.

Official Synopsis:

307 – DOMINION (Streaming on Thursday, March 30, 2023)

Crippled, cornered, and out of options, Picard stages a gambit to trap Vadic and reveal her true motive – a gamble that puts the Titan in the crosshairs and forces Picard and Beverly to question every moral code they’ve ever held. 

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Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Star Trek: Picard – “Dominion” – 5/5 strategic uses of Star Trek music.

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