Jean-Luc Picard

• 2401
• 2379
• 2364
• 2310s

Species:

Human(with residualBorg DNA) (until2399)
Golem(2399 onward)

Affiliation:

FederationStarfleet

Rank:

Admiral(retired)

Occupation:

Flag officer

Serial number:

SP-937-215

Status:

Active(2402)

Born:

July 13,2305,
La Barre,France,Earth

Died:

2399,
Coppelius Station,Coppelius (Human body, aged 94)

Father:

Maurice Picard

Mother:

Yvette Picard

Sibling(s):

Robert Picard (brother)
Marie Picard (sister-in-law)
Shinzon (clone)

Other relative(s):

Javier Maribona-Picard (ancestor)
Renée Picard (ancestor)
Picard's grandfather
René Picard (nephew)
Adele (aunt)

Marital status:

Single

Children:

Jack Crusher (son viaBeverly Crusher)

Pet(s):

Number One (dog)

Played by:

Patrick Stewart (primary)
David Tristan Birkin
Marcus Nash
Tom Hardy (photograph only)
Dylan Von Halle

Jean-Luc Picard was a celebratedStarfleetofficer,archaeologist,writer,historian,diplomat, andphilanthropist, who served throughout much of the24th century. The highlights of his career were centered around assignments ascommanding officer of theFederationstarshipsUSSStargazer,USSEnterprise-D, and theUSSEnterprise-E. In these roles, Picard not only witnessed major turning points of recent galactic history, but played a key role in them also, from makingfirst contact ascaptain of the Federation'sflagship with no fewer than 27alienspecies, including theFerengi and theBorg. His successful contact withthe Children of Tama resulted in his name being incorporated into theTamarian language through themetaphor "Picard andDathon atEl-Adrel".

He also became thechief contact point with theQ Continuum, and served asArbiter of Succession of theKlingon Empire, where he presided over the investiture ofKlingon ChancellorGowron. Picard would expose theRomulan Star Empire as backers of Gowron'schief rivals, later aiding aRomulan underground movement of dissidents to gain a toehold on theRomulan homeworld. He continued to serve as captain of theEnterprise-E, the sixth Federation starship to bear the name, until at least the early2380s. (TNG: "The Battle", "The Last Outpost", "Q Who", "Darmok", "Encounter at Farpoint", "All Good Things...", "Redemption", "Redemption II", "Unification II";Star Trek: First Contact;Star Trek Nemesis;PIC: "Remembrance")

Following his command of theEnterprise-E, he rose to the rank ofadmiral, heresigned from Starfleet for a time, after he felt that the organization had strayed from its ideals, before eventually rejoining as theChancellor of Starfleet Academy. (PIC: "Remembrance", "The End is the Beginning", "The Star Gazer")

Picard would later retire a second time, but a distress call from Dr.Beverly Crusher called Picard back to action one last time in order to save theson he never knew he had from theChangelings and theBorg. Reuniting his old command crew along with the rebuiltEnterprise-D, Picard would bring a final end to the Borg threat before returning to his peaceful retirement. (PIC: "The Next Generation", "Disengage", "Võx", "The Last Generation")

Quick Answers

What are the notable ships Jean-Luc Picard commanded during his Starfleet career?

During his Starfleet career, Jean-Luc Picard commanded the USS Stargazer NCC-2893, USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, and USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E. The Enterprise-D, a Federation flagship, made first contact with over thirty species. The Enterprise-E was a Sovereign-class starship. Picard, after commanding the Enterprise-E, was promoted to Admiral and led the Romulan supernova evacuation mission.

Provided by: Fandom

What are some of Jean-Luc Picard's accomplishments outside of his Starfleet service?

Jean-Luc Picard, renowned Starfleet officer, is also an accomplished archaeologist, writer, historian, diplomat, and philanthropist. His analytical and dispassionate demeanor drew comparisons to Vulcan qualities. His wisdom on leadership, duty, justice, and exploration is compiled in 'Star Trek: The Wisdom of Picard'.

Provided by: Fandom

Why did Spock's father choose to mind meld with Jean-Luc Picard?

Sarek, Spock's father, opted to mind meld with Jean-Luc Picard due to Picard's Vulcan-like attributes. These included efficient intellect, superior physical skills, and absence of emotional impediments, traits highly valued by Vulcans. This mind meld facilitated Sarek's completion of his final mission at Legara IV.

Provided by: Fandom

What roles did Jean-Luc Picard play in the 24th century?

In the 24th century, Jean-Luc Picard held multiple roles. He was a Starfleet officer, archaeologist, writer, historian, diplomat, and philanthropist. His notable assignments included commanding the Federation starships USS Stargazer, USS Enterprise-D, and USS Enterprise-E. As captain, Picard played a significant role in galactic history, including making first contact with many alien species.

Provided by: Fandom

What are the key characteristics that define Jean-Luc Picard as a Starfleet officer?

Jean-Luc Picard, a renowned Starfleet officer, is known for his Vulcan-like analytical approach. His roles as commander of the Federation starships USS Stargazer, USS Enterprise-D, and USS Enterprise-E are career highlights. Picard, also an archaeologist, writer, historian, diplomat, and philanthropist, is celebrated for his negotiation skills and preference for diplomacy over violence. His commitment to duty, justice, and exploration are defining characteristics.

Provided by: Fandom

Biography[]

Early history[]

Origins[]

Jean-Luc Picard was born inLa Barre,France onEarth toYvette andMaurice Picard onJuly 13,2305. (TNG: "Family", "Conundrum")

Childhood[]

He and his elderbrother,Robert, spent their childhood tending to their familyvineyards with theirfather. Concerned about the preservation of their familial values, Maurice and his wife educated their sons in the ancient traditions, avoiding, in particular, any superfluoustechnologies. (TNG: "Family")

As a young boy, Jean-Luc watchedhis grandfather "[d]eteriorate from a powerful, intelligent figure to a frail wisp of a man, who could barely make his way home." (TNG: "Night Terrors")

He tookpiano lessons, but eventually gave it up because he dreaded performing in front of an audience. In his later life, he would regret doing so, because his playing used to please hismother. (TNG: "Lessons", "The Perfect Mate")

Picard had a loving relationship with his mother,Yvette Picard who often played games ofhide and seek with him and encouraged him to "look up at the stars." (PIC: "The Star Gazer", "Monsters") Unfortunately, what young Jean-Luc took as mere flights of fancy, was mental illness. At some point in the early2310s, Yvette lost Jean-Luc while they were playing hide and seek in thetunnels underneath their home. After finding Jean-Luc, whose foot had gotten stuck, Maurice Picard found Yevette and locked her in a room for the night for her safety. Yvette pleaded with Jean-Luc to let her out. He did and the next morning, he found his mother dead by suicide. (PIC: "Hide and Seek") Later, as an adult, he'd often picture her as an old woman, inviting him to have sometea with her, and telling him that they would have a "nice, long talk." (PIC: "Hide and Seek")

One of Picard's childhood heroes wasDixon Hill, afictionalprivate detective living in the early20th century. (TNG: "The Big Goodbye")

A fascination of his that intrigued him well into adulthood was theship in a bottle. As a boy, he builtmodelairships, and even a model of aPromellian battle cruiser. (TNG: "Booby Trap";PIC: "The Star Gazer", "Hide and Seek") Moreover, he was captivated by thePhoenix, mankind's firstwarp-capable vessel, which he admired "hundreds of times" at theSmithsonian, but was never able to touch. (Star Trek: First Contact)

Ingrade school, Picard rememberedsinging such children's songs as "Frère Jacques". (TNG: "Disaster") Like hisnephewRené, Jean-Luc wrote aribbon-winning report onstarships inschool. (TNG: "Family") Later in life, he recalled reading about the ancientBajoran civilizations in hisfifth gradereader. (TNG: "Ensign Ro")

Although Maurice intended his sons to work at the vineyards, it became obvious very early that Jean-Luc knew he wanted to join Starfleet, something that his father would never condone, up until his death. (TNG: "Bloodlines") Jean-Luc would later remember that he devoted his childhood to that end, which was like skipping that age altogether. (TNG: "Suddenly Human") His brother would later note that Jean-Luc always sought higher standards, such as becoming president of his school and later avaledictorian and even an athleticchampion. Robert was also jealous of seeing Picard being the favored son and getting away after his mischiefs. Sometimes Robert had tobully his younger brother. (TNG: "Family")

When Picard joined thepoker game with hissenior officers for the first time in2370, he recalled that "actually, I used to be quite acard player in my youth." (TNG: "All Good Things...")

Starfleet career[]

Academy years[]

Picard caused "quite a stir" by leaving his family's generational vineyard and applying toStarfleet Academy. (TNG: "Family";Star Trek Nemesis) Although he failed to gain entry on his first attempt, Picard succeeded in his second attempt in2323. He subsequently became one of the most outstandingcadets in his class. (TNG: "Coming of Age", "The First Duty")

Picard's career at the Academy was difficult, at best – years later, Picard credited AcademygroundskeeperBoothby with helping him develop a mature attitude. (TNG: "The First Duty";VOY: "In the Flesh") Among Picard's friends at the Academy wereDonald Varley,Cortan Zweller,Marta Batanides, and an acquaintance called "A.F.", whom he blamed for his failed semester ofOrganic Chemistry and whose initials Picard carved into Boothby's prizedelm. (TNG: "Contagion", "The Game", "Tapestry")

At the Academy, Picard developed an interest inarchaeology. Hisprofessor,Galen, encouraged him to continue in this field, but Picard ultimately refused his offer of becoming an archaeologist. He would nevertheless keep his interest in the subject, and became to be considered quite knowledgeable in the field. (TNG: "The Chase", "Qpid") It was also during this time he took great interest in studying theIconians. (TNG: "Contagion")

Picard also excelled insports. He won theStarfleet Academy marathon inApril 2323 onDanula II, becoming the firstfreshman to win the race. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II";Star Trek GenerationsPicard family album) During awrestling match, Picard caught aLigonian with a reverse body lift and pinned him down in the first fourteen seconds. (TNG: "The First Duty")

During hissophomore year, Picard was assigned totraining onMorikin VII where he had his first encounter withNausicaans, who had anoutpost on a nearbyasteroid. (TNG: "Tapestry")

On 4 April2327, Cadet Picard joined theSpeed of Light Club after he flew three hundred-thousandkilometers per second in level flight on thecruiserUSSLeondegrance, commanded by CaptainNyota Uhura. He was awarded a certificate celebrating this occasion. (PIC: "Remembrance", "The Star Gazer")

Picard graduated at the top of his class. He recalled toWesley Crusher in2365 that, as he entered the ranks of being anofficer, he was "green as hell. And oh, so cocky." (TNG: "Samaritan Snare") Several years after this, in2379, Picard showedBeverly Crusher aphotograph from his Academy days, asking, "remember him?" She replied that "he was a bit cocky, as I recall." By that point in his life, Picard considered his younger self as "a damn fool. Selfish, ambitious, very much in need of seasoning." (Star Trek Nemesis)

Picard, later told Boothby that if it wasn't for the groundskeeper, Picard would have never graduated. Boothby assured Picard that "you made a mistake. There isn't a man among us who hasn't been young enough to make one. [...] You did what you had to do. You did what you thought was best. I just made sure that you listened to yourself." (TNG: "The First Duty")

Early postings and assignments[]

Shortly after graduation in 2327,Ensign Picard's promising career nearly ended abruptly while he was onshore leave at FarspaceStarbase Earhart. During abarbrawl over a rigged game ofdom-jot, he was stabbed through theheart by a Nausicaan, and had to undergo emergency surgery toreplace his heart. He later related to Wesley Crusher that he laughed after looking down to see the knife protruding from his chest. This event helped him realize how fragile life could be, and thus made him more willing to take risks and make his mark in the universe, which he only realized when Q proposed him to change this event in2369. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare", "Tapestry")

On the day of his first posting, Picard was so nervous he walked alight year in a circle before he mustered the courage tobeam aboard. (PIC: "The Last Generation")

Service aboard theReliant[]

As an ensign, Picard was posted to theUSSReliant, where he served withLieutenantNakamura. (TNG-R: "The Measure Of A Man") Picard served on thenight watch on board theReliant. (PIC: "Broken Pieces") Also while an ensign, Picard was capable of detecting byear variations in a ship'storque sensors, as such, he was capable of hearing a threemicron misalignment. (Star Trek: Insurrection)

Other adventures[]

As ajunior officer, Picard metWalker Keel at an exotic bar onTau Ceti III, where the two became very close of friends; they later became friends withJack R. Crusher and hisfiancée, Beverly Howard. (TNG: "Conspiracy", "Journey's End", "Attached")

Picard demonstrated command abilities early in his career, in particular, when he led anaway team onMilika III to save anambassador. This incident would later be mentioned by Q as one of the crucial events forming Picard's personality. (TNG: "Tapestry")

As a young lieutenant, Picard attended thewedding ofSarek's son, where he briefly met Sarek andSpock for the first and only time before the2360s. (TNG: "Sarek", "Unification I")

In his career, prior to 2365, Picard had beentransferred "dozens of times", each of which was preceded by what he called "the practice of thefeast before the transfer." (TNG: "A Matter Of Honor")

By 2369, he had spent "thirty years of [his] life aboard starships". (TNG: "Rascals")

Service aboard theStargazer[]

Picard was assigned as ahelmsman aboard theUSSStargazer. In2333, Picard assumed command of the vessel when thecaptain was killed on thebridge. Starfleet awarded Picard a promotion to the post of captain, making him one of the youngest Starfleet officers ever to attain the position. (TNG: "Tapestry") Picard remained in command of theStargazer for twenty-two years. (TNG: "The Battle", "Relics", "Bloodlines")

In2339, Picard last visited with his archaeology professor,Doctor Galen. At this time in his life, Picard was seriously considering a career in this field ofscience. (TNG: "The Chase")

In2342, Picard dated a young woman namedJenice at theCafé des Artistes inParis. Unfortunately, he became afraid of a possible future relationship and stood up Jenice, who later marriedPaul Manheim. (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris")

In2346, Picard metMiranda Vigo on Earth while he was on shore leave; they were introduced by amutual friend. Picard described it the as being involved for a short time, detailing that the affair was "all very romantic, very intense, probably because we both knew I would be leaving in twoweeks." The two kept in touch for awhile, but never crossed paths again. (TNG: "Bloodlines")

During his time in command of theStargazerMoritz Benayoun was hischief medical officer and undertook a mission to theFireforest ofCalyx. (PIC: "Maps and Legends")

During theCardassian wars, theStargazer was involved in a truce offering by the Federation. After making contact with aCardassian warship, Picard lowered the ship'sshields as a gesture of good will, but the Cardassian commander ignored the gesture and disabled theStargazer'sweapons andimpulse engines. TheStargazer managed to regroup and flee. (TNG: "The Wounded")

In2353, Picard was on anaway mission when he saved the life of one team member at the expense of another; Jack R. Crusher was lost in the line of duty. Picard met with Crusher's widow, Beverly, onStarbase 32 to present the body; it was one of Wesley Crusher's earliest memories. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "Coming of Age", "The Bonding", "Violations")

In 2355, theStargazer was seriously damaged in a battle withan unknown enemy vessel, later discovered to be a Ferengi ship. Picard managed to destroy the enemy vessel using theStargazer'swarp engines in a unique tactical maneuver (later named the "Picard Maneuver"), but was forced to abandon theStargazer aboarda shuttlecraft, where he and the other survivors travelled for weeks throughdeep space before being picked up by passing Federation starship. (TNG: "The Battle")

His actions during the battle were called into question byPhillipa Louvois, an officer of theJudge Advocate General during hiscourt martial, but he was exonerated by the inquiry board and was later awarded theGrankite Order of Tactics (Class of Excellence) for the development of the aforementioned "Picard Maneuver". (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man";Star Trek GenerationsPicard family album)

The encounter with the Ferengi vessel, later known as theBattle of Maxia, eventually came back to haunt Picard.DaiMonBok, whoseson was killed in the battle, twice tried to exact revenge on Picard. (TNG: "The Battle", "Bloodlines")

Meeting Natasha Yar[]

Picard'snext command found him responding to adistress call fromcolonists in theCarnelian minefield around2363. During this mission he first metNatasha Yar. (TNG: "Legacy")

Commanding the USSEnterprise NCC-1701-D[]

In 2363, Picard was assigned command of the newly commissionedGalaxy-class starshipUSSEnterprise-D, the most prestigious captaincy in Starfleet. He commanded the flagship for eight years, participating in many important missions. Among these were the defeat of the Borg invasion of2366, and his command of the fleet which blockaded theKlingon-Romulan border during theKlingon Civil War.

