Q Returns In The Star Trek: Picard Season 2 Teaser Trailer
A new teaser trailer was just released by Paramount+ for Season 2 of "Star Trek: Picard," and it features one of the series' most popular characters, the enigmatic and god-like Q (John de Lancie). Fittingly, the trailer's release coincides with Picard Day, which is celebrated on June 16 in honor of the fictional character Jean-Luc Picard, according to Heavy. The tradition was inspired from Season 7, Episode 12 of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" where schoolchildren aboard the Enterprise celebrate Captain Picard as a role model.
The teaser also features numerous other characters from the first season, including cyberneticist Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill), former Starfleet commander Cristobal Rios (Santiago Cabrera), former Borg drone Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), ruthless Romulan Fighter Elnor (Evan Evagora), former Starfleet lieutenant commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), Picard's Romulan employee Laris (Orla Brady) and finally, the female android Dahj Asha (Isa Briones).
However, with Q around, you know that there will be supreme hijinks from the omnipotent alien — so let's dive in and take a look at where our beloved characters find themselves.
It seems that Q is up to his old time travel tricks again
What's clear from the teaser is that the coming season is set in an alternate timeline, and messing with time is well within the capabilities of the extra-dimensional alien Q. He has done so on numerous occasions during the series, mostly for his own amusement. For example, in the Season 6 episode "Tapestry" on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," he shows Jean-Luc Picard an altered future in order to teach him a valuable life lesson. He displaces the captain through different time periods again in the series finale "All Good Things," doing so as a test of humanity.
He even states to Picard in the teaser, "Welcome to the very end of the road not taken," making it clear that these time-bending shenanigans are of his doing. As to the motives behind Q's actions, it is anyone's guess. However, it's not just Picard who is affected by this. Numerous characters seem shocked to find themselves in an alternate dimension where nothing is as they remember. So let's see who else is caught in Q's time web and what changes we can spot.
The former borg Seven of Nine is shocked to see herself without her implants
Besides Jean-Luc Picard, it appears that the institution of Starfleet itself has had a bit of a makeover. Picard and Cristobal Rios both appear to still be part of Starfleet and are sporting updated threads with new badges. They're not the only ones in new outfits as Dahj Asha (or perhaps it's her sister Soji — or even another iteration of the android we haven't met yet) is also sporting a high-fashion white suit. Unfortunately, the future doesn't seem rosy for everyone as we also have a glimpse of Raffi Musiker on the run with Elnor through a dingy alley, and Laris' expression conveys grave concern. Similarly, Dr. Agnes Jurati is conspicuously not in Starfleet uniform while most of the other characters are, potentially signaling she may no longer be in the organization.
However, the most dramatic change must be for Seven of Nine who wakes up to find her facial implants missing. This implies that she was never assimilated by the Borg as a child and probably grew up as a human who is now in Starfleet, given the badge in her room. Going forward, we might have to call her Annika Hansen instead of Seven of Nine, which will likely be more of an adjustment for the audience than the character.
Season 2 of "Picard" is expected to premiere in 2022 on Paramount+, so at least we have some time to get used to the idea.