Star Trek: Picard (1×02) Maps and Legends Review

For our review of last week’s episode, click here.

Doesn’t this feel like a prologue book that should supplement the series more than the adventure itself? After an exposition-heavy premiere, Picard comes back with an equally elaborate and information rich episode that sets up more of the elder years of Jean-Luc without much of a story present. Here’s what happened in “Maps and Legends.”

The Picard series, much like Discovery, is a serialized show unlike the Star Trek of seasons past. The problem that happens is that while Star Trek can be serialized, each episode and its driving narrative are of the upmost importance and the second foray into this particular premise finds itself lacking all of the elements it needs.

The action is diminished, which is understandable given the retired Admiral’s age, but that doesn’t mean other characters cannot fulfill that role. Many of the new characters aren’t particularly memorable as each of them is more or less a means to an end to help drive Picard’s story forward. With no returning TNG crew members in this episode, it loses the level of nostalgia from the first episode which in turn effects the tone of the series.

This deep character study continues to be a provocative and intriguing new perspective of the Star Trek universe, but it unfortunately doesn’t bring enough of anything else to make an impact. The richness of character is rivalled by too many talking head exposition scenes that become essentially a stageplay in space. Beyond the characters, this series has yet to establish what it wants to be. Is it a sci-fi drama, a detective mystery or a psychological horror? That has yet to be determined.

What did you think of “Maps and Legends”? Let me know in the comments below!

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Dylan Phillips