Picard hand-picked most of hissenior staff, such as two young officers who impressed him enough upon first meeting. Geordi La Forge once piloted Picard's inspection tour shuttle and stayed up all night torefit an engine part Picard had made a passing comment on, and Picard witnessed Natasha Yar risk her life to save colonists amid a Carnelian minefield. He had also picked William T. Riker as hisfirst officer and promoted him tocommander sight unseen, impressed by the young officer's record of independence. (TNG: "The Next Phase", "Legacy", "The Pegasus";PIC: "The Star Gazer"commemorative plaque)

Mere months after taking command, Picard was offered a promotion to commandant of Starfleet Academy with the rank of admiral by AdmiralGregory Quinn, but turned it down to retain command of theEnterprise. (TNG: "Coming of Age")

Although Picard often heatedly defended a strict interpretation of thePrime Directive, he broke it numerous times when he felt it was warranted. Thus, in 2364, he allowed anEdo woman to confront her "god" from space, and in2366, Picard brought aMintakan leader aboard theEnterprise to undo the damage done bycultural contamination. (TNG: "Justice", "Who Watches The Watchers", "The Drumhead") Furthermore, in2370, theEnterprise, by hand of Dr.Nikolai Rozhenko, transported a primitive group ofBoraalans into aholodeck fromBoraal II before anatmospheric dissipation rendered it uninhabitable. Although in violation of the Prime Directive, Picard ordered that the Boraalans be stealthily resettled, having no other humanitarian options. (TNG: "Homeward")

In 2369, when theEnterprise was undergoing abaryon sweep at theRemmler Array, Picard uncovered a plan, by mercenaries, to steal toxic waste from the ship'swarp core. He managed to take out all of the intruders by setting traps throughout the various sections of the ship. He even used theVulcan nerve pinch technique onDevor. (TNG: "Starship Mine")

Encounters with the Q entity[]

Commanding theEnterprise on her first mission, Picard made first contact with a member of theQ Continuum –Q. Picard and his senior officers had to stand trial forHumanity's immaturity. To prove their worthiness as a species, Picard had to solve the "mystery ofFarpoint Station." The crew of theEnterprise discovered that the inhabitants ofDeneb IV, theBandi, had captured a space-dwelling being to serve their own purpose. TheEnterprise helped to free the creature, and Q, somewhat disappointed by the crew's success, retreated, though he hinted that it would not be their final encounter. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

Thus, later that year, Q created a bizarre and deadly "game" for the crew of theEnterprise in order to demonstrate that he had given Riker Q-like abilities. Ultimately, Riker rejected these new powers, and Q again disappeared. (TNG: "Hide And Q") One year later, in 2365, Q first expressed an interest in joining Picard's crew. When Picard declined, Q tried to show how much he could be of assistance by hurling theEnterprise into the path of aBorg cube. Q was hoping to show that theFederation was entirely unprepared to meet some of the more powerful races that existed in the universe. Ultimately, Picard had to beg for Q's help in escaping from the pursuit of the Borg vessel. (TNG: "Q Who")

A fourth encounter with Q occurred in 2366, when the other members of the Continuum had stripped him of his omnipotence and immortality as punishment for his irresponsibility. He sought refuge on theEnterprise and, although Picard and the rest of the crew were initially unconvinced of the sincerity of Q's pleas, the captain agreed to provide Q temporaryasylum. As theEnterprise began to suffer fromCalamarain attack, Q resolved to end his life to prevent further risk to theEnterprise crew, butanother member of the Q Continuum prevented Q from sacrificing himself, and restored his powers as a reward for his selfless act. (TNG: "Deja Q")

Late in2367, Q returned to theEnterprise to "properly" thank Picard for his role in helping him regain his standing in the Continuum. At the time, Picard was meetingVash, whom he had met onRisa the year before. Q resolved to teach Picard a lesson about love and cast the captain, Vash, and theEnterprise command crew into an elaborate scenario styled by the ancient legend ofRobin Hood. Q himself assumed the role of theHigh Sheriff of Nottingham. Ultimately, Picard learned his lesson, and everyone was returned to theEnterprise. Intrigued by Vash, though, Q offered to take her on a journey of exploration to explore various archaeological ruins of thegalaxy, and she accepted. (TNG: "Qpid")

In 2369, Q once again appeared aboard theEnterprise, this time to instructAmanda Rogers, a Human who was the child of two Q and possessed Q powers herself. Although Q's petulant and acerbic attitude did little to ingratiate himself to Amanda, he eventually convinced her to go with him to the Continuum to learn to use her newfound abilities. (TNG: "True Q")

Later that same year, Q appeared to Picard when the latter was critically injured during anambush froma group of Lenarians. Appearing as "God", Q told Picard that he had died because of his artificial heart, and offered him the chance to return to the incident in his youth, allowing him to relive the events leading up to his near-fatal injury and change history. Although Picard was successful in changing history, he eventually realized that the event – and his previous nature as an arrogant, brash young man – was a part of his identity, and had helped mold him into the successfulStarfleet officer he had become. Although he was uncertain as to whether the experience had been real or simply a vision, Picard was grateful for Q's revelation. (TNG: "Tapestry")

In 2370, Q returned to theEnterprise to continue the trial against Humanity. Claiming that the seven-year-old trial had never actually ended, Q proclaimed Humanity guilty of "being inferior" and informed Picard that his race was to be destroyed. He sent Picard traveling through time to his past, present, and future, where he was presented with atemporal paradox in the form of an eruption ofanti-time in theDevron system. In this paradox, Picard himself was responsible for the creation of the anomaly that propagated backwards in normal time (anti-time having the opposite properties of normal time), thus destroying Humanity in the past.

In addition to sending Picard jumping through time, Q also provided Picard with hints to understanding the nature of the paradox. Ultimately, Picard determined the solution and devised a way to close the anti-time anomaly in all three time periods. Following the captain's success, Q revealed that the entire experience had been a test, aimed at determining whether Humanity was capable of expanding its horizons to understand some of the advanced concepts of the universe. Departing, Q promised to continue watching Humanity, proclaiming that "The trial never ends." (TNG: "All Good Things...")

Encounters with the Borg[]

In 2365, Q sent theEnterprise 7,000 light years into uncharted space, into the path of aBorg cube. Although theEnterprise suffered losses, it became the first ship known by the Federation to survive an encounter with the Borg, and managed to inform Starfleet of the Borg's existence. (TNG: "Q Who")

One year later, in 2366, the Borg launched their first invasion of the Federation. A single cube destroyed theNew Providencecolony and theUSSLalo, and kidnapped Picard when theEnterprise attempted to intervene. Picard was partiallyassimilated and became aBorg drone known asLocutus of Borg. The cube proceeded towards Earth and engaged Starfleet in theBattle of Wolf 359, resulting in the destruction of 39 Federation vessels. On arrival at Earth, anaway team from theEnterprise successfully rescued Picard and used his connection to the Borg to implant false data in the cube, destroying it. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II") It was revealed years later that his assimilation and time spent in theCollective had a profoundly disturbing effect on Picard's life. (Star Trek: First Contact) Unbeknownst to Picard or Starfleet, the Borg genetically altered Picard while he was Locutus, turning him into a receiver without the need for organic implants. This would result in Picard being able to hear the Borg Collective whenever they were in close proximity to him and later caused his physical death from what was misdiagnosed asIrumodic Syndrome. (PIC: "Vox")

TheEnterprise again encountered the Borg in2368 when they rescued a Borg drone from a crashed Borg shuttle. This drone was cut off from the Collective and slowly regained an individual identity, eventually being namedHugh. Initially, the plan was drafted to use Hugh to destroy the collective in its entirety, although Dr. Beverly Crusher resisted the extermination of an entire race – even if it was the Borg. Picard eventually confronted Hugh, who immediately recognized Picard as Locutus. Picard took the role of Locutus while talking to Hugh, to simulate the authority that Hugh was used to. Geordi La Forge,Data, Dr. Crusher, and other members of theEnterprise crew had a profound effect on the former drone. EvenGuinan, who initially wanted nothing to do with Hugh, taught him that resistance is not futile. Guinan's homeworld had been destroyed long ago by the Borg, but the fact that Guinan was still alive was proof of this assertion.

When Picard reminded Hugh that "resistance is futile," Hugh informed him that it was not so. When Picard told Hugh that La Forge would be assimilated, Hugh stated that La Forge did not want to be assimilated. When Picard said that this was irrelevant, Hugh specifically said that he (and Hugh used the word "I") would not assist in the assimilation of La Forge. Picard was stunned that a Borg drone would say such things. He decided that he could not send Hugh back with the file that would destroy the Borg. Picard offered Hugh asylum on board theEnterprise, but Hugh said that the Collective would not stop looking for him until they found him. Hugh agreed to go back to the crash site and to be taken back into the Collective, to protect theEnterprise from harm. (TNG: "I Borg")

The individuality present in Hugh spread through the ship he returned to, causing a catastrophic separation of the ship from the rest of the Collective. This rogue mini-collective was unsure how to cope with its freedom, and so fell under the influence of the androidLore. Lore persuaded them to aid his plan to conquer Earth. Using therogue ship, they attacked several outposts before being tracked down by the crew of theEnterprise-D. They destroyed the Borg ship and were able to persuade the remaining members of the mini-collective of Lore's unreliability. The mini-collective then disappeared into space and has not been encountered since. (TNG: "Descent", "Descent, Part II")

There were some within Starfleet who blamed Picard for the destruction of the task force atWolf 359.Benjamin Sisko, who was serving asfirst officer of theUSSSaratoga at the time, lost his wifeJennifer in the attack. Picard and Sisko finally met in2369, after theEnterprise was the first Starfleet vessel to arrive atDeep Space 9. Sisko was, at first, hostile toward Picard, but later came to forgive him. Sisko also gave Picard his letter of resignation, which Picard did not send, feeling Sisko was the right person for command of Deep Space 9. (DS9: "Emissary")

In2373, the Borg launched their second invasion of the Federation, and again the crew of theEnterprise played a major role in their defeat. Initially, theEnterprise was not to have participated in theBattle of Sector 001, because according toStarfleet Command, Picard would bring an "unstable element into a critical situation." Seeing that the Borg were getting the best of the fleet, Picard ordered theEnterprise to Earth to assist. He was instrumental in defeating both the main invasion and an attempt by the Borg to prevent the formation of the Federation by altering history. (Star Trek: First Contact)

Kamin and the Ressikan probe[]

In2368, theEnterprise encountered a spaceprobe of unknown origin, which emitted anucleonic beam directly at Picard. This led to his fainting and awakening on an unknown world where he was known as an ironworker namedKamin and was married toEline. Picard later found out that Kamin was a member of theRessik community on a planet calledKataan. For five years, Picard clung to his life aboard theEnterprise and searched for ways to return, but eventually settled into his life as Kamin, having two children with Eline and eventually a grandchild. In the approximately thirty-five years Picard spent as Kamin, he learned to play theRessikan flute, dabbled inastronomy, and analyzed soil samples from the planet, eventually confirming that Kataan was a dying world.

Near the end of his life on Kataan, it was revealed to Picard that Kataan had been destroyed more than a thousand years previously, and the residents of the Ressik community had engineered the probe to share the memory and experiences of their people with someone who could then teach others about their civilization. He awoke on theEnterprise as Jean-Luc Picard once more and discovered that he had lived a lifetime in only twenty-five minutes. The probe was collected by theEnterprise and disassembled. A Ressikan flute was found inside the probe, which Riker then presented to Picard. (TNG: "The Inner Light")

Picard considered the flute to be one of his most prized possessions. As of2379, he kept the flute on his desk in hisready room aboard theUSSEnterprise-E. (TNG: "Lessons";Star Trek Nemesis)

Picard playing the Ressikan flute^{file info}

Loss and Destruction of the USSEnterprise NCC-1701-D[]

In2371, the USSEnterprise-D was lost overVeridian III, with the vessel'sprimary hull crash-landing on the planet's surface. Picard also met the legendaryJames T. Kirk while in theNexus with him, and recruited him in defeating and killing Dr.Tolian Soran before he could have the chance to destroy the Veridian system. The casualties were light aboard theEnterprise, and most of the ship's senior crew was reassigned to theSovereign-classUSSEnterprise-E, the sixth Federation starship to bear the name. (Star Trek Generations;Star Trek: First Contact)

Commanding the USSEnterprise NCC-1701-E[]

Stopping the Borg[]

Picard was installed ascommanding officer and given a newauthorization code: "Picard-4-7-alpha-tango." After a one-yearshakedown cruise, the newEnterprise was nearly lost when the senior staff decided to sacrifice the ship in order to save Earth's future by preventing the Borg on board from changing history. Fortunately, the crew was able to repel the Borg attempt without having to destroy theEnterprise. (Star Trek: First Contact)

The Ba'ku and the Son'a[]

Two years later, in2375, Picard ordered theEnterprise-E to theBa'ku planet in theBriar Patch when it appeared that his operations officer,Lieutenant Commander Data, had malfunctioned and assaulted members of the research team there. Picard was able to capture Data and uncovered a plot by AdmiralDougherty, theSon'a and some in theFederation Council to relocate the Ba'ku against their will. Picard rebelled against Dougherty, bringing word of his actions to the public. Picard was able to protect the Ba'ku and stop Son'a leaderRu'afo from destroying the Ba'ku's homeworld. (Star Trek: Insurrection)

Dealing with the Romulans[]

Four years later, in2379, Picard continued in command of theEnterprise-E when the ship was sent toRomulus after thecoup byPraetorShinzon. Shinzon was aclone of Picard created by a formerRomulan government, who intended to replace the captain with a spy of their own. Following a change of government and concern that it would lead to war, the plan was abandoned and Shinzon was sent toRemus to die. Instead, he prospered, becoming a highly successful leader during theDominion War. Shinzon used athalaron radiation weapon to eradicate theRomulan Senate and had planned to do the same to Earth. He needed Picard in order to repair faults in his own genetic makeup.

In a pitched battle between theEnterprise and Shinzon'sflagship, theScimitar, Picard was eventually able to board the enemy ship and eliminate Shinzon. Data saved Picard's life by transporting the captain back to theEnterprise before sacrificing his own life; he destroyed theScimitar by firing on the thalaron weapon with a handphaser, thereby saving the crew of theEnterprise. (Star Trek Nemesis)

In2380, Q remarked that Picard was "no fun, he's always quoting Shakespeare, he's always making wine." (LD: "Veritas")

Admiralty[]

By2381, Picard had been promoted to admiral and was substantially funding the work of independent archaeologistPetra Aberdeen as a patron of theIndependent Archaeologists Guild. (LD: "The Stars At Night")

Picard met Riker for a celebratory drink to toast Riker and Troi's newborn sonThaddeus. Riker informed Picard of the touch-and-go delivery and how Riker felt like he was about to lose his son then. (PIC: "Seventeen Seconds")

In2384,Vice AdmiralKathryn Janeway told her crew that she promised Admiral Picard that she wouldn't lose theUSSVoyager-A in theDelta Quadrant like she did theUSSVoyager. It was left unclear if Janeway was joking or not to break the ice of meeting her new bridge crew. (PRO: "Into the Breach, Part I")

Evacuating the Romulan people[]

By2385, he was tasked with developing a fleet of ships to help rescue the populations ofRomulus and other worlds of the Romulan Star Empire that were within the blast radius of an impendingsupernova. The Romulan government had requested the Federation's aid in this. (PIC: "Remembrance")

Sometime later, Picard had managed to help get some of the Romulan refugees toVashti, in theBeta Quadrant. He visited the planet several times and on one occasion, broughtElnor, a young Romulan boy he had befriended and placed under the care of theQowat Milat, a copy of the bookThe Three Musketeers, and onApril 5, 2385, began to teach him to fence. During the lesson,Raffi Musiker informed him that the rescue fleet under construction onMarswas under attack by rogueSynths. Picard, shocked at the news, bid farewell to the Qowat Milat and told them that he would try everything within his power to make sure the rest of their people could be saved. (PIC: "Absolute Candor")

The attack destroyed not only all the ships of the rescue fleet but alsoUtopia Planitia Fleet Yards and ignited thestratosphere for years to come, rendering theterraformed planet uninhabitable. Picard described the attack, which cost over 92,000 lives, as "devastating" in aFederation News Network broadcast at the time. Following this, the Federation chose both to enact aban on the creation of synthetic lifeforms and to cancel the Romulan evacuation, dooming the majority of the population to death by the eventual supernova in2387. Picard met with theFederation Council with a plan for a new fleet, with "mothballed" ships and significantly fewer officers on reserve duty, but believed that the evacuation could still work; he gave the council a choice: either his new fleet or his resignation.

In truth, however, his threat to resign from Starfleet was the last, desperate card Picard had to play to continue the evacuation plan, and he was stunned and dismayed when the Council simply accepted it. Picard called the ban on synths "a mistake." His resignation angered Raffi Musiker, who had believed in his idea and suspected possibleTal Shiar involvement in the attack on Mars. (PIC: "Remembrance";ST: "Children of Mars";PIC: "The End is the Beginning";Star Trek)

Retirement[]

Following his resignation, Picard returned to his childhood home in France where he lived a pleasant but unfulfilling life. Living with him were two Romulan refugeesLaris and herhusbandZhaban who joined his household about four years later, and also his pet dog,Number One. He spent the next twelve years writing history books and tending to the vineyard. As the years wore on, Picard started to be plagued with haunting dreams of Data and the destruction of Mars. (PIC: "Remembrance")

Zhat Vash mystery[]

In2399, now ninety-four years old, Picard was sought out byDahj Asha, an android created from the remaining neural code from Lieutenant Commander Data. After having a dream about Data painting, Picard went to his vault inside theStarfleet Archive Museum to inspect a painting that Data had given him in2369. The woman in the painting looked exactly like Dahj, and since Data had named the painting "daughter", Picard concluded that Dahj must be an android, too. Dahj found Picard outside the archive, where he explained to her what he had learned. They were chased by Romulan operatives and Dahj was killed. Picard sought out cyberneticistDr.Agnes Jurati at theDaystrom Institute to find more information about the deceased young woman. Jurati told him thatBruce Maddox might have managed to create androids based on Data's code, including Dahj and a"twin" sister. (PIC: "Remembrance")

Back at Château Picard,Laris, Picard, andZhaban reviewed the security footage from Starfleet Headquarters where Dahj was killed. The computer told them that there was no trace of Dahj. This led Laris to believe that the Tal Shiar or even theZhat Vash were behind the attack and were covering up their tracks. Soon after, Picard and Laris investigated Dahj's apartment in the greater Boston area. They discovered that their fears were true and the Zhat Vash were behind the events that were unfolding. Later that night, Dr.Moritz Benayoun visited Picard to inform him that he could not clear Picard for interstellar travel. Picard had passed all the tests Starfleet required, save for the abnormality in hisparietal lobe. Picard went to Starfleet Headquarters to speak withFleet admiralKirsten Clancy to be reinstated and given a small ship and crew to track down Maddox and the second android. Still angered by the interview Picard gave only days before condemning Starfleet for abandoning the Romulan rescue effort, Clancy denied his request. Later, Picard was visited by Dr. Jurati who informed him that Dahj's background had been created within the last few years, and there was no record of her before that time. Picard sought the help of his former first officer,Raffi Musiker, to find an unregistered ship and off the books pilot he could hire to help him track downBruce Maddox and solve the Zhat Vash mystery. (PIC: "Maps and Legends")

Picard was able to get Musiker to agree to help after having a heart-to-heart with her. He apologized for letting her down and not being there when she needed him most. She put him in contact withCristóbal Rios, the experienced pilot andCO ofLa Sirena. Picard beamed aboard Rios's ship, where he met the captain and hisEmergency Medical Hologram. Picard and Rios discussed the latter's past with Starfleet and the job Picard was offering, which Rios seemed willing to accept. Back at the Château, Picard revealed toLaris that he never really felt at home at the vineyard and always felt he was best suited for life out among the stars. AfterZhaban entered with provisions for Picard's journey, the three were attacked by Zhat Vash agents. They managed to defend themselves and dispatch the attackers. When a straggler came into the room after the main group, trying to shoot Picard, he was killed by Agnes Jurati, who had showed up unannounced. Jurati told Picard that Commodore Oh visited her and asked her about her conversations with him. Picard then interrogated one of the Romulan attackers and learned that they believed that Soji was "the Destroyer", "the end of all". Before Picard and the others could learn more, the Romulan agent committed suicide with an acid capsule hidden in his teeth. Moments later, Rios called Picard to warn him of more trouble headed his way. Dr. Jurati convinced Picard to take her along on his mission, and the two beamed aboardLa Sirena. To Picard's surprise, he found that Musiker was there, too. She told Picard that, based on the information he gave her, she had discovered that Bruce Maddox was onFreecloud. Picard ordered Rios to jump to warp to begin their mission. (PIC: "The End is the Beginning")

A short while into the mission, Picard decided to have Rios change course toVashti. Ostensibly, he wished to visit theQowat Milat, an all female order of Romulan warrior nuns, and find aqalankhkai, a sworn blade, to join his cause. Musiker suspected he was really looking forElnor, a young Romulan Picard had developed paternal feelings towards during the Romulan Rescue Mission. Musiker informed Picard that Vashti had become grimmer since he had last visited, and the destruction of the Romulanhomeworld left many with bitter feelings towards the Federation. Once on Vashti, Picard reunited with the Qowat Milat. He was surprised to find Elnor still living among them. Elnor, who had once admired Picard, was now feeling resentful since Picard had abandoned him and his people. Picard asked Elnor to become hisqalankkhai, but Elnor refused. While waiting for a transporter window to return to the ship, Picard decided to have a drink in a tavern with a "Romulans Only" sign, which he tore down. A formerRomulan senator confronted Picard about the failures of the Federation, and escalated the conflict to a physical fight. Picard refused to fight the man, and was saved by Elnor, who declared himself Picard'sqalankkhai. Once the two of them were back onLa Sirena, the ship was attacked byKar Kantar, a local warlord commanding an oldRomulan Bird-of-Prey. During the fight, a mysterious ship appeared to help but was nearly destroyed in the process. Once the Bird-of-Prey was disabled Picard, Rios, and Musiker beamed the pilot on boardLa Sirena, to discover it wasSeven of Nine, who was working for theFenris Rangers. As soon as she was safe on board, Seven quipped, "You owe me a ship, Picard" and passed out. (PIC: "Absolute Candor")

Back en route to Freecloud, Seven and Picard met in his study onLa Sirena'sholodeck and discussed Picard's mission and Seven's work as a vigilante. Seven thought Picard was on a typical grandiose diplomatic mission, but when he told her he was trying to save someone who had no-one else to help her, Seven agreed to help him. Upon arriving at Freecloud, Picard and the others came up with a plan to extractBruce Maddox fromBjayzl, the nightclub owner and ruthless merchant of Borg parts who was holding him prisoner. Picard played the part of a bounty hunter who offered Seven of Nine in exchange for Maddox. During the meeting, Seven revealed that she knew Bjayzl and was planning to kill her as revenge for Bjayzl butcheringIcheb, the ex-Borg who Seven considered a son and mercy killed. Rios and Picard managed to de-escalate the situation and rescue Maddox. Back onLa Sirena, Picard appealed to Seven not to try and seek revenge. Seven asked him if after his time in theBorg Collective he felt he had gained back his Humanity. Picard admitted he did not think he had gained back all of it, "but we're both working on it, aren't we?" Seven agreed, but beamed back down to Freecloud to kill Bjayzl anyway. Later Picard met with Maddox in sickbay, and Maddox told him about Soji and revealed that she was on theArtifact. (PIC: "Stardust City Rag")

On the way to the Artifact, Jurati and Picard discussed the death of Bruce Maddox and Picard's past as Locutus of Borg. It became clear that Picard was still traumatized by his time in the collective and he got angry when Jurati suggested the isolated Borg on the Artifact might have changed. He retreated to his holographic study, where he had been researching theBorg Reclamation Project and its director,Hugh, a former Borg Picard had encountered decades earlier. In order to gain access to the Artifact, Picard asked Musiker to use her connection to CaptainEmmy Bosch to provide him with diplomatic credentials. Bosch made him a special envoy to the Reclamation Project, but the Romulans refused to letSirena land and insisted Picard had to beam over alone. Once on board the cube, he was plagued by horrific flashbacks of his tenure as Locutus of Borg. TwoxBs saved Picard from falling, to which he initially mistook for an attack. Hugh then made his presence known and told Picard that they were saving him from falling. After welcoming Picard, the two shared a heartfelt reunion, and Hugh showed Picard around the Reclamation Project, explaining his work and the plight of the xBs. He agreed to help Picard in finding Soji, but when they went to her quarters they found them empty and in disarray. Hugh was initially unable to track Soji, leading Picard to guess someone might be keeping her hidden. Once Soji freed herself from the death trap Narek set for her, though, her signal reappeared and Hugh and Picard tracked her down. Although Picard told Soji he was a friend of her father's and that her sister had come to Picard for help, she was hesitant to trust him. Ultimately, though, she believed him when he said he was trying to help her, and Picard, Hugh and Soji fled from the Romulans that were pursuing them to thequeencell. Hugh activated theSikarianspatial trajector hidden in the cell to help Picard and Soji escape. When they were accosted by Romulan guards, Elnor came to the rescue, after having gained access to the Artifact despite Picard's orders to stay onLa Sirena. Picard told Musiker and Rios he was going to take Soji toNepenthe, and they should rendezvous there. He ordered Elnor to come along, but Elnor refused, insisting he should cover Picard's escape. (PIC: "The Impossible Box")

Upon arriving on Nepenthe, Picard and Soji were greeted byKestra Troi-Riker, the daughter ofWilliam T. Riker andDeanna Troi. Kestra took the two visitors to the Rikers' residence, where Picard joyfully reunited with Deanna and Will. Picard explained the situation to them and they welcomed him and Soji to stay as long as they needed. During the visit, Picard spent time with his old friends, reminiscing about the Rikers' late sonThaddeus Troi-Riker and discussing Soji and his current mission. Initially, Picard did not want to give away the details, Will was able to guess that Soji was Data's daughter, and thus an android. At dinner, Deanna and Will helped Picard to convince Soji she could trust him, and Soji revealed how Narek had manipulated her into telling him about her homeworld. Going off the details she mentions and with the help of a friend, Kestra was able to identify the planet Soji was describing asGhulion IV, and they all agreed Picard should get help from Starfleet and take Soji to her homeworld. (PIC: "Nepenthe")

After getting back toLa Sirena and making introductions, Picard asked Rios to plot a course forDeep Space 12 and to get him a secure channel to Starfleet Command. In his holographic study, Picard spoke with Admiral Clancy about Soji and the other possible synths and asked for a squadron to travel to theVayt sector. He proceeded to add arguments to his cause before Clancy bluntly shushed him, telling him that a squadron would meet him at DS12. After this, Picard spoke with Dr. Jurati in sickbay, where told her she would be turning herself in at DS12 for the murder of Bruce Maddox. Jurati told him about the mission Commodore Oh gave her and theAdmonition, though Picard remained somewhat skeptical. Soon after, the crew gathered and, guided by Musiker, pieced together the truth about the Zhat Vash, the Attack on Mars, Commodore Oh, and the synths. Realizing she had given the Romulans the means to eradicate her people, Soji tried to hijackLa Sirena and change their course to head directly for her homeworld and warn the synths there of the impending attack. Rios was able to regain control of the ship, but Picard agreed with Soji and tried to take command ofSirena himself. He was foiled when he was unable to work the ship's controls. Soji managed to convince Rios to help take her home, and together, they headed for thetranswarp conduit that would take them to Ghulion IV. (PIC: "Broken Pieces")

"Death" and resurrection[]

Upon arriving on the synth homeworld ofCoppelius, in whichLa Sirena crashed on the surface, Jurati was able to discover the abnormality in Picard's brain, which he revealed to the rest of the crew as beingdiagnosed as terminal just beforeLa Sirena left Earth. He made a point of saying he would not be treated like a dying man, and they would continue with the mission. As he had promised, he delivered Soji to her people atCoppelius Station, a community of synths led by Dr.Altan Soong, the son of Data's creator Noonian Soong. Picard and Soji told the assembled synths that the Romulans were en route to their world to destroy them. Picard sent a secure message to Starfleet informing them that he had made first contact and requested diplomatic negotiations and Starfleet protection for Coppelius and its inhabitants. The synth community, led bySutra, had come to another conclusion: They had discovered that the "Admonition" that the Zhat Vash believed to be a warning against synthetics was in fact a message meantfor synthetics, to call for help from a hidden race of advanced artificial lifeforms to preserve their existence... even if it meant exterminating organic life in the process. In order to stop him from trying to instill doubt in the others, Soong and Sutra ordered that Picard be held under house arrest. (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1")

Picard was eventually rescued by Jurati, and the two of them traveled toLa Sirena; unbeknownst to them, the others had returned to Coppelius Station to stop the construction of the transmitter. Having learned the ship's controls from his observations of Rios, Picard was able to take the ship back into orbit and face down the Romulan fleet, led by Commodore Oh, now revealed as a Romulan general. A fleet of Starfleet ships, led by Riker aboard theUSSZheng He, arrived in response to Picard's transmission, informing the Romulans that Coppelius was under Federation protection. Picard pleaded on an open channel with Soji, who was working to build the transmitter, to not become the "Destroyer" that the Romulans believed her to be. Finally giving in, Soji destroyed the transmitter, leaving the Romulans no choice but to withdraw in the face of the overwhelming Starfleet force. With Coppelius saved, Picard collapsed, his body beginning to fail as the result of his illness. He was beamed to the planet's surface, where he died in the company of the crew he had led on this mission. Soong had been working to create agolem to transfer his consciousness into, and had just completed the work before the Romulans arrived; working with Jurati and Soji, Soong was able to transfer Picard's consciousness and memories into the golem before his brain functions ceased completely. (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")

With a second chance at life, he continued on with the crew ofLa Sirena, noting along withSoji Asha that with the Federation's synthetic ban lifted, they were both free to travel as they pleased. Notably, thegolem'sneural net did not contain the defect in Picard'sparietal lobe that caused the death of hisHuman body. The android body was built to be identical to his Human body in all other ways, lacking any enhanced physical or mental abilities and having the same remaining lifespan Picard's Human body would have had if not for his brain defect. (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")

Return to Starfleet[]

By2401, Picard was reinstated as an admiral in Starfleet, and appointedChancellor of Starfleet Academy. He also continued to runChâteau Picard. Zhaban had already passed away some time prior, and his widow Laris made her affections known to Picard. Despite clearly having romantic feelings for her, Picard's sense of duty left him unable to reciprocate. When Picard suggested that nothing had to change between them following her confession, Laris responded that ruing would be awkward and she was too old for awkward.

Shortly after giving the opening statement atStarfleet Academy, Picard was visited byFleet AdmiralSally Whitley on a very sensitive matter. Whitley explained that an anomaly showed up in space, caused a large spike inAdler-Lasky temporal radiation, and then began to broadcast. She played the initial distorted broadcast, then filtered it out to "help us, Picard". Whitley explained the transmission fell underArticle 15, an entreaty to join theFederation and, apparently, they only wished to speak to Picard about it. She held out acombadge for him, which he reluctantly accepted.

Picard boarded theUSSStargazer, now under Rios' command, in order to initiate contact with the anomaly. When there was no reply to his hail, he tried again, only for a legion of voices to speak his name. Energy spikes caused the consoles and viewscreen to stutter and something began coming through the rift. Rios called forred alert and ordered the helm to give them distance. A massive vessel came through the rift and emitted ashock wave. It soon became apparent that the vessel was Borg. While Picard and others debated whether the Borg should be trusted, theBorg Queen, covered in metallic armor, arrived on the Stargazer and began to take control of the ship. In order to stop the Borg Queen from taking over the vessel, Picard called for the ship toself-destruct.

Picard suddenly found himself in analternate timeline where the Federation had been replaced by a militaristicConfederation of Earth whose goal to eliminate all other life in the galaxy. He was then visited by Q who reminded Picard about the words that he said to him when they last parted ways, "the trial never ends." Q reminded Picard about how he had talked about second chances and told him that he was now at the "very end of the road not taken." (PIC: "The Star Gazer")

Picard soon discovered that he was not alone in this timeline – Q had brought Rios, Jurati, Raffi, Elnor, and Seven as well. A captured Borg Queen, scheduled for execution, revealed that, since the Borg have insight into varioustimelines, she knew the when the timeline divergence occurred – the year2024. After hooking up the Queen to theCSSLa Sirena, the crew traveled to Earth that year, crash-landing next to the Château, which had been deserted since World War II at that time, before transporting to Los Angeles.

Thanks to aWatcher namedTallinn, Picard discovered that the focal point of the divergence was his ancestor,Renee Picard, who was scheduled to depart on theEuropa space mission. (PIC: "Watcher") Tallinn informed Picard that Renee suffered from debilitating bouts of depression, which reminded Picard of his own mother who suffered from the same condition. (PIC: "Monsters")

Ultimately, the entire scenario was Q's effort to help Jean-Luc deal with the trauma of his mother's suicide when he was a child. The timeline was restored, and Q sent the group, minus Rios, who elected to stay in 2024, back to the Stargazer just before Picard called for the self-destruct. He quickly realized that the mysterious Borg Queen was Agnes, who had been assimilated by the Queen in 2024. Her intent was not malicious – it was to warn the Federation of the real threat the anomaly posed. Though the Queen knew how the anomaly could be defended against, she did not know the nature of the threat and asked for provisional membership in the Federation so that she could be "the guardian at the gates."

Picard returned to the Château and discovered that Laris had arranged for the solarium to be restored to its former glory. She also began preparing to leave the Château for good. Having come to understand the origin of his difficulties regarding long-term relationships, Picard admitted his foolish behavior and asked Laris for her forgiveness and a second chance. Laris agreed. (PIC: "Farewell")

Second retirement[]

Later that year, Picard retired from Starfleet again and made preparations to accompany Laris toChaltok IV where she would be setting up diplomatic security. The plan changed when he received an encrypted message from Dr. Beverly Crusher, asking for his help. (PIC: "The Next Generation")

Subsequently, Picard was reunited with his old command crew andSeven of Nine on theUSSTitan-A and discovered thatJack Crusher, the target ofVadic and a rogue faction of theChangelings, was actually his son.

Vadic had stolen Picard's original, Human body from where it was stored atDaystrom Station in order to extract a part of his brain. Ultimately, his body was destroyed along with Vadic and her ship, theShrike. (PIC: "The Bounty", "Surrender", "Võx")

Following the defeat of Vadic, it was discovered that Picard had been genetically altered when he was Locutus of Borg to be a Borg receiver. This resulted in Picard subsequently being able to hear the Borg Collective even without implants in the years following his rescue from assimilation. The alteration had been misdiagnosed asIrumodic Syndrome and was what had actually killed him. Jack inherited this genetic abnormality from Picard, but he instead become a transmitter capable of communicating with the Collective. The Changelings utilized the abnormality, extracted from Picard's former body, to allow the Borg to take over Starfleet officers and begin the assimilation of the Federation, virtually unchallenged.

With theTitan-A falling under Borg control, Seven andRaffi Musiker fighting a rebellion, and Jack captured, Picard, Beverly, Will Riker, Worf, Data, Deanna Troi, and Geordi La Forge retreated to theFleet Museum, which was under La Forge's command. La Forge revealed that he had spent the last twenty years secretly rebuilding thedestroyed USSEnterprise-D, the saucer section of which had been recovered from Veridian III to avoid impacting the planet's development, in accordance with the Prime Directive. As an older ship, theEnterprise was not linked into Starfleet's mainframe and its modern fleet automation system, and was thus unaffected by the Borg takeover. Picard resumed command of his old ship to once again fight the Borg, humorously accepting a fielddemotion to the rank of captain after theEnterprise computer identified him as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, due to the long-outdatedcrew manifest. (PIC: "Võx") He, in turn, ordered everyone to take their stations and to set course for Earth.

Under Picard's leadership, theEnterprise engaged a Borg cube overJupiter, where Jack was held and used to communicate with all of the assimilated Starfleet officers. Picard beamed aboard the Borg ship to rescue Jack, while Riker and Worf boarded to locate the beacon used to command the compromised fleet. Picard was confronted by his old enemy, the Borg Queen. She revealed that the Borg Collective had been decimated to the point of near destruction by theneurolytic pathogen spread by analternate timeline version of AdmiralKathryn Janeway decades earlier. (VOY: "Endgame") The Queen resorted to cannibalism to survive; the Collective had been reduced to a handful of drones, a single cube, and the aged and starving Queen.

In an effort to save his son, Picard linked with Jack, who eventually broke free as theEnterprise-D destroyed the beacon. With a chain reaction desolating the cube, Deanna took theEnterprise helm to intercept and retrieve the away team. She detected their position via her mental link with Riker, beaming Picard, Jack, Worf, and her husband out at the last moment. TheEnterprise raced free of the cube as it exploded, ending the Borg once and for all and breaking their control over Starfleet. As a reward for saving the Federation, Picard and his crew all received full pardons for their criminal actions while Seven was promoted to the rank of captain.

A year later, Picard and La Forge returned a fully-restoredEnterprise-D to the Fleet Museum for display. Picard, having returned to his retirement, enjoyed a drink and a game of poker with his old command crew at10 Forward Avenue. He also accompanied Jack to the formerTitan-A to see his son off on his first assignment as a Starfleetensign. Now under the command of Captain Seven, the ship was rechristened theUSSEnterprise-G in honor of the actions of Picard and his command crew. While on theEnterprise-G, Jack was visited by Q, who revealed that while the trial of Humanity was over for Picard, it had just begun for Jack. (PIC: "The Last Generation")

Anything but canon account[]

Legacy[]

By the32nd century, Picard's personal files were still part of the Federation and Starfleet databases that survivedthe Burn. In3189, theUSSDiscovery'schief science officer, CommanderMichael Burnham, examined his files and saw his encounter with her brother Spock on Romulus. (DIS: "Unification III", "Terra Firma, Part 1";TNG: "Unification II")

In3190,Hugh Culber cited Picard'sresurrection as the first successful implementation of theSoong Method when he was preparing to use it to provideGray Tal with a new body. Following the success with Picard, there was a low success rate with other people, and it was eventually abandoned. (DIS: "Anomaly (DIS)")

In3191,DoctorKovich told Burnham about Picard's involvement with the discovery of theProgenitors and showed Burnham footage of Picard receiving the Progenitors' message. Kovich revealed that following Picard's discovery, DoctorVellek – one of theRomulans present when Picard uncovered the Progenitors' message – had subsequently discovered the technology used by the Progenitors to create humanoid life. Starfleet had also kept the discovery top secret for centuries out of fear of what might happen should the technology fall into the wrong hands. The discovery ofVellek's science ship started atreasure hunt for the Progenitors' technology. (TNG: "The Chase";DIS: "Red Directive")

Alternate realities and timelines[]

Energy vortex encounter[]

In2365, theEnterprise-D was pulled into anenergy vortex and could not return to normal space. In order not to be pulled even further, La Forge had to hold the ship at maximum warp, but such power drainage threatened to destroy theEnterprise. Thinking that the vortex recognized him as the "brain" of the ship and wanted him, and not theEnterprise, Picard boarded theshuttleEl-Baz and left the vessel. TheEnterprise was still destroyed, and theEl-Baz was pulled six hours back in time, where it was picked up by that time period'sEnterprise. Picard encountered his past self, who wanted to discover what would happen to the ship in the future and how to prevent it. Frantic, the future Picard tried to depart in theEl-Baz again, but his past counterpart decided that it was time "to end the cycle" and killed him with a phaser. TheEnterprise was then able to escape the vortex. (TNG: "Time Squared")

Federation-Klingon War[]

In2366, theUSSEnterprise-C emerged from atemporal rift. Its disappearance from the year2344 caused an altered timeline, where the Federation was losing awar against theKlingon Empire. Picard was still theEnterprise-D's commanding officer, though more toughened due to the horrors of war. Upon Guinan's advice, Picard decided to send theEnterprise-C back to the past. After CaptainRachel Garrett was killed during aKlingon attack, Picard allowedRichard Castillo to assume command and return theEnterprise-C to2344. (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

Nausicaan attack[]

In an alternate timeline created by Q, Picard was given the chance to walk away from his fight with the Nausicaan that caused serious injury to his heart, forcing abionic replacement to be installed. When he returned to the present, Picard was a merelieutenant junior grade, with Worf as his supervisor. This was because his near-death experience made the young Picard realize just how fragile life was and how important it could be, thus making him even more determined to make his mark in the universe and take risks; as it was, all Picard learned from the incident was to play it safe and not take risks. Picard convinced Q to allow him to correct the damage to his timeline and returned to his reality (although it was never confirmed whether thisactually happened or if it was just a near-death hallucination). (TNG: "Tapestry")

Quantum fissure encounter[]

In2370, Lieutenant Worf encountered aquantum fissure which caused him to begin shifting betweenquantum realities. In several universes, Picard was still captain of theEnterprise and attended a surprise birthday party for Worf, though his services were stated to be required on the bridge. In the final universe in which Worf arrived, William Riker was the captain, as Picard was lost in the Borg encounter of2367. In another reality, the Borg had invaded the Federation and theEnterprise was one of the few ships left. Worf was finally returned to his own quantum reality and the quantum fissure was sealed. (TNG: "Parallels")

Anti-time encounters[]

Also in 2370, while standing trial by Q, Picard's consciousness was shifting between three alternate timelines. Inan alternate 2364, Picard disobeyed Starfleet orders from the moment he arrived on board theEnterprise at Earth Station McKinley. He called a red alert while docked at the station, ordered the ship to the Devron system instead of to Farpoint Station and took the vessel into a temporal anomaly there. Inan alternate 2370, Picard was diagnosed withIrumodic Syndrome by Dr. Crusher. This caused her to reconsider her relationship with Picard, and she reversed her earlier decision to remain just friends. TheEnterprise was dispatched to the Devron system near the Romulan Neutral Zone where it discovered the temporal anomaly. In anunknown, alternate future timeframe, Picard found himself at his family's vineyard with Geordi La Forge. Picard contacted Riker, now an admiral andcommanding officer ofStarbase 247, for help in investigating the anomaly, but Riker refused to allow him passage to the Neutral Zone, thinking Picard had been affected by his Irumodic Syndrome and was delusional. Later, Picard convinced his ex-wife, Beverly Picard, to take her medical ship, theUSSPasteur, to investigate the anomaly. ThePasteur was attacked and destroyed byKlingon battleships, but theEnterprise, under command of Admiral Riker, arrived to rescue the crew and fight off the Klingons. Picard once again pleaded with Riker to return to theDevron system, but he was then sedated and returned to quarters. Armed with new information gathered from the other two timeframes, Picard woke and went to talk to Riker and the other formerEnterprise officers, and convinced them that the anomaly existed. TheEnterprise returned just in time to watch it form, and Riker ordered theEnterprise into the anomaly, where it used astatic warp shell in concert with the otherEnterprises to collapse it. After the anomaly was sealed, the timelines were erased, and only Picard retained memory of those events. He told his staff of his experiences in the future, in hopes that things such as the conflict between Worf and Riker that followed Deanna Troi's death never happen. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

The Nexus[]

In2371, Picard was briefly trapped in theNexus during a mission to stop renegadeEl-Aurianscientist Dr.Tolian Soran from destroying theVeridian system. In the perfect world in the Nexus, his nephew René (who had recently died in a fire) was still alive, and he had a wife and four children. Realizing that it wasn't real, he rejected the reality offered to him and left the Nexus to defeat Soran with the aid of Captain James T. Kirk. (Star Trek Generations)

PurpleEnterprise[]

In2382, Picard was still the captain of theUSSEnterprise-D in an alternate reality where everything waspurple andData was still intact. Like his prime universe counterpart, Picard once rescued Data from a cave after he got trapped in19th centurySan Francisco. (LD: "Fully Dilated")

Confederation of Earth[]

In an alternate timeline created by Q where Earth had become theConfederation of Earth by the25th century, Picard was a ruthless and highly successful general in theConfederation Corps. During his years of service, he subjugated and conquered hundreds of species and annihilated several planets, such asQo'noS. At one point, he had either overseen or directly commanded theCSSWorld Razer.

By2401, General Picard had obtained a synthetic body, as a result of his battle withGulDukat. That year, Picard was to speak at theEradication Day ceremonies on Earth, where he was topublicly execute theBorg Queen and receive the title of "Borgslayer".

General Picard had a large home on Earth, maintained by android servants andRomulan slaves. In one room of the house, he maintained a largetrophy collection of several weapons, including a Zhat Vash dagger and disruptor rifle, and various skulls of his enemies, including the Borg Sentinel One of Two, the Ferengi Grand Nagus Zek, the Saurian Commodore Y'Shi, the Lihn Zhee Chieftain M'Talas, the Cardassian Gul Dukat, the Klingon General Martok, and the Vulcan Director Sarek. (PIC: "The Star Gazer", "Penance")

Holograms[]

• As part ofReginald Barclay'sholo-addiction, he had created at least two programs that had recreations of Jean-Luc. One was a recreation of theEnterprise-D, the other,Barclay Program 15, had Picard as one ofThe Three Musketeers. (TNG: "Hollow Pursuits")
• A Jean-Luc Picardhologram was inBarash'sholoprogram, this future Picard was a full admiral. (TNG: "Future Imperfect")

Personal life[]

Picard held diverse intellectual interests and recreational pursuits. He was a lifelong avocational archaeologist, inspired by his Academy instructor, Galen, having studied theIconian culture since his cadet days. Picard even addressed theFederation Archaeology Council as keynote speaker in2367, on the subject of his oft-studiedTagus III ruins.

He also had a deep love ofTerran literature, from the works ofWilliam Shakespeare to detective stories featuringDixon Hill, and preferred to read them in their written form rather than on a holo-visual display. Picard had studied semantics and kept hisLatin fresh. (TNG: "The Chase", "Qpid", "Hide And Q", "Clues", "The Game")

Other subjects that enthralled Picard werephysics and celestial mechanics. He kept up with theAtlantis Project on Earth through journals. Picard was fascinated to be the first to reveal an ancientPromellian battle cruiser, as visiting such an elegant craft was always a dream of Picard's, a dream he had held on to ever since he was a child when he used to build model airships and starships in bottles, surmising that he likely had a Promellian battle cruiser in his collection. (TNG: "Family", "Booby Trap")

After his experience with the Kataan probe, Picard began to play the Ressikan flute and was good enough to perform works byMozart. He considered the flute to be one of his most prized possessions. It represented, to him, an entire lifetime he lived in only 25 minutes. As of2379, Picard kept the flute on his desk in his ready room aboard theEnterprise-E. His attempts atpainting were less successful. (TNG: "The Chase", "Family", "The Inner Light", "A Fistful of Datas", "A Matter of Perspective";Star Trek Nemesis)

Despite Picard being a rather private person, he maintained a good relationship with the members of his senior staff on board theEnterprise, but only joined in their weekly game ofpoker after seven years. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

When enjoying the comforts of home on theEnterprise, Picard drankEarl Grey tea. He delighted infencing,horseback riding, and his scalemodels of various Starfleet vessels. His opponents in fencing included LieutenantDean andGuinan, whom Picard coached in the sport. She initially lost one of their matches and said she did not think she liked the sport. Picard replied she liked it well enough two weeks prior, when she scored him two touches. (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris", "I Borg")

Only rarely did Picard take extended time off to relax. In2366, several of the members of his crew persuaded him to go on holiday onRisa. While intending to just relax in the suns, reading a book, he ended up going on a treasure hunt for theTox Uthat, an artifact from the future. (TNG: "Captain's Holiday")

Philosophically, Picard saw life and death as more than two choices of eternal or momentary existence. In fact, he believed there was another concept yet beyond Human understanding due to the marvelous complexity and the clockwork precision of the universe. In2364, confronted by Q, Picard quoted from Shakespeare: "What a piece of work is man? How noble in reason? How infinite in faculty, in form, in moving, how express and admirable. In action, how like an angel, in apprehension, how like a god..." Upon Q's interruption that surely he did not see his own species like that, Picard answered that he saw Humankind one day becoming so. In Picard's opinion,genetic engineering with its predetermination robbed Humanity of the unknown factor that makes life worth living. (TNG: "Lonely Among Us", "Hide And Q", "The Masterpiece Society")

Medical record[]

Picard always remained in excellent health, thanks to a regimen carried over from his days as an athlete, and at the age of seventy-four (in 2379), was still a vibrant and healthy man. Even twenty years later, Dr.Moritz Benayoun told Picard, "For a relic, you're in excellent shape." (Star Trek Nemesis;PIC: "Maps and Legends")

Despite his captaincy of theEnterprise, Picard still found time for fencing,racquetball, and equine sports, usually on theholodeck. Nevertheless, he did show a tendency to overwork, avoided formal vacations, and had reported bouts ofinsomnia. Additionally, Picard usually tried to avoid his annual physicals, to the great irritation of Dr. Crusher. (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris", "Pen Pals", "Suddenly Human", "Captain's Holiday", "Allegiance")

At a very young age, Picard was diagnosed withShalaft's Syndrome, a rare congenital defect that left him hypersensitive to any kind of sound. His condition was treated, but his hearing was still highly acute. As an ensign, Picard could sense subtleties as faint as a starship's torque sensors out of alignment by three microns. (Star Trek: Insurrection;Star Trek Nemesis)

Picard lost his hair by the2350s, although he was known to have had a shaved head for some time as a student atStarfleet Academy. (TNG: "Rascals", "Tapestry", "Violations";Star Trek Nemesis)

Owing to a near-fatal stabbing through theheart in2328, anartificial heart was implanted to save Picard's life. The unit required replacement when it malfunctioned in2365, overseen atStarbase 515 by Dr.Katherine Pulaski. Four years later, the unit was damaged and again replaced following a near-fatalLenarian compressed tetryon weaponry attack. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare", "Tapestry")

Following hisassimilation by the Borg in 2366, Picard was formally declared dead as a casualty of war by AdmiralJ.P. Hanson. The ruling was rescinded six days later when Picard was recaptured by the crew of theEnterprise. Along with the physical recovery, the incident took an enormous emotional toll and required several weeks of intensive counseling. Even after over thirty years since his assimilation, Picard would tellSeven of Nine that he didn't feel as if he had regained all of his Humanity since his liberation from theCollective. Picard underwent similar, though less lengthy, recuperation following his capture and torture by Cardassians in2369. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds", "Chain Of Command, Part I",PIC: "Stardust City Rag")

In an alternate future timeline, Jean-Luc developedIrumodic Syndrome, and in the corresponding alternate "present" timeline in 2370 he became aware of his future condition due to being shifted through time byQ. When Picard asked Dr. Crusher to perform medical scans on him in regards to this apparent fate, Crusher confirmed that Picard had a small structural defect in hisparietal lobe that could possibly lead to Irumodic Syndrome, among other possible disorders. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

In2399, Picard asked Dr. Moritz Benayoun to provide him with acertificate for interstellar service. Picard's results were at or above Starfleet standards in every category (cardiovascular,metabolic, andcognitive), but the defect in his parietal lobe had developed further. Dr. Benayoun said the defect indicated one of several syndromes, all of which were fatal. (PIC: "Maps and Legends") He ultimately died just after theDefense of Coppelius due to the defect, only continuing to live on when his consciousness was transferred into agolem lacking the defect but otherwise identical to his Human body. (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2") It was later revealed that Picard did not in fact have Irumodic Syndrome as was previously believed, but rather it was a false positive. In reality, Picard's condition was a result of theBorg changing him on a genetic level when he wasLocutus of Borg. This turned Picard into a receiver for theBorg Collective, meaning that he could hear them even without his implants, and it was inherited by his sonJack Crusher as a transceiver. Even as a golem, Picard retained this residual link to the Collective. This was a part of theBorg Queen's long-term plans. (PIC: "Võx", "The Last Generation")

Personal relationships[]

Family[]

Picard claimed that he was able to trace his family's roots in westernEurope back to the time ofCharlemagne in the8th century. He had "never been a family man," and was thus long uncomfortable with the presence of children aboard theGalaxy-classEnterprise. The orphaned son of LieutenantMarla Aster again raised his concern about the vessel's civilian family contingent, although his unease with children had lessened since being stranded with three youths during a shipboardquantum filament crisis. His time on Kataan also affected his views concerning family and children, as he admitted not being able to imagine a life without them. His initial reaction to family was also reflected in the friction with his father, and later his older brother, over leaving the family business. Upon the sudden accidental deaths of his brother Robert and his nephew René, the issue of lineage and Picard's lack of offspring caused a strong yet brief period of depression. (TNG: "Journey's End", "The Bonding", "Disaster", "The Inner Light", "Family";Star Trek Generations)

In 2370, DaiMon Bok threatenedJason Vigo, claiming that Jason was Picard's son. It was soon revealed that Jason was not actually Picard's son. As a parting gift, Picard gave Jason an archaeological artifact of significant sentimental value. (TNG: "Bloodlines")

Jack Crusher[]

Picard's romance with Beverly Crusher produced a son, Jack Crusher. Jack grew up never knowing he was Picard's son as Beverly kept Jack's father's identity a secret. Following theChangeling andBorg crisis onFrontier Day, the two grew close with Picard accompanying his son to his first assignment on theUSSEnterprise-G. (PIC: "The Next Generation", "Disengage", "The Last Generation")

Maurice Picard[]

René Picard[]

Robert Picard[]

Yvette Picard[]

Romance[]

Lwaxana Troi[]

WhenAmbassadorLwaxana Troi visited theEnterprise in2365, she had just entered herBetazoid phase, and so she set her sights on several male crewmembers as potential mates, including Picard. She announced her "wedding" with William Riker on thebridge of theEnterprise shortly before moving on to Picard. Following an intimate dinner with the ambassador, Picard hid himself on theholodeck in aDixon Hill holonovel. Lwaxana continued to teasingly flirt with Picard during her future visits to theEnterprise. On one occasion, Picard pretended to be in love with Lwaxana in order to save the ambassador's daughter, Deanna Troi, and Riker from Ferengi captivity. Lwaxana was most impressed with his Shakespearian poetry. (TNG: "Manhunt", "Ménage à Troi")

Vash[]

Picard had a relationship with an "adventurer" and some-time criminal namedVash. They initially met when Picard aided her attempts to find a rare artifact. Over the course of their adventure, the two developed an intimate relationship. Vash later returned to theEnterprise as part of an archaeological advisory team and was upset to find that Picard had not told his friends about their relationship. At the same time, Q appeared on the ship, and in return for Picard's aid in getting back to the Q Continuum, he created aRobin Hood fantasy world in which Picard (Robin) had to save Vash (Maid Marian). Eventually, Vash and Picard parted on good terms, as she decided to travel the universe with Q. She later reappeared one last time onDeep Space 9 after being unceremoniously abandoned by her "partner" Q. (TNG: "Qpid";DS9: "Q-Less")

Kamala[]

In2368, while mediating negotiations between the warring planetsKrios andValt Minor, Picard encounteredKamala, anempathic metamorph intended as a gift forValtese ChancellorAlrik. Due to premature emergence from stasis, Kamala underwent her bonding phase before the marriage could be completed. When circumstances placed Picard and Kamala in close proximity to each other, she eventually bonded with the captain. Having adapted to be perfectly compatible with Picard, Kamala found that her sense of duty demanded that she proceed with the marriage rather than pursue a relationship with Picard. Picard was deeply affected by Kamala, as shown by his reaction to AmbassadorBriam's inquiry about the experience. (TNG: "The Perfect Mate")

Nella Daren[]

In2369, Lieutenant CommanderNella Daren came aboard theEnterprise to become head of the ship'sStellar sciencesdepartment. In her new role, she was very forthright in her requests for ship resources to support her department's studies. Soon after coming aboard, she and Picard met. A friendship quickly formed, based on their shared love for music. Daren accompanied the captain on a portable piano while he played the Ressikan flute. Their friendship soon blossomed into love. The crew reacted differently to Picard and Daren's romance: Deanna Troi was happy for Picard and gave her blessing; Beverly Crusher seemed jealous; and Riker felt that Daren was asking for special treatment because she was the captain's "girlfriend."

When a fire storm threatened theBersallis III Federation outpost, Daren suggested a plan to shield the outpost against the heat while theEnterprise evacuated the colonists. Eight crewmen lost their lives, but Daren survived. Afterward, it became obvious to Picard and Daren that it would be extremely difficult to continue their relationship while serving on the same ship, thus Daren requested a transfer. As they said goodbye, they promised to keep seeing each other, but knew their relationship would never be the same. (TNG: "Lessons")

Anij[]

In2375, Picard developed a short, though intimate relationship with theBa'ku womanAnij, while protecting herplanet from the combined Starfleet-Son'a threat. Anij, while over three hundred years old, appeared as a woman in her late thirties. Despite their intimacy, Picard returned to theEnterprise after the planned relocation of the Ba'ku was averted. Shortly before leaving, Picard said he had 318 days of vacation time coming, and that he planned on using them. (Star Trek: Insurrection)

Beverly Crusher[]

Beverly Crusher and Picard maintained a close friendship while serving on theEnterprise-D, usually sharing their morning meal together. Crusher usually tried to serve a new and exotic food, although both she and Picard preferred something simple. (TNG: "Attached")

Their relationship stayed platonic, for the most part. They considered one another close friends and would give each other advice when dealing with difficult decisions. While Crusher was in anguish overOdan's failing health while thesymbiont was in Riker's body, Picard gave her a hug, and assured her that he would always be her friend and be willing to help her any way he could. (TNG: "The Host")

Crusher's anger over the treatment ofKamala led to Picard spending time with her, where he quickly learned that he was falling for the metamorph. Crusher did not know what to say, but reciprocated the emotional support he had offered the year prior. (TNG: "The Perfect Mate")

Picard tried to make Crusher realize that the deaths ofJo'Bril and laterReyga were not her fault and that she should not try to rush her investigation. Crusher was too upset and preoccupied to understand his words, and Picard was extremely disappointed when she broke the Prime Directive and performed anautopsy on Reyga. (TNG: "Suspicions")

Picard knew that Crusher's odd decisions after meetingRonin were not normal and confronted her onCaldos colony. Although Crusher initially resisted his demands for an explanation, she broke free of Ronin's influence after he attacked Picard. (TNG: "Sub Rosa")

Early on, Crusher and Picard experienced several romantically close calls. Once she was under the influence of thePsi 2000 intoxication, Crusher flirted with Picard and attempted to seduce him on the bridge of theEnterprise. Later, Crusher seemed hopeful for some time alone with Picard in the Dixon Hill holodeck simulation, but Picard seemed oblivious to her and invited Data andWhalen as well, much to Crusher's dismay. CommanderDexter Remmick interrogated Crusher about Picard in mid-2364 and questioned her about her true feelings towards Picard. Crusher refused to answer, claiming that they were irrelevant to the operation of the ship. (TNG: "The Naked Now", "The Big Goodbye", "Coming of Age")

In2366, aduplicate of Picard replaced the captain in order to learn about Human relationships. The replica had all of the memories and experiences of Picard but his behavior was different from the captain. He was more outgoing and especially flirtatious with Dr. Crusher, inviting her to dinner, where the two had a romantic evening, including dancing. Once the duplicate had enough information, it unceremoniously bade Crusher farewell. She teasingly held the real Picard responsible for his duplicate's actions when he was returned to theEnterprise. (TNG: "Allegiance")

Several times, Crusher began to explain her true feelings to Picard, once while they were held captive onRutia IV, and another time with Picard's duplicate in the warp bubble universe, but she was interrupted in both instances. Both also displayed some jealousy when the other found a love interest, such as Crusher with Odan or Picard withJenice Manheim andNella Daren. (TNG: "The High Ground", "Remember Me", "The Host", "We'll Always Have Paris", "Lessons")

In2370, Picard and Crusher were taken captive on the planetKesprytt, and linked together bypsi-wave devices in order to decrease their odds of escaping. The devices transmitted their thoughts to one another, where they learned each other's most intimate secrets. Crusher stayed up one night to listen to Picard's dreams, and Picard discovered that Crusher almost always had some biting comment at the ready, although she had learned to repress the urge to say them out loud. One night, Crusher brought up her late husbandJack, and feelings of guilt washed over Picard. She finally learned that he, too, felt an attraction, but did not act on it out of respect for his dead friend. Once they returned to theEnterprise, Picard expressed desire to further their relationship. Crusher ultimately decided that she did not want to ruin their friendship or be placed in a conflict of interest, and they decided to remain mutual friends. (TNG: "Attached")

In anunknown, alternate future timeframe, Picard and Crusher were married, but eventually separated. Dr. Beverly Picard agreed to take her ex-husband to theRomulan Neutral Zone aboard theUSSPasteur, anOlympic-class medical vessel of which she was in command. They shared a kiss in the "present" during that time. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

Sometime around the early2380s, Picard and Crusher entered into a relationship. In lieu of wine or roses, Picard made her a compilation of classical music. Eventually, the two had a falling out and the two did not speak to one another for nearlytwenty years. Picard later found out that Crusher bore his son,Jack Crusher and the fractured family unit was briefly reunited. It's unknown if they resumed a romantic relationship following the conclusion of theChangeling andBorg crisis, but Picard and Crusher were at the very least co-parenting Jack together a year later. (PIC: "The Next Generation", "Disengage", "The Last Generation")

Laris[]

Following theRomulan supernova, the formerTal Shiar agentsLaris and her husbandZhaban were employed by Picard at his family'sChâteau Picard. Following Zhaban's death in2400 Laris and Picard developed romantic feelings for one another. Despite this, when she confessed her feelings Picard's childhood trauma left him unable to enter into a relationship with her. He tried to assure her that nothing had to change between them; she disagreed and began planning to leave the Château for good. (PIC: "The Star Gazer")

During Picard's stint in2024Q andTallinn were able to help him work through the root of his trauma-the death of his motherYvette. He apologized to Laris and asked for a second chance, which she was open to. However, their plans were interrupted by a distress call from Dr.Beverly Crusher, which Laris instructed Picard to respond to, promising to be waiting for him when he returned. (PIC: "Farewell", "The Next Generation")

Friendships[]

Guinan[]

Guinan and Picard shared a long-term relationship, which, according to her, went "beyond friendship and beyond family." (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds") She also once said to Geordi La Forge that she was attracted to bald men. (TNG: "Booby Trap") In return, Picard once observed Guinan to be "very selective about whom she calls a friend." (TNG: "Ensign Ro")

Guinan originally met Picard in1893 when he, Data, Riker, La Forge, Troi, and Dr. Crusher had traveled back in time from the24th century to stop someDevidians from stealing energy from Humans in the19th century. Guinan, learning of their predicament from Data who had thought she was the Guinan from theEnterprise-D, agreed to help in any way she could. When she was injured in the confrontation with the Devidians, Picard stayed behind to make sure she was all right.Samuel Clemens, returning from the 24th century, helped Picard return. (TNG: "Time's Arrow, Part II")

In2365, Data's rights as an individual were challenged when cybernetics expert CommanderBruce Maddox wanted to disassemble theandroid for study. Picard challenged Maddox's assessment before the localJudge Advocate General. As the hearing neared its end, Picard admitted to Guinan he feared he was losing the case. Guinan asked what Maddox gained if he would be successful in disassembling and reassembling Data, and Picard responded he would possess the ability to build many more androids. He remembered Guinan's words that the decisions made today have implications for the future, and so Picard reasoned that if it would be decided that Data was indeed Starfleet property, all future androids would be also. Guinan noted there was an ancient word for that:slavery. Eventually, Picard won Data's case by pointing out that an entire race of Datas would be used as slaves, strictly against Federation principles. (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man")

In2367, Guinan played the role ofGloria in one of Picard's Dixon Hillholonovels. She was not much impressed with the program. (TNG: "Clues")

Besides joining Picard on the holodeck, they would occasionally share a game ofchess, and Guinan was also coached infencing by Picard in2368, begun when she considered exercise to strengthen her arm. Shortly prior to their match, theEnterprise had taken a Borg drone, later namedHugh, on board. Although Guinan initially questioned Picard's decision to have done so, she was convinced by La Forge to speak with the former drone. She could not, but acknowledged this Borg was developing a personality, becoming an individual. Upon her conversation with Hugh, she convinced Picard to speak with him as well. (TNG: "I Borg")

In 2400, Picard and Guinan reunited when he showed up atTen Forward to ask her for advice regarding his changing relationship withLaris and his fear of pursuing her. Guinan listened to his troubles and supported him in opening his heart to love again. (PIC: "The Star Gazer")

When Picard and his friends were thrown into 2024 by the machinations of Q, he encountered a younger version of Guinan. She had grown disillusioned with attempting to help Humanity and was prepared to leave Earth. At first, this version of Guinan did not recognize him and threatened him. Picard told her about the bond they would share in the future, and convinced Guinan to help him find the contact he needed, a Watcher. She led him to the person he needed, and then left, so that the Watcher could feel comfortable speaking to him alone. Before she left, Picard pleaded with her not to leave the Earth "just yet". (PIC: "Watcher")

William T. Riker[]

When choosing afirst officer prior to the launch of theEnterprise-D in 2363, Picard accessed the records of a number of candidates for the job. He eventually came across the record of one William T. Riker. Picard saw it as a glowing record filled withstatistics and theLetter of recommendation that he felt told him nothing about the kind of officer Riker actually was. Picard was about to move on to the next candidate's record but stopped when he saw that a notation in Riker's record regarding an incident that took place on board theUSSHood in which Riker refused to allow CaptainRobert DeSoto to beam down toAltair III. Picard was impressed that Riker would challenge his captain's authority if needed, and put the safety of the captain and the crew ahead of his own career if the need arose. This was a major factor in Picard's selection of Riker as his first officer – Picard wanted an officer who would not be afraid to stand up to him and be more concerned about the safety of the ship and mission than his personnel records. (TNG: "The Pegasus")

Picard was very cold towards Riker during their first meeting and ordered the manual docking as a test of Riker's abilities. When he performed the docking with great expertise and skill, Picard formally greeted Riker, requesting that his new first officer make sure that he not allow Picard to "make an ass of himself" in front of the many children aboard the ship. One year later, Picard felt as if he had not done a good job of congratulating Riker, so he did it once more, this time making his feelings clear. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "The Icarus Factor")

Eventually, Riker and Picard became very good friends. With the best of intentions, Riker suggested that Picard vacation at Risa in2366, asking him to return with ahorga'hn. Picard did not realize the history behind the statue and kept it with him after purchasing it for Riker, making it appear as if the captain was seekingjamaharon. (TNG: "Captain's Holiday")

The only time Riker and Picard ever verbally fought in front of theEnterprise crew was in2366 while under the influence of emotions projected by AmbassadorSarek, who was suffering fromBendii Syndrome. (TNG: "Sarek")

Picard tried to counsel Riker when he was offered command of theUSSMelbourne in2366, reminding him that theEnterprise would continue without his presence and that officers likeElizabeth Shelby were very much as he was before he learned the lessons necessary for command of a starship. Riker also came to Picard for advice when Worf wanted his help with thehegh'bat and when he struggled with a decision involvingSoren. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds", "Ethics", "The Outcast")

In early2369, members of theEnterprise crew, including Picard, were turned into twelve-year-olds due to the effects of amolecular reversion field. Unfortunately, a group of Ferengi commandeered theEnterprise about that time. Believed to be a child, Picard was confined to aclassroom aboard the ship while Riker was held in theobservation lounge. Picard threw a tantrum and demanded to see his "father," Riker. They pretended to be father and son in order for Picard to plant a suggestive message to Riker, requesting access to theEnterprise main computer from the classroom. Picard, along with the other affectedEnterprise crewmembers, were able to design a plan to retake theEnterprise from the Ferengi. (TNG: "Rascals")

During thePegasus incident of2370, Picard tried to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ship's disappearance. He ran into many dead-ends as most records had been sealed, and had to use many favors inStarfleet Command to even get a look at the findings of the board convened to investigate the loss of thePegasus. Riker would not divulge further information under the orders of AdmiralErik Pressman, and Picard reluctantly continued the search. He made it clear to Riker that he hoped he still placed the safety of theEnterprise as his top priority, and if Picard had found this to be untrue, he would reevaluate his trust in Riker. After the crisis was resolved, Picard visited Riker in thebrig and returned him to duty aboard theEnterprise, understanding of Will's mistake in the past and satisfied that he had made the correct decisions in the present. (TNG: "The Pegasus")

Picard served as Riker's best man during hiswedding to Deanna Troi in2379. He gave a toast to Riker, calling him his "trusted right arm" and lamenting his loss of a fine first officer. (Star Trek Nemesis)

Picard remained in contact with Riker after Riker became captain of theUSSTitan. He met Riker's sonThaddeus at least twice, once when Thad was a baby and once when he was five. (PIC: "Nepenthe")

Although Picard initially intended not to involve Riker (or any of the rest of his survivingEnterprise crew) in his quest forSoji Asha, once he found her on theArtifact and needed a safe haven, he brought Soji to Riker and Troi's home onNepenthe. Picard was grateful for Riker's friendship, and that he did not attempt to talk him out of helping Soji and hersiblings. After Picard left, Riker requested temporary reassignment to Starfleet in order to help him with his mission, and led a squadron of starships toCoppelius. (PIC: "Maps and Legends", "Nepenthe", "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")

Data[]

From2364 to2371, Lieutenant Commander Data was appointed ashead of operations when serving on board the USSEnterprise-D, and head of operations from2372 to2379 on board the USSEnterprise-E. Data looked up to Picard as something of a father figure throughout his service under the captain, asking for his advice on numerous occasions in his quest to become more Human. Picard always gave Data advice whenever he could.

Following Natasha Yar's death in 2364, Data was puzzled about her death, thinking not about Tasha but rather how he would feel in her absence, thinking that he missed the purpose of her memorial, but Picard assured him that he understood the purpose of the memorial perfectly. (TNG: "Skin Of Evil")

In2365, Data's existence was threatened when Commander Bruce Maddox wished to disassemble and study Data to gain a better understanding of how hispositronic brain functioned. Data refused to submit to Maddox's procedure, finding his research flawed, but Maddox claimed that Data was property of Starfleet and therefore not a sentient being and as a result had no choice other than to submit to the procedure. Captain Phillipa Louvois supported Maddox's claim, and Picard intervened by challenging their reasoning, saying that Data was indeed sentient and deserved the freedom to make his own decisions. He also said that Data represented an entire race and that forcing him to submit to Maddox's procedure is tantamount to slavery – strictly against Federation law. Ultimately, Louvois sided with Picard's standpoint and agreed that Data, android or not, was indeed sentient and entitled to the same rights as any other Starfleet officer. (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man")

In2367, Picard's seemingly unbreakable trust in Data was tested when Data refused to fully cooperate with an investigation into a number of events that happened within a 24-hour time span, although Data claimed that the time span was only 30 seconds. Data's intransigence threatened to end his Starfleet career and even his own existence, but it was later revealed that Picard was himself responsible for Data's unusual behavior after an encounter with thePaxans in aT-Tauri typestar system. (TNG: "Clues")

During theKlingon Civil War, the Federation made an indirect intervention with a blockade of Starfleet vessels placed in formation to use the pioneeringtachyon detection grid in an effort to expose Romulan support for theHouse of Duras. Picard assigned all of his senior officers positions on board other ships, except for Data. Data questioned Picard about why he was not assigned command of a vessel, considering that there was a severe lack of senior officers available for the mission, wondering if he felt that his being an android made him unsuitable for command. Picard, slightly embarrassed by Data's question, assigned Data command of theUSSSutherland. During the blockade, Data disobeyed direct orders from Picard and was able to expose the Romulans' involvement in the civil war. Later, Data wished to submit himself for disciplinary action for disobeying a direct order from his superior officer, but Picard instead praised Data fornot complying, summing up his belief of too many tragedies throughout history being directly traceable to officers "just following orders" rather than independently assessing their situations, with the words, "Mr. Data: nicely done." (TNG: "Redemption II")

In2369, Data refused to allow a group ofexocomps to be sacrificed in order to save the lives of Picard and Geordi La Forge, who were trapped on board theTyrus VIIA station, believing that they were sentient and, therefore, capable of making their own decisions. After agreeing to a compromise suggested by Commander William Riker, the exocomps were released and able to save the lives of Picard and La Forge. Picard understood the predicament that Data was faced with as he had defended Data's sentience just a few years previously, but this time the exocomps had no advocate and Data felt compelled to act on their behalf. Picard considered Data's actions to be the most "Human" decision that he had ever made. (TNG: "The Quality of Life")

Later that year, following an accident inmain engineering that activated a dormant program in his positronic brain, Data sought advice from several officers, including Picard, on his "visions." Picard was curious why Data was studying thousands of different cultures tointerpret his visions. Data said that he had no culture of his own, but Picard told Data that he did have a culture – a culture of one and that its validity is no less than that of a billion. Picard suggested that Data should consider what the visions meant to him instead of what they mean to other people. (TNG: "Birthright, Part I")

After a malfunctioningemotion chip fused with Data's positronic net in2371, Data felt guilty for not saving La Forge from capture byTolian Soran on board theAmargosa observatory. Overwhelmed by emotions, Data requested to be shut down until the chip could be removed. Although Picard felt sympathy for Data, he told him that part of having emotions is integrating them into one's life and learning to live with them, and denied Data his request. (Star Trek Generations)

In2373, when theEnterprise-E traveled back to the year2063 on Earth, Picard and Data initially went down to the planet to observe the damage the Borg had done toZefram Cochrane's missile complex inMontana. Down in the missile silo of thePhoenix, Picard, upon touching the missile that would make history by becoming the first Human starship traveling atwarp, explained to Data that sometimes a touch can make objects more "real." Upon suspecting a Borg presence aboard theEnterprise, Picard and Data transported back to the ship. Fighting off the Borg near main engineering, Data was soon captured and brought to the Borg Queen. Instead of attempting toassimilate Data, the Queen made him physically more Human by attaching Human skin onto his android skeleton.

When it appeared impossible to hold off the Borg any longer, Picard was convinced to initiate theEnterprise'sauto-destruct sequence and ordered all remaining crew to evacuate. He himself went on to engineering to find Data and to convince the Queen, who he had encountered several years previously, to let Data go. Picard was even prepared to take Data's place at the Queen's side, willingly becoming her equal. Data claimed he did not wish to go, even after the Queen ordered him away. Thus, the Queen ordered Picard's assimilation, but not before witnessing the destruction of thePhoenix by Data.

Data fired a spread ofquantum torpedoes, but they missed by the smallest of margins. Quickly thereafter, he burst aplasma coolant tank, releasing plasma coolant which liquefied organic material on contact, killing the Borg. The Queen was killed, but Picard survived. Helping Data standing up, Picard asked him if he was ever tempted to join the Borg's cause. Data replied that, for a fraction of a second, hinting at his kiss with the Queen, he was. He added that, for an android, that brief moment was like an eternity. (Star Trek: First Contact)

Following the wedding of Riker and Deanna Troi in2379, Data was confused by Picard's mixed feelings for the couple – although the captain was happy that Will was due to accept promotion to the rank of captain and take command of theUSSTitan, and that his new wife was to transfer over to theTitan and take position as the ship'scounselor, Picard was somewhat saddened by their departure and tried to explain to Data that experiencing feelings of both happiness and sadness at the same time are common in these situations.

At the climax of theBattle in the Bassen Rift, Data jumped across the void of space from theEnterprise-E to theScimitar, saving Picard by using a prototypeemergency transport unit, but sacrificed his own life to save the crew of theEnterprise by firing at the thalaron radiation generator and so destroying theScimitar. Following the battle, Picard held a toast with theEnterprise-E's senior officers as a tribute to their fallen comrade. (Star Trek Nemesis)

The death of Data weighed heavily on Picard, who continued to have dreams about his lost friend for decades. Picard's feelings about the loss of Data helped motivate him to helpDahj andSoji, whom he regarded as Data's daughters. Picard resolved his guilt over Data's death when he met a surviving copy of Data's consciousness in aquantum simulation, and helped that version of Data to die, as he wished to have a finite existence. (PIC: "Remembrance", "The Impossible Box", "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")

Worf[]

By2364, Lieutenant junior grade Worf was serving on theEnterprise-D as a junior bridge officer under Picard's command. Upon the death of Lieutenant Natasha Yar, he was promoted tochief tactical officer andsecurity chief. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "Skin Of Evil", "The Child")

In2366, theKlingon High Council accusedMogh, the deceased father of Lieutenant Worf, of treason. Picard, understanding the severity of the charges and their implications for Worf, had theEnterprise change course toQo'noS. Worf's brotherKurn initially served as hisCha'DIch, but after an assassination attempt left him in critical condition, Worf asked Picard to take up the role. Picard initially declined, saying that there were younger, more able men on the ship from which Worf could choose. Worf insisted that there was no one he would rather have at his side. Picard accepted and stood by Worf when the conspiracy against his family was uncovered. (TNG: "Sins of The Father")

When the Klingon Civil War erupted in2367, Worf resigned from Starfleet and fought on the side ofGowron against the forces of theDuras family. With the help of Picard, Worf and other Gowron supporters revealed Romulan assistance to the Duras cause. This collapsed support for the House of Duras, and Gowron won the chancellorship. Gowron restored the honor of theHouse of Mogh in thanks for its assistance during the war. Worf returned to Starfleet, but was reprimanded because he killed Duras in revenge. (TNG: "Redemption", "Redemption II")

Worf commanded theUSSDefiant in the battle against the Borg atSector 001, and fought the Borg temporal incursion into2063. A heated conflict occurred between the two when Picard had called Worf a "coward" for not wanting to continue fighting the Borg aboard theEnterprise-E, and a furious Worf stating that if he were any other man he would kill him where he stood, to which Picard angrily ordered Worf off his bridge. Picard later apologized to Worf for his harsh comments and admitted that Worf was "the bravest man" he had ever known, and their friendship was restored. (Star Trek: First Contact)

Geordi La Forge[]

Like several crew members,Geordi La Forge was hand-picked by Picard to serve aboard theEnterprise-D. La Forge impressed Picard with his above average work ethic during an inspection tour. (TNG: "The Next Phase") Picard had tremendous confidence in La Forge's ability to accomplish tasks he was assigned, which led to his eventual promotion to chief engineer, earning him the rank of lieutenant commander. (TNG: "The Child") He was one of the very few officers Picard addressed by his first name, indicating a close bond between them.

Ro Laren[]

Picard and Ro had what could be described as a father/daughter-like relationship. When they first met, Picard wrote her off as dishonorable. He did eventually take her under his wing and help her along a path towards redemption. (TNG: "Ensign Ro") Upon Ro's defection to the terrorist organization, theMaquis, she asked Will Riker to convey her deepest regrets to Picard for letting him down. Despite this, Picard was severely disillusioned by Ro's actions and felt betrayed in a very personal way. (TNG: "Preemptive Strike")

Thirty years later, Picard crossed paths with Ro Laren again, still harboring a deep resentment against her for her betrayal. He could not accept her being part of Starfleet again, claiming that she belonged in prison. The tension between the two reached its peak in a holographic version of10 Forward Avenue as they accused each other of beingChangelings. Picard openly reprimanded Ro for betraying his trust and the values he stood for, to which Ro retorted that Picard was confusing duty with morality, eventually leading the two to acknowledge that they had broken each other's hearts. Ultimately, they trusted each other again to stop the Changelings. Ro later told Picard that she wished he had understood all these years why she did what she did. Picard was later devastated by Ro's death, shortly after he was told that he was truly seeing her. (PIC: "Imposters")

Elnor[]

When Picard began evacuation efforts of Romulus in cooperation with the Qowat Milat, he grew close to Elnor, despite his discomfort around children. The two spent a lot of time together, with Picard teaching him to Fence, telling him stories of Data, and reading him stories, such asThe Three Musketeers. After the attack on the Utopia Planitia Shipyards, Picard resigned from Starfleet, and did not return to Vashti for 13 years. Elnor was angered at Picard's sudden disappearance, and when Picard returned in 2399, asking Elnor to bind himself to his mission to find Soji, he at first refused, but rescinded this decision. Picard always regretted not being able to find a proper home for Elnor, as the Qowat Milat was by tradition, an all-female organization, and Elnor could never be fully recognized as one. (PIC: "Absolute Candor")

Despite the years apart, Elnor's admiration of Picard carried into his service with him, and he admitted feeling joy when Picard said he did not wish to leave him behind on the Artifact when he chose to stay behind to cover Picard and Soji's escape from the Zhat Vash. (PIC: "The Impossible Box")

When they met up again on Coppelius, Elnor embraced Picard in happiness that he'd survived the assault on the Artifact, and was hesitant to leave his side as Picard's health began to deteriorate. Picard convinced him that the xBs needed him more, and Elnor agreed to protect them, leaving Picard's service. The two were briefly reunited before Picard's death, and Picard expressed happiness at seeing him one last time. Elnor took Picard's passing very hard, and mourned heavily while Raffaela Musiker attempted to comfort him. When Picard was revived shortly afterwards, Elnor chose to travel with him once again. (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1", "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")

Allies[]

James T. Kirk[]

Although their association was brief,James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard had profound personal effects on one another. Having been a captain of the Federation's flagship, an admiral, and back to a captain again, Kirk advised Picard to not do anything that would have Starfleet move him away from theEnterprise, because as captain, he could make a difference. Very much like Spock and Leonard McCoy, Picard was instrumental in helping Kirk find meaning in his life after his greatest adventures were essentially over. In fact, it could be argued that Picard was one of the most significant people in Kirk's entire life, as he embarked on his final adventure with him and passed away knowing that he had "made a difference." Picard laid Kirk to rest onVeridian III and was his lone mourner. (Star Trek Generations)

Spock[]

Spock was confronted by Picard and Data onRomulus, where he was suspected to have betrayed the Federation. To the contrary, Spock was on a "personal mission of peace," and Picard insisted on staying until Spock's affairs were complete. Spock saw much of his father,Sarek, in Picard and was very resentful of his perceived meddling in his affairs. Picard and Spock eventually developed a mutual respect for each other, with Picard offering Spock tomind meld with him to see how Sarek truly saw his son. (TNG: "Unification I", "Unification II") Spock later utilized Picard andDeanna Troi in delivering defecting Romulan officials to the Federation. (TNG: "Face Of The Enemy")

In3189, a recording of Spock made on stardate 45825 was retrieved from the personal files of Admiral Picard and viewed byMichael Burnham andCleveland Booker. (DIS: "Unification III")

Gowron[]

Picard wasGowron'sArbiter of Succession following the deaths ofK'mpec andDuras. (TNG: "Reunion") Although he initially refused to aid him during the Klingon Civil War, Picard later convinced Starfleet to assist Gowron's forces by exposing the alliance betweenLursa andB'Etor andSela, a high-ranking Romulan officer. (TNG: "Redemption", "Redemption II"). Although he considered Picard an honorable ally of the Klingon Empire, Gowron was less than accommodating when asked to assist Starfleet findSpock on Romulus. Nevertheless, on more than one occasion, Picard used his relationship with Gowron as leverage against other Klingons. (TNG: "Unification I", "Aquiel") These events appeared to be reconciled during the events surrounding the resurrection ofKahless. (TNG: "Rightful Heir")

Rivals[]

Q[]

Q and Picard had a complicated relationship. Even though he was very antagonistic towards them, Q clearly had a great respect and affection for the crew of theEnterprise-D, particularly Picard, (TNG: "Qpid") who in contrast viewed Q with a tremendous amount of disdain and distrust. (TNG: "Deja Q") It was not until their final two encounters that Picard became grateful to Q for their association. (TNG: "Tapestry", "All Good Things...")

Bok[]

After the death of his son caused by Captain Picard during theBattle of Maxia, Bok had tried to seek vengeance on him twice. First by having him destroy theEnterprise-D through a mind altering device he hid within the derelict of the USSStargazer, then by attempting to kill his alleged sonJason Vigo (which whom he re-sequenced his DNA in order to fool Picard into thinking he was his son). (TNG: "The Battle", "Bloodlines")

The Borg / Borg Queen[]

After being assimilated by the Borg, Picard (assuming the identity of Locutus) then went to destroy nearly all Federation starships at the Battle of Wolf 359 before proceeding to Earth for an attempted assimilation of that planet. After being de-assimilated, Picard had long resented the fact that the Borg had used his knowledge and experience to kill and/or assimilate innocent people, and developed a hatred for the Borg that would become a defining trait in his later encounters with them; during the incident in which the Borg attempted to disrupt First Contact, he became increasingly volatile and irrational, and would destroy drones with a modicum of enjoyment – even if they were former members of his crew that had only just been injected with nanoprobes. This resentment stayed with him at least six years after he was first assimilated. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", "Reunion", "I Borg", "Descent", "Descent, Part II";Star Trek: First Contact)

The House of Duras[]

Jean-Luc Picard became a prominent figure in Klingon politics, largely due to his loyalty to Worf during the trial of theHouse of Mogh in 2366. Picard was determined to uncover the conspiracy that was attempting to frameMogh for crimes committed byJa'rod. During his investigation,Duras, son of Ja'rod sent an assassin to murder Picard, but the attempt was unsuccessful and ultimately revealed the complicity ofK'mpec and the High Council in these crimes. Even after the death of Duras at the hands of Worf, theHouse of Duras continued to be antagonistic towards the Federation, with particular emphasis placed on Picard and the crew of theEnterprise-D, which was eventually destroyed byLursa andB'Etor. (TNG: "Sins of The Father", "Redemption", "Redemption II";Star Trek Generations)

Shinzon[]

As a direct clone of Picard,Shinzon developed a distinctive and deadly rivalry with the captain of theEnterprise, much like Will Riker's rivalry withThomas Riker and Data's rivalry withLore. (TNG: "Second Chances", "Brothers") Picard saw traits in Shinzon that he perceived to be flaws within himself. He was bothered by the fact that Shinzon was capable of genocides of interstellar magnitude and was haunted by the notion that he may have chosen the same path as Shinzon had he led his life. During Shinzon's attempt to carry out these genocides, Picard implored him to let go of his past and embrace change, which Shinzon quickly rejected. Picard was significantly pained at the death of Shinzon, but this pain was replaced mere moments later after Data sacrificed himself to save Picard. (Star Trek Nemesis)

Memorable quotes[]

"Space... The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before."

-Picard's opening speech (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")Listen to this quote^{file info}

"Shut off that damn noise! Go to yellow alert."

-Picard, on the sound of theEnterprise's red alert klaxon (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

"If we're going to be damned, let's be damned for what we really are."

-Picard, to Q's challenge (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

"Let's see what's out there. Engage."

-Picard, ready for adventure across the galaxy (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

"Merde."

-Picard, on two occasions (TNG: "The Last Outpost", "Elementary, Dear Data")

"The quest for youth, Number One. So futile."

-Picard (TNG: "Too Short A Season")

"The first duty of every Starfleet officer is to the truth, whether it is scientific truth or historical truth or personal truth. It is the guiding principle on which Starfleet is based! And if you can't find it within yourself to stand up and tell the truth about what happened, you don't deserve to wear that uniform!"

-Picard, to Wesley Crusher (TNG: "The First Duty")Listen to this quote^{file info}

"Federation starshipEnterprise: Surrender and prepare to be boarded."
"That will be the day."

- Klingon attacker andPicard (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

"'With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.' Those words were uttered by JudgeAaron Satie as wisdom and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on, we're all damaged."

-Picard, quoting JudgeAaron Satie (TNG: "The Drumhead")

"There... are...four... lights!"

-Picard, toGulMadred, as Picard leaves theinterrogation room (TNG: "Chain Of Command, Part II")

"It's been a long time, Captain."
"Have we met before?"
"Yes, sir. We met in battle. I was on theSaratoga at Wolf 359."

-Benjamin Sisko andPicard, recognizing each other since theBattle of Wolf 359 (DS9: "Emissary")

"Good luck, Mister Sisko."

-Picard's farewell to Sisko (DS9: "Emissary")

"There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle, it's just a matter of finding it."

-Picard, to Dr. Crusher, when contemplating escape fromPrytt custody (TNG: "Attached")

"He'sJames T. Kirk. Don't you read history?"

-Picard, introducing James T. Kirk to Tolian Soran before they fight him together (Star Trek Generations)Listen to this quote^{file info}

"Someone once told me that time is a predator that stalks us all our lives but I rather believe that time is a companion that goes with us on a journey and reminds us to cherish every moment... because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived."

-Picard, after the destruction of theEnterprise-D (Star Trek Generations)

"I'm about to commit a direct violation of our orders. Any of you who wish to object should do so, now. It will be noted in my log."

-Picard, to his crew about disobeying his orders before heading back to Earth (Star Trek: First Contact)Listen to this quote^{file info}

"I will not sacrifice theEnterprise. We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats. They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again! The line must be drawnhere!This far,no further! And I will make thempay for what they've done!"

-Picard's breakdown, toLily Sloane, about seeking revenge on the Borg and not losing his ship (Star Trek: First Contact)Listen to this quote^{file info}

"Mr. Data?"
"Sir?"
"Shut up."
"Yes, sir."
"Fifteen years, I've been waiting to say that."

-Picard andData (Star Trek Nemesis)

"Things are only impossible until they're not!"

-Picard (TNG: "When The Bough Breaks")

"Let us make sure history never forgets the name,Enterprise."

-Picard (TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise")

"It says a great deal about the mind of Commander Data, that looking at the Human race with all its violence and corruption and willful ignorance. He could still see kindness, immense curiosity, and greatness of spirit. And he wanted, more than anything else, to be part of that. To be a part of the Human family. We are such stuff as dreams are made of. And out little life is rounded, with a sleep."

-Picard, about Data (PIC: "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")

Catchphrases[]

"Make it so!"

- His order for implementing an idea just suggested (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Engage."

- Another famous order, typically in reference to going into warp (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Tea, Earl Grey, hot."

- Ordering hisbeverage of choice from areplicator (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Number One"

- His name for his first officer,CommanderWilliam T. Riker (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"What the devil?" or "What in Heaven's name?"

- His more polite versions of "What the hell?" (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

"Come"

- Usually said when someone wanted to enter a room that he was in (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Reminiscences[]

In2369, after Vash arrived on Deep Space 9,Miles O'Brien told Benjamin Sisko about her relationship with Picard, explaining "Well sir, Vash and Captain Picard were friends. Close friends, if you follow my meaning." While Sisko replied "Somehow she doesn't seem to be his type," O'Brien thought it was because Picard "likes a good challenge."

Later when Q saw Vash working overQuark, he described her actions as "perfectly vile," adding "If that's the kind of company you kept before meeting me, it's no wonder you ended up with Picard."

Later yet, when Q placed Sisko in aboxing match, he was shocked after Sisko knocked him to the ground. "You hit me... Picard never hit me!", to which Sisko shot back, "I'm notPicard!"

Finally, when the crew of the station could not tie the odd happening on the station to one of the artifacts Vash had brought aboard, Q appeared before thesenior staff and claimed how "Picard and his lackeys would have solved all thistechnobabble hours ago," before directing to Sisko, that it was "No wonder you're not commanding a starship." (DS9: "Q-Less")

In2372, Worf and Miles O'Brien reminisced inQuark's about rescuing Picard from the Borg Collective. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

Later that year, after amember of the Q Continuum arrived on her ship seeking asylum, Captain Janeway automatically assumed he was Picard'sQ – which instead made him nervous and agitated. When that Q, tasked with capturing the renegade, appeared on the bridge, she realized thathe was the being she'd heard so much about, he laughed and asked her, "Has Jean-Luc been whispering about me behind my back?" (VOY: "Death Wish")

In her effort to look through every log entry of Starfleet captains who had contact with the Borg, Captain Janeway cited Picard's words among others: "In their collective state, the Borg are utterly without mercy – driven by one will alone, the will to conquer. They are beyond redemption, beyond reason", withChakotay claiming that she had unknowingly mimicked Picard's vocal mannerisms while quoting him. (VOY: "Scorpion")

According toValerie Archer, while discussing Boothby toChakotay, "Half the captains in Starfleet wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for Boothby," including Picard. (VOY: "In the Flesh")

In2375, EnsignNog mentionedAl Lorenzo having a curious interest in taking holophotos of himself sitting behind the desks of famous Starfleet captains. Usually, he would sneak into their offices, but theDominion War made it difficult for him to get away. Among the photos in his collection included Lorenzo sitting behind the desks of such famous commanders asRobert DeSoto and Jean-Luc Picard. (DS9: "Treachery, Faith and the Great River")

Q mentioned "Jean-Luc" as another option for helping to raise his son to the satisfaction of the Q Continuum. He wondered aloud if it was not too late to ask Picard instead of Janeway. (VOY: "Q2")

Quotes about Picard[]

"... the heart of an explorer, and the soul of a poet."

-Tasha Yar ("Skin Of Evil")

"You know, I never thought I would say this, but it's good to see you again. It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you're still a pompous ass. And a damn sexy man."

-Phillipa Louvois ("The Measure Of A Man")

"I've never known anyone with more drive, determination or more courage than Jean-Luc Picard."

-Admiral J.P Hanson ("The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

"I had such high hopes for you, Picard. I thought you were a bit more evolved than the rest of your species. But now I realize you're just as weak as all the others. Still, it pains me to see the great Jean-Luc Picard brought down by a woman."

-Q ("Qpid")

"Jean-Luc, I never knew you were such acad. I'm impressed."

-Q ("Tapestry")

"Really, Vash, I can't believe you're still pining for Jean-Luc, that self righteous do-gooder."

-Q ("Q-Less")

"Actually, what I was hoping for was a little witty repartee, but I see I'm not going to get any of that either. At least your beloved Jean-Luc knows how to turn a phrase..."

-Q ("Q-Less")

"You know Picard. Every part of that guy that's not ego is rampaging id."

-Raffi Musiker ("The Impossible Box")

Chronology[]

• 2305: Born inLa Barre,France, onEarth.
• 2322: Applies toStarfleet Academy for the first time, but is rejected.
• 2323: Is admitted to Starfleet Academy, wins Academy marathon.
• 2327: Graduates Starfleet Academy, and has to be implanted with anartificial heart after a fight with aNausicaan.
• 2333: Assumes command of theConstellation-classstarshipUSSStargazer. (TNG: "The Battle")
• 2346: Has a relationship withMiranda Vigo. (TNG: "Bloodlines")
• 2355: Participates in theBattle of Maxia against aFerengi vessel; invents a new tactical ploy to win the battle, later dubbed the "Picard Maneuver." (TNG: "The Battle")
• Early2360s: Picard, while commandingan interim starship responds to adistress call fromcolonists in theCarnelian minefield.
• 2363: Assumes command of theUSSEnterprise-D; his first mission ascaptain involves contact with theQ entity. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint",PIC: "The Star Gazer"commemorative plaque)
• 2366: Is captured by theBorg and forced to become a member of theBorg Collective, leading the invasion of theFederation asLocutus of Borg; this includes leading the Borg victory over the Federation at theBattle of Wolf 359. Despite Borg control over him, Picard manages to relay information to the crew of theEnterprise which allows the Borg to be defeated. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds", "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")
• 2367: Prevents an attempt by theRomulans to take over theKlingon Empire by indirectly interfering in theKlingon Civil War. (TNG: "Redemption", "Redemption II")
• 2369: Discovers an ancient message left by the firsthumanoid beings in our galaxy. (TNG: "The Chase")
• 2370: Blights the second Borg invasion of theFederation, led by individualizedBorg drones under the influence of theandroidLore. (TNG: "Descent", "Descent, Part II")
• 2371: TheEnterprise-D is destroyed overVeridian III. (Star Trek Generations)
• 2372: Is assigned command of theUSSEnterprise-E. (Star Trek: First Contact)
• 2373: Travels back in time to2063 to defeat an attempt by the Borg to create an alternate timeline in which the Federation is never created. (Star Trek: First Contact)
• 2375: Rebels againstStarfleetAdmiralDougherty in order to protect theBa'ku. (Star Trek: Insurrection)
• 2379: Travels toRomulus to meetPraetorShinzon, aclone of himself. Kills Shinzon during the battle with theScimitar. (Star Trek Nemesis)
• 2385: Retires from Starfleet in protest after Federation denies continued aid to the Romulans and bans synthetic lifeforms following theattack on Mars and theUtopia Planitia Fleet Yards bySynths. (PIC: "Remembrance", "The End is the Beginning")
• 2399: Visited by a female android namedDahj Asha who is seeking his help. Later dies onCoppelius and has his memories and consciousness transferred into agolem. (PIC: "Remembrance", "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2")
• Between2399 and2401: AppointedChancellor of Starfleet Academy
• 2401: Retires from Starfleet

Appendices[]

See also[]

• Galen

Appearances[]

Background information[]

Picard was played byPatrick Stewart in all of the character's television andfilm appearances.David Tristan Birkin played Picard as a child inTNG: "Rascals", whileMarcus Nash appeared as Picard as a young ensign in "Tapestry".Tom Hardy was seen as Cadet Picard in a photograph inStar Trek Nemesis; Hardy also played Picard's clone,Shinzon, in the same film.

According to theStar Trek Encyclopedia, 4th ed., vol. 2, p. 145,Robert H. Justman said that Picard was named after oceanographerJacques Piccard.

According to theStar Trek: The Next Generation Companion, 2nd ed., p. 13 the original casting call sent out to agents asked for the following:

"CAPT. Julien Picard – A Caucasian man in his 50s who is very youthful and in prime physical condition. Born inParis, his Gallic accent appears when deep emotions are triggered. He is definitely a 'romantic' and believes strongly in concepts like honor and duty. Capt. Picard commands theEnterprise. He should have a mid-Atlantic accent, and a wonderfully rich speaking voice."

The character of Picard changed quite a bit from theMarch 1987 version of the Writers/Directors Guide. In that guide, he was born in Paris, carried a touch of French phrasing in his speech, and pretended that France is "the only true civilization" on Earth (reminiscent ofPavel Chekov).

In1986,D.C. Fontana made an attempt to recruit actorStephen Macht for the role. "She called me in 1986 and said she wanted me to come in and meetGene Roddenberry," said Macht. "She told me he was the writer ofStar Trek and she wanted him to meet me. So I went in, I sit down opposite him in his office, and D.C. was with me. He said, 'D.C. has brought me clips of everything you've done since you've been in Hollywood. You are my nextStar Trek hero, Picard.' And I'm full of piss and vinegar at that time. I was forty-two and doing well. I said to him, 'I've seen these things, and I don't want to do them. I don't want to speak to guys with six heads for the rest of my life.' He said, 'It's not about that, Stephen. They're morality tales. I want you to do it. You just have to come read for the studio head.' 'I don't want to read. You want me to do it? Offer it to me. You know who my agent is.'" (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 92)

Also considered for the role of Picard wereLouis Gossett, Jr.,Yaphet Kotto,James Earl Jones,Billy Dee Williams,Avery Brooks, andKeir Dullea. By9 April1987, a meeting between the studio and Kotto was scheduled (with no audition to be held) on14 April 1987. On or shortly before 9 April, Kotto's agent called TNG Casting DirectorJunie Lowry, suggesting Kotto would fly down only ifParamount paid to have him flown down, and that Kotto would prefer to takeGene Roddenberry for lunch rather than having a meeting. Lowry replied that a meeting would be preferable to everyone at the studio, owing to all the busy schedules involved, and notified the agent that Kotto would be meeting not only Roddenberry but also both producers and Jeff Hayes. She also said it was unlikely that the studio would pay to fly Kotto in for a meeting, to which the agent quickly began to concede on that point. He then enquired as to how serious the studio's interest was in casting Kotto, a question already asked. Lowry answered that, if the studio decided to go for a black captain as the series lead, Kotto was under extremely serious consideration. The meeting remained scheduled, and Lowry included a written account of the phone call in a casting availability update memo she sent to "all concerned" on 9 April 1987. In the memo, she listed Gossett, Kotto, and Williams as being available, whereas Jones and Brooks were noted as unavailable. As noted in the same document, Gossett's agent doubted that Gossett would be interested, and a VHS tape of Dullea was meanwhile being shot in New York. The casting notes also mentioned Stephen Macht, without specifying the role he was being considered for, though the memo did state, "He is certainly very interested."

Robert Justman was instrumental in the casting of Picard. Patrick Stewart was discovered by Justman and his wife when pre-production work for the then-forthcomingStar Trek series had been taking place at Paramount for about a month or two. The event occurred one night while Stewart was giving a dramatic reading at the University of California at Los Angeles, as part of a UCLA extension course on humor which Justman and his wife were taking. That night, Stewart was one of two speakers reading from Shakespearean comedies and Noël Coward. While Justman sat with his wife and watched the readings, he thought Stewart looked familiar, but couldn't quite place him. "Patrick sat down, pushed up his jacket sleeves to display his massive forearms, and commenced to read," Justman reflected. "He spoke a few sentences and I was thunderstruck. I turned to my wife, Jackie, and I said, 'I think I found our new captain!'" Justman was so impressed by Stewart's performance that night that, the next day, he called the Screen Actor's Guild and determined who Stewart's agent was in Los Angeles, because the actor was living in London and was temporarily in America just to perform the reading at UCLA. Contacting the agent, Justman arranged for Stewart to meet with Gene Roddenberry and Justman himself at Roddenberry's house the following Monday. "Patrick came in his rental car, and we sat around for thirty-forty minutes," Justman continued, "and then he made his good-byes and left to fly back to England. After he drove away, Gene closed the door and turned to me, and I will quote him exactly. He said, 'I won't have him.'" Roddenberry himself noted, "My first reaction was, 'Jesus Christ, Bob, I don't want a bald man.'" (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, pp. 89-90 & 91)

As of13 April 1987, the performers who were being considered to play Picard includedMitch Ryan,Roy Thinnes, Yaphet Kotto, andPatrick Bauchau. On that day Bauchau successfully auditioned for Gene Roddenberry; the "favorites" for the part were meanwhile regarded as Bauchau as well as Patrick Stewart, with the other three performers scheduled to start auditioning the following week. These developments were included in a general TNG casting memo fromJohn Ferraro toJohn Pike (also forwarded to Jeff Hayes), sent the same day as Bachau's audition – 13 April 1987.[5]

Another memo sent on that date specifically pertained to the casting of Picard, and was from Junie Lowry to, again, "all concerned." It noted about Yaphet Kotto that, although he was available for the part, the studio was still waiting to find out if he would fly down or would only send a tape of himself. The same memo listed Keir Dullea,John Saxon,George Hearn,Lee Van Cleef,Andrew Duggan,John McMartin,Theodore Bikel,Thomas Hill,Edward Mulhare,Dick Shawn,James Olson,Don Ameche,James Gammon,Telly Savalas, and Billy Dee Williams as all being available for the part. Both Mulhare and Savalas were noted as actually being interested in it, too. Both Dullea and McMartin were in New York, and the studio was yet to receive a tape from Dullea, who refused to audition for the role without a test option agreement first being arranged. Hearn and Williams weren't interested (in Williams' case, his disinterest was because the series would be syndicated), and Hill would only be available after24 April.Anthony Quayle was listed as possibly being interested, though he was currently in London. Performers who, despite having been considered, were listed as not available includedPaul Gleason,Noble Willingham,Moses Gunn,William Devane,John Hillerman,Robert Hogan,Fred Gwynne,Dana Elcar,Peter Donat, andPeter Michael Goetz. Listed as uninterested wereGeorge Grizzard,Rip Torn, andScott Glenn (Torn wasn't interested in doing any TV at that point in his career).[6]

Shortly after Robert Justman discovered Patrick Stewart, Rick Berman met Stewart. Like Justman, Berman was impressed, so he advised Justman that they needed to persuade Roddenberry to cast Stewart as Picard. "Bob said to me, 'We can't. When Gene makes up his mind, it's a waste of time to try and change it,'" Berman recounted. "But in my case, ignorance was bliss. I didn't believe that." Justman himself stated about Roddenberry, "No matter what I said, he was adamant, and the reason was because the character he had created in his own mind was a very hairy Frenchman, so we embarked upon a campaign that lasted for some months, and when Rick Berman came on the show and became supervising producer with me, Rick jumped all over it, too, and said, 'He's perfect!'" Berman characterized himself as "the guy who basically bugged Gene into realizing that Patrick was the best Picard." Roddenberry recalled, "In his wisdom, Justman kept his mouth shut and let me grow accustomed to him." Said Justman, "Our casting director was for it, everyone was for it, except Gene. We went through everybody in town and in foreign countries trying to find the right person to play the captain, and couldn't. Finally, our last candidate came in, read for us and left, and we were sitting there – the casting director, Rick, Gene, and myself – and he finally turned around and looked at us and said, 'All right, I'll go with Patrick,' and that was it. It was so right, I've never been more sure of anything in my life, at least in the business, than casting Patrick in that role. He was everything that a captain ought to be." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, pp. 90 & 91)

At first, Gene Roddenberry's acceptance of Patrick Stewart as Picard was conditional. "He said, 'But when we bring him to the studio for the final audition, I want him to wear a wig, because I don't want this guy going in bald,'" Rick Berman remembered. Via phone call to London, Stewart had a wig made by one of the most well-renowned theatrical wig makers in England, then had the wig dispatched to America. When TNG Supervising ProducerDavid Livingston first met Stewart, the actor visited Livingston's trailer (where Livingston was otherwise alone) with a box of wigs, and asked where he could find the make-up and hair staff, as the production crew wanted to see what he looked like with the wigs on. Stewart eventually found someone who helped him put on the wig. He then auditioned for John Pike, who was well aware that Stewart was really bald. "He had seen all the photographs of him, and we had played him a tape of Patrick's clips," Berman noted. (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, pp. 91-92)

By this time, the only remaining contender for the part, according to Rick Berman, was Stephen Macht. Like Stewart, he also auditioned for John Pike. Despite regarding Macht as "a very good actor," Berman believed he wasn't anywhere near as suitable for the role as Patrick Stewart was. Years later, Macht admitted that, at that point in his life, he hadn't been prepared to play such a major role, partly because he had been too young and egotistical, and partly because he had been uninterested in doing a series. "I just was not ready," he declared. "I would be now, but I wasn't then. In the intervening years, of course, after so much experience, I found that there are so many layers to who I am that I can reveal slowly and that would have made a TV series likeThe Next Generation more appealing. Looking back at it, I thank Dorothy and Gene for a marker in my life that I can really think about in terms of seeing what the trajectory has been over a whole period of years [... ] Had I known then what I know now, I would have knocked the shit out of that role." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 92)

Ultimately, John Pike opted for Patrick Stewart rather than Stephen Macht. Pike did so with one extra piece of advice: that Stewart "lose the wig." Remarked Berman, "That was the best three words we could have heard." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 92) In a one-line memoHelen Mossler sent Gene Roddenberry on1 May1987, Mossler announced, "Patrick Stewart's deal has been finalized and has been sent to his agent for his signature."[7]

Picard was originally intended to be in his early fifties, with a twenty-two-year stint captaining theStargazer^{(citation needed •edit)}; Stewart himself was forty-seven in1987. The show established a long gap between theStargazer and theEnterprise-D; the Okuda timeline states he was 59 inTNG Season 1 (and thus is 74 inStar Trek Nemesis, compared to Stewart having been 62 when that film was made).^{(citation needed •edit)} Similarly, although Stewart was 79 when he filmedthe first season ofStar Trek: Picard, set in 2399, Picard is 94.

When Patrick Stewart accepted the offer to play Picard, a friend of his asked him what he thought it would feel like to portray "an American icon." At the time, that prospect made Stewart feel uneasy. (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 93)

During an interview withMichael Parkinson, Patrick Stewart related how, in his first press conference forThe Next Generation, a reporter asked Gene Roddenberry how Captain Picard could be bald, figuring that baldness would surely be cured by the24th century. Roddenberry replied, "By the 24th century, no one will care."[8]

In a2014 appearance onNPR's quiz showWait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Patrick Stewart indicated that the real life reason for Picard lacking a French accent was that it sounded silly when he attempted it:

"Yes, you know, I did somewhere in the bowels ofParamount Pictures, there – I hope it still exists – there is a recording of me on camera playing Captain Picard – some of the scenes from the pilot episode with a French accent.... If he was a Frenchman, why shouldn't he have a French accent? And, I mean, can you imagine it?(imitating French accent) Space, ze final frontier.(applause) It would not have worked. I have a great respect for the French and certainly I adore the French language, but no. It would not have worked. I doubt I would have sounded more like Inspector Clouseau."

Patrick Stewart was, though, fascinated with attempting to assert strength in his portrayal of Picard. "It was always important to me to try and establish and affirm the quiet, but absolute authority he has on the ship," said Stewart, "and that seemed to be successful." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 94)

Picard was irrevocably altered by his ordeal as Locutus, in "The Best of Both Worlds" and "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II". "Picard became more Human than ever before," commented writerMichael Piller. "He was the indestructible captain, untouchable, above all risk and danger, and suddenly, in this two-parter, he is a man who's been raped by the Borg and has to deal emotionally withhuge consequences [... ] And after that, Picard was more complex, never the same; he was a far more interesting character after that." (Mission Overview,TNG Season 4 DVD special feature)Ira Steven Behr agreed that temporarily having Picard, "who, compared to Kirk, was an administrator more than an adventurer," be transformed into a Borg "kind of gave his Humanity back to him" and was a "genius" idea. Patrick Stewart concurred, "Making the man more Human and vulnerable and prone to error and mistake was a great decision." (William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge)

David Livingston, who directed the TNG episodes "The Mind's Eye" and "Power Play", found it was relatively very easy to direct Patrick Stewart's characterization of Picard. "The only run-in I ever had with him, I was on the set as a producer and I thought I heard him say a line wrong, and the director said 'cut, print.' I told the director, I think Patrick got that line wrong. Patrick said, 'No, I didn't.' The director said, 'It sounded fine to me.' I had the sound man,Alan Bernard, play back the take, and I was right. They did the line over again, and Patrick said thanks. That was dangerous. I could have kept my mouth shut, but I had a responsibility. That seems like a minor thing, but when you tell Patrick Stewart he went up on a line and nobody else heard it, that's dangerous." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, pp. 94-95)

The idea that Picard served under Captain Uhura while at the Academy has its roots in a story proposed forStar Trek: Short Treks, in which a young Picard would have been mentored by an elderly Uhura. Although the proposedShort Treks episode never came to fruition, two pieces of set dressing forStar Trek: Picard (theSpeed of Light Club certificate in Picard's quantum archive, seen in "Remembrance", and thecommemorative plaque for theUSSLeondegrance seen in "The Star Gazer") establish the relationship canonically.[9]

Trivia[]

Jean-Luc Picard was the first character to be seen onStar Trek: The Next Generation. Likewise, he was the last person to be seen in the final TNG outing,Star Trek Nemesis.

Other than inalternate timelines, Picard appeared as a captain throughout the entire run of TNG and the subsequent films. Data and Dr. Crusher are the only other characters from TNG to remain at the ranks they started with, though a costuming error in "All Good Things..." has Data wearing the wrong insignia for part of that episode.

Picard is the only character to have appeared in the pilot episodes of threeStar Trek series (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint",DS9: "Emissary" andPIC: "Remembrance"). Patrick Stewart is also the first actor seen on screen in each episode, and speaks the first lines in each episode, although in "Emissary" he appears and speaks first as Locutus of Borg.

Apart fromJames T. Kirk, Picard is the only person to captain twoEnterprises, commanding theEnterprise-D and theEnterprise-E. With the restoration of acut scene from an extended version of the episode "The Measure Of A Man", Picard also shares withPavel Chekov the distinction of having served aboard two starships namedEnterprise and one namedUSSReliant.

Picard has the distinction of having on-screen dialogue with three of the other mainStar Trek captains, the most by any other mainStar Trek captain. Picard meets with James T. Kirk in the filmStar Trek Generations, Benjamin Sisko in the DS9 pilot "Emissary", and Kathryn Janeway in the filmStar Trek Nemesis. However, this is second to Ambassador Spock who has had on-screen dialogue with four of the mainStar Trek captains in James T. Kirk in theStar Trek: The Original Series, Captain Christopher Pike inStar Trek: The Original Series, Discovery, and Strange New Worlds (as well is in the Kelvin alternate universe), Jean-Luc Picard inStar Trek: The Next Generation, and Michael Burnham inStar Trek: Discovery. Although Spock achieved the rank of Captain in Starfleet , he was not a primary lead in any of the television series or films.

Picard is the only lead character in anyStar Trek production who is unambiguously notAmerican. Jonathan Archer was born in upstateNew York and raised inSan Francisco,California;Christopher Pike was born inMojave, California; James T. Kirk was fromIowa (his alternate reality counterpart was born in space, but raised in Iowa); Benjamin Sisko was born inNew Orleans,Louisiana; and Kathryn Janeway was born inBloomington,Indiana.Michael Burnham was also born on Earth, and while her nationality hasn't yet been confirmed outright, she speaks with an American accent.

Picard's name, Jean-Luc, is the hyphenated French variants of John and Luke. Picard's sense of French national pride only surfaced briefly in some early episodes, most notably "The Last Outpost". Over the run of TNG, the character adopted several characteristics commonly associated with the English: he enjoys the works ofWilliam Shakespeare, and is never seen reading any works of literature by a French author. He drinksEarl Grey tea, an English beverage named after an English nobleman, and is rarely seen drinkingwine, a beverage which is commonplace in French life, only drinking it on five occasions, in "Family", again in "First Contact", at the end ofStar Trek Nemesis, and inPIC: "Remembrance" and "Nepenthe". Additionally, his father, brother, and nephew all spoke with English accents.

Reception[]

At least initially,fans ofStar Trek: The Original Series responded unfavorably to a new captain of theEnterprise being introduced in TNG. Rick Berman later remembered, "They felt, how can you put a new captain at the seat of theEnterprise? [... ] And when they heard it was going to be a forty-year-old bald Englishman, they kind of went nuts." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 89) Eventually, the viewers became more accepting towards Picard, much to Patrick Stewart's relief. He commented, "I'm happy that people accepted the captain as a non-American [... ] They refer to the vivid contrast between the previous captain and myself, not in a competitive way, but in that they are so different there isn't any sense of overlap." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 93) Berman has proclaimed that, ultimately, the fact that Captain Picard was bald was "the greatest sales point forThe Next Generation." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 92)

The cast and crew of TNG approved of Patrick Stewart as Picard. Co-ProducerBrannon Braga offered, "So much of the success ofNext Generation was Patrick Stewart, quite frankly. We always used to say the guy could read a phone book and we'd watch him. He just was so good. I always said aStar Trek series is only as good as its captain, and Picard was pretty fucking great." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 93) David Livingston agreed, "If anyone would captain a starship, it would be [Stewart]. He would never blink. Only when he was off-camera. If you watch him on-camera, I defy you to find a time he was blinking, because of the intensity of his captain [... ] It was a delight to direct him." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, pp. 92 & 94)

Thomas Dougherty, professor of American Studies at Brandeis University, observed, "Captain Picard – he of the balding dome and clipped accents – blossomed as the unchallenged power, the series' pivotal character and controlling force. Ensemble sensibilities aside, the writing staff conceded the obvious – that a strong central protagonist is as necessary to drive the narrative as command theEnterprise. In Shakesperean actor Patrick Stewart, the new crew found a perfect tribal patriarch. Stewart exudes authority and presence, consistently keeping the proceedings away fromSpace Patrol kitsch. Even in a dumb costume, declaiming deep-space doubletalk, he brings a kind of Elizabethan stature to his role." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, pp. 93-94)

In recent years, several popularInternet memes have surfaced in connection with Picard, most notably the "Picard facepalm" (originally based on a scene from "Deja Q"), and its numerous derivatives.[10]

There are a number of musical tributes to Picard, most notably DarkMateria's "Picard Song Tribute"[11] and Bryan Erickson's "Futile".[12]

Apocrypha[]

In the alternate future of theDS9 book seriesMillennium, Picard was captain of theEnterprise-E. He took EnsignNog under his wing after Nog was assigned to theEnterprise. Onstardate 52145.7, Picard attempted to intercept aDominion warship carryingWeyoun 5. Weyoun escaped into thePah-wraithwormhole. In2381, theEnterprise was destroyed at the Battle of Rigel VII. According toThomas Riker, a Starfleet hearing was called, since Picard had lost his third ship (theStargazer, theEnterprise-D, and theEnterprise-E), but the case was dismissed and Picard was given command of theEnterprise-F in2383, described as the "first of its class." In2385, Picard accepted a promotion to admiral, andWilliam T. Riker was given command of theEnterprise. When Earth was destroyed by the Grigari, Picard survived. By 2399, Picard was stricken with Irumodic Syndrome, and would occasionally do such things as speak to nobody (although he claimed to be speaking to Q), or mistake other officers for his old crew (for example, he called Nog "Will" andJake Sisko "Geordi"). It is implied that he marriedBeverly Crusher, as he comments toJulian Bashir that, between Bashir andLeonard McCoy, he was always worried that his wife would leave him for one of her heroes. Picard headed up a task force to build atimeship known as the USSPhoenix to try and undo the timeline. ThePhoenix was destroyed before it could accomplish its mission, but Picard, Nog, andVash traveled back in time twenty-five thousand years, where they became threeBajoran mystics who wrote prophecies of the events they had experienced; it is also implied that Vash and the elder Picard were married. The entire timeline was later reset thanks to the actions of Benjamin Sisko.

The novelDeath in Winter byMichael Jan Friedman told of Picard beginning a romantic relationship with Dr. Beverly Crusher after rescuing her from a planet under Romulan control. A subsequent book,Greater than the Sum, byChristopher L. Bennett, portrayed them as married and expecting a child. The laterPaths of Disharmony, byDayton Ward, shows them with a son, René.

The graphic novelThe Gorn Crisis showed Picard undertaking a mission during theDominion War to make an alliance with theGorn.

The comic book seriesStar Trek: Countdown, a tie-in to the 2009Star Trek film, depicted Picard as having left Starfleet by2387 to become the Federation Ambassador toVulcan; with Data, resurrected inB-4's body, succeeding him as captain of theEnterprise-E. When theEnterprise arrived at Vulcan, with the Romulanmining vesselNarada in tow, Picard arranged so that theVulcan High Council would put aside their prejudices and allow Spock to make his case regarding the Hobus supernova. Despite their best efforts, the Council could not be convinced to give thered matter to the Romulans. AfterNero had set off, Hobus erupted with the shock wave of the detonation threatening to destroy Earth and Vulcan in a matter of weeks. After La Forge had been called on and theJellyfish procured as a vessel to launch the red matter, Picard received several Starfleet reports of ships from all the major galactic powers being destroyed when they neared Romulan space. Suspecting Nero, Picard contacted Worf and requested he intercept the madman with his fleet. When theJellyfish was ready for launch, Picard boarded theEnterprise to join Worf's fleet. Upon arrival, they found theNarada to have been augmented with Borg technology, the Klingon fleet in pieces and Worf near death. Nero offered to return Worf to them, provided they lowered their shields. Though Picard convinced Data to do so, theEnterprise was crippled as a result, leaving her unable to pursue theNarada. Once repairs were complete, theEnterprise arrived to a collapsing singularity with no sign of Spock or Nero. Concluding that Spock had always known his journey would end like this, Picard led the crew in mourning their departed friend.

Picard's image appeared in thecomic book adaptation of the 2009 film as part of a collage fromCountdown used to depict Spock's mind-meld with theyounger Kirk.

The comic miniseriesStar Trek: Spock: Reflections established that after the events ofStar Trek Generations, Picard sent a message to Spock explaining how Kirk did not die on theEnterprise-B, but was pulled into the Nexus and how he left it to help Picard defeat Soran from killing two hundred million people in order to re-enter the Nexus and in the process, Kirk was killed while saving Picard and millions of others. Since Kirk was already thought dead, and explaining the nature of the Nexus to Starfleet would be difficult, Picard buried Kirk on Veridian III where he gave his life to save millions. Nonetheless, he felt Spock should know of Kirk's fate. Picard met with Spocka year later at the Kirk family farm in Iowa where he realized Spock had traveled to Veridian III to retrieve Kirk's body and brought him back home to Earth. Spock explained how Kirk didthe same for him, at a terrible cost and that he needed to be equal to Kirk's sacrifice. Picard then tells Spock that he would be welcomed to return to Starfleet duty, in any capacity, but Spock planned to return to Romulus to continue his work. Picard asks whether arrangements can be made to make Spock's presence there official, but Spock declined, saying he has always led "a life of solitude and duty". As Spock remembers how he once worked with remarkable friends and comrades, he tells Picard to treasure those times in his own life, since they will someday end. They exchange the Vulcan salute and Picard walks away, but turned back to see Spock still standing quietly by his friend's grave.

Picard returned in theStar Trek: Ongoing story arcThe Q Gambit. Beginning shortly after the events ofCountdown, Picard is visited by Q, who informed him that Spock still lived, and that theblack hole actually sent him into analternate reality. When Q attempted to discuss this timeline, Picard cut him off, believing that the various timelines should remain separate from one another. Annoyed, Q reveals he had come for Picard's counsel as Spock had set off a chain of events that would doom that timeline. But since the former captain was uninterested, Q took his leave for the other timeline despite Picard's attempt to call him back. Picard reappeared at the end of the arc where Q returned, now enveloped by the energies of aProphet. Flatly, Picard said he didn't want to know.

The three-issue comic miniseriesStar Trek: Picard - Countdown, a tie-in to thetelevision series, detailed the efforts of Picard and his first officer, Lt. Cmdr.Raffi Musiker, to aid in the evacuation of Romulan citizens ahead of the impendingsupernova depicted inStar Trek. In2381, now promoted to admiral, Picard left theEnterprise to take command of the USSVerity (β) on an envoy mission to offer aid to the empire after Starfleet intercepted communications and learned of the coming catastrophe. Through tense negotiations, Picard convinced the Romulans to allow Starfleet to help evacuate soon-to-be affected worlds, a logistical challenge that he would later compare to the evacuation atDunkirk duringWorld War II. Picard directed CommanderGeordi La Forge to build a specialized fleet at theUtopia Planitia Fleet Yards above Mars to better assist in the relocation. By2385, a number of worlds had slowly been evacuated. As the first of La Forge's new fleet was near ready to come off the line, theVerity was ordered to to evacuate Romulan colonists from Yuyat Beta, where Picard and Musiker learned of a massive native population the Romulans were prepared to let die. They thwarted a plot by the governor and theTal Shiar to capture theVerity to use against Starfleet, who they believed was using evacuations as a ruse to sabotage the Romulan Empire. Evacuation of the Romulans and Yuyati proceeded. Picard was introduced toLaris Avem andZhaban Noctis, two Tal Shiar agents in an illicit love affair who aided in de-escalating the situation. Picard offered them safe haven from retribution on his family's vineyard on Earth.

The alternate future ofStar Trek Online established Picard's retirement to private life as occurring in 2402, when he settled in his ancestral home of France.

Cpt. Picard is a playable character in the Customizable Disc GameStar Trek: Red Alert! byLast Unicorn Games.

External links[]

• Jean-Luc Picard atWikipedia
• Jean-Luc Picard atWikiquote
• Jean-Luc Picard atMemory Beta, the wiki for licensedStar Trek works
• Jean-Luc Picard attheStar Trek Online Wiki

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