Star Trek: Picard Finale Post-Credits Scene Explained
Contains spoilers for "Star Trek: Picard," Season 3, Episode 10, "The Last Generation"
Now that "Star Trek: Picard" is over, the series has bid farewell to 36 years of Patrick Stewart as the iconic Captain Jean-Luc Picard, while setting the stage for his legacy to continue through Jack Crusher. Played by a delightfully energetic Ed Speleers, Jack is the son Jean-Luc never knew he had, born of Picard's romantic involvement with Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Furthermore, he's revealed over the course of "Picard" Season 3 to be carrying the burden of some strange and dark abilities.
In a post-credits scene at the very end of the "Picard" finale, Jack is settling into his quarters aboard the USS Enterprise (formerly the USS Titan) when a visitor arrives. This turns out to be none other than the immortal, powerful trickster known as Q (John de Lancie). "Picard" fans will remember that Q was behind the events of Season 2, and was presumed dead after using the last of his powers to send Picard and his crew back to their own time. Here, he urges Jack not to think so linearly, telling the young ensign, "Young mortal, you have much ahead of you." Jack points out that Q promised Picard that humanity's trials were over, to which the demigod replies, "It is, for him. But I'm here today because of you. You see, yours, Jack, has just begun."
It seems clear that this post-credits scene is setting the stage for a TV show or movie focused on Jack, and who better to give him his first challenge than his father's old frenemy?
Q has big plans for Jack Crusher in the Picard post-credits scene
Ed Speleers has already hinted at a Jack Crusher spin-off, but this "Star Trek: Picard" post-credits scene appears to confirm that such a project is in the works. In an interview with Cinema Blend in February, Speleers revealed that he's spoken to showrunner Terry Matalas about Jack's future, saying, "He's got a lot of ideas about it. I'm not gonna lie because I'm proud of the fact that Terry and I discussed this almost every day for the last eighteen months, what could happen." The actor also noted, "There are definitely more stories to be told if we're given the opportunity to tell them. And I know that Terry has bucketloads of ideas."
It appears Jack's first challenge as the heir to Jean-Luc Picard's legacy will be facing off against the dastardly Q. This is a fitting rite of passage for Crusher since the inaugural episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" introduces Captain Picard to viewers by pitting him against Q in its "Encounter at Farpoint" storyline. Therein, Q acts as judge and jury for the human race, reminding Picard of humanity's crimes and history of violence. The final episode of "The Next Generation," titled "All Good Things," bookends the series with Q's involvement once again.
Will Jack face similar judgment, or will his trial by Q be of a different nature entirely? That's the mystery posed by the "Picard" finale's post-credits scene, and one to which fans likely won't have an answer until we see Jack again.
The Picard post-credits scene contradicts recent news about a Picard spin-off
Showrunner Terry Matalas first revealed that he has a concept for a "Star Trek: Picard" spinoff titled "Star Trek: Legacy" in a March 23, 2023 Tweet. However, he told Screen Rant a few weeks later — days prior to the "Picard" finale's premiere — that Paramount had yet to greenlight this project. Rather, he was merely sharing that he has ideas, should the company express interest.
Of course, the "Picard" finale's post-credits scene seems to contradict this claim. After all, would Paramount allow such a blatant cliffhanger without at least some sort of plan in place to pay it off?
Matalas, in fact, further contradicted this supposed lack of plans for "Star Trek: Legacy" in a brief Entertainment Weekly interview about how "Picard" ends. "Jack's got a lot to do, let me tell you," he told EW, reinforcing the idea floated in the "Picard" post-credits scene that Jack Crusher's conflict with Q will soon become the focus of a brand new "Star Trek" project. For now, fans will simply have to wait for more news about the continuation of Jack's story.