Picard Season 3 Fixes A Mistake In Star Trek Generations’ Ending

Star Trek: Picard season 3 has rectified a long-standing mistake from the final scene of Star Trek Generations. Generations was the first film to feature the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, taking over from the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series after their successful six-film run. The film received mixed reviews from both fans and critics, and the TNG cast achieved significantly greater success with their next film, Star Trek: First Contact.

Despite its shortcomings, Generations does have its moments. The initial meeting between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the time-displaced Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is enjoyable, if slightly underwhelming. Stewart delivers some of his finest acting as Picard in Generations, particularly in the scene where he reveals to Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) that his family died in a house fire on Earth. Generations also includes two significant moments in the franchise: the death of Captain Kirk and the destruction of the USS Enterprise-D. Unfortunately, the film’s final scene contains a regrettable oversight.

In the sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is surprised by his former Starfleet Academy archaeologist professor and mentor, Galen, who presents him with a rare Kurlan naiskos artifact. Picard is visibly moved by the gift, recognizing its value and the significance it held for his mentor. However, in the final scene of Star Trek Generations, Picard is seen briefly picking up the Kurlan naiskos before discarding it in favor of a family photo album, leaving the artifact among the wreckage of the USS Enterprise-D. Fortunately, the artifact appears to have been retrieved as it is prominently displayed in Picard’s chateau in the season 3 premiere of Star Trek: Picard, correcting what was an oversight in the earlier film.

While considering Galen’s offer to join him on an archeological mission, Picard confesses to Dr. Beverly Crusher that Galen had been more of a father figure to him than his actual father, the temperamental Luddite Maurice Picard. After declining Galen’s invitation, Picard and the professor have a heated exchange, which culminates in Galen leaving the Enterprise-D. Shortly thereafter, Yridians attack Galen’s shuttle, resulting in the professor’s death in Picard’s arms.

The notion that Picard would dispose of the extremely rare, fully intact artifact gifted to him by his beloved mentor in the manner depicted in Star Trek Generations is entirely implausible, especially in light of the film’s musings on themes of mortality and legacy. While not the only instance of the TNG films contradicting the TV series, it is arguably the most flagrant example. Star Trek: Picard season 3 deserves praise for rectifying this brief but irksome mistake.