Zhaban

Zhaban and Laris were promised to each other at birth, in accordance with Romulan tradition.Zhaban's mother was aTal Shiar operative who once revealed to Laris details of the rumoredZhat Vash organization. (PIC: "The Star Gazer", "Maps and Legends")

Laris indicated that Zhaban had also been a member of the Tal Shiar, and demonstrated combat training techniques whenChâteau Picard was attacked by the Zhat Vash. He prepared to kill one unconscious, restrained attacker with an unarmed strike under the reasoning that they had no time and that others would be sent. However, Laris wanted to interrogate the man and reminded him that the pair "are not like them (the attackers) anymore." (PIC: "The End is the Beginning")

It was apparently through Zhaban that Picard negotiated his first interview with theFederation News Network since hisretirement, having previously refused all requests. Zhaban reiterated three times that one of Picard's conditions for agreeing was that the interview would not address hisresignation fromStarfleet. However, during the live interview,Richter ignored this and did so anyway. (PIC: "Remembrance")

Some time shortly after the Zhat Vash attack on Château Picard, Zhaban passed away. Admiral Picard and Laris, Zhaban’s widow, reminisced about him while celebrating the end of the growing season in2401. At that point, Zhaban had been dead roughly a year and a half. (PIC: "The Star Gazer")

In analternate timeline created byQ, Zhaban was stillmarried toLaris, and together they were theleaders of theFree Romulan movement during the Romulan uprising. Both were killed at the gates of Romulus. (PIC: "Penance")

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Appearances[]

Background information[]

Zhaban was played byJamie McShane, in his secondStar Trek role. The character was named byAlex Kurtzman in tribute to writer, executive producer, and first season showrunner ofStar Trek: Picard,Michael Chabon.[1]

He is one of the few Romulans to sport a beard.

While Laris more closely resembles Romulans of theOriginal Series era, who are physically indistinguishable from Vulcans, Zhaban possesses prominent brow ridges like the Romulans which appeared duringThe Next Generation era series and movies. Laris calls Zhaban and aZhat Vash agent with similar ridges a "Northerner." (PIC: "The End is the Beginning")

Apocrypha[]

Before his first on-screen appearance, Zhaban was featured in theStar Trek: Picard - Countdown prequelcomic book, alongside Laris. According to the comic, before the supernova, he and Laris were agents of theTal Shiar who fell in love, and then defected to aid Picard. Inissue #3, a Tal Shiar commander addresses him as "Agent Noctis".

External link[]

• Zhaban atMemory Beta, the wiki for licensedStar Trek works