Star Trek Picard Talk Through

Hosted ByBrian Meloche & Ruthie Rink & Laurence Todd

The Star Trek Picard Talk Through is an in-depth, long-form, community-driven episode discussion of Star Trek: Picard, the new series shown on Paramount+ in the US, Australia, Latin America and parts of Europe, CTV Sci-Fi Channel & Crave TV in Canada and Amazon Prime everywhere else. We’re Brian Meloche, Ruthie Rink, and Laurence Todd; we're three long-time Star Trek fans, especially of Star Trek: The Next Generation. We cover the story, characters, and the show’s placement both within the Trek universe and the continuation of the life of legendary Federation Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Together with our listeners, we rate each episode, discuss the highs, lows, and share other thoughts. Thanks for listening!

STPC 008 – Absolute Candor (S1E4)

Star Trek Picard Talk Through
Star Trek Picard Talk Through
STPC 008 - Absolute Candor (S1E4)
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Star Trek: Picard – Season 1 Episode 4 – Absolute Candor

We’re back with extensive coverage of the fourth episode of Star Trek: Picard, Season 1 Episode 4, titled Absolute Candor. This episode was written by Michael Chabon, and it was directed by Jean-Luc Picard’s former Number One, Jonathan Frakes. This is our longest episode to date!

Fred’s Pics!

Fred from The Netherlands was kind enough to send us images for this episode, and we used many of them here!

Before we begin, we have additional feedback for the first three episodes…

First, we have feedback for the premiere episode, S1E2 Maps and Legends, and S1E3 The End is the Beginning. Discussion about Absolute Candor begins at 26:08 with “Spot the 47”. We have used chapters again this week. If your podcast app supports them, skip ahead to the section you want easier.

Chapters:

00:00:21 Intro
00:01:06 Feedback for Prior Episodes
00:26:08 Spot the 47
00:26:27 About Absolute Candor
00:27:46 Ratings
00:30:36 Yesses
00:43:56 Nos
01:32:01 Not Good Enough!
01:59:25 Feedback Section
02:56:24 Shipwide Announcements – News & Info
03:03:22 Wrap Up

Patreon call-in show: Saturday, Feb. 22nd!

We will be recording another Patreon call on Saturday, February 22nd at 6 PM Eastern to discuss a few things:

  1. First, Ruthie attended a screening of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan with William Shatner as the guest of honor.
  2. Second, have you read “Star Trek: Picard – The Last Best Hope”? I did. We’ll talk about it.
  3. Finally, we will discuss the first five episodes of Picard. If you want to listen in, sign up to our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/brianandruthie for as little as $1/month and you’ll get access! And, if you contribute at the $5 level, you’ll be able to participate in the live call!

And now for the pics!

Young Elnor and the Qowat Milat

First, as has been true with the second and third episodes, the fourth episode begins with a flashback. We meet a young Elnor and Zani of the Qowat Milat.

Young Elnor: "My feelings are hurt. I actually did think you were fond of me." - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (03:23)
Young Elnor: “My feelings are hurt. I actually did think you were fond of me.” – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (03:23)
I like you very much. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (03:33)
I like you very much. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (03:33)

The two Elnors don’t match up. He had blue eyes and has an American accent as a child, but has brown eyes and talks in an Australian accent as an adult. Where does the accent come from? No one else had that accent. I tried three times to make this point in the podcast, but Ruthie didn’t seem to understand my point. It’s not the accent, but that he didn’t have it as a child AND no one else in the village had it. Laris has an Irish accent, but we don’t meet her as a child and don’t meet people with who he grew up, so it works. In Elnor’s example, we see his past and get the context of where he grew up. It’s not a huge deal, but it did take me out of the episode a tiny bit.

Notice young Elnor's blue eyes vs. his brown eyes as an adult. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (4:25 & 29:43)
Notice young Elnor’s blue eyes vs. his brown eyes as an adult. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (4:25 & 29:43)

Recreating the chateau in a holomatrix…

Raffi talking to Picard about going back to Vashti. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (15:11)
Raffi talking to Picard about going back to Vashti. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (15:11)
I may never pass this way again. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (15:10)
I may never pass this way again. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (15:10)
Zani says "Jolan tru" (hello) to Picard after returning to Vashti. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (19:00)
Zani says “Jolan tru” (hello) to Picard after returning to Vashti. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (19:00)

Meanwhile, on the Borg Artifact…

Professor Ramdha, talking about Ganmadan, showing a picture of Soji and Dahj together. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (15:46)
Professor Ramdha, talking about Ganmadan, showing a picture of Soji and Dahj together. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (15:46)
Ramdha's holo-image reflected on Soji's face. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (15:53)
Ramdha’s holo-image reflected on Soji’s face. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (15:53)
Ramdha in a kind of induced coma. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (19:47)
Ramdha in a kind of induced coma. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (19:47)
Narek sock sliding on a Borg cube? - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (23:19)
Narek sock sliding on a Borg cube? – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (23:19)
"That was fun." Actually, it was stupid! - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (23:43)
“That was fun.” Actually, it was stupid! – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (23:43)

Why did Picard start this fight?

With just seven minutes before the beam out, Picard sees a Romulans Only sign hanging at a cafe. First, he takes it down. Then, he stomped on it. Finally, he sits down and expects to get service. A former Romulan senator took issue with him and, naturally, a fight ensued. We thought this was crazy. Did he know Elnor was close by? We could have used a line here to tell us that he had a plan.

The Picard/Andrev sword fight. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (34.42)
The Picard/Andrev sword fight. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (34.42)
Please, my friend. Choose to live. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (34:53)
Please, my friend. Choose to live. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (34:53)
Senator Andrev, have you lost something? - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 - Absolute Candor (35:03)
Senator Andrev, have you lost something? – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 – Absolute Candor (35:03)

The creepy Lannister vibe…

We see more of the Narek/Narissa (is that her actual name?) vibe. This isn’t working for us. First of all, this creepy Cersei and Jamie vibe is just odd. Secondly, the choking scene wasn’t believable, and we need more information about those two to understand them. Is this sibling rivalry?

You've been studying her kind your whole adult life. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (38:00)
You’ve been studying her kind your whole adult life. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (38:00)
"Who is she?" The choking scene didn't work for us. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (39:31)
“Who is she?” The choking scene didn’t work for us. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard S1E4 (39:31)

Seven of Nine! Seven of Nine!

Back on the ship, we get into a dogfight with an old Bird of Prey. A mysterious ship flies in to rescue La Sirena (the name hasn’t been mentioned in the show yet).

The Bird of Prey shooting at Rios' ship. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (41:45)
The Bird of Prey shooting at Rios’ ship. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (41:45)
Magnificent pilot (in Spanish). - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (42:03)
Magnificent pilot (in Spanish). – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (42:03)
The old Bird of Prey loses a wing. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (42:08)
The old Bird of Prey loses a wing. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (42:08)
You owe me a ship, Picard. - STPC 008 - Star Trek: Picard - S1E4 Absolute Candor (43:04)
You owe me a ship, Picard. – STPC 008 – Star Trek: Picard – S1E4 Absolute Candor (43:04)

That’s it for Absolute Candor!

That’s it for this episode! For our next episode, we’ll be discussing the fifth episode of Star Trek: Picard, titled Stardust City Rag! Your feedback is an essential ingredient in this podcast!!! Share your thoughts about previous episodes with us, and our listeners! And sign up to our Patreon to get access to the Patreon episode.

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