Warning this contains spoilers for Episode 1.
Episode one finished on a bit of a cliff hanger announcing the arrival of one of my least favourite characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation in John de Lancie’s “Q”. Nothing against de Lancie’s portrayal or the character itself but the incessant ramblings and god complex that Q constantly spouts gets on my nerves. I guess being a god like being it is to be expected.
Episode two begins with Q & Picard facing off in one of their usual war of words. Q is feverishly rambling about tests, atonement maybe even forgiveness yet there is little hint as to why Q has chosen this moment in time to return to Picard. Why he saved the crew of the Stargazer from certain death and what is he trying to prove or realisation is he trying to force upon Picard by bringing him to this reality?
In this new version of reality Picard is not on a quest for knowledge, he is a monster. An authoritarian warrior out to conquer other species all while preaching that a safe universe, is a human universe. He has a room full of the skulls of his enemies. The orchid is run by downtrodden alien slaves and the manner in which this version of Picard is said to have conducted himself is down right frightening. Luckily for Picard his friends have also been transferred to this alternate reality yet they too are thrust into the unknown of this new regime.
Seven of Nine is once again Annika Hansen. Never assimilated by the Borg and President of the Confederation of Earth. Raffi is Picard’s Chief of Security. Rios is once again a captain of his ship but in charge of leading an assault against the Vulcan (seriously the Vulcan…) and Elnor has gone from being the first Romulan to graduate from Star Fleet academy to being a Romulan Rebel / terrorist. Funnily enough Agnes appears to be a similar version of herself. An extremely bright scientist with a penchant for technology over humanity. I get that…
That is all I am going to get to for the story. 
Episode two takes it up a notch in action, tension and intrigue while still playing to questions asked of Picard in the first episode. Q is once again in his element as the maniacal madman yet we need to delve more into what is at play to fully understand his motives. The team as always are there to back up Picard and work well trying to fit into their new roles in this alternate time line.
Be warned, if you get as invested in this as I do, you may swear at the end of the episode.
Till next week enjoy Picard on Amazon Prime Video.